By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson blew out his elbow during a game last season and apparently got a not-so-happy reminder of the injury recently.

With a look at his 2013 Topps Heritage baseball card.

“Thank[s] @toppscards for using a close up of me right after my elbow blew out,” he tweeted with an image of card No. 141 in the set. “Card will be around forever as a reminder!”

Well, as it turns out, it’s not the only “moment” card that led to Tommy John Surgery.

In 1993, Texas Rangers outfielder Jose Canseco took the mound for the Rangers against the Red Sox in the stadium that would be his future home, Fenway Park.

Canseco pitched one inning, allowing two hits three runs, walking three and finishing with an ERA of 27.00 for his career. He’s still in the MLB pitching registry to prove it.

Like Hudson, all these years later, he, too, tore his elbow ligament and was done for the year. And he, too, got a cardboard reminder.

Canseco’s moment was captured on not one, but actually three baseball cards — his 1993 SP and his 1994 Score cards, a standard version and its Gold Rush parallel.

Unlike the Hudson, which merely shows him head and shoulders during the game, Canseco’s failure is captured in his full action-photography glory.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Join Beckett Baseball‘s Brian Fleischer and Chris Olds as they rip into a box of 2013 Topps Heritage in this latest edition of Box Busters.

What will they find inside? Watch and find out …

 By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Hey, Washington Nationals fans … we bet you didn’t know Bryce Harper played in “Pittsburfh” last season.

That’s the case according to the rare short-printed error variation of the reigning National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 Topps Heritage, which officially arrived on Wednesday.

It’s one of six cards with error-related variations — each nods to uncorrected errors in the 1964 Topps set that Heritage emulates this year.  How much did the first one sell for on eBay? A modest amount.

Other variations that have been confirmed via pulls from collectors and eBay are below and include:

4 — American League Pitching Leaders: An errant apostrophe after “PITCHING” on top back.

125 — Yu Darvish: Rarer version incorrectly lists his birth year as 1942.

325 — Rafael Betancourt: Rarer version incorrectly lists his birth year as 1932.

335 — Jonny Venters: Rarer version incorrectly lists his birth year as 1930.

355 — Chris Tillman: Rarer version incorrectly lists his birth year as 1931.

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Click here for a look at the checklist      |    Click here to see the latest Heritage auctions on eBay

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Color swap variations
These are a simple one to tell. Each card has the same color type up top and the tan bar at the bottom. (See the list of who has these cards on the checklist link above.)

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Image swap variations
These are also simple to spot once you know the list of players (link above) and once you have spotted the standard cards. This is Harper’s action card, which avoids the mug used on his regular card, the “Pittsburfh” and color variations.

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Senators variations
These cards, which could be confused for action variations, show four members of the Nationals — including Harper — in throwback Washington Nationals uniforms. The Ryan Zimmerman was a big sale on eBay already going for $999 — that’s not a typo. Harper should be the biggest seller of the bunch, of course, while the other two are Ian Desmond and Ross Detwiler. Asking price on the first Harper to hit eBay? Even steeper.

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A note on Venezuelan parallels
According to one big breaker, it appears that the black-backed Venezuelan parallels have been made for all 500 cards including some short-printed variations as well. That’s a bit of a surprising move that will make the tough-to-pull set even tougher to build to completion. Confirmed so far are action variations with Venezuelan backs.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Ever wanted to join in on an episode of Box Busters in real time instead of YouTube tape delay? Now you can …

Join Beckett Media’s Chris Olds and Susan Lulgjuraj as they rip into boxes of 2013 Topps Heritage baseball cards and chat with you in the newest edition of Box Busters Live.

When? Today (Wednesday, March 6) — 5 p.m. Central (6 p.m. Eastern)

Where? Right here on Beckett.com/news, (video will be embedded above) or via the Beckett Media Google Plus page. You will need to go to the Google Plus page to ask questions to the rippers, though you can also join in via YouTube.

What else? We’ll be giving away wax, singles and maybe more during the two-hour event.

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More on Heritage, which may come in handy during the chat …  Click here for a look at the checklist      |    Click here to see the latest Heritage auctions on eBay

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Join Beckett Baseball‘s Chris Olds as he rips into a blaster box of 2013 Topps Heritage in this latest edition of Ripping Retail.

