Topps Is Doing What With Topps Updates & Highlights??!

I never really got into the Topps Heritage line. When they first came out in 2001, I didn't think I'd want a set of current players in past Topps designs. Besides, they had the Archives set too, and I'd rather have the reprint cards of players who actually were in the set.

With that said, because of the 17-product limit imposed by MLB Properties (this year and next year), Topps had to cut a few brands from the previous year. Gone is Turkey Red (apparently), Bowman Heritage (unless you wanted to see a Heritage line with 1992 designs and going forward), and the dreaded Topps 52 Rookies set. I don't know if this is going to count towards that 17 products line, but Topps will be coming out with a Topps Heritage High Numbers set, which in effect is a traded set because it features 220 players who didn't make the cut on the 2008 Topps Heritage set.

The checklist will include 45 rookie card logo players. That's fine and dandy. Then I saw the actual sell sheets...




In every pack of 2008 Topps Heritage High Numbers, they are including 2 cards from the 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights set.

WHAT??!

Okay, after the hyperventilating went away, I realized that this might not necessarily be a bad thing (wait, I said MIGHT)...

The official name of this set is "2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Presents 2008 Topps Heritage High Number Series." Topps is combining two different products in one package. This is akin to the Topps/Topps Chrome Traded packs from earlier in the decade (2001-2004), and most recently, Topps has included 2 Bowman Chrome cards in every pack of Bowman, so it's not that unusual. My only concern is that Topps would include different pictures of the players in this set than they would for the cards packaged in the regular Update and Highlights packages.

That would lead to shortprints...that would lead to possible gimmick cards...that would lead to riots in the hobby community...and that would lead to bloggers raising their displeasure...AGAIN!!! (okay, JayBee, breathe...)

On an unrelated note, there is a full checklist of the actual 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights set here (just scroll to the right). Again, although there are no TBD's, the checklist is always subject to change.

I'm going to get a drink of water. My foot's starting to kill me again.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama