| The long anticipated release of 2008 Topps Heritage | | | | numbered to 59. I have not seen a 2008 chrome |
| is almost upon us. The expected release date from | | | | checklist yet, but the chrome parallel sets usually |
| Topps is the end of February. I've seen the date range | | | | consist of between 100 and 110 cards. |
| from February 26th, to February 28th. Sometimes the | | | | 2008 Topps Heritage will feature the three traditional |
| release is delayed, but it should be the end of February | | | | insert subsets consisting of the 15 card New Age |
| or the beginning of March. The 2008 Topps Heritage | | | | Performers set, the 10 card Then and Now set and |
| cards will be based on the 1959 Topps set, which is | | | | the 10 card Flashbacks set. There will also be a new |
| generally considered to be one of Topps more visually | | | | fourth subset called the News Flashbacks set. The |
| appealing vintage sets. Let's take a look at what kinds | | | | news flashback cards will feature prominent news |
| of cards we can expect to see in the new edition of | | | | stories from 1959 such as Alaska and Hawaii |
| Topps most popular vintage style set. | | | | becoming the 49th and 50th states and NASA |
| As usual, Topps will release Hobby boxes and Retail | | | | introducing the first astronauts. |
| boxes. Both boxes will contain 24 packs. The hobby | | | | The 2008 Topps Heritage autographed cards will |
| boxes will have some features that the retail boxes | | | | consist of 46 Real One blue ink autographs featuring |
| will not have, such as box topper inserts which are | | | | vintage players from 1959 and current stars. There will |
| described as advertising panels. The hobby boxes will | | | | be 37 Real One red ink autograph cards which will |
| also feature an original 1959 Topps card which will be | | | | each be hand numbered to 59, plus there will be 5 |
| inserted at a rate of one 1959 card per two hobby | | | | different Flashback autograph cards which will be hand |
| boxes. Cases consist of 12 boxes this year, so a case | | | | numbered to 25. A new type of autograph card is |
| should get you six original 1959 Topps cards on | | | | being introduced this year as well--10 Real One Dual |
| average. These original 1959 cards will most likely have | | | | Autograph cards. These will only be available in the |
| some type of stamp on them indicating that they | | | | Hobby boxes. Last but certainly not least, there will be |
| came from Topps Heritage packs, although I don't | | | | ten one of one cut signatures cards highlighted by |
| believe Topps has confirmed this. | | | | Mickey Mantle. |
| The base set will consist of 425 cards, and there will | | | | Relic cards from the 2008 Topps Heritage set will be |
| be 75 short printed cards as well. This is a smaller | | | | comprised of 40 Clubhouse Collection relic cards, 5 |
| amount of short print cards than in recent years. The | | | | Clubhouse Collection Dual Relic cards which will be |
| short printed cards will be inserted at a rate of one in | | | | hand numbered to 59, 10 Flashbacks Relic cards and 5 |
| three packs (96 per case). | | | | Flashbacks Dual Relic cards which will be hand |
| Chrome parallel cards have been a staple of the | | | | numbered to 10. There will be 10 Clubhouse Collection |
| Topps Heritage product, and this year will not be any | | | | Autographed Relic cards which will be hand numbered |
| different. There will be three different chrome parallel | | | | to 25 and 5 Flashbacks Autographed Relic cards |
| sets--the standard chrome parallel cards which will | | | | which will also be hand numbered to 25. |
| individually numbered to 1959, the chrome refractor | | | | It's shaping up to be another fantastic year for Topps |
| inserts which will be numbered to 559, and the hard to | | | | Heritage. Get ready to rip wax and trade! |
| find black chrome refractor inserts that will be | | | | |