2004 Topps Heritage Baseball Cards

The 2004 Topps Heritage Baseball set was released in February 2004. The set includes 475 base cards, and a nice variety of insert cards and autographs.

The cards in the set feature a horizontal design, patterned after the original 1955 Topps baseball set. Some other similarites in the set is that card #2 features Nomar Garciaparra, a Boston Red Sox star at the time, whereas in 1955, card #2 was Ted Williams, also a Red Sox star. There are other instances like that also.

Some of the condition issues of this set is that many cards seem to have "factory roller marks" on them, which are slight indentations that were evidently part of the production process at Topps' factory. Also, once again, many people report centering problems, as well as some dinged corners on some of the cards in the 2004 Topps Heritage set, making it a little bit tougher to find truly MINT, centered cards. Also, I've read that Edgar Martinez cards from this year are tough to find with good centering on the back.

The set was issued in packs/boxes that could be found in both "hobby" and "retail" form. The hobby boxes were exclusively sold through sportscard dealers, while the retail boxes could be found at large retail stores.

A notable player absent from the 2004 Topps Heritage set is Barry Bonds. who was not under contract with Topps in 2004 and wouldn't allow his cards to be printed.

Also, Sandy Koufax didn't appear on any Topps Heritage cards, and he would have made a great addition to the set, particularly the "Real One" autographs.

John Smoltz cards all have an uncorrected error (UER) on the back, listing 2003 as the year he saved 55 games. The correct year is 2002.

Chrome

There are 3 different chrome sets that are parallel to the base set. Topps introduced "Black Chrome Refractors" in 2004. Each Chrome set is made up of 110 different cards:

Chrome (Limited and #'d to 1955)
Refractor (Limited and #'d to 555)
Black Refractor (Limited and #'d to 55)

All three of the Chrome sets continue to maintain their popularity amongst Heritage fans. The very limited Black bordered refractors should continue to bring good prices, with more collectors discovering Topps Heritage every year.

The 2004 Topps Heritage cards are standard modern sized cards, unlike the original 1955 Topps set.

Short Printed cards

SP's or "short prints" are base cards that were printed in less quantity than the other base cards, causing them to be more difficult to find. There are 100 different "short printed" cards in the 2004 Topps Heritage set. Card #'s 398-475 are all SP's, as well as the cards listed below with the SP designation.

This is also a list of the variations that can be found in the 2004 Topps Heritage baseball set. Remember, cards #398-475 are ALL short prints.

#1 Jim Thome - Variation "Fielding"
#1 Jim Thome - Variation "Hitting" SP
#2 Nomar Garciaparra - SP
#4 Rafael Palmeiro - SP
#8 Dmitri Young - Variation "New Logo"
#8 Dmitri Young - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#10 Jason Giambi - Variation "Swinging"
#10 Jason Giambi - Variation "Batting Stance" SP
#28 Sammy Sosa - SP
#30 Adam Dunn - Variation "Fielding"
#30 Adam Dunn - Variation "Hitting" SP
#40 Chipper Jones - Variation "Pointing"
#40 Chipper Jones - Variation "Fielding" SP
#47 Gary Sheffield - SP
#49 Jason Kendall - Variation "New Logo"
#49 Jason Kendall - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#50 Ichiro - SP
#60 Magglio Ordonez - Variation "Running"
#60 Magglio Ordonez - Variation "Hitting" SP
#70 Todd Helton - Variation "White Jersey"
#70 Todd Helton - Variation "Purple Jersey" SP
#85 Rodney Choy Foo - Variation "New Logo"
#85 Rodney Choy Foo - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#92 Matt Creighton RC - SP
#100 Alex Rodriguez - Variation "Hitting"
#100 Alex Rodriguez - Variation "Throwing" SP
#117 Pat Burrell - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#117 Pat Burrell - Variation "New Logo"
#120 Frank Thomas - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#120 Frank Thomas - Variation "New Logo"
#123 Zach Miner RC - SP
#124 Matt Moses RC - SP
#164 Zach Duke RC - SP
#180 Manny Ramirez - Variation "New Logo"
#180 Manny Ramirez - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#182 Moises Alou - Variation "New Logo"
#182 Moises Alou - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#194 Rich Aurilia - SP
#198 Jorge Posada - SP
#200 Albert Pujols - Variation "New Logo"
#200 Albert Pujols - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#210 Shawn Green - SP
#213 Brandon Webb - Variation "Glove on Chest"
#213 Brandon Webb - Variation "Glove in Air" SP
#250 Alfonso Soriano - Variation "Throwing"
#250 Alfonso Soriano - Variation "Fielding" SP
#311 Jay Gibbons - Variation "New Logo"
#311 Jay Gibbons - Variation "Old Logo" SP
#342 Barry Zito - Variation "White Jersey"
#342 Barry Zito - Variation "Green Jersey" SP
#361 Ryan Wagner - Variation "New Logo"
#361 Ryan Wagner - Variation "Old Logo" SP

"Real One" autographed cards

There are 34 different "Real One" signature/autograph cards that come in either blue or red ink. The "red ink" versions are the rarest, each being hand-numbered to 55. It is estimated that approximately 200 of each "blue ink" autograph card are in existance.

