2018 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Variations Guide
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.

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.
510 Pablo Sandoval – Color Swap
511 Scott Kingery – Action | Color Swap | Throwback
517 Jonathan Lucroy – Action | Color Swap | Throwback
539 Jakob Junis – Throwback
549 Jose Martinez – Action
568 Austin Meadows – Throwback
580 Ronald Acuna Jr. – Action | Color Swap | Error
600 Shohei Ohtani – Action | Color Swap | Error | Nickname | Trade
603 Gleyber Torres – Action | Color Swap | Error
606 Bartolo Colon – Action
612 Tyler O’Neill – Action
620 Jordan Hicks – Action | Color Swap
628 Cameron Maybin – Throwback
636 JaCoby Jones – Action
655 Joey Lucchesi – Color Swap | Throwback
684 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – Action | Color Swap
689 Wade Davis – Color Swap
696 Tyler Austin – Action | Color Swap
697 Brad Boxberger – Throwback
701 Stephen Piscotty – Action | Color Swap | Throwback | Trade
705 Andrew McCutchen – Action | Color Swap | Error | Throwback | Trade
706 Lorenzo Cain – Action | Throwback
707 Yu Darvish – Action | Color Swap | Nickname
709 Eric Hosmer – Action | Color Swap | Throwback
710 J.D. Martinez – Action | Color Swap
711 Carlos Santana – Action
713 Matt Kemp –Action | Color Swap | Trade
715 Gerrit Cole – Action | Color Swap | Trade
716 Ichiro – Action | Color Swap | Error | Nickname | Throwback | Trade
718 Todd Frazier – Action | Color Swap | Nickname | Trade
719 Curtis Granderson – Color Swap
720 Christian Yelich – Action | Color Swap | Throwback | Trade
721 Jake Arrieta – Action | Color Swap | Throwback | Trade
722 Lewis Brinson – Throwback
724 Brandon Morrow – Color Swap
725 Evan Longoria – Nickname | Color Swap | Trade
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


517 Jonathan Lucroy, Oakland Athletics


539 Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals


568 Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates


628 Cameron Maybin, Miami Marlins


655 Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres


697 Brad Boxberger, Arizona Diamondbacks


701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics


705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants


706 Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers


709 Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres


716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners


720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers


721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies


722 Lewis Brinson, Miami Marlins


Error
Error Variations Gallery
Code on back ends in: 597
600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels


600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels


603 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees


705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners


Nickname
Nickname Variations Gallery
Code on the back ends in: 601
600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels


707 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs


716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners


718 Todd Frazier, New York Mets


725 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants


Trade
Trade Variations Gallery
Code on back ends in: 477
600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics

705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

713 Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

715 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros

716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

718 Todd Frazier, New York Mets

720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies

725 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants

Color Swap
Team Name Color Swap Variations
Code on back ends in: 600
510 Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants


511 Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies


517 Jonathan Lucroy, Oakland Athletics


580 Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves


600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

603 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees


620 Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals


655 Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres

684 Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Toronto Blue Jays


689 Wade Davis, Colorado Rockies


696 Tyler Austin, New York Yankees


701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics


705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

707 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs

709 Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres


710 J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox


713 Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers


715 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros


716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners


719 Curtis Granderson, Toronto Blue Jays


720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers


721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies


724 Brandon Morrow, Chicago Cubs


725 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants


Action
Action Image Variations Gallery
Code on back ends in: 599
511 Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies


517 Jonathan Lucroy, Oakland Athletics


549 Jose Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals


580 Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves


600 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels


603 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees


606 Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers


612 Tyler O’Neil, St. Louis Cardinals


620 Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals


636 JaCoby Jones, Detroit Tigers


684 Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Toronto Blue Jays


696 Tyler Austin, New York Yankees


701 Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics


705 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants


706 Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers


707 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs


709 Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres


710 J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox


711 Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies


713 Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers


715 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros


716 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners


718 Todd Frazier, New York Mets


720 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers


721 Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies


Has Topps mentioned the card backs that do not have the “old school” Topps logo up at the top with the name plate? I bought a blaster today and received (3) of these. The codes are the same as the base code but they differ from all the other card backs.
@Chris — I’ve seen some but suspect it has to do with how long they’ve played and the adjustments needed for stats.
Well I must say putting “error” or “trade” by the checklist number on the back of the card is a big step forward. Nobody this side of Sheldon Cooper could keep the necessary information in his head about what alternate photos or info should look like while sorting through hundreds of cards. Topps should continue this practice going forward to make it easier on all of us.
Are the chrome to 999 different photos? I have a JD Martinez chrome with a different photo than the SP. Both the SP and chrome are numbered 710. The SP seems to be basic with 85 code…
@Mark – It looks like some inserts/variations have different photos when most don’t, probably from a photo switch after some cards were already done and signed off. While it may make things a little more confusing in some regards, there’s not really any added significance. That said, different photos for some could end up making them more appealing to some collectors.
Have some that are missing the Topps Logo on the back in black around the number. Cards just have the number.
Tyler Austin, Fernando Rodney, Chase Utley, Bartolo Colon. Is this correct?
@Matthew — These don’t appear to be variations or parallels, just slightly adjusted backs to fit the stats in.
I’m a little late commenting here, but what about the “flip stock” cards? I bought one for 50 bucks when these were all new and stuff. I’ve heard all kinds of claims: 1 per case, LESS??, that they’re #’d to 5 w/out the serial #, etc etc. A year later and there STILL hasn’t been anything concrete on this (or I just COMPLETELY missed it)! I’m seeing them on Ebay but for prices ranging from 12 to 80 bucks. Some of that is the player, and I’m not counting graded cards, but I’m still holding out hope that I didn’t get screwed with my pants on…for 50 bucks…