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  1. #1




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    02-03 Topps Hometown Heroes - Spot the difference?

    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.
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  2. #2
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    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.

  3. #3




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    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!

  4. #4
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    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.
    Last edited by centrehice; 11-20-2012 at 02:41 PM.

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

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    COMC Cards For Sale Upper Deck ePack

    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.

  7. #7




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    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.

  8. #8




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    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...

  9. #9




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    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.

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    any chance of scans for comparison?

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