2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations Guide

September 15, 2018

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball variations come in several forms. It’s just like the year’s initial Heritage release. That means there’s lots to keep track of and plenty to keep you busy looking. Some of these short prints are easy to spot. Others? Not so much.

Barring any additional surprises, there are six different types of 2018 Topps Heritage High Number variation short prints: Action Image, Error, Team Color Swap, Throwback Uniform, Nickname and Trade.

All have different twists, some of which are easy to find. Some are extremely subtle — until you know the new giveaway that Topps has given them all.

Backs of 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations Make Things Easier

A new addition has made 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball variations much, much easier to confirm. If you go to the top where the card number is, there’s a notation that not only says it’s a variation but exactly what type.

So even if you don’t recognize the error right away, you’ll know clearly that you have one.

This new note also makes scanning through cards fast and easy.

Here’s a breakdown of what to look for in the 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball variations so that finding them and knowing what you have is easy.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Action Image Variations

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Action Image Variations are only in hobby packs. These are essentially photo variations that swap the mundane portraits (like the photos were in the original 1969 Topps set) for something with a little more, well, action.

On Action Variation short prints, you’ll find players up to bat, pitchers throwing and other in-game activities.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Throwback Uniform Variations

Throwback Uniform Variations use images of players in old-time threads. Because they’re so rare, they’re often some of the most popular SSP cards in Heritage sets as set builders join the fray to chase them down for their master sets.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Throwback Variations Andrew McCutchen

Given the thematic photo approach, these are usually fairly easy to spot.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Error Variations

Typically, Topps Heritage Error Variations are some of the hardest to spot, at least initially. That’s because they don’t always follow a distinct pattern. And these “errors” — which are intentional for these cards — can be of just about anything.

In the main 2018 Topps Heritage set, there was a wrong photos, mixed up colors, intentional typos and reverse negatives. These are all themes once again.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Nickname Variations

Nickname Variations are a new addition in 2018 Topps Heritage. The team name at the bottom of the card is swapped out for a moniker the player is known for.

Because there’s not a change to the layout, these can blend in to a certain extent, but they shouldn’t be hard to notice if you get in the habit of looking at the team name.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Team Name Color Swap Variations

Color Swaps are just as they suggest. Take your eyes directly to the large team name on the bottom front of the card. Typically, these letters are all letters.

Unless you have a Team Name Color Swap Variation. Then the team’s letters are white.

These variation short prints are only available in hobby packs.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Trade Variations

Look to the back for Trade Variations. In the past, these were easy to miss. For regular base cards, the vitals on the back end with the player’s home.Trade Variations add an “Acquired” line below it, giving the details that brought them to their current team.

Not only is it on the back and a small addition, it blends right in.

Different Photos

Not all of the 2018 Topps Heritage High Number variations are rooted in different photos. That said, several do have alternate images for themes that don’t usually have them.

For example, there’s the Team Name Color Swaps. The main focus of those is the team name color on the front. However, several have different photos as well. There’s not a lot of added significance here, although it might make for more interesting cards to some as the differences are less subtle.

These instances appear to be limited to the high number short prints (#701-725).

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Variations – Confirmation Codes

While Topps has added notes to card numbers, out of habit, many collectors will likely be looking to the codes in the fine print on the back for variation confirmation. These codes aren’t intended for collectors but they do work.

Here are the codes that apply to the 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball variations:

Base – 575
Base SP (#701-725) – 585
Action Image Variations – 599
Error Variations – 597
Nickname Variations – 601
Team Name Color Swap Variations – 600
Throwback Uniform Variations – 598
Trade Variations – 477

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations Checklist

The following is a checklist of all the variation short prints. The gallery below shows you exactly what to look for. If you’re looking for a particular card, click on the link to see what’s currently listed on eBay.

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations Gallery

Use the tab to easily navigate between variation types.

Throwback

Throwback Uniform Variations Gallery

Code on back ends in: 598

511 Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies

Throwback – blue jersey

Base – white pinstripe jersey

517 Jonathan Lucroy, Oakland Athletics

Throwback – white jersey

Base – wearing catcher’s gear

539 Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals

Throwback – throwing

Base – standing, brown glove

568 Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates

Throwback – yellow jersey

Base – white jersey

628 Cameron Maybin, Miami Marlins

Throwback Variation – pinstripe jersey, with glove

Base – white jersey, bat on shoulder

655 Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres

Throwback Variation – brown jersey

Base – white jersey

697 Brad Boxberger, Arizona Diamondbacks

Throwback Variation – pinstripe jersey

Base – black cap

701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics

Throwback Variation – green sleeves

Base – white sleeves

705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Throwback Variations Andrew McCutchen

Throwback Variation – Orange Jersey

Base – white jersey

706 Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers

Throwback Variation – striped jersey, wearing helmet

Base – wearing cap

709 Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres

Throwback Variation – pinstripe jersey, wearing helmet

Base – wearing cap

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

Throwback Variation – cream alternate “Sunday” jersey

Base – green jersey

720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Throwback Variation – blue jersey

Base – white jersey

721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies

Throwback Variation – blue jersey

Base – gray jersey

722 Lewis Brinson, Miami Marlins

Throwback Variation – pinstripe jersey, swinging

Base – white jersey, wearing cap

Error

Error Variations Gallery

Code on back ends in: 597

600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Error Variation – last name in blue

Base – last name in white

600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Error Variation – red last name

Base – white last name

603 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees

2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations - Gleyber Torres Error

Error Variation – blue last name

Base – yellow last name

705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

Error Variation – “Cubs” in comic on back

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

Error Variation – reverse negative

Base – green jersey

Nickname

Nickname Variations Gallery

Code on the back ends in: 601

600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Nickname Variation – Sho Time

Base

707 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs

Nickname Variation – Yu-San

Base

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

Nickname Variation – Ichi

Base

718 Todd Frazier, New York Mets

Nickname Variation – Toddfather

Base

725 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants

Nickname Variation – Longo

Base

Trade

Trade Variations Gallery

Code on back ends in: 477

600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Trade Variation Back

701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics

Trade Variation Back

705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

Trade Variation Back

713 Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Trade Variation Back

715 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros

Trade Variation Back

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

Trade Variation Back

718 Todd Frazier, New York Mets

Trade Variation Back

720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Trade Variation Back

721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies

Trade Variation Back

725 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants

Trade Variation Back

Color Swap

Team Name Color Swap Variations

Code on back ends in: 600