Finally some 2013 Topps Heritage.

But by the looks of things it only just made it. This package arrived squashed and soaked through. We have had some heavy rain (and snow) recently, however this package was not treated with tender loving care you might expect from the UK and/or US postal systems.
The inside of the package actually felt wet and the plastic wrapping damp. The blaster of 2013 Topps Heritage, although a little dented, looked fine. The cards within the blaster - undamaged and bloody brilliant.

I may have mentioned once or twice that 2013 Topps Heritage was hot on my list for set collection. In preparation for this monumental 425 card base set,  I tried to slim the other wants lists down a tad, (in particular completing a few sets), with a modicum of success-thanks largely to COMC.
But in doing so I realised that there a number of inserts that have used stealth to worm their way into my collecting habits, so rather than reducing the complete set wants list, I probably doubled it. Card collecting tends to do that to you.
This blaster was all that I could get my hands on, at the present time. A little demoralising when I saw that a fellow UK collector purchased a box of 2012 Panini National Treasures.
The blaster itself was opened quickly and the move to a complete set has now started in earnest,(or Westgate).

There are eight packs of cards within the blaster. There are nine cards per pack.

Pack 1:

#18 Cliff Lee Phillies

#38 J.D.Martinez Astros

#187 Tyler Clippard Nationals

#238 Joe Nathan Rangers

#246 Josh Hamilton Angels

#297 Jordan Lyles Astros

#314 Shane Victorino Red Sox

#359 Wilton Lopez Rockies

#445 Lucas Harrell Astros

 

Pack 2:

#45 Brandon Phillips Reds

#91 Chris Nelson Rockies

#185 Ian Kennedy D-backs

#241 Geovany Soto Rangers

#354 Sean Marshall Reds

#406 Jaime Garcia Cardinals

#419 Joe Saunders Orioles

#CCR-SC Stralin Castro Cubs

 

 

Pack 3:

#5 Strikeout Leaders

#102 Kirk Gibson Mng D-backs

#196 Chris Carter Athletics

#219 Young Aces

#274 Justin Morneau Twins

#360 Mark Teixeira Yankees

#402 Will Venable Padres

#416 Paul Maholm Braves

#449 Jered Weaver Angels

 

Pack 4:

#24 Anibal Sanchez Tigers

#32 C.J.Wilson Angels

#72 Chase Utley Phillies

#92 Chris Young Athletics Venezuelan

#194 Mike Moustakas Royals

#266 Lucas Duda Mets

#327 Heath Bell D-backs

#362 Ezequiel Carrera Indians

#384 Ryan Doumit Twins

 

Pack 5:

#22 Andrelton Simmons Braves

#197 Mark Buehrle Blue Jays

#222 J.P Arencibia Blue Jays

#239 Joel Hanrahan Red Sox

#386 Jared Burton Twins

#396 Jeff Karstens Pirates

#401 Alex Presley Pirates

#423 Tops in National League

#NF-TB The Beatles  

 

Pack 6:

#103 Gordon Beckham White Sox

#166 Dustin Ackley Mariners

#229 Jed Lowrie Astros

#265 Lorenzo Cain Royals

#353 Chris Heisey Reds

#378 Nyjer Morgan Brewers

#394 Brandon Inge Athletics

#425 Joey Votto Reds

#NAP-YC Yoenis Cespedes Athletics 

Pack 7:

#82 Pablo Sandoval Giants

#94 2013 Rookie Stars

#180 Carl Crawford Dodgers

#182 Felix Doubront Red Sox

#198 Gavin Floyd White Sox

#204 Gregor Blanco Giants

#275 Kevin Youkilis Yankees

#367 Jeremy Guthrie Royals

#MMBH Bryce Harper Nationals



 

Pack 8:

 #40 Carlos Beltran Cardinals

#56 Ross Detwiler Nationals

#78 Mike Napoli Rangers

#106 Mike Leake Reds

#193 Garrett Jones Pirates

#223 James Loney Bay Rays

#393 Pat Neshek Athletics

#410 John Lackey Red Sox

#488 Wilin Rosario Rockies

Another Cubbies relic, the last time I pulled a relic it was Cubs as well.
So the journey to complete the base set has started, fortunately I was able to bite a large chunk of 2013 Heritage off with a recent purchase from e-bayUK. Follow my progress here.

2013 Topps Heritage Baseball - coming soon

Product released 6th March 2013

Topps Heritage is a throwback to the Topps 1964 baseball card release, featuring the top MLB players of today and retired legends from the past.
 

BASE CARDS (1-500):
Base Cards (425 Subjects): Veterans & Rookies in the 1964 Topps Design.
High-Numbered Short-Printed cards (75)

Base Card Variation: - Error Short-Prints Cards reproducing errors from the 1964 set. Limited - Throwback Colt .45s Variations - All Houston Astros players will have a base card variation featuring them in their throwback Colt .45s uniform used during the 2012 season commemorating the last year they were named the Colt. .45s. Limited

PARALLELS:
Venezuelan Parallel:The card back color changes from Orange to Black

INSERT CARDS:
Then and Now:Statistical comparison of a 1964 player vs. a 2012 player who were the leaders in statistical categories.
Baseball Flashbacks:Flashback highlights from the 1964 season.
News Flashbacks:World news moments from 1964.
1964 Topps Complete Set Redemption:A redemption card for a complete set from 1964.
1964 Topps Tattos Buybacks:These original tattoos from 1964 will be framed.
1964 Bazooka Stamps Buybacks:These original stamps will be framed.

1964 (Box Loader):Parallels of selected base cards that are included as 3-card strips with an advertisement back.
1964 Topps Originals (Box Loader):Original cards foil-stamped and inserted in 1-card penny packs. 1964 JUMBO Box Loader: Styled after the 1964 Topps over-sized cards.

