Collect call: 2009 Topps Heritage High Number Series

Posted Dec 6, 2009 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Dec 6, 2009 at 08:27 PM

Topps ends its Heritage series for 2009 with its high number series. To me, it’s the last gasp for a couple of years. I say that because while the 1960 design for this year’s Heritage is stellar, the designs for the next few years (assuming Topps follows through with the 1961 through 1964 templates) are going to be tame.

I just wasn’t a fan of the 1961-64 designs. Maybe it’s just me, but I can hardly wait for the Heritage that features the 1965 set (we’ll see that in 2014). That ’65 set was awesome.

But back to 1960. This is the one Topps set of the vintage era that looked good (as in crisp and clean) with the horizontal layout.

The 2009 version is even sharper. This set features cards numbered from 501 to 720. There are 75 rookies in the set, and cards from 686 to 720 are short prints that feature gray (instead of white) backs.

There are six super short prints too, and hold your breath — some of the designs are beyond belief. For example, there is a Derek Jeter card with a Red Sox team logo, and a Dustin Pedroia card with a Yankees logo.
Pass the smelling salts.

Three of the super SPs — Pedro Martinez, Alex Rio and Neftali Feliz — feature black-and-white head shots. The final super SP is an all-rookie design card of Albert Pujols.

Here is the breakdown. A hobby box contains 24 packs and eight cards. But for the second straight year, Topps has decided to insert a pair of its Updates & Highlights cards into each pack of Heritage. I didn’t like it last year, and certainly not this year, either.

If you are set builder, this will be particularly frustrating. The hobby box I sampled produced 126 of the 220 base cards. Can’t help but wonder how much closer to completing the set I would have been had there been 48 more Heritage cards and not U&Hs.

Topps promises one game-used or autograph card per box. The box I sampled contained a Chipper Jones Clubhouse Collection game-used card. The autograph cards feature signatures on the card, which is a huge plus.
The usual cast of Heritage inserts (Flashback, Then and Now, Rookie Performers) are also present, and the hobby box I saw had 10 chrome parallels numbered to 1960.

Oh yeah, don’t forget the gum in every pack. Still has that distinctive taste.