What will he find inside? Watch and find out …

Click here to see more from Heritage.   |    Click here to see the latest Heritage auctions on eBay.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

The official arrival of 2013 Topps Heritage is about a week away, but the images are tricking in as Topps teases what’s to come.

Here’s a selection of what’s been seen — so far — in a gallery of images that we’ll add to as the cards arrive. Once the product is live at retail, we’ll post a massive gallery of highlights and interesting cards from what we pull.

See it all … after the jump. (Click here for a look at the checklist.)      |    Click here to see the latest Heritage auctions on eBay.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Click here to see more from Heritage.   |    Click here to see the latest Heritage auctions on eBay.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor | Commentary

The arrival of of 2013 Topps Heritage is 15 days away but collectors got a sneak peek at what else is forthcoming in the product on Tuesday as Topps released a final checklist for the throwback product.

Here’s a rundown of some basics from the checklist. Want to download the checklist? Click here.

Not a ton of rookies
While Rookie Cards aren’t typically all that abundant in early season releases, Heritage includes 24 players appearing on Rookie Cards — and it’s just 12 RCs this time around as the 1964 design pairs two players together. Two cards of note? No. 201, which will feature Orioles newcomers Manny Machado and Dylan Bundy and card No. 243, which will feature Phillies rooks Darin Ruf and Tyler Cloud. Most, but not all, rookie pairings are for the same club. There are also no Rookie Cards among the short-prints (Nos. 426-500).

Tougher errors & variations …
Six cards will have variations based on errors — a league leader card (No. 4), Yu Darvish (No. 125), Rafael Betancourt (No. 325), Jonny Venters (No. 335), Chris Tillman (No. 355) and Bryce Harper (No. 440). None of these coincide with variations on those card numbers in the 1964 set.  There will be four variations on Washington Senators cards to chase as well — Ian Desmond, Ross Detwiler, Ryan Zimmerman and Harper. The Senators variations have replaced previously announced Colt .45s variations on Astros cards — a decision made by MLB during the approvals process.

Veteran combo cards
Like the 1964 Topps set, this year’s release begins with a dozen league leader cards and a few player combo cards after that. Card No. 81? Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. Card No. 155: Will Middlebrooks and David Ortiz. Card No. 162: Harper and Chipper Jones. No. 219: Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. No. 306: Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence (what should be a Giant Gunners card based on 1964). No. 331: Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano.  The combos, for the most part don’t echo the 1964 cards, but they do coincide with similar cards in the original set.

Mini cards — but not for all
Just 100 of the 500 cards in the set are found as minis. Does this insert leave the door open for the rest to be created at a later time as a standalone mini product — perhaps online via the Topps store? We’re not sure, but it sure seems like it could be a possibility. The choices for the minis are skip-numbered, so there could be headaches building that one.

Retail-only variations …
Just like last year, there will be retail-only variations with colored borders on cards only found via certain chain stores at retail. For Target, there are 25 red-border parallels — a skip-numbered selection of cards that includes Harper, Yoenis Cespedes, Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter. For Walmart, there are 25 blue-bordered variations with notables there including Darvish, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout, Matt Kemp and Justin Verlander.

Other variations …
Unlike in past years, Topps is giving collectors a head’s up as to which cards have variations this year. There will be 25 action image variations — a crop that includes Jeter, Hamilton, Harper, Trout and Pujols — and 25 color variations where letters or striping will be different on those cards.

Talking Teddy
One of the Memorable Moments inert cards in the set will showcase Teddy Roosevelt. Since that’s a baseball insert, this writer expects it to be a mascot race highlight card from October when he finally got the job done at a Nationals game.

News flashbacks
These news headlines cards have appeared in Heritage the last few years. Those making the cut this year from 1964 include the Ford Mustang, the Civil Rights Act, Mary Poppins, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Sidney Poitier.

Examining the autographs
Topps previously announced that there will be more autographs to be found in this one odds-wise. There are 63 signers for this one, a mix of old and new. Among the biggest names? Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Willie Mays and the late Stan Musial. Among the current names? Anibal Sanchez, David Freese, Jose Bautista, James Shields, Mark Trumbo, Paul Goldschimidt, Todd Frazier, Will Middlebrooks and Yasmani Grandal. Among the obscure ones? Frank Funk, Gene Conley, Glen Hobbie, Pumpsie Green and Ted Bowsfield.

