Description

2003 Bowman Heritage is a 300-card set released by Topps in December, 2003, although it is only sequentially numbered to 280 due to multiple prints of the retired greats. This set was designed in the style of what the 1956 Bowman set might have looked like had it been issued. Bowman stopped making and distributing baseball cards in 1955 after Topps purchased Bowman Gum Co. However, the company had a set planned for release in 1956. There were three design types: Single Image, Double Image, and Knothole. These designs were found in a dark blue presentation folder labeled "1956 Baseball Card Preference Study" and was purchased by avid baseball card collector and news commentator Keith Olbermann. The booklet details an early market research project in which hundreds of children (mostly boys) in five cities were shown seven different designs and asked which they liked best. The top three designs had small quantities printed and were then shown to exactly 324 boys from Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago. Three of these test cards were glued to pages within the Preference Study booklet. While the children ultimately selected the double image design, they decided to utilize all three designes for the Bowman Heritage set. The first 160 cards all feature veteran players on the Single Image design. Cards numbered 161 through 170 feature players who debuted in the 2003 season and each of those players have the Double Image. Cards numbered 171-180 featured retired greats and were issued in all three styles. Cards number 180 through 300 are all Rookie Cards and all those cards are issued in the Knothole design.

Distribution

Hobby: 24 packs per box, 10 cards per pack (MSRP: $2.99)

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds
Base	300	-	?	?
Black-Bordered Facsimile Signature	300	-	1:1	1:1
Rainbow	100	-	1:1	N/A
Gold Rainbow	100	one-of-one	?	N/A
Delmon Young Autograph	1	?	1:1014	?
Keith Olbermann Autograph	1	-	1:1421	?
Diamond Cut Relics	?	-	?
Diamond Cut Relics Red	?	56	1:143	?
Diamond Cut Relics Gold	?	one-of-one	1:8193	?
Signs of Greatness	?	-	1:30	?
Signs of Greatness Red Ink	?	one-of-one	1:32,141	?
Team Topps Blue Chips	5	-	?	?

Checklist

Promos

This three-card set, one from each design, was issued to promote the 2003 Bowman Heritage set.

PP1 Alex Rodriguez

PP2 Bo Hart

PP3 Miguel Cabrera

Base Set

Single Image

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1 Jorge Posada
2 Todd Helton
3 Marcus Giles
4 Eric Chavez
5 Edgar Martinez
6 Luis Gonzalez
7 Corey Patterson
8 Preston Wilson
9 Ryan Klesko
10 Randy Johnson
11 Jose Guillen
12 Carlos Lee
13 Steve Finley
14 A.J. Pierzynski
15 Troy Glaus
16 Darin Erstad
17 Moises Alou
18 Torii Hunter
19 Marlon Byrd
20 Mark Prior
21 Shannon Stewart
22 Craig Biggio
23 Johnny Damon
24 Robert Fick
25 Jason Giambi
26 Fernando Vina
27 Aubrey Huff
28 Benito Santiago
29 Jay Gibbons
30 Ken Griffey, Jr.
31 Rocco Baldelli
32 Pat Burrell
33 A.J. Burnett
34 Omar Vizquel
35 Greg Maddux
36 Cliff Floyd
37 C.C. Sabathia
38 Geoff Jenkins
39 Ty Wigginton
40 Jeff Kent
41 Orlando Hudson
42 Edgardo Alfonzo
43 Greg Myers
44 Melvin Mora
45 Sammy Sosa
46 Russ Ortiz
47 Josh Beckett
48 David Wells
49 Woody Williams
50 Alex Rodriguez
51 Randy Wolf
52 Carlos Beltran
53 Austin Kearns
54 Trot Nixon
55 Ivan Rodriguez
56 Shea Hillenbrand
57 Roberto Alomar
58 John Olerud
59 Michael Young
60 Garret Anderson
61 Mike Lieberthal
62 Adam Dunn
63 Raul Ibanez
64 Kenny Lofton
65 Ichiro
66 Jarrod Washburn
67 Shawn Chacon
68 Alex Gonzalez
69 Roy Halladay
70 Vladimir Guerrero
71 Hee Seop Choi
72 Jody Gerut
73 Ray Durham
74 Mark Teixeira
75 Hank Blalock
76 Jerry Hairston, Jr.
77 Erubiel Durazo
78 Frank Catalanotto
79 Jacque Jones
80 Bobby Abreu
81 Mike Hampton
82 Zach Day
83 Jimmy Rollins
84 Joel Pineiro
85 Brett Myers
86 Frank Thomas
87 Aramis Ramirez
88 Paul Lo Duca
89 Dmitri Young
90 Brian Giles
91 Jose Cruz
92 Derek Lowe
93 Mark Buehrle
94 Wade Miller
95 Derek Jeter
96 Bret Boone
97 Tony Batista
98 Sean Casey
99 Eric Hinske
100 Albert Pujols
101 Runelvys Hernandez
102 Vernon Wells
103 Kerry Wood
104 Lance Berkman
105 Alfonso Soriano
106 Bill Mueller
107 Bartolo Colon
108 Andy Pettitte
109 Rafael Furcal
110 Dontrelle Willis
111 Carl Crawford
112 Scott Rolen
113 Chipper Jones
114 Magglio Ordonez
115 Bernie Williams
116 Roy Oswalt
117 Kevin Brown
118 Cristian Guzman
119 Kazuhisa Ishii
120 Larry Walker
121 Miguel Tejada
122 Manny Ramirez
123 Mike Mussina
124 Mike Lowell
125 Scott Podsednik
126 Aaron Boone
127 Carlos Delgado
128 Jose Vidro
129 Brad Radke
130 Rafael Palmeiro
131 Mark Mulder
132 Jason Schmidt
133 Gary Sheffield
134 Richie Sexson
135 Barry Zito
136 Tom Glavine
137 Jim Edmonds
138 Andruw Jones
139 Pedro Martinez
140 Curt Schilling
141 Phil Nevin
142 Nomar Garciaparra
143 Vicente Padilla
144 Kevin Millwood
145 Shawn Green
146 Jeff Bagwell
147 Hideo Nomo
148 Fred McGriff
149 Matt Morris
150 Roger Clemens
151 Jerome Williams
152 Orlando Cabrera
153 Tim Hudson
154 Mike Sweeney
155 Jim Thome
156 Rich Aurilia
157 Mike Piazza
158 Edgar Renteria
159 Javy Lopez
160 Jamie Moyer

