The 2019 Topps Heritage baseball card set is a fan favorite release that pays homage to classic baseball card designs of the past. Each year, Topps selects a specific decade as inspiration for the retro aesthetic of the Heritage set and in 2019, they looked to the design of cards from the late 1960s and early 1970s for guidance. With its distinctive vintage styling and quality cardboard construction, the 2019 Heritage set has proven to be an extremely popular high-end release among collectors both young and old.
Inspired by cards produced between 1968-1974, the 2019 Topps Heritage cards feature vivid action photography on a thick, high quality cardboard stock that was common during the 1960s/early 70s era. Rather than the modern smooth finish, the cards have a textured feel that further enhances the retro vibe. The player names, team logos and borders incorporate classic serif fonts that were popular during that time period. The vintage-inspired design transports collectors back to the days of their childhood collections or captures the nostalgic charm of the era for newer fans.
One of the distinctive touches that helps sell the retro flair is how each player’s position is denoted. Rather than simply listing “P” or “C”, the positions are spelled out in full such as “Pitcher” or “Catcher”. This small detail is faithful to how positions were indicated on cards from Topps’ earlier years. Also, while most modern cards feature brightly colored team logo chips on the uniform, the 2019 Heritage uniforms are more muted and realistic with team names stitched directly onto plain uniforms – just as they appeared in the source decade.
For collector enjoyment, the 2019 Topps Heritage release includes both active major leaguers as well as retired star players from the original era. For example, the release features current stars like Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts alongside 1960s/70s legends like Nolan Ryan, Johnny Bench and Reggie Jackson. Having iconic veteran players mixed in with today’s top talent adds to the fun, nostalgic vibe of the set. Collectors enjoy seeking out their favorite modern stars reimagined in the classic vintage aesthetic as well as finding cards paying homage to heroes of the past.
In terms of construction, the 2019 Topps Heritage cards are printed on thick, high quality cardboard stock measuring 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, just like their 1960s/70s predecessors. This hefty stock helps the cards maintain their pristine condition much better than the thin, glossy stock used in modern releases. The front of each card features the aforementioned retro design cues while the back has basic info about the player’s career stats and accomplishments written in a simple banner across the bottom. Throughout the set, parallels and variations offer collectors multiple options at various price points to complete their collection.
Some of the notable parallels and insert sets featured in 2019 Topps Heritage include:
Heritage High Numbers (extended player roster beyond the base set)
Heritage Mini (reduced 1.5 inch by 2.5 inch “mini” versions of select cards)
Refractors (parallel variations with refracting foil elements)
Black Refractors (ultra-rare 1/1000 versions on black refractors)
Throwback Threads (jersey-style patch cards paying tribute to historical uniforms)
Sp Threads (jersey swatches with team logo fabric from the source decade)
1969 Throwbacks (red, white and blue parallel designs inspired by 1969 Topps design)
In addition to the standard base set, these various parallels and inserts give serious collectors multiple objectives to pursue in completing their Heritage collection. Various levels of rarity and associated value add to the sense of excitement found in opening Heritage packs and boxes.
From a production standpoint, Topps distributed 2019 Topps Heritage in a wide range of retail formats to meet different budget levels:
Jumbo packs (10 oversized cards for premium price point)
Hobby boxes (36 packs with guaranteed parallels/hits)
Blasters (10 pack retail value option)
Hanger packs (5 mini packs with bonus insert cards)
Fat packs (20 mini packs at a heftier price vs. blasters)
This availability across various price points makes Heritage an accessible set for any level of collector. Whether seeking a fun weekend afternoon rip of blasters/hangers or diving into a serious master set hobby box break, Topps Heritage offers something for every baseball card fan.
The 2019 Topps Heritage release has proven to be another smashing success for the annual retro-inspired baseball card set. Faithful to its 1960s/70s design inspiration and accessible across various collector levels, Topps Heritage transports fans both young and old back to the golden era of the sport each time they crack packs. With its noteworthy veterans, abundance of parallels and nostalgic stylings, Topps Heritage rightly earns its place as a premier modern release and one of the most anticipated sets each year. Whether completing a master set or simply enjoying the trip down memory lane, Topps Heritage continues delivering fun for baseball card collectors of all stripes.
