2025 Topps Heritage...
 

Beckett has the 2025 Topps Heritage checklist up nice and early (yay!), although strangely there are no card images, and the release date is "TBA", although it had previously been announced as April 30th.

[url]https://www.beckett.com/news/2025-topps-heritage-baseball-cards/[/url]

Topps has made some interesting changes to the product, which could be good or bad depending on your perspective.

- the Real One checklist has gotten huge (105 cards), and in line with other products, is now bloated with rookies. There are 28 players who were active in 1976, although interestingly no Yount or Carlton Real One autos despite the fact that they have other autos in the set. And there are no Ohtani autos, period.

- lots of new auto subsets, which makes me think that they are going to stick to the 2024HHN formula of having 7-9 autos per case, rather than the old 2-4.

- the entire set is being Chromed, also in line with 2024HHN. Unfortunately, this is going to devalue Chromes and also make it impossible to build complete chrome sets anymore, which has been a popular activity in the past.

- no mention of minis or throwbacks

- there is a new "1976 Redefined" subset.....could that be horizontal cards?

Anyway....everything points to a higher price point at release, since the product seems to be structured similarly to 24HHN, with more autos per case, and the entire set chromed.

[QUOTE=mfw13;19860418]Beckett has the 2025 Topps Heritage checklist up nice and early (yay!), although strangely there are no card images, and the release date is "TBA", although it had previously been announced as April 30th.

[url]https://www.beckett.com/news/2025-topps-heritage-baseball-cards/[/url]

Topps has made some interesting changes to the product, which could be good or bad depending on your perspective.

- the Real One checklist has gotten huge (105 cards), and in line with other products, is now bloated with rookies. There are 28 players who were active in 1976, although interestingly no Yount or Carlton Real One autos despite the fact that they have other autos in the set. And there are no Ohtani autos, period.

- lots of new auto subsets, which makes me think that they are going to stick to the 2024HHN formula of having 7-9 autos per case, rather than the old 2-4.

- the entire set is being Chromed, also in line with 2024HHN. Unfortunately, this is going to devalue Chromes and also make it impossible to build complete chrome sets anymore, which has been a popular activity in the past.

- no mention of minis or throwbacks

- there is a new "1976 Redefined" subset.....could that be horizontal cards?

Anyway....everything points to a higher price point at release, since the product seems to be structured similarly to 24HHN, with more autos per case, and the entire set chromed.[/QUOTE]

As I guessed. All chrome in heritage. That's one of the worst ideas. This ain't heritage. I'm out. Boxes will probably be $200. Sticking to singles.

Edit: Those chromes are going to be utterly worth pennies with the exception of the superfractor, gold, and black. They are really diluting the chrome technology that was so cool in the 90s.

Edit 2: OH let's make a 100 card insert checklist so this product will not be about making sets.

will sell well, easily

wax addiction is at an all time high

[QUOTE=mikejones;19860425]Edit: Those chromes are going to be utterly worth pennies with the exception of the superfractor, gold, and black. They are really diluting the chrome technology that was so cool in the 90s.

Edit 2: OH let's make a 100 card insert checklist so this product will not be about making sets.[/QUOTE]

I think it's just another iteration of the "stuff the product with a lot of low-value stuff and convince people that it's worth paying more for" strategy.

At any given time, there are probably only 25-50 players which are actually in demand....go back through the 100-card chrome checklists and you'll see that probably a third of the checklist is either run-of-the-mill regulars or rookies who never made it.

I think that the one change that they could make would be to make chromes of the retired players and insert them as SSPs.

But having 500 chromes, when 400+ of them are $1 players that nobody really cares about them is just about creating the "illusion of value"....just like making it easier to pull autos, when most of them are scrubs.

Roki has a card. Why doesn’t it have RC label?

[QUOTE=mikejones;19860425]As I guessed. [B]All chrome in heritage. That's one of the worst ideas.[/B] This ain't heritage. I'm out. Boxes will probably be $200. Sticking to singles.

