2021 Topps Heritage Baseball features a 499-card base set. Why 499? Card number 216 (Cavan Biggio) was not included in Heritage boxes. It was later added to Heritage High Number release.

Of the 499 cards, 100 are considered “high number” short prints, landing once every three packs. The base set is fashioned after the iconic 1972 Topps design.

As always, there are also parallels and image variations, and “error” cards included with Heritage. Keep an eye on the back of the cards near the card number. They have been labeling the variations for a while now. Otherwise, they can sometimes be tough to spot.

Of course, everyone’s favorite, there should be one “hit” in each hobby box! Keep in mind, though, that most of those hits will be relic cards. The most common autographs land just once in every 4+ boxes for 2021 Heritage.

2021 Topps Heritage Box Break 

Cards per pack: 9
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $90

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Pack 1 highlights:

Kyle Tucker, Paul Goldschmidt In Action (IA), Luis Robert and Austin Riley

There are 72 In Action cards in the checklist. In most cases, each In Action subject also has a regular base card.

Pack 2:

Justin Verlander IA, Bo Bichette IA, Max Muncy, Jon Lester and Roberto Clemente The Great One (1:18 packs)

Pack 3:

Fernando Tatis Jr. Postseason (PS) and Ronald Acuna Jr.

Pack 4:

Max Scherzer IA, Trea Turner, Pete Alonso Boyhood Photos and Alonso’s regular base card

Pack 5:

Kyle Schwarber, Nolan Arenado IA, Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Ke’Bryan Hayes Action Image Variation RC (1:52 packs)

The Hayes variation probably would have been a solid pull back in 2021. He hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype of a big prospect. Last sale on this one: $10.

Pack 6:

Christian Yelich IA, Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom, Freddie Freeman and 2020 NL HR Leaders

Some interesting names on the HR Leaders card. Would you have been able to name Kole Calhoun, Adam Duvall and A.J. Pollock being in the top 8? I could not.

Pack 7:

Jose Altuve IA, Trea Turner IA and Joe Morgan/Bryce Harper Then and Now (1:25 packs)

Pack 8:

Juan Soto IA, Andrew McCutchen IA, Luis Arraez and Gleyber Torres

Pack 9:

Cy Young Award, Contreras/Stephenson RC and Mountcastle/Dalbec RC

Though the multi-player rookie cards were the norm in 1972 Topps, collectors don’t exactly love them in the modern hobby.

Pack 10:

Gleyber Torres IA, Bo Bichette, Corbin Burnes SP (1:3 packs) and 2020 NL Strikeout Leaders

Pack 11:

Kyle Schwarber IA, Mike Trout IA, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Nate Pearson New Age Performers (1:15 packs)

Pack 12:

2020 AL Batting Leaders and Dunning/Burdi/Foster RC

Pack 13:

Carlos Correa PS, Yadier Molina IA and Matt Chapman

Pack 14:

Shohei Ohtani IA, Yadier Molina, Nathan Eovaldi and Albert Pujols IA

Pack 15:

Nolan Arenado, Mize/Skubal RC and Pioneer 10 Flashbacks 1972 (1:25 packs)

Case in point…a Skubal Heritage RC should be worth something, right? You can grab this one for just a couple bucks.

Pack 16:

Bryce Harper IA and Randy Arozarena PS

Pack 17:

Anthony Rizzo, Juan Soto and Max Fried

Pack 18:

Mike Trout and 2020 AL RBI Leaders…featuring Mike Trout

Pack 19:

Pablo Lopez, Chris Sale SP (1:3 packs) and Lou Brock Flashbacks 1972 (1:25 packs)

Sale and Burnes were the only two notable high number short prints in this box.

Pack 20:

Zack Wheeler and Alex Bergman

Pack 21:

Joey Votto IA and Josh Hader

Pack 22:

Jose Ramirez, Clayton Kershaw IA, Paul Goldschmidt and Jason Hayward Clubhouse Collection Jersey Relic (1:34 packs)

Pack 23:

Pete Alonso IA and Roberto Clemente The Great One (1:18 packs)

Pack 24:

Jacob deGrom IA and Mookie Betts

Lastly, the Mookie card back. I do love a good throwback card back. From the full career stat lines, to the animations … good stuff!

Not a whole lot going on in this box, unfortunately. No autograph, but that should be expected in most Heritage boxes. Autographs have always been tough pulls in Heritage! Just the one Action Variation, and since no parallels had become commonplace by 2021, it’s not a real shock there wasn’t any here. Luckily the nostalgia in ripping Heritage is always worth something!

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.

Protect Your Collection With:

• Penny Sleeves — Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
• Top Loaders — Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
• Binders — Amazon | eBay
• 9-Pocket Card Pages — Amazon | eBay

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