1:230 retail odds

The checklist of 2004 Heritage Real One autographs is:

RO-AK Al Kaline
RO-BG Bill Glynn
RO-BW Bill Wilson
RO-BC Billy Consolo
RO-BB Bob Borkowski
RO-BK Bob Kline
RO-BM Bob Milliken
RO-DP Duane Pillette
RO-DS Duke Snider
RO-EB Ernie Banks
RO-FS Frank Smith
RO-GA Gair Allie
RO-HK Harmon Killebrew
RO-HV Harold Valentine
RO-HE Harry Elliot
RO-HP Harry Perkowski
RO-VT "Jake" Thies

Flashback Autographs

• #FA-NPS Don Newcombe / Johnny Podres / Duke Snider
• #FA-AK Al Kaline

Clubhouse Collection Relic Autographs

Each card limited and hand numbered to only 25.

• #CCRA-AK Al Kaline
• #CCRA-DS Duke Snider
• #CCRA-EB Ernie Banks
• #CCRA-WM Willie Mays

Clubhouse Collection DUAL Relics (non-autographed)

• #CCDR-MP Albert Pujols Stan Musial
• #CCDR-BC Roger Clemens Yogi Berra
• #CCDR-SG Shawn Green Duke Snider

Clubhouse Collection Relics (non-autographed)

• CCR-AD Adam Dunn
• CCR-AK Al Kaline
• CCR-AP Albert Pujols
• CCR-AR Alex Rodriguez
• CCR-AS Alfonso Soriano
• CCR-AJ Andruw Jones
• CCR-BZ Barry Zito
• CCR-BA Bobby Abreu
• CCR-BB Bret Boone
• CCR-BM Brett Myers
• CCR-CS C.C. Sabathia
• CCR-CJ Chipper Jones
• CCR-DS Duke Snider
• CCR-EC Eric Chavez
• CCR-EG Eric Gagne
• CCR-FM Fred McGriff
• CCR-GS Gary Sheffield
• CCR-GM Greg Maddux
• CCR-HB Hank Blalock
• CCR-HR Harmon Killebrew
• CCR-IR Ivan Rodriguez
• CCR-JG Jason Giambi
• CCR-JL Javy Lopez
• CCR-JT Jim Thome
• CCR-JR Jimmy Rollins
• CCR-JS John Smoltz
• CCR-JD Johnny Damon
• CCR-JRE Jose Reyes
• CCR-KI Kazuhisa Ishii
• CCR-KW Kerry Wood
• CCR-KB Kevin Brown

Flashbacks (non-autographed)

• #F1 Duke Snider
• #F2 Johnny Podres
• #F3 Don Newcombe
• #F4 Al Kaline
• #F5 Willie Mays
• #F6 Stan Musial
• #F7 Harmon Killebrew
• #F8 Herb Score
• #F9 Whitey Ford
• #F10 Robin Roberts

 

Topps Heritage "Double Header" insert set

This set contains 15 cards, each picturing two players (one on front and one on back). These were inserted as "box toppers" in hobby boxes of 2004 Topps Heritage. The "Double Header" set is patterned after the original 1955 Topps Double Header set.

• 1 Alex Rodriguez
• 2 Nomar Garciaparra
• 3 Ichiro
• 4 Albert Pujols
• 5 Sammy Sosa
• 6 Derek Jeter
• 7 Jim Thome
• 8 Adam Dunn
• 9 Jason Giambi
• 10 Ivan Rodriguez
• 11 Todd Helton
• 12 Luis Gonzalez
• 13 Jeff Bagwell
• 14 Lance Berkman
• 15 Alfonso Soriano
• 16 Dontrelle Willis
• 17 Mark Prior
• 18 Vladimir Guerrerro
• 19 Mike Piazza
• 20 Roger Clemens
• 21 Randy Johnson
• 22 Curt Schilling
• 23 Gary Sheffield
• 24 Pedro Martinez
• 25 Carlos Delgado
• 26 Jimmy Rollins
• 27 Andruw Jones
• 28 Chipper Jones
• 29 Rocco Baldelli
• 30 Hank Blalock

"Then and Now" insert set

#TN1 Willie Mays/Jim Thome
#TN2 Al Kaline/Albert Pujols
#TN3 Duke Snider/Carlos Delgado
#TN4 Robin Roberts/Roy Halladay
#TN5 Don Newcombe/Johan Santana
#TN6 Herb Score/Kerry Wood

"New Age Performers" insert set

• #NAP1 Jason Giambi
• #NAP2 Ichiro
• #NAP3 Alex Rodriguez
• #NAP4 Alfonso Soriano
• #NAP5 Albert Pujols
• #NAP6 Nomar Garciaparra
• #NAP7 Mark Prior
• #NAP8 Derek Jeter
• #NAP9 Sammy Sosa
• #NAP10 Carlos Delgado
• #NAP11 Jim Thome
• #NAP12 Todd Helton
• #NAP13 Gary Sheffield
• #NAP14 Vladimir Guerrerro
• #NAP15 Josh Beckett

"Grandstand Glory" Stadium Seat Relic cards

• GGR-AK Al Kaline
• GGR-HK Harmon Killebrew
• GGR-SM Stan Musial
• GGR-WS Warren Spahn
• GGR-WM Willie Mays
• GGR-YB Yogi Berra