Edit: Those chromes are going to be utterly worth pennies with the exception of the superfractor, gold, and black. They are really diluting the chrome technology that was so cool in the 90s.

Edit 2: OH let's make a 100 card insert checklist so this product will not be about making sets.[/QUOTE]

I agree. Just an awful idea

[QUOTE=mfw13;19860443][B]I think it's just another iteration of the "stuff the product with a lot of low-value stuff and convince people that it's worth paying more for" strategy. [/B]

At any given time, there are probably only 25-50 players which are actually in demand....go back through the 100-card chrome checklists and you'll see that probably a third of the checklist is either run-of-the-mill regulars or rookies who never made it.

I think that the one change that they could make would be to make chromes of the retired players and insert them as SSPs.

But having 500 chromes, when 400+ of them are $1 players that nobody really cares about them is just about creating the "illusion of value"....just like making it easier to pull autos, when most of them are scrubs.[/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more. I love Heritage and look forward to building a set every year. Heritage has a die hard collector fan base, that for the most part, was happy with the product line. What Fanatics is doing to Heritage, in order to justify a higher cost and thus profit, is gross. A bloated chrome and Real One auto checklist is a sizable step backward in collector experience. Very few people, maybe none, care about common players who get chromed, or the forgettable no name rookie coming in for a cup of coffee, only to bounce up and down the minors before never being heard from again.

Seeing the chrome and auto checklist just reminds me of the adage: When everything is special, nothing is special

Sounds like a lot of improvements for a dying brand.

Still waiting on On-Card Chrome/Ref AU

BOOM!

We’ll hear that sound a lot watching box breakers pull common chrome heritage cards out of packs.

[QUOTE=mfw13;19860443][B]I think it's just another iteration of the "stuff the product with a lot of low-value stuff and convince people that it's worth paying more for" strategy. [/B]

At any given time, there are probably only 25-50 players which are actually in demand....go back through the 100-card chrome checklists and you'll see that probably a third of the checklist is either run-of-the-mill regulars or rookies who never made it.

I think that the one change that they could make would be to make chromes of the retired players and insert them as SSPs.

But having 500 chromes, when 400+ of them are $1 players that nobody really cares about them is just about creating the "illusion of value"....just like making it easier to pull autos, when most of them are scrubs.[/QUOTE]

This exactly. It's partially what has driven the price 24HHN to stupid levels and people think it's great. 98% of those parallels is just perceived value, but in reality adds very little value. Yet, people are just falling over themselves to purchase the product. Kudos to Fanatics/Topps; they fed the sheep. I recently saw Jabs Family open 5 blasters that he purchased for $40 each (and what he is subsequently was asking his viewers to pay), getting the 3 green (whatever) parallels of nobodies and 1 chrome /699 per box. Not worth $24.99, let alone $40! It's comical looking at some of the '24HHN cards on Ebay and what sellers are trying to get. Even more comical (to me) is actually what few of the cards have sold for. I just want to grab ahold of some of these people and shake them until they come to their senses. But, in the end, who am I to tell people how to spend their money. Let me add, I view all this from the point of me being a collector....I don't purchase to sell/flip. If I did, maybe I would think differently. However, it seems like the collector is the one getting bent over and stuck paying the $200 per box if they want the product.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19860674]BOOM!

We’ll hear that sound a lot watching box breakers pull common chrome heritage cards out of packs.[/QUOTE]

Yep..its hilarious watching people break this stuff screaming how "loaded" this product is when the majority of the "hits" are just commons

[QUOTE=KhalDrogo;19860495]Sounds like a lot of improvements for a dying brand.[/QUOTE]

Agreed..... Heritage needed an update to bring it more into the modern era and expand the collector base for it as we get into some of the less popular late 70's designs.

