2017 Topps Heritage High Number Variations and SSPs: What You Need to Know
The 2017 Topps Heritage High Number variations follow a similar path as those that were part of the main set from earlier in the season. That means they come in several varieties. It also means that some of the short prints are much tougher to pull than others.
Types of 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Variations and SSPs
Variations come in five themes: Action Image, Team Name Color Swap, Error, Traded and Throwback Uniform. Based on the hobby odds, Action Image are the easiest to pull at 1:31 2017 Topps Heritage High Number packs. They’re followed by Color Swap (1:110), Error (1:461), and Traded (1:461). 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Throwback Variations are by far the toughest to pull at 1:1,648 hobby packs.
Action Image Variations
Action Image Variations have different photos. Like the 1968 Topps set 2017 Heritage pays homage to, base photos are primarily portraits and close-ups of players’ faces.
Action Variations take a more traditional approach to photos. Players are shown in the process of playing.
Not only are these the most common 2017 Topps Heritage High Number variations, but they’re generally the easiest to spot as well.
Team Color Swap Variations
Team Color Swaps are somewhat subtle, but can be spotted on the front. Look to the circle. Regular base cards have colorful background on the circle.
For Color Swaps, the background on that circle is switched to black. There are some switches with the lettering as well, but that can get tricky. Remember, black background for the circle and you’re good to go.
Error and Traded Variations
To a certain extent, the Error and Traded Variations are a nod to some of the quirks and mistakes found in 1968 Topps.
Error Variations are intentional. They’re not printing mistakes. Typically, they can be anything from a spelling mistake to a wrong stat on one line in the back, a switched up birthday, the wrong player on the front or any other or “snafu.” These are usually some of the hardest variations to find as they’re usually one small blip, often on the back of the card. Not this time.
For the Error Variations in this set, there’s a common theme of the wrong color for the team name on the front. But you don’t want to confuse them for the Color Swaps. This is where the 2017 Topps Heritage High Number codes can come in especially handy. And handily, they’re all below.
Traded Variations add a small line of text in the vital stats at the top of the card back. Regular base cards don’t note how players arrived on the team. Traded Variations do. On the third line under Height, they say, “Acquired…” along with the specifics of the transaction.
Throwback Variations
If you land one of the 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Throwback Variations you’re got some cardboard gold. Heritage is an extremely popular line for master set builders. Given the extreme rarity of the Throwbacks, they can create something of a frenzy particularly the first few copies of each.
Throwback Variations not only have a different photo from the base card, but there’s a very specific theme. Players are wearing old-time jerseys from Throwback the Clock-style games.
How to Spot 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations
Some variations can be extremely hard to spot, particularly when it comes to the Errors where only a small bit of text might be switched.
However, the codes on the backs of 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Variations do offer a quick way to either spot them when going through a large stack or confirm your suspicions.
Go to the fine print at the bottom and look at the small print. There’s a lot there, but the only thing you need to check is the code at the end of it all. These codes are intended for something else on the production side but sometimes they can be used to identify different types of cards — like variations.
Here are the important code endings to confirm if you have one of the 2017 Topps Heritage High Number variations:
• Base (#501-700) – 23
• Base Short Prints (#701-725) – 33
• Action Image Variations – 48
• Team Color Swap Variations – 49
• Errors Variations – 45
• Traded Variations – 46
• Throwback Variations – 47
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Variations Checklist
Looking to buy a specific variation? Click on the links to see what’s currently listed on eBay.
