The Best Kind of Box-Toppers

Though the last few years have been pretty standard with the panels and buybacks, Topps Heritage, especially many years ago, has the best box-toppers out of any baseball card product I can recall. Specifically, I'm talking about the felt patches from 2007 Topps Heritage, recreating the original patches from 1958.

Back before I got super into collecting, it was my Dad who spearheaded most of what the collection would be focused on. Back then as well as now, his favorite set remains Topps Heritage, and he's never focused more on a Heritage product than 2007, commemorating the 1958 Topps set. 

While I don't think I'll own any originals, I have my fair share of box-toppers from the Heritage set, 5 of them to be exact. While I purchased 2 of them for $1 each back in August at The National, the other 3 plus a Red Sox emblem that we lost, something I still kick myself for, was pulled out of packs.

A quick search on eBay, unfortunately, verified that it would be hard to find an original felt patch since I was unable to find an original Cubs or Red Sox patch, and those 2 teams are likely the only ones I'd be willing to pay big money for. 

Rather than focusing on that, I'm going to take some time to focus on the Heritage felt patches that I do have. In addition to the Phillies, I have emblems of 4 other teams.

I somehow have 2 of the reprinted Yankees patches, but I don't know how each of them came into my collection. Neither of them came from The National this summer, likely meaning one came from a pack and one was purchased at a previous sports card show. Originally, the Yankees' patches were a very dark blue, a color I think would work better instead of red. Even so, the Yankees patch with its simplicity is one of my favorites.

The Orioles felt emblem feels seems to emulate the 1950s more so than the other patches do. From the Oriole logo to the light orange color, it does one of the better jobs of recreating the originals that I've seen. Back in 1958, they were limited to a few colors; white, black, red, and blue seem to cover the entire set, meaning Topps was able to get a bit more creative with colors in 2007. 

Though the Red Sox patch from '07 Heritage that I once had has been lost, the Cubs one remains thanks to the previously mentioned find at The National. Featuring the classic Cubs' bear logo, the Chicago patch is pretty traditional and simple, but that's not at all a bad thing. 

After all, the 50s were a simpler time, especially for Baseball and Baseball cards. So, why not have the recreated emblems be equally as traditional?

Out of all the patches that I found in my 2007 Topps Heritage binder earlier today, the unique light blue Washington Senators patch is easily my favorite. The 2nd of the 2 patches that I bought this summer, the Senators' emblem features an awesome light blue color that was likely unavailable for Topps back in 1958 as well as a drawing of the Capitol Building with a "W" in front of it.

I doubt I'll ever track down all of these given how they were somewhat scarcely printed, nor do I think I could find an original to save my life. However, as long as I have the Senators patch right now and eventually track down another Red Sox one, I'll be very happy.