The 2023 Topps Heritage baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases each year for collectors due to its retro design paying homage to Topps sets from the 1950s and 1960s. As with any large scale production of trading cards, errors are inevitable and Heritage errors have become highly sought after by error card collectors.
Some of the most common types of errors seen in Heritage sets include missing signatures, missing team logos, upside down photos, miscuts, and swapped stats or player information. With such a massive undertaking to produce over 700 cards each year while maintaining vintage aesthetics, tiny flaws or mix ups are bound to occur during the printing and cutting process.
For the 2023 Topps Heritage release, several exciting errors have already been discovered by eager collectors ripping packs. One of the first reported was the Aaron Judge base card missing the iconic “Heritage” banner across the top. On this error, the banner space is blank white instead of featuring the retro logo. Early estimates have this rare missing banner Judge card valued around $300-500 already.
Another significant statistical error involves Shohei Ohtani on card #132. His stats are swapped with teammate Mike Trout, showing Ohtani’s stats but with Trout’s name and photo. Stat swaps between superstar players are always of high interest to collectors. This swapped Ohtani/Trout card is expected to sell for at least $750-1000 long term once the dust settles on the new release.
Miscuts are another common Heritage flub, cutting the card stock at an angle instead of straight across. One reported miscut from 2023 features Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright on card #666. The left side of his photo is sliced off at an angle. Miscuts involving HOFers or star players tend to carry premiums compared to more common players. Estimates for this Wainwright miscut have it at $200-300 currently.
One of the most visually striking errors is when a photo is completely missing from the front of the card. This has happened in 2023 with Brewers outfielder Hunter Renfroe on card #222. Instead of his image, there is empty white space where the photo should be. Missing photo errors excite collectors and also tend to increase in value as they gain recognition. Early appraisals of this Renfroe error see it reaching $400-600 long term.
While most Heritage errors center around photos, stats or logos, sometimes the card stock itself can be flawed. One reported case involves Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman on card #449. The entire bottom third of the card is creased diagonally, as if too much pressure was applied during the cutting process. Heavy creases like this that damage the overall appearance may cap around $150-250 maximum.
Perhaps the most intriguing error story so far involves two parallels of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. In the Heritage Chrome and Heritage Refractors parallel sets, card #132 was accidentally given with Judge’s name and stats but showing Ohtani’s photo again instead of Judge. Having the same type of statistical error repeated across parallel versions increases its significance. Early estimates for these parallel error cards range between $1000-1500 each.
As the 2023 Heritage release remains relatively new, additional error finds are sure to surface as more and more packs are searched meticulously by collectors. Errors involving the biggest stars like Judge, Ohtani and Trout will always command top dollar. Rarer mistakes such as missing signatures, wrong uniforms or miscuts that creatively damage the card also gain popularity. Over time, as error stories are shared and the cards achieve recognition in the hobby, prices will continue rising for the most notable flubs. Heritage errors have proven to be a favorite for collectors pursuing the unexpected surprises and investment potential that card anomalies can provide.
While production errors are unwanted for Topps, they create a thrill of the hunt for collectors and add intrigue/value to the Heritage releases each year. As more 2023 errors are uncovered, the most significant mistakes involving top players or unusual defects seem poised to become highly valued additions to error card collections. The Heritage brand has a dedicated following ensuring its mistakes find appreciative new homes with enthusiasts of oddball cards and the surprises that come with them.
