02-03 Topps Hometown Heroes - Spot the difference?

**Drewk86a** · 11-19-2012, 11:00 PM

I see two listings in the inventory for these cards. One is the regular topps / opc issue. The other is for the Topps Factory set. My question is how can you tell the difference between the two? I checked the scans in the inventory but could not find any distinguishing marks to tell them apart.

Thanks.

**centrehice** · 11-20-2012, 11:16 AM

Look on the card back in the upper right-hand corner.

The Updated Rookie Set, has the letter "U" before the number identifying itself differently.

**Drewk86a** · 11-20-2012, 12:01 PM

I see what you're talking about.

COMC listings show cards with the "U" designation as being from the factory set. I have eight different cards and all have the "U" numbering, but have never bought a factory set. All of my cards were pack pulled. I think that is what was adding to the confusion.

Perhaps COMC has listed them wrong.

Thanks for the info!

**centrehice** · 11-20-2012, 01:37 PM

The secondary "U" marked cards were not from the 02-03 Topps Issue, but they were found as a SP subset pull in 02-03 Topps Chrome which came out a month later.

That's why there is confusion.

There is no "U" designation in the original Rookies I don't believe.

**Fritz** · 11-20-2012, 02:58 PM

Isn't there also a difference in the foil on the front logo? I think factory sets have more shimmer to the foil

**penguinsChief** · 11-20-2012, 04:58 PM

For the regular cards the foil on the front is a different color, almost a copper looking color (similar to the old Pacific colors). I have never really seen a Factory set for the Hometown cards, but if anyone can scan one I would appreciate it. I need the Lemieux from the set.

**Drewk86a** · 11-21-2012, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by penguinsChief

For the regular cards the foil on the front is a different color, almost a copper looking color (similar to the old Pacific colors). I have never really seen a Factory set for the Hometown cards, but if anyone can scan one I would appreciate it. I need the Lemieux from the set.

I don't have any factory set cards, but I have looked at the scans in the SCF inventory and at COMC.

**Drewk86a** · 11-21-2012, 03:25 AM

Here is the info from the "Big Book"
"This 40 card set was split into two subsets: Canadian and US Heroes"
"Cards HHC1 - HHC20 {the canadian heroes} were available only in OPC packs"
"Cards HHU1 - HHU20 {the us heroes} were available only in Topps packs"

So the "U" in HHU-14 stands for US, not Update. That solves that mystery. Doesn't help identify factory set, though...

**Drewk86a** · 12-12-2012, 02:04 PM

Purchased a Factory Set Hometown Heroes of Kovalchuk and the difference is obvious.

Pack Issued OPC / Topps: Cards have glossy finish and rainbow "refractor" effect
Factory OPC/Topps: No glossy finish / No rainbow effect. Flag in background has a metallic appearance.

Cased closed.