Top 10 Cards From 2019 Topps Heritage

Although I haven't waivered on my belief that Topps Heritage utilizes far too much blue sky in the card backgrounds, I must admit that there have been some pretty impressive cards in Topps Heritage this year, and I'm not just talking about the inserts and SPs.

The main draw to Topps Heritage is the short print and variations due to the value of those particular cards. Granted, it's awesome to pull a few SPs or get lucky with a rare variation. However, 90% of the cards you pull in Topps Heritage are base cards, an often overlooked aspect of the set.

In spite of the over-reliance on blue sky backgrounds, especially since 2017, Topps has produced some stellar base cards over the last few years with 2019 being no exception. It's part of what makes Topps Heritage a fan-favorite set year after year, for even the common base cards are well-crafted. 

As it stands now, I'm fairly certain that I've finished opening packs of Topps Heritage. This likely means that I'll soon begin piecing together the set myself, both at the Baseball card show and online. 

After all, you can only open so much Topps Heritage before the inevitable doubles begin to reveal themselves.

So, as an appreciation post of sorts for 2019 Topps Heritage, today, I'll be counting down my 10 favorite base cards from this years' set, starting with a Red Sox player at #10.

#10 Rafael Devers

At the beginning of each new card collecting season, it takes me a while to fully realize that last years' rookies are no longer first-year players. While I begin to recognize the new rookie class, it becomes engraved into my head that 2018 rookies like Rafael Devers are now in their 2nd (technically 3rd) season.

Devers' 2019 Topps Heritage card shows him doing what he typically does; smiling. While a ballpark shot would be a better option instead, the background is still an excellent fit along with the classic Red Sox uniform. 

Just seeing this card makes me excited for the 2019 MLB season, and I'm hoping that it's a bounce-back year for the 22-year old.

#9 Todd Frazier

When I first saw Todd Frazier's 2019 Topps Heritage card, I mistook it for some kind of variation, likely an action image card. However, I quickly learned that it was a base card instead and one of the better ones in the entire set.

I thoroughly appreciate Topps' efforts to use a wider variety of different images, hence why Frazier's card made the list. Instead of showcasing the same Spring Training photo that I've grown to slightly dislike, a pre-game shot of Frazier signing autographs is a drastically better choice.

#8 Josh Donaldson

After initially applauding Topps for showing Josh Donaldson on his new team, the Atlanta Braves, given how recently he signed with them, I began to appreciate various aspects of the card. As far as Spring Training cards go in Heritage, Donaldson's is definitely as good as it gets.

The background is not limited whatsoever and, instead, allows for a broad view of the ballpark. The black bat is another nice addition, and thanks to modern technology, it's very difficult to tell that Donaldson was photoshopped into the Braves' uniform at first glance.

#7 Masahiro Tanaka

Although I spotted roughly half a dozen cards similar to the one above, featuring a pitcher holding a Baseball for the camera to see, it was Tanaka's that stuck out for all the right reasons. Whether I'm fond of the team or not, the Yankee pinstripes look like they belong on this card because of how classic the jerseys and the 1970 Topps set is.

As a matter of fact, nearly everything about this card, from the team name to the cursive writing, is classic and very simplistic. And yet, this rather basic card was more than enough to make the top 10.

#6 Joe Panik

Thankfully, not every sky background is exactly the same, for some photos were taken a bit closer to sunset than others. One of those cards belongs to Giants 2nd baseman Joe Panik, whose card not only features an intriguing background, but an action shot of Panik swinging the bat as well.

Thanks to the timing of this photograph, the bat almost appears to be coming through the actual card. In addition, he's wearing my favorite Giants uniform, the classic home jersey, which adds a subtle touch to a card that I'm already fairly fond of.

#5 Daniel Mengden

Sporting a Rollie Fingers-style mustache, Oakland Athletics pitcher seems to be paying homage to the 1981 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner with this card. With the A's uniform to pair with it, this card immediately caught my eye and entered my mind as one of the greatest cards of this years' set as soon as I pulled it from a pack.

#4 Benintendi's Benediction!

I'm sure a Topps Now card was released to honor this iconic moment in which Andrew Benintendi made an insane game-winning catch against the Astros in the 2018 ALCS. However, one could argue that this 2019 Topps Heritage card, commemorating the same event, is even better.

This is because of how much Topps stays true to the original 1970 set by creating a creative title for the card while, at the same time, using the design to pay tribute to a recent event in postseason Baseball.