171 Willie Mays
172 Phil Rizzuto
173 Al Kaline
174 Warren Spahn
175 Jimmy Piersall
176 Luis Aparicio
177 Whitey Ford
178 Harmon Killebrew
179 Duke Snider
180 Roberto Clemente

Double Image

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NOTE: Adam Lowen card is NOT a double image card, but is a Knothole FY RC

161 Miguel Cabrera
162 Adam Loewen RC
163 Jose Reyes
164 Zack Greinke
165 Gavin Floyd
166 Jeremy Guthrie
167 Victor Martinez
168 Rich Harden
169 Joe Mauer
170 Khalil Greene

171 Willie Mays
172 Phil Rizzuto
173 Al Kaline
174 Warren Spahn
175 Jimmy Piersall
176 Luis Aparicio
177 Whitey Ford
178 Harmon Killebrew
179 Duke Snider
180 Roberto Clemente

Knothole

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171 Willie Mays
172 Phil Rizzuto
173 Al Kaline
174 Warren Spahn
175 Jimmy Piersall
176 Luis Aparicio
177 Whitey Ford
178 Harmon Killebrew
179 Duke Snider
180 Roberto Clemente

181 David Martinez RC*
182 Felix Pie RC
183 Kevin Correia RC
184 Brandon Webb RC
185 Matt Diaz RC
186 Lew Ford RC
187 Jeremy Griffiths RC
188 Matt Hensley RC
189 Danny Garcia RC
190 Elizardo Ramirez RC
191 Greg Aquino RC
192 Felix Sanchez RC
193 Kelly Shoppach RC
194 Bubba Nelson RC*
195 Mike O'Keefe RC*
196 Hanley Ramirez RC
197 Todd Wellemeyer RC
198 Dustin Moseley RC
199 Eric Crozier RC
200 Ryan Shealy RC
201 Jeremy Bonderman RC
202 Bo Hart RC
203 Dusty Brown RC
204 Robby Hammock RC
205 Jorge Piedra RC
206 Jason Kubel RC
207 Stephen Randolph RC
208 Andy Sisco RC
209 Matt Kata RC
210 Robinson Cano RC
211 Ben Francisco RC
212 Arnie Munoz RC
213 Ozzie Chavez RC*
214 Beau Kemp RC*
215 Travis Wong RC*
216 Brian McCann RC
217 Aquilino Lopez RC
218 Bobby Basham RC*
219 Tim Olson RC
220 Nathan Panther RC*
221 Wil Ledezma RC
222 Josh Willingham RC
223 David Cash RC*
224 Oscar Villarreal RC
225 Jeff Duncan RC
226 Dan Haren RC
227 Michel Hernandez RC
228 Matt Murton RC
229 Clay Hensley RC
230 Tyler Johnson RC
231 Tyler Martin RC*
232 J.D. Durbin RC
233 Shane Victorino RC
234 Rajai Davis RC
235 Chien-Ming Wang RC
236 Travis Ishikawa RC
237 Eric Eckenstahler
238 Dustin McGowan RC
239 Prentice Redman RC
240 Haj Turay RC*
241 Matt DeMarco RC*
242 Lou Palmisano RC*
243 Eric Reed RC
244 Willie Eyre RC
245 Ferdin Tejeda RC*
246 Michael Garciaparra RC*
247 Michael Hinckley RC
248 Branden Florence RC*
249 Trent Oeltjen RC
250 Mike Neu RC
251 Chris Lubanski RC*
252 Brandon Wood RC
253 Delmon Young RC
254 Matt Harrison RC
255 Chad Billingsley RC
256 Josh Anderson RC
257 Brian McFall RC*
258 Ryan Wagner RC
259 Billy Hogan RC*
260 Nate Spears RC
261 Ryan Harvey RC*
262 Wes Littleton RC
263 Xavier Paul RC
264 Sean Rodriguez RC
265 Brian Finch RC*
266 Josh Rainwater RC*
267 Brian Snyder RC*
268 Eric Duncan RC*
269 Rickie Weeks RC
270 Tim Battle RC*
271 Scott Beerer RC*
272 Aaron Hill RC
273 Casey Abrams RC*
274 Jonathan Fulton RC*
275 Todd Jennings RC*
276 Jordan Pratt RC*
277 Tom Gorzelanny RC
278 Matt Lorenzo RC*
279 Jarrod Saltalamacchia RC
280 Mike Wagner RC*

Parallels

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All 300 base cards are available in a one-per-pack Black-Bordered Facsimile Signature parallel.