[QUOTE=coupie21;19860701] It's comical looking at some of the '24HHN cards on Ebay and what sellers are trying to get. Even more comical (to me) is actually what few of the cards have sold for.[/QUOTE]

A telling way to examine this phenomenon (thinking the value flows from the /x vs actual player-team collector base) is on COMC in sets like Chrome Sonic & Chrome Platinum Anniversary, with the prices on things like black&white lava /175 or whatever. Aside from the silly prices, the four year sales data is right there for all to see. For thousands and thousands of cards, the number is: zero.

I have never been drawn to the 76 design. It beats 1970 for sure but it might otherwise likely finish #9 if I had to create a top-ten-of-the-seventies. I think the repetitive-ness of the little player graphic kinda wears me out looking at too many 76s at once. Maybe better for singles than sets?

I do think 78 & 79 are under-rated for their simplicity, particularly 78 with the classy cursive, something now rarely seen in modern life. Then a return to bright primary colors in 79, but again with a minimal use of the 2.5x3.5” real estate by the design. This -could- really let the game of Baseball shine through in the photography, if that’s given a chance. If it’s just hundreds upon hundreds of way zoomed-in torsos as in 2024 Heritage, then it’s all just a bunch of whatevs

What I am most interested in for 25 Heritage is whether Topps will attempt to re-create the iconic Bevacqua card. They did a Throwback Thursday use of the concept, but what will we see in 6 weeks or whenever?

[QUOTE=KhalDrogo;19860495]Sounds like a lot of improvements for a dying brand.[/QUOTE]

Can you be more specific about what you think constitutes an improvement?

Changing up the insert sets is fine....don't have a problem with that.

But chroming the entire set is a negative to me, since it makes it virtually impossible to build the entire Chrome set.

And the increasing number of color parallels are mostly a nuisance, since only regular chromes, refractors, blacks, and golds have any real following. I'd rather get an extra SP that I need to build my set that a random colored refractor I couldn't care less about.

Few people really care about purple, blue, green, or red Heritage refractors.

My oh my has the product design changed since product inception.

Autograph checklist for the debut product in 2001:

THA-AH Aubrey Huff
THA-AP Andy Pafko
THA-AR Alex Rodriguez
THA-BB Barry Bonds
THA-BS Bobby Shantz
THA-BT Bobby Thomson
THA-CD Carlos Delgado
THA-CF Cliff Floyd
THA-CJ Chipper Jones
THA-CP Corey Patterson
THA-CS Curt Simmons
THA-DD Dom DiMaggio
THA-DG Dick Groat
THA-DS Duke Snider
THA-EM Eddie Mathews EXCH (fulfilled with a Willie Mays Red Ink)
THA-ES Enos Slaughter
THA-FV Fernando Vina
THA-GJ Geoff Jenkins
THA-GM Gil McDougald
THA-HB Hank Bauer
THA-HS Hank Sauer
THA-HW Hoyt Wilhelm
THA-JG Joe Garagiola
THA-JM Joe Mays
THA-JS Johnny Sain
THA-JV Jose Vidro
THA-KB Kris Benson
THA-LD Larry Doby EXCH (never honored)
THA-MB Mark Buehrle
THA-MI Monte Irvin
THA-ML Matt Lawton
THA-ML Mike Lamb
THA-MM Minnie Minoso
THA-MO Magglio Ordonez
THA-MQ Mark Quinn
THA-MR Mark Redman
THA-MS Mike Sweeney
THA-MV Mickey Vernon
THA-NG Nomar Garciaparra
THA-PFR Phil Rizzuto
THA-PR Preacher Roe
THA-RH Richard Hidalgo
THA-RR Robin Roberts
THA-RS Red Schoendienst
THA-RW Randy Wolf
THA-SPB Sean Burroughs
THA-TG Tom Glavine
THA-TH Todd Helton
THA-TL Terrence Long
THA-VL Vernon Law
THA-WM Willie Mays
THA-WS Warren Spahn

Mikey knows vet auto expense > RC zit faced kid expense. LOAD IT UP with junk baby! The chunky oreo/wax addict neanderthals will EAT IT UP!

