Topps Heritage is split into two editions each year. The main set comes out at the beginning of the year, High Number comes out later. In 2020, the set included a total of 725 cards. Only 225 of these were listed on the High Number checklist. Of these, the last 25 cards (#701-725) are short prints.
The design of the entire set is based on 1971 Topps. The base cards look exactly like the 1971 edition, with the same condition-sensitive black borders. In addition to the base set, there are a variety of different variations, including Action Image, Silver Team Name, Missing Signature, Nickname, Errors, and Throwback. Chrome parallels were hard to find in this edition, only appearing once in 38 packs. There are also relic cards and autographs, but as usual, autographs are hard to find in Heritage.
2020 Topps Heritage Baseball Box Break with high numbers
Cards per pack: 9
Packs per carton: 24
Price paid: 50$
Buy 2020 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Boxes on eBay.
Box topper:
Johnny Bench’s greatest moments in baseball
Highlights of Package 1:
Nick Castellanos, Dustin May Rookie Performers (1:8 packages) and Cole Hamels
Package 2:
Nestor Cortes High Number SP (1:3 packs) and Kwang-Hyun Kim RC
Package 3:
Luis Robert RC and Jacob deGrom Award Winners (1:8 Packages)
Even as an opponent of my favorite team, I miss watching deGrom pitch.
Package 4:
Highlights of the 1971 World Series by Brooks Robinson (1:12 packages)
Brooks had a batting average of .318 with five RBIs during the 1971 World Series.
Package 5:
Gerrit Cole, Yoenis Cespedes and Starling Marte High Number SP (1:3 packages)
Package 6:
Tim Anderson Now & Then (1:8 packs)
Package 7:
Corey Kluber and Aristides Aquino, rookie performers (1:8 packages)
Remember Aquino? He played 59 games in the Mexican League this season, posting a .296 batting average with nine home runs.
Package 8:
Yasiel Puig and Kyle Garlick High Number SP RC (1:3 packages)
Package 9:
Marcell Ozuna High Number SP (1:3 packs)
Package 10:
Anthony Rendon, Brusdar Graterol RC and Zac Gallen Rookie Performers (1:8 packages)
Package 11:
Edwin Encarnacion, Salvador Perez and Albert Pujols – Now and Then (1:8 packs)
Package 12:
Hunter Pence, Jonathan Lucroy and Wilmer Difo High Number SP (1:3 packs)
For some reason, Lucroy is pictured here as a left-hander. He also only appeared in one game for the Red Sox, catching two innings.
Package 13:
Carlos Rodon
Package 14:
Willson Contreras Clubhouse Collection Jersey Relic (1:26 Packs)
Package 15:
Michael Kopech, Emmanuel Clase RC and Justin Verlander “Now & Then” (1:8 packs)
Clase has emerged as the most dominant closer in the game. His current career ERA is 1.74.
Package 16:
Carlos Gonzalez and Alec Mill High Number SP RC (1:3 packages)
Package 17:
Highlights of the 1971 World Series by Felix Hernandez and Steve Blass (1:12 packages)
Package 18:
Yandy Diaz and Pete Alonso Award Winners (1:8 Packages)
Package 19:
Wade Davis High Number SP (1:3 packs)
Package 20:
Mookie Betts, Zack Wheeler and Eloy Jimenez/Luis Robert combo cards (1:20 packs)
Package 21:
Stephen Strasburg Missing Signature Variant (1:628 Packs)
Wow! That’s a heavy move!
Package 22:
Cody Bellinger Award Winner (1:8 Packages)
Package 23:
Yoshi Tsutsugo RC & Jake Cave High Number SP (1:3 Packages)
Package 24:
Josh Donaldson, David Price, Stephen Strasburg and Albert Almora Clubhouse Collection Jersey Relic (1:26 packs)
And finally, the Strasburg card back. Sad when you consider that after 2019, he only played in eight more games in three seasons.
This was a pretty typical Heritage breakthrough. I did get lucky with an extra relic card in the last pack, though. That doesn’t happen often. I didn’t find any of the Chrome parallels in this box. That’s not surprising, considering the odds had gotten pretty slim at that release. They’ve gotten even slimmer since then.
Want more episodes of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archive.
