SCF Official Review: 2014 Topps Heritage

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Topps for providing us with this box.



24 packs per box
9 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): $69.99 - $89.99

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

AUTOGRAPHED CARDS

Real one autographs
Retired and active players.
- Real One Special Edition - Signed in Red ink. #'d to 65.

Real One Dual Autographs
Numbered to 25. HOBBY ONLY

Real One TRIPLE Autographs
Numbered to 5. HOBBY ONLY

Clubhouse Collection Autograph Relics
Numbered to 25.

Clubhouse Collection Dual Autograph Relics
Numbered to 10. HOBBY ONLY

Flashbacks Autographed Relics
Numbered to 25.

1965 Cut Signatures
1 of 1


RELIC CARDS

Clubhouse Collection
Single uniform and bat relic cards of active stars.
- Clubhouse Collection Gold Parallel #'d to 99.

Clubhouse Collection Dual Relics
Dual uniform and bat relic cards featuring a player from 1965 matched with a current player from the same franchise. Numbered to 65.

Clubhouse Collection Triple Relic
Numbered to 25. NEW!

Clubhouse Collection Quad Relic
Numbered to 10. NEW!

Book Cards
Includes a jumbo patch, bat knob or bat plate in a book card. #'d 1 of 1.


INSERT CARDS

New Age Performers
Top current players whose performances have eclipsed the giants of the past.

Then and Now
Statistical comparisons of 1965 players vs. 2013 players.

Baseball Flashbacks
Highlights from the 1965 season.

1965 Topps Embossed
A recreation of the Topps Embossed cards from 1965 featuring top current players & U.S. Presidents. NEW!

1st Draft card
Celebrates the inaugural edition of the MLB Draft. NEW!

News Flashbacks
World news moments from 1965.


BASE CARDS (1-500)

Base Cards (425 subjects)
Veterans and Rookies in the 1965 Topps Design.

High-Numbered Short-Printed cards (75)


BASE CARD VARIATIONS

Error Cards
Cards reproducing errors from the 1965 set.

Throwback uniform Variations Cards featuring subjects in throwback uniforms. NEW!

Action Image Variations - Features new images of star players in action. HOBBY ONLY.

Logo Variations - Alternate logo variations for star players. HOBBY ONLY. NEW!


PARALLELS

Black backs
The base card backs are featured in Black.

Mini Base Variation #'d to 100.

Chrome Base Variation
- Chrome Refractor Parallel
- Black-Bordered Chrome Parallel #'d to 65.
- Gold-Bordered Chrome Parallel #'d to 5. HOBBY ONLY!


BOX LOADERS
1965 AD PANELS
3-card strips with an advertisement on the back, featuring a player. HOBBY ONLY.

1965 Topps Originals
Original cards foil-stamped and inserted in a wrap. HOBBY ONLY.

1965 OVERSIZED Baseball Players
Styled after the 1965 Presidents & Famous Americans oversized cards. HOBBY ONLY.
- Insert version limited to 50.
- Relics #'d to 25.
- Autographs #'d to 10.

WHAT WE PULLED

Box Topper - 1965 Topps Chico Salmon Buyback



Base - 190/425 (44.7%)
SP - 8/75 (10.7%)



Chrome /999 (2) - Adam Wainwright, Curtis Granderson
Chrome Refractors /565 (1) - Manny Machado



1st Draft (2)
Flashbacks - Baseball (2)/News (2)
New Age Performers (3)
Then & Now (3)




Clubhouse Collection Julio Teheran Jersey



Topps Heritage is back bring to life a yesteryear design to collectors. It celebrates the 50th Anniversary of a previously release. This year's revival is 1965 Topps. Each base card utilizes the design from 1965. In addition, the high number short prints (75 total) are here as well. Even the inserts take on the theme and design from 1965. Topps Heritage is a massive 500 card set. It infuses rookies, veterans and managers along with season leaders and events from the season such as World Series Highlights. As previously mentioned, the final 75 cards are short prints as they appear 1:3 packs.

Be on the lookout for many variations of these cards. The idea is to feature various errors that happen back in the day. There are Throwback Uniform Variations (players feature in a throwback), Logo Variations (different team logo on the front of the card) and Action Image Variations (player in an action pose instead of the standard still pose in front of the camera). In addition, there are parallels for the base set. Each has four in a chrome style: Chrome /999, Chrome Refractor /565, Black Chrome Refractor /65 and Gold Chrome Refractor /5. Also, there is a Black Back version and Minis /100. One last chase card is the Complete Set Redemption card, but odds of finding one are not good at 1:809,472 packs.

There are three types of box loaders that can only be found in hobby boxes. Buybacks of original 1965 Topps feature a stamped logo to denote it was a buyback card. Personally, I do not see the point as most collectors would rather have the card without the stamp. The Ad Panels contain three players on the front and an advertisement on the back. The final one is an Oversized card. These take on the style and design of the 1965 Presidents And Famous Americana cards. There are three versions: the regular insert /50, relics /25 and autographs /10.

Four insert sets add filler to the packs. Flashbacks (Baseball and News), Then & Now and New Age Performers have been in previous releases. 1st Draft centers around the 1965 MLB Draft. Adding to the Buybacks, Topps has randomly inserted some from various releases in 1965. These include Flash Gordon, Gilligan's Island, Hot Iron Transfers, Rolling Stones and Superman.

Each box of Heritage yields one auto or relic on average. In Heritage, relic does not simply mean a jersey, bat, etc. There are cards and that feature a player matched with a coin or a stamp from 1965. However, the typical relic will be from the Clubhouse Collection series, which will feature between one and four relics along with having autograph versions. Cut Signatures make an appearance with a mix of former baseball players and celebrities. But the most highly sought after autograph *sarcasm alert* will be from Keith Olbermann (1:15,000 packs).

Heritage is great for collectors old and new. It bridges a gap among the generations and leaves a lot for chase seekers. TTM/IP enthusiasts will enjoy utilizing these cards for their collections. On the other hand, this is not one for the secondary market as the yield is low.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Base - 4/5
Design - 4.25/5
Fun - 3.5/5
Value - 3/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Overall - 18.75/25 (75%)

NPN INFORMATION

NPN 2014 Topps Heritage BB
PO Box 2036
Duryea, PA 18642

Limit 1 Request Per Household

Postmarked By: 6/4/14
Received By: 6/11/14

Canada Skills: 14 x 2 + 22 - 1 = ?

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Topps for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all of their products, visit them today at www.topps.com.

Base and inserts are available for request. Please PM me with the card or cards of interest, including card numbers for base cards. Cards will remain available for 30 days from the time this review is posted. As always, only VIPs may make a request for the first 48 hours.

[pwaldo]

I know it has been beaten to death like that Chico Salmon card has but Topps couldn't have found a better conditioned card to stamp?

[Enigma]

Peter. I didn't even show the back which has initials written on it in pencil.