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.

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.