TLDR: Singles only for me

[QUOTE=KhalDrogo;19860495]Sounds like a lot of improvements for a dying brand.[/QUOTE]

Dying brand? Aside than Flagship and Bowman, it’s the only brand that has sold strong year after year for almost a quarter of a century.

[QUOTE=Skipscards;19861417]Dying brand? Aside than Flagship and Bowman, it’s the only brand that has sold strong year after year for almost a quarter of a century.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. Far from a dying brand.

[QUOTE=imbluestreak23;19861403]My oh my has the product design changed since product inception.

Autograph checklist for the debut product in 2001:

THA-AH Aubrey Huff
THA-AP Andy Pafko
THA-AR Alex Rodriguez
THA-BB Barry Bonds
THA-BS Bobby Shantz
THA-BT Bobby Thomson
THA-CD Carlos Delgado
THA-CF Cliff Floyd
THA-CJ Chipper Jones
THA-CP Corey Patterson
THA-CS Curt Simmons
THA-DD Dom DiMaggio
THA-DG Dick Groat
THA-DS Duke Snider
THA-EM Eddie Mathews EXCH (fulfilled with a Willie Mays Red Ink)
THA-ES Enos Slaughter
THA-FV Fernando Vina
THA-GJ Geoff Jenkins
THA-GM Gil McDougald
THA-HB Hank Bauer
THA-HS Hank Sauer
THA-HW Hoyt Wilhelm
THA-JG Joe Garagiola
THA-JM Joe Mays
THA-JS Johnny Sain
THA-JV Jose Vidro
THA-KB Kris Benson
THA-LD Larry Doby EXCH (never honored)
THA-MB Mark Buehrle
THA-MI Monte Irvin
THA-ML Matt Lawton
THA-ML Mike Lamb
THA-MM Minnie Minoso
THA-MO Magglio Ordonez
THA-MQ Mark Quinn
THA-MR Mark Redman
THA-MS Mike Sweeney
THA-MV Mickey Vernon
THA-NG Nomar Garciaparra
THA-PFR Phil Rizzuto
THA-PR Preacher Roe
THA-RH Richard Hidalgo
THA-RR Robin Roberts
THA-RS Red Schoendienst
THA-RW Randy Wolf
THA-SPB Sean Burroughs
THA-TG Tom Glavine
THA-TH Todd Helton
THA-TL Terrence Long
THA-VL Vernon Law
THA-WM Willie Mays
THA-WS Warren Spahn

Mikey knows vet auto expense > RC zit faced kid expense. LOAD IT UP with junk baby! The chunky oreo/wax addict neanderthals will EAT IT UP!

TLDR: Singles only for me[/QUOTE]

2001 had Low percentage of commons while 2025 real ones are about 40% commons. The endless common chromes will also not add value...

[QUOTE=Skipscards;19861417]Dying brand? Aside than Flagship and Bowman, it’s the only brand that has sold strong year after year for almost a quarter of a century.[/QUOTE]
Sure it has. It’s such a success that Fanatics is turning it on its head and making it mirror every other trash product they release.

You guys live in a bubble. Like mfw complaining about checklists.

[QUOTE=KhalDrogo;19861437]Sure it has. It’s such a success that Fanatics is turning it on its head and making it mirror every other trash product they release.

You guys live in a bubble. Like mfw complaining about checklists.[/QUOTE]

Not a bubble. Fanatics doing stupid things doesn’t mean it’s not a success. They made changes because they want more of the money. They have been working hard to screw everyone except themselves. Mission accomplished.

For resellers it is the easiest product to turn a profit on every year. And it’s one of the only sets people still actually build every year.

When Fanatics takes over everything you won't be able to afford anything. It's going to be bad.

I didn’t see Mike Trout on the Real One checklist :/

odds [url]https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0662/9749/5709/files/2025ToppsHeritageBaseballOdds_b2d12525-ff01-4019-94ad-37fa834c4e54.pdf?v=1743199939[/url]