Rainbow

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This Hobby-exclusive partially-parallel the 100 Knothole "Rookie" cards (181-280). A one-of-one Gold Rainbow is also available.

Inserts

Box Toppers

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Each sealed Hobby box contains one of eight Box Toppers. Each Box Topper is done in the style of the Knothole base cards, and are often confused as base cards. Each card is sequentially-numbered "X of 8" on the reverse.

1 Delmon Young
2 Rickie Weeks
3 Brandon Webb
4 Bo Hart
5 Felix Pie
6 Ryan Harvey
7 Eric Duncan
8 Aaron Hill

Autographs & Game-Used

Diamond Cuts Relics

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Each Diamond Cut Relic is also available in a Red and Gold parallel version. The Reds are serial-numbered to 56 copies, and the Gold are ones-of-one.

DC-AJ Andruw Jones JSY A
DC-AK Austin Kearns JSY A
DC-AP Albert Pujols BAT
DC-AR1 Alex Rodriguez JSY A
DC-AR2 Alex Rodriguez BAT
DC-AS Alfonso Soriano BAT
DC-BB Bret Boone JSY A
DC-BM Brett Myers JSY A
DC-BW Bernie Williams UNI
DC-BZ Barry Zito UNI
DC-CB Craig Biggio UNI
DC-CF Cliff Floyd UNI
DC-CG Cristian Guzman JSY A
DC-CJ1 Chipper Jones BAT
DC-CJ2 Chipper Jones JSY A
DC-EC Eric Chavez UNI
DC-GS Gary Sheffield UNI
DC-HB Hank Blalock BAT
DC-HN Hideo Nomo JSY A
DC-JA Jeremy Affeldt UNI
DC-JB Jeff Bagwell JSY A
DC-JE Jim Edmonds UNI
DC-JG Jason Giambi UNI
DC-JJ Jason Jennings JSY A
DC-JL Javy Lopez JSY A
DC-JLP Josh Phelps JSY C
DC-JR Jose Reyes JSY A
DC-JV Javier Vazquez JSY A
DC-JW Jarrod Washburn UNI
DC-KI Kazuhiro Sasaki JSY A
DC-KM Kevin Millwood JSY A
DC-KW Kerry Wood UNI
DC-MA Moises Alou JSY C
DC-MG Mark Grace JSY B
DC-ML Mike Lowell JSY A
DC-MM Mark Mulder UNI
DC-MS Mike Sweeney JSY A
DC-MT Miguel Tejada UNI
DC-PL Paul Lo Duca JSY A
DC-PM Pedro Martinez JSY A
DC-RC Roberto Clemente BAT
DC-RH Rickey Henderson BAT
DC-RP1 Rafael Palmeiro BAT
DC-RP2 Rafael Palmeiro JSY
DC-SR1 Scott Rolen BAT
DC-SR2 Scott Rolen JSY
DC-SS1 Sammy Sosa BAT
DC-SS2 Sammy Sosa JSY A
DC-TA Tony Armas, Jr. JSY A
DC-TG Troy Glaus UNI
DC-TH Todd Helton JSY A
DC-THA Tim Hudson UNI
DC-TW Ty Wigginton UNI
DC-VG Vladimir Guererro BAT
DC-VW Vernon Wells JSY A

Signs of Greatness

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Topps had each player sign one, and only one, copy in red ink.

SG-BF Brian Finch
SG-BS Brian Snyder
SG-CB Chad Billingsley
SG-DW Dontrelle Willis
SG-FP Felix Pie
SG-JD Jeff Duncan
SG-KY Kevin Youkilis
SG-MM Matt Murton
SG-RC Robinson Cano
SG-RH Rich Harden
SG-RW Rickie Weeks
SG-TG Tom Gorzelanny

Team Topps Blue Chips Autographs

See 2003 Topps Blue Chips

Delmon Young Autograph

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Topps had Delmon Young, the first pick overall in the 2003 MLB Draft, autograph a limited number of his Bowman Heritage base card. This card was available via an exchange card that was randomly inserted into packs at the rate of 1:1014. The exchange card has long expired.

253 Delmon Young

Keith Olbermann Autograph

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Topps had broadcaster, and noted card collector, Keith Olbermann autograph some cards for 2003 Bowman Heritage. Olbermann provided Topps with his own personal copies of the 1956 Bowman prototypes on which the designs of the base set are based.

KOA Keith Olbermann