24 Packs Per Box, 9 Cards Per Pack
  

 

2013 Topps Heritage 1964 card design

 

So there is a great deal of talk about 2013 and what that means as a collector.

Put aside all the other sets that I am trying to complete, that are accumulating year on year - for me 2013 will be all about Topps Heritage and the 1964 design.

If I try to ignore the 75 short prints, the Action Image variations and Colour variations and just aim for the 425 base set, there is a chance that I can complete before 2013 is out. (Funny I remember saying something very similar about the 1980 design in 2012 Archives). It will be difficult to ignore the Venezuelan parallel, as this black back variation was actually available in 1964, as opposed to the mini parallels and chrome parallel rubbish.

Some of the inserts look interesting too-1964 Baseball Flashbacks, 1964 News Flashbacks, Then and Now 1964/2012 and let's not forget the 1964 Bazooka and Tattoos. 

So anyone else going to 'show the love' for 2013 Topps Heritage or is just me?

 

1964 Topps Giants

Ahhh...1964... the year Richard Kimble continued to outwit the Stafford Police,

Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright delighted us with western adventures on the Ponderosa Ranch,

Gilligan, et al are castaway on a deserted island,

'You Rang' becomes a popular catch phrase,

Herman Munster scares the crap out of thousands of children,

Russel Crowe, Courteney Cox, Stone Cold Steve Austin are born, 

The Beatles ride high in the Top 40 with 'She Loves You'.

Top of The Pops airs on the BBC for the first time,

Elvis as Rusty Jackson, sang and wiggled his hips alongside the gorgeous Ann Margret, in Viva Las Vegas,

Dick Van Dyke acted/sang, in what is regarded as the worst cockney accent ever and

Sean Connery, arguably the best Bond, fought Oddjob in Goldfinger, while From Russia with Love still excited cinema fans the world over. 

What a great year!

I had never really thought about collecting this particular oddball set before now. I'm not sure whether it really qualifies as oddball anyway. In 1964, Topps produced, along side the 587 card regular set, a number of stand alone sets-Topps Giants, Topps Stand-Ups and Tattoos.

 

One of the many pursuits I have is to collect the complete 1964 Topps set, hoping to snag some of the other '64 sets produced along the way. Even cards based on the design of the 1964 cards are falling within this particular pursuit.

So when this graded '64 Topps Giant recently appeared on eBayUK, I just had to have it within my collection.  

1964 Topps

If there was an ultimate set of baseball cards that you could collect, what would it be?
I'm not talking a money is no object set, like a complete set of T206. I'm talking an obtainable goal. The set could include a few difficult, rare, possibly expensive cards that you needed to hunt down, bid and lose/win or trade for.
A set that, for whatever reason, really interests you. Are you thinking 1952 Topps, 1951 Bowman, 1954 Red Heart dog food set, maybe? Or are you tastes more recent like 2005 Bowman Heritage.
For me it was the 1980 Topps set, mainly for sentimental reasons and I achieved that goal with a little (or big) help from my friends. In fact while attempting this feat I was contacted by a fellow 1980's set collector who was after a slabbed version of each card. There's a goal and a half.
Now I am turning my attentions to the 1964 Topps set, again for sentimental reasons. 1964 was the year of my birth. I also hope to, at some point, to obtain a 1964 Topps wrapper .
I will be honest and say that I think this will be one of those life long goals. This will not be time limited as there are a number of difficult, as well as very expensive, cards to obtain. Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron are the first to come to mind. Pete Rose, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Roger Maris......the list goes on. I have already bitten off a small chunk of the 'cheaper' base so I'm on going in the right direction! Hoping to pick up a few 1964 coins, Bazooka, Topps Giant and Stand Ups along the way.

 

A few weeks ago Wax Fantastic (amongst others) revealed the Topps sell sheet for 2013 Topps Heritage. If you keep up with Heritage then you know why this product would be of interest.

The design used/ recycled  for 2013 Heritage will be a 'throwback' to 1964 Topps.
 

It is great to see the inclusion of some original 1964 cards however 1964 Bazooka are a buyback insert as are 1964 Tattoos. Luckily the 1964 Venezuelan variation, complete with black rather than orange backs, are an insert, although limited. 1964 Topps Giants are included as box toppers and 1964 Topps coins will be embedded in a relic limited to 5 copies. Why not include the coin inserts in packs as they did in 1964? 1964 Topps Stand ups were already included as an insert in 2011 Topps Lineage.

 

Back to the original question- What would be your ultimate set to collect?

1964 Topps

I watch many cards on e-bay and never actually bid. Cards from this, dare I say, Vintage arriving on e-bay UK are a rarity. I watched these 1964 Topps cards because they were from the year of my birth. I baulked at saying Vintage cards as that would mean that I am also Vintage, perhaps classic cards would be a better term and never old as that just a little too painful.
This mustn't be a collectible set as I won without a challenge. Not really a stunning design but Topps kept it simple-capitalised team, big picture, players name and position. The back of one of the cards had a 'Magic Answer' section. Simply follow the directions and rub a Nickel or Dime over the box to reveal the answer. Nickels and Dimes? 1 and 2 cent pieces? I have heard the expression on Wall Street:
Gordon Gecko tells Charlie Sheen's character to -

' Buy some of the nickel and dime stocks..'

presumably meaning cheap.

I don't want to start another pursuit, but wouldn't it be nice to own the set of cards from the year of your birth. My brother bought some expensive Para port and champagne from his year of birth (1960) with the view of consuming it on his 50th birthday.

Me? Personally I would prefer the cards.