508 Christian Arroyo – Action
508 Christian Arroyo – Color Swap
508 Christian Arroyo – Error
510 Yovani Gallardo – Traded
513 Amir Garrett – Error
517 Jesse Winker – Action
517 Jesse Winker – Color Swap
517 Jesse Winker – Error
523 Antonio Senzatela – Action
523 Antonio Senzatela – Error
528 Logan Forsythe – Traded
529 Reynaldo Lopez – Color Swap
529 Reynaldo Lopez – Traded
534 Brandon Phillips – Action
534 Brandon Phillips – Color Swap
534 Brandon Phillips – Traded
535 Eric Thames – Action
541 Yangervis Solarte – Throwback
547 Dan Straily – Traded
568 Koda Glover – Action
568 Koda Glover – Color Swap
572 Addison Reed – Throwback
576 Bradley Zimmer – Action
576 Bradley Zimmer – Color Swap
576 Bradley Zimmer – Error
587 Domingo Santana – Throwback
589 Drew Smyly – Traded
593 Hyun-Soo Kim – Throwback
604 Matt Cain – Throwback
613 Dan Vogelbach – Color Swap
616 Whit Merrifield – Throwback
619 Raisel Iglesias – Throwback
633 David Peralta – Throwback
639 Jorge Alfaro – Color Swap
640 Miguel Gonzalez – Throwback
642 Jose De Leon – Action
642 Jose De Leon – Color Swap
642 Jose De Leon – Error
642 Jose De Leon – Traded
644 Chase Anderson – Throwback
646 Jordan Montgomery – Error
647 Matt Wieters – Action
647 Matt Wieters – Color Swap
647 Matt Wieters – Traded
649 Mike Clevinger – Throwback
651 Matt Hoffman – Color Swap
660 Ian Happ – Action
660 Ian Happ – Color Swap
660 Ian Happ – Error
664 Edwin Encarnacion – Action
664 Edwin Encarnacion – Traded
668 Steve Cishek – Throwback
676 Matt Haniger – Action
676 Matt Haniger – Color Swap
676 Mitch Haniger – Error
678 Cody Bellinger – Action
678 Cody Bellinger – Color Swap
678 Cody Bellinger – Error
686 Aroldis Chapman – Action
686 Aroldis Chapman – Color Swap
686 Aroldis Chapman – Traded
705 Vince Velasquez – Throwback
706 Carlos Martinez – Action
706 Carlos Martinez – Color Swap
707 Steven Matz – Color Swap
712 Kenley Jensen – Color Swap
713 Dylan Bundy – Color Swap
715 Trevor Bauer – Color Swap
716 Pablo Sandoval – Color Swap
717 Shin-Soo Choo – Color Swap
717 Shin-Soo Choo – Throwback
719 Dallas Keuchel – Color Swap
720 Lance McCullers – Color Swap
723 Mike Leake – Throwback
Throwback
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Throwback Variations Gallery
Inserted: 1:1,648 hobby packs
Code on back ends in: 47
541 Yangervis Solarte, San Diego Padres
572 Addison Reed, New York Mets
587 Domingo Santana, Milwaukee Brewers
593 Hyun-Soo Kim, Baltimore Orioles
604 Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants
616 Whit Merrifield
619 Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds
633 David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks
640 Miguel Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
644 Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
649 Mike Clevinger, Cleveland Indians
668 Steve Cishek, Seattle Mariners
705 Vince Velasquez, Philadelphia Phillies
717 Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers
723 Mike Leake, St. Louis Cardinals
Action
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Action Variations Gallery
Inserted: 1:31 hobby packs
Code on back ends in: 48
508 Christian Arroyo, San Francisco Giants
517 Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
523 Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
534 Brandon Phillips, Atlanta Braves
535 Eric Thames, Milwaukee Brewers
568 Koda Glover, Washington Nationals
576 Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
642 Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
647 Matt Wieters, Washington Nationals
660 Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
664 Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians
676 Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
678 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
686 Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
706 Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
Traded
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Traded Variations Gallery
Inserted: 1:461 hobby packs
Code on back ends in: 46
510 Yovani Gallardo, Seattle Mariners
528 Logan Forsythe, Los Angeles Dodgers
529 Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
534 Brandon Phillips, Atlanta Braves
547 Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
589 Drew Smyly, Seattle Mariners
642 Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
647 Matt Wieters, Washington Nationals
664 Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians
686 Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
Error
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Error Variations Gallery
Inserted: 1:461 hobby packs
Code on back ends in: 45
Stay tuned in the days ahead as we start adding a comprehensive gallery for the Error Variations.
508 Christian Arroyo, San Francisco Giants
513 Amir Garrett, Cincinnati Reds
517 Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
523 Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
576 Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
642 Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
646 Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
660 Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
676 Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
678 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
Team Color Swap
2017 Topps Heritage High Number Team Color Swap Variations Gallery
Inserted: 1:110 hobby packs
Code on back ends in: 49
Stay tuned in the days ahead as we start adding a comprehensive gallery for the Team Color Swap Variations.
508 Christian Arroyo, San Francisco Giants
517 Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
529 Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
534 Brandon Phillips, Atlanta Braves
568 Koda Glover, Washington Nationals
576 Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
613 Dan Vogelbach, Seattle Mariners
639 Jorge Alfaro, Philadelphia Phillies
642 Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
647 Matt Wieters, Washington Nationals
651 Matt Hoffman, Colorado Rockies
660 Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
664 Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians
676 Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
678 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
686 Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
706 Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
707 Steven Matz, New York Mets
712 Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
713 Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles
715 Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians
716 Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants
717 Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers
719 Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
720 Lance McCullers, Houston Astros
Comments? Questions? Have a 2017 Topps Heritage High Number Variation that isn’t listed? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks or by email at RCracknell@beckett.com.
