The 2023 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball collection, set to be released in the week of December 13, brings a festive touch to the annual retro-themed series. This year’s edition continues the tradition of the Heritage line and features hobby boxes containing 24 packs, each containing nine cards. With an autograph or relic card and a box loader card placed on top of the packs, collectors are in for a treat!

The base set of the collection, inspired by the 1974 Topps design, expands on the standard 500-card Heritage set released earlier in the year. It includes a high number set ranging from card number 501 to 700, with an additional 25 short prints (numbered 701-725) that collectors will eagerly seek to complete their set. This set will feature rookies who made their debut during the season and players who transferred to new teams.

To add a unique touch to the collection, there are various base card parallels available. These include Black Bordered (limited to 50, available in hobby boxes only), Flip Stock (limited to 5, available in hobby only), and various Chrome Parallels featuring 50 players. The Chrome Parallels consist of Refractor (numbered to 673), Silver Bordered (numbered to 373), Black Bordered (numbered to 73), Gold Bordered (numbered to 5, available in hobby only), and Superfractor (numbered to 1). A Hot Box Refractor will also be available. There are also base card variations such as the Missing Signature, Throwback Uniform, Action Image (available in hobby only), and Team Name and Color Swap (available in hobby only).

Topps has teased additional surprises related to the base set, building up even more anticipation. Collectors can also find 50 Mini Base Card Variations, with each card sequentially numbered to 100. Additionally, there are traded/signed stamped variations to discover.

The collection boasts diverse and exciting insert sets. These include Rookie Performers featuring 15 first-year players, Now and Then showcasing highlights from 1973 and 2022, Combo Cards with thematic pairings, Award Winners celebrating 2021 performances, 1974 Highlights highlighting iconic moments and players from the 1974 season, The Hammer honoring Hank Aaron’s home run record in April 1974, and 1974 Topps Baseball Stamps, paying homage to the original version by featuring modern stars and era-specific players.

The autograph section of the collection kicks off with Real One Autographs, featuring on-card signatures in blue ink. For collectors looking for something extra special, there are Red Ink versions, referred to as the “Special Edition,” which will be numbered to 73 or less. A new addition to the High Number series is the 1974 MLB Highlights Autographs. These cards capture moments from the 1973 MLB All-Star Game, signed by the featured player and numbered to 99 or less.

Relic and Autographed Relic cards continue to be a standard feature in the Heritage series. The Clubhouse Collection relics include game-used uniform and bat piece cards, along with autographed versions that are numbered to 25 or less. Gold parallels of the non-autographed Clubhouse cards will be numbered to 99, and there will also be 1/1 Patch parallels available for both signed and unsigned cards. Collectors can also look forward to Dual, Triple, and Quad Relics, all serial numbered, with 1/1 patch parallels included.

The checklist for the collection also features Cut Signature cards of former big leaguers and 70s celebrities, all of which are 1/1s, making them incredibly rare and sought after by collectors.

Exclusive to Hobby boxes, the box loaders in the 2023 Heritage High Number collection offer four options for collectors. These options include 1974 Topps Oversized (oversized versions of the 2022 Base cards), 1974 Topps Puzzles (honoring the 1974 Topps puzzles with current stars), 1974 Topps Deckle Edge Baseball, and 1974 Topps Originals (authentic 1973 Topps cards with a foil stamp added).

In summary, the 2023 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball collection offers a comprehensive and nostalgically themed set that combines the charm of the 1974 Topps design with modern players and current season highlights. With its array of base cards, parallels, variations, inserts, autographs, relics, and box loaders, this collection caters to both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the hobby. Get ready to embark on a journey through baseball history with a modern twist!

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