If you are a fan of the 1975 Topps baseball set, then you'll love the look and feel of the 2024 Topps heritage baseball set.
Sporting a similar two-tone color scheme as the vintage '75 classic, the 500-card checklist is jam-packed with color and eye appeal.
Aesthetically, the set is nothing short of fantastic...
But there is more to this set than just its visual quality.
Like other Heritage sets over the years, 100 base cards are short prints, though Topps scattered them throughout the checklist rather than anchoring them at the back.
That change should increase the challenge for set builders.
Beyond the base set, collectors will find the usual highlights that Heritage is known for, including inserts, variations, relics, and autograph cards.
As one of the hobby's favorite brands, 2024 Topps Heritage does not disappoint.
And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable.
Let's jump right in!
2024 Topps Heritage #371 Shohei Ohtani
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $70
For nearly a half decade, be it pitching, hitting, or whatever, Shohei Ohtani has been the class of Major League Baseball.
"I think there's a legitimate argument that he's the greatest player to ever play the game," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
2024 did nothing to dispel that notion.
Signed to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the largest contract in baseball history (ten years, $700 million), Ohtani's short trip from Anaheim to Chavez Ravine came with a first-year caveat.
He couldn't pitch.
Ohtani was held off the mound in year one at Dodger Stadium while slowly rehabbing an elbow injury.
It'd be logical to assume his impact would be muted.
Well, about that.
All the 29-year-old DH did to make up for his limitations was put together the first 50/50 season ever.
Moreover, the Dodgers used the unanimous MVP's 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases as a springboard to their second World Series title of the decade.
2024 Topps Heritage #112 Aaron Judge
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50
There are two Aaron Judges.
Regular-season Aaron Judge is one of the greatest sluggers, era-adjusted or otherwise, in the history of Major League Baseball.
Playoffs Aaron Judge?
Not the same guy.
Judge had an all-time banger of a regular campaign in 2024.
The 32-year-old New York Yankees center fielder was the landslide, unanimous choice for AL MVP, leading baseball in WAR (10.8), home runs (58), RBIs (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging (.701), and OPS+ (223) among other categories.
With league-wide offensive production factored in, Judge's year is unparalleled since Barry Bonds' MVP dominance from 2001-04.
When the calendar hit October, though, he was a different guy.
The Yankees busted through to their first World Series appearance since 2009 despite Judge's .184 average and 20 strikeouts in 64 postseason plate appearances.
"Guys around here are doing their job, getting on base," Judge said. "I'm failing them, (not) backing them up."
2024 Topps Heritage #473 Elly De La Cruz Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45
There are all-or-nothing players.
And then there's Elly de la Cruz.
The 22-year-old Cincinnati Reds shortstop came into his sophomore year in 2024 as the game's most intriguing young question mark.
His raw talent as a hitter and baserunner made him a social media favorite from the get-go.
However, his game still had plenty of glitches to temper expectations.
None of that changed in 2024.
To be fair, the good far outweighed the bad.
While the Reds took a step back into less-than-mediocrity, de la Cruz flourished, becoming the first shortstop ever with 25 home runs and 65 base thefts (67) in a single year.
The MLB stolen-base champ placed fifth among all NL position players in WAR (5.2) and missed just two games all year.
De La Cruz's faults, though, were hard to deny.
The first-time All-Star swung hard and swung wildly in nearly every at-bat, striking out an MLB-worst 218 times.
He was also nabbed an MLB-leading 16 times on the basepaths.
2024 Topps Heritage #24 Gunnar Henderson
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
Gunnar Henderson's first two Big League seasons have put him in elite company among the greatest players in Baltimore Orioles history.
The 2023 AL Rookie-of-the-Year followed his spectacular debut campaign with a giant step forward, finishing fourth for league MVP with a .281/.364/.529 slash line, 37 home runs, 21 stolen bases, 78 walks, 118 runs, and 92 RBIs.
Henderson ended the year third in the AL in WAR (9.1) and seventh in OPS+ (159).
The 23-year-old shortstop was also extremely durable, placing fifth in the Junior Circuit with 630 at-bats.
The Orioles could not level up alongside their middle-infield phenom, falling to the upstart Kansas City Royals in a two-and-out Wild Card Series sweep.
However, Baltimore's collective playoff struggles aren't enough to downplay the all-time impact of Henderson's sophomore campaign.
Henderson became the eighth player in franchise history to be named Most Valuable Orioles in consecutive years, joining a who's who of O's greats including Rafael Palmeiro (1995-96), Cal Ripken Jr. (1990-91), Eddie Murray (1981-85), and Frank Robinson (1966-67).
2024 Topps Heritage #52 Mike Trout
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
What will Mike Trout's legacy be?
The Los Angeles Angels center fielder won three MVP awards before his 28th birthday, moving into second on the all-time list less than a decade into his career.
From 2012 to 2020, he finished no worse than fifth for the award.
However, since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, the future Hall-of-Famer has been inundated with injuries.
He's played over 82 games just once since 2019.
Trout missed all but 29 contests during the 2024 season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee.
The 32-year-old hit just .220 over that month of play but still managed to compile 1.1 WAR with ten home runs in just 109 at-bats.
Now, with his former MVP running mate Shohei Ohtani coming off a championship on the other side of the freeway, the spotlight shifts back to Trout and his health.
Will he eventually return to the top of the baseball food chain, or is all stops and starts from here on out?
2024 Topps Heritage #404 Bobby Witt Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
The young Kansas City Royals didn't shy away from their first moment under the October spotlight.
And it was Bobby Witt Jr. who kept them composed in such unfamiliar territory.
Witt's breakthrough 2024 campaign was the difference for a Royals squad that went from worst to Wild Card berth.
After winning just 56 games in 2023, Kansas City survived a struggle-filled September to make their first playoff appearance since winning the World Series in 2015.
Witt became the first Royals player since George Brett (1985) to finish runner-up