#3 Carlos Santana

As an idea, showing a Cleveland Indians player in the Oakland Athletics' dugout doesn't appear to be a fantastic idea. However, now that I've seen the actual card in-person, I can confidently declare that Santana's card is one of the greatest and most interesting base cards in the past few years of Topps Heritage. There's just so much going on throughout this entire card, and I love every single bit of it.

#2 Pat Neshek

I'm not quite certain on who decided to have Pat Neshek pay tribute to Lowell Palmer's 1970 Topps card in 2019 Topps Heritage, but it's an excellent idea and very well-executed as well. Because of how eye-catching the Phillies uniform and, specifically, the sunglasses are, it's difficult to get too irritated by the rather basic background.

Also, the fun fact on the back of Neshek's card states that he's probably the only player ever to wear #93.

#1 Red Sox Celebrate World Series Title Win

All the copyright restrictions in the world couldn't take away from how crazy I am about this card, especially since it's perfectly captured in a black and white photograph. Unlike the Topps Now card for when the Red Sox won the World Series, this card captures the exact moment when they won. 

It's an event that I can easily recall from my own memory; seeing David Price run towards the mound to celebrate with Vazquez and Sale. Better yet, the subset is officially back to being The Sporting News, another small detail that did not go unappreciated.

6 Things to Know About 2019 Topps Heritage

Year after year, Topps never fails to impress me with the annual release of my favorite set; Topps Heritage and 2019 served as no exception to this tradition.

After the initial hobby box that I opened, I ended up breaking a little bit more Topps Heritage to explore this impressive product even further. However, rather than doing the standard recap of what I purchased and pulled, I'd rather write one final post on Topps Heritage in a more creative way.

While I've been opening packs of 2019 Topps Heritage, I've noticed multiple different details about the product, both large and small. Even though you generally know what to expect from Heritage every year it's released, Topps continues to surprise collectors with different variations and retro-style insert sets.

There's truly not a product quite like Topps Heritage where, even though the inserts are reoccurring and the set design is constantly expected, Topps pulls out all the stops and creates one of their most beloved products. 

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Topps will probably be doing the same thing with Heritage 50 years from now with products from the 2010s-2020s. Honestly, it's pretty odd to imagine modern-day sets recreated with Heritage cardstock, but I truly have faith that Topps can pull it off when the time comes.

Alright, back to 2019 Topps Heritage and some important things to know about this product and everything that comes with it.

#1 Be prepared for way too much sky

Having ballpark backgrounds on their cards isn't something revolutionary for Topps, so I'm confused as to why such a high percentage of the product features blue sky photographs. It would be fair to estimate that roughly 80% or more of 2019 Topps Heritage features photos with blue sky backgrounds, and this premise isn't new to 2019.

Since 2017, we've seen a major increase in blue sky backgrounds in Topps Heritage, and while I understand Topps' decision to include in-game action variations as SPs, does one variation have to come at the cost of almost every single card featuring the same background?

#2 The inserts are more colorful than ever

The colorful inserts that we've grown accustomed to seeing in Topps Heritage are a direct reflection of the year that Topps is commemorating. This likely means, unfortunately, that these incredibly colorful insert cards won't last forever. 

With that being said, simply looking at these Baseball Flashbacks and New Age Performers cards makes me hope otherwise. While the 2 different flashbacks insert sets feature the same design with different colors, the New Age Performers set design is one of the cleanest and most creative styles that I've ever seen out of Topps Heritage.

#3 This years' SPs are... complicated

One thing I've found through all the packs I've opened thus far is that it's become increasingly difficult to pull major names, even as far as the base set is concerned. I'm well aware that the superstars are once again SPs, but is that really the case?

For example, Sonny Gray is in the base set and Miles Mikolas is a short print. I'm well aware that Gray has had his struggles, but Mikolas only had 1 respectable season and gets an SP? I didn't even know his name until he signed an extension last week. 

Not to mention, the 2 MVPs, Betts and Yelich, are in the base set as well. Weird.

#4 Don't expect to pull many rookie cup cards

Last year, All-Star rookies like Andrew Benintendi were featured in the base set and, thus, pulled fairly often from packs. However, with the superstars making up the short-print checklist once again this year, don't expect to find many sophomore stars when you open packs of this product.

Other than a Harrison Bader base card, showcasing a rookie cup, the only other All-Star rookie card I pulled was an SP of Miguel Andujar. Besides a base card and a lucky SP pull, I've ended up with zero All-Star rookie cards through my Heritage openings so far.

#5 The Scratch Off inserts are my favorites

Falling at 1 per hobby box and some relatively tough retail odds, the Scratch Off insert set is a recreation of the original mini set from 1970. Back when these were first released, you and a friend could play a fantasy Baseball game of sorts with these cards, and the replicated cards are designed for the very same purpose.

I, however, will attempt to complete this insert set rather than play the game, but I am blown away by Topps' sheer attention to detail with these cards, even if 0 Red Sox players are featured.

#6 Expect the expected and the unexpected

In many different ways, Topps Heritage is a very predictable product, and in a ton of other ways, the same thing cannot be said. For instance, with the year 1970 being replicated, you can thoroughly expect guys like Yaz and Bench to be showcased in the Then & Now set. 2018 was a stellar year for rookies, so I'm not shocked to find a surplus of 2nd-year guys in the New Age Performers set.

However, Topps has certainly thrown in a few surprises with this years' product, keeping Heritage fanatics like myself on their toes. Take the Baseball Flashbacks set, a checklist that usually consists of all Hall of Fame players. Well, this time around, Thurman Munson and Joe Torre have their own cards.

There are also new "French text" variations where the blurb on the card back is written in both English and French. Topps has also introduced a new "metal" parallel in addition to the numerous other variations and parallels that have become mainstays in the set.

See what I mean, Heritage encompasses the expected and the unexpected all in 1 product, and the result is stellar, no matter the year. It's the creativity and craziness behind the set that has suckers like me coming back for more, even if the replicated set design isn't my favorite.

Highlights From My Heritage Box

Following a tradition that I've kept since 2016, I purchased a hobby box of the recently-released Topps Heritage set yesterday, the greatest overall product produced by Topps. 

While yesterday's post was devoted to my first pack from the set, I'll be recapping and showing highlights of the entire hobby box today. This includes base cards, SPs, inserts, and any other variation or special card that makes Topps Heritage one of the most highly-anticipated releases every year.

Just in case you didn't know, 2019 Topps Heritage is paying homage to the grey-bordered 1970 Topps set by replicating this memorable Flagship product. Just like the last few years, 2019 Topps Heritage features a 400-card base set, featuring players like Robinson Cano, while the final 100 spots are reserved for short prints which fall at 1:3 packs.

While I haven't directly compared a Heritage base card to a 1970 original side by side, I can't spot any major differences between the 2 sets, proving that, once again, Topps was successful with their replication of a vintage card set, something that hasn't always been the case in a product like Topps Archives.

Although it's become more prominent over the last few years, blue sky backgrounds have always been a staple in a set like Topps Heritage, a product that doesn't feature action shots unless they're variations. 

With that being said, the last 3 years or so of Heritage have resulted in a massive increase in sky blue backgrounds. Although the positioning sometimes varies, the fact that these 4 cards are from the first 14 spots in the checklist definitely speaks volume to the lack of variety when it comes to images.

As soon as I pulled my first All-Star card from a pack, I instantly took notice of the fact that these cards, once again, say "The Sporting News" at the top as opposed to what it's been for a few years now, "The Topps News." 

In addition to featuring the original title, these All-Star cards also include cartoons on the card backs, another detail from the original 1970 Topps set.

While I'm on the topic of these All-Star cards, I suppose I should point out that Bryce Harper just signed a 13-year $330 million dollar deal roughly an hour or 2 ago. Even though I'm not shocked by the signing, I happen to be relieved that all the Machado and Harper free agency rumors can finally come to an end. 

Oh, and FYI, the 2019 MLB regular season starts in exactly a month, making March 28th the motivation I need to get through the rest of this New England winter.

2019 saw the elimination of team cards from the Topps Heritage set, a decision I'm more than happy to see go into effect. In its place, there's room for more players and even championship series playoff cards. 

While past sets honored only the previous years' World Series, 2019 Topps Heritage also includes ALCS and NLCS cards, including Benintendi's phenomenal catch to end the 4th game of the ALCS against Houston.

Besides, this is the final year of Topps Flagship to honor postseason games on cards using black and white images. After 2019, we'll start seeing color photos instead, so I'm definitely going to appreciate the black and white photos while we still have them.

Forget Series 1 or even Topps Now to a certain extent, this is how I want Topps to pay tribute to the World Series winners. Seeing the Red Sox's World Series victory moment captured in black and white as a part of the Topps Heritage set makes me excited for what the 2019 MLB season has to offer.