Tough pulls, big names
The multi-player autograph cards are where some of the products biggest guns come out. The duals showcase pairs from the same teams, making combos such as Al Kaline and Miguel Cabrera, Juan Marichal and Matt Cain, Musial and Freese and Billy Williams with Andre Dawson a reality. Triples up the ante more with an Aaron-Musial-Carl Yastrzemski card, a Robinson-Johnny Bench-Jay Bruce card and a Williams-Musial-Kaline among them. across the remainder of the autographs, many of these same names are found — both young and old. Add Willie Mays into the mix in some spots on the checklist, too.

Stamps of approval
The 1964 U.S. Postal Stamp Relics include some oddities — “amateur radio”, C.M. Russell, John F. Kennedy, New Jersey Tricentenary, Shakespeare, Sam Houston and more.

Making the cut
A total of 19 former stars made the cut as cut autographs. Notables include Don Drysdale, Gil Hodges, Harmon Killebrew, Robin Roberts, Eddie Mathews and Walt Alston.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

If you wanted more Heritage this year, you’re getting more Heritage this year.

Well, it’s next year’s … at least for now.

Topps revealed on Friday the first full look at a card design you might remember from back in 1964 if you’re old enough — the 2013 edition of Topps Heritage. If not, you’ll get to live it all over again next year in the 13th installment of the retro-designed brand.

Set to arrive on March 6, Heritage will include autographed cards at twice the previous rates, according to the company, though there will be just one autograph or Relic found in every 24-pack hobby box.

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The base set will consist of 425 cards capped by 75 short-prints found one in every three packs. This time around, there will be other types of variations to be  found, and Topps is announcing them in advance — base card variations will be based on errors in the 1964 set along with Throwback Colt .45s variations for Houston players. Those will be limited but found in all packs, while Action Image variations will have different photos and there will be color variations to search for — but only in hobby packs.

There will be three types of parallels in this one, a Venezuelan parallel in the style of the regional issue from 1964, mini parallels — a new inclusion — and the standard Chromes that have been done the last several years with the typical Refractors (standard and Black) joined by new Gold Chromes limited to just five copies.

Box-toppers will include a three-card ad panel and 1964 Topps buybacks as has been the norm, while new this year will be 1964 Jumbo toppers with Relic versions for 20 players limited to 25 and autographs for 10 players limited to 10.

The insert card lineup will include recent standards — New Age Performers, Then and Now, Baseball Flashbacks and News Flashbacks — along with a Memorable Moments set highlighting a dozen notables from this season. (Example: Matt Cain‘s perfect game.) New for this one will be a redemption card good for a complete 1964 Topps set, Topps Tattoos buybacks and 1964 Bazooka Stamps buybacks.

Among the autograph selections are Real Ones — players whose last appearances came in the 1964 Topps set — limited to just 64 copies, Real One Duals with two sigs limited to 25 or less, Real One Triples with three sigs limited to five or less and a selection of 1/1 cut autographs.

Autographed Relics will include Baseball Flashbacks with highlights from 1964, Clubhouse Collection autos and Clubhouse Collection Duals, which will only be found in hobby packs and be limited to 10 or fewer copies.

On the Relics-only side, Topps has added a but of high-end to the mix with Esteemed Heritage book cards — 1/1s showcasing premium pieces such as bat knobs, bat nameplates or patches. Players listed here on the preliminary checklist include Ernie Banks, Felix Hernandez, Evan Longoria, Yoenis Cespedes and Red Schoendienst.

Meanwhile the standard coin (different quantities for different coins) and stamp Relic offerings come along with Clubhouse Collection and Clubhouse Collection Duals. The standard Relics will have Gold parallels limited to 99 copies.

New this year will be 1964 Topps Coin Relic cards that use the 1964 Topps Coins embedded into the cards. These will be limited to five or fewer copies.

Among the retired players listed on the preliminary autograph checklist are Bob Gibson, Dick Groat, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Andre Dawson, Juan Marichal, Luis Tiant, Maury Wills, Stan Musial, Billy Williams, Al Kaline and Willie Mays.

Notable current signers listed on the preliminary autograph list include Jose Bautista, Will Middlebrooks, Jay Bruce and CC Sabathia. Others include David Freese, Paul Goldschmidt, Todd Frazier, Starling Marte and Madison Bumgarner.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.