Topps Heritage is one of the most iconic baseball card brands in the hobby, bringing back classic designs from the past while integrating modern innovations. For 2023, Topps is taking things to a whole new level with the introduction of their first-ever 3D baseball cards in the Heritage line. These amazing cards use lenticular technology to add moving 3D effects that breathe new life into some of the greatest players and moments from baseball history.
The Heritage brand has long been known for its nostalgic throwbacks to the design sensibilities of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Topps would reintroduce classic designs and styles that fans who collected cards in those eras fondly remember. Things like the classic white border look, fun popup facts on the back, team logo embossed packaging – it was a walk down memory lane for collectors. For 2023 though, Topps has taken a giant leap by adding cutting edge 3D technology into the Heritage formula.
When collectors open packs of 2023 Topps Heritage 3D, they will find that some of the cards have an embedded lenticular lens over the photos. A lenticular lens is a thin sheet containing tens of thousands of tiny V-shaped lenses. When you tilt or move the card from side to side, you will see the photo magically transform into an amazing 3D effect. Some cards will have players popping off the front of the card. Others will have mascots or stadium icons emerging in 3D. It truly brings the photos to life in a way never seen before in the hobby.
Topps worked closely with the 3D technology providers to ensure the effects were as realistic and high quality as possible. They wanted the movements to feel smooth and natural, almost like you are watching a 3D movie through the card stock. Initial reviews from test prints were extremely positive, with many commenters saying it was hard to believe the effects were coming from a simple trading card. The level of detail and depth captured is remarkable. It really makes you feel like you can reach out and touch these legendary players as they leap off the cardboard.
While the base set will have a mixture of standard and 3D cards for collectors at all levels, Topps is also releasing elite 3D parallel prints that will be true treasures for high-end collectors. Rarest of all will be 1/1 3D cards that feature one-of-a-kind bespoke lenticular effects never seen before. Topps designers worked directly with hobby legends to craft completely custom 3D scenes just for these ultra-rare cards. Expect to see insane effects like entire stadiums warping in 3D, dozens of players swarming across the front, and other almost cinematic 3D dioramas invisible to the naked eye. These promise to redefine what is possible with trading card technology.
Some examples of the amazing 3D effects found in the 2023 Topps Heritage base set include Babe Ruth appearing to swing and smash a home run into the left field bleachers at Yankee Stadium. A lenticular Mike Trout will feature the speedster stealing second base in a burst of 3D action. At Dodger Stadium, a 3D Fernando Valenzuela will wind up and unleash his famous screwball pitch right at the card holder. Even the back of the cards get 3D treatment, with pop ups like stats and highlights leaping into 3D as you rotate the card.
Topps has also included a healthy number of retro 3D throwbacks that take legendary players and moments from the 1960s-80s and adapts them into the lenticular format. Fans can relive iconic plays like Hank Aaron’s 715th home run or Nolan Ryan’s record setting 5000th strikeout now in enhanced 3D. Other retro nods include 3D adaptations of some of the most classic Topps designs from decade past. It’s like stepping into a 3D time machine back to the golden age of baseball cards.
In addition to players, Topps has also included plenty of 3D stadium shots meant to transport collectors. Places like Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium will come alive in 3D as iconic details and features pop off the card. Team mascots and uniforms get the 3D lenticular treatment as well. Even packaging and wrappers for boxes and packs feature 3D lenticular printing with logos and artwork leaping into the third dimension. Whether collecting for history or just for the amazing effects, 2023 Topps Heritage 3D promises to be a true showcase.
Early reviews from industry insiders and leak accounts on social media indicate demand for 2023 Topps Heritage 3D cards will be through the roof upon official release in early 2023. The unprecedented 3D technology is pushing the boundaries of the hobby in a way collectors have been dreaming of. For the first time, cards feel less like static pieces of cardboard and more like mini 3D dioramas and even animated films. Generations of collectors young and old will have their minds blown experiencing these classics and icons of the game literally coming to life before their eyes through lenticular printing. It’s sure to go down as one of the most important and innovative releases in the storied history of Topps cards and baseball collectibles.
As the official MLBPA license holder, Topps has the exclusive right to use player names andlikenessesin innovative ways. Their Heritage 3D line honors the past while pushing theindustry forward with groundbreaking technology. It promises to capture imaginations for yearsto come as the next evolution of sports collecting. Between the mind blowing 1/1 cards and theretro throwbacks enhanced with 3D, the 2023 Topps Heritage set is poised to be coveted byhobbyists worldwide. When packs hit stores next spring, it will likely spark a modern gold rushas collectors worldwide scramble to add these true technological marvels to their collections.Only time will tell just how much these innovative 3D cards will be worth in the secondarymarket of the future, but one thing is for certain – they are sure to be remembered as atruly landmark release that changed the game.