I'm already a huge fan of many of the vintage Topps World Series designs, but it's an entirely different story to see my favorite team on these cards. Even the card commemorating the 1 game that the Red Sox lost is awesome as it featured Max Muncy's memorable walk-off home run.

A departure from the 2018 set, the 2019 Topps Heritage short prints feature superstars once again, but Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich, the 2 reigning MVPs, remain in the base set for one reason or another.

Because there are 100 total SP cards, semi-stars like Jordan Hicks and Stephen Piscotty are part of the short print checklist as well, leading to somewhat of a mix between short prints that include all superstars and those that feature only semi-star players.

Ever since the flashbacks card insert sets were separated into Baseball and News respectively, the 2 inserts have featured the same style and design, only with different colors. I've never had a major problem with this before, likely because of how in-depth each flashback card goes into the topic, whether it's an MLB legend or a historical event.

Each of the past few years of Topps Heritage has featured some sort of special insert card particular to the year that's being commemorated. 2017 included the '68 Topps game, last year showcased the '69 Deckle Edge cards, and in 2019, we have the Topps scratch-off cards.

I must say, I'm more excited to collect the scratch-off insert set than any other part of the 2019 Topps Heritage set. The 15-card insert set encompasses cards that you can fold-out and boxes you can scratch to play a fantasy Baseball game of sorts, just like the original cards.

I'm slightly disappointed that players like Justin Smoak and Starlin Castro were chosen over any Red Sox stars, but I guess I can't complain all too much given how awesome these cards are. 

The New Age Performers inserts are undeniably the most colorful and beautiful insert cards of the entire product, and I'm thrilled that the pack odds have made it easier to pull these cards that include some of Baseball's biggest names.

It's hard for me to select a favorite out of all 4 of these cards given how vastly different they all are. The Khris Davis card stays somewhat traditional with the Athletics' team colors, but the Juan Soto card, featuring green, red, and orange, would have to be my choice for the greatest of the 4 inserts that I pulled.

While certain inserts have become easier to land, chrome cards of all colors have become more difficult to pull from a pack. Even if the listed pack odds aren't completely accurate, the fact that the chrome refractors (#/570) are 1:101 packs is something worth mentioning. 

Even if I didn't wind up with the biggest name, these cards look absolutely beautiful, especially in person. If I end up springing for another box, I'll hope that it's a purple refractor hot box so that I can end up with even more eye-catching chrome cards.

I've never had the greatest luck as far as box toppers go which made pulling this recreated Topp Super Ronald Acuña Jr card all the more surprising. I was expecting something more along the lines of an ad panel or, if I'm lucky, a 1970 buyback of a marginal player.

To my knowledge, the Topps Super box toppers are a new addition to the 2019 Topps Heritage product, and I haven't even glanced at the checklist for these cards. It marks the first time I didn't wind up with a buyback or an ad panel, something that definitely makes this box topper one of the high points of the time I've been collecting Topps Heritage.

The odds also increased for the action image variations, making it harder to pull action cards that could formally be found at around 1 per hobby box. However, this change did not stop me from landing my first and the only variation from 2019 Topps Heritage thus far; an Alex Bregman action image card.

Not only do I believe that this image was taken at Fenway Park, but Bregman's one of the better names to pull after his breakout 2018 season. After finishing top 5 in AL MVP voting, Bregman established himself as one of the Astros' best players, an impressive feat indeed.

Out of all the Topps Heritage hobby boxes that I've ever opened, I was only able to land 1 autograph card, and even though I've accumulated some awesome hits, I only have 1 autograph compared to numerous relics.

Needless to say, the odds are rarely in your favor to land an autograph when purchasing Topps Heritage.

With that being said, I'm incredibly pleased to say that my 1 hit from this box of 2019 Topps Heritage was a real one autograph of Cardinals' shortstop Paul DeJong. Only my 2nd autograph ever out of Heritage, it absolutely beats a standard Clubhouse Collection, non-numbered jersey relic.

DeJong isn't coming off a fabulous season, but he was 2nd to Cody Bellinger in the 2017 NL ROY race, and he's only 25-years old. Not to mention, autographed cards and Topps Heritage are a superb combination and one that I don't get the opportunity to see all too often.

Yes, I've had better luck before with Heritage, but by no means was this a bad box. After all, I pulled a bunch of stellar inserts and beat the odds on numerous occasions. I even ended up with an autograph, further proving that there's something for everyone in Topps Heritage, no matter what your collecting style is.

Have No Fear, Topps Heritage is Here

After anticipating its release for months on end, 2019 Topps Heritage was finally released earlier today. As you can see, I wasted no time in taking a trip to my LCS for my yearly tradition of purchasing a hobby box of the fan-favorite product.

2019 makes the first year that Topps is replicating a 70s Flagship set, marking the dawn of a new era of sorts for the Heritage brand. Over the next few years, we'll start to see Topps finest sets ever created once again, featuring modern-day stars. 

I fully intend to take my time opening my hobby box so I won't be posting a full recap until tomorrow at the earliest. As for today's post, I'm starting off with just 1 pack of the product in order to access and share my thoughts on this years' set.

There's honestly no better sight than a freshly-opened hobby box with all the packs remaining unopened, especially when the pack design is as creative as the Topps Heritage sets. I'm not certain if they're created with the intent of recreating past pack styles, but they still are eye-catching regardless.

Just like it has been for as long as I can remember, a hobby box delivers 24 packs with 9 cards per pack along with the guarantee of 1 autograph or relic card as well. Thankfully, the first pack I opened didn't house my hit, for that would've been an extremely anti-climactic moment, even if it was a super rare card.

Now, the moment that I've been waiting on for quite some time now. Here's my very first pack from 2019 Topps Heritage.

#170 Albert Almora Jr.

Just under 1 month ago, I pulled Aaron Judge's base card as my first card from 2019 Topps Series 1. This time around with 2019 Topps Heritage, my first card from this set is Chicago Cubs' outfielder, Albert Almora Jr.

As expected, Topps did a stellar job of replicating the 1970 Topps set, a feat they never fail to accomplish no matter the year. While I was originally worried about the pictures being too small after what I saw on Cardboard Connection beforehand, seeing this first card proves to me that there's nothing to worry about when it comes to the size of the photos.

#279 Rick Porcello

With my first card being a Cub and the 2nd being a Red Sox player, it'd be challenging to start off better than I did with my first pack of 2019 Topps Heritage. 

Looking back on it, 1969 Topps had a fair amount of headshots, but they weren't necessarily recreated for Heritage. Upon seeing this Porcello card, I can already tell that there will be a wider variety of different images utilized in this years' product.

#313 Michael Fulmer

The bright yellow and dark blue card backs from 1970 Topps are some of the more memorable Baseball card backs in Topps history, and I'm pleased to see the effort that Topps made to redesign them practically perfectly. Even the fun fact cartoons have returned in the top right-hand corner of the card like they have in previous years of Heritage as well.

#191 David Price

With SPs once again reserved for the top superstars of Baseball, it was somewhat surprising to find Red Sox pitcher and World Series hero David Price in the base set as card #191. While I'm obviously thrilled to wind up with 2 Red Sox cards in 1 pack, just like Series 1, I expected to see Price as a short-print this year, but I'm not upset about the decision whatsoever.

#TN-8 Then & Now Johnny Bench & Javier Baez

Almost every Topps Heritage pack delivers some sort of SP, insert, numbered card, or hit, and my first pack from the 2019 set landed me an insert card that falls at roughly 1 per hobby box; a Then & Now card. 

While the pairing of Bench and Baez isn't the greatest, the insert set has remained iconic for over a decade. However, this years' design resembles the base set a smidge too much for my taste.

#376 Toronto Blue Jays rookie stars

Even more so than the standard base design, Topps was able to nail the rookie stars cards despite the fact that I've only seen the Blue Jays version thus far. Perfectly capturing the colors as well as the font and positioning, Topps successfully replicated a critical aspect of this particular iconic set of cards.

#347 David Bote

Similar to Eric Thames, Chicago Cubs 3rd baseman David Bote will likely be recognized years from now for a mini-tear that the 25-year old went on last year. Just like the few weeks in which Eric Thames was a hot commodity, Bote's walk-off grand slam will forever be an iconic aspect of modern-day Baseball history.

#398 Teoscar Hernandez

At this point in the pack, 7 of the 8 cards I've pulled have featured a member of either the Red Sox, Cubs, or Blue Jays. Even if the final card doesn't showcase a member of one of those 3 MLB teams, over 75% of the cards in pack #1 feature players on just 3 clubs. What are the odds of that?

#153 Seth Lugo

He's not necessarily the first Mets pitcher I would like to find, but seeing another headshot to close out the pack affirms my previous theory that 2019 Topps Heritage will feature a wider range of different photographs, not just the same shots we've grown accustomed to seeing year after year.

Thank goodness, because I'm getting sick and tired of players swinging a bat with bright blue skies showing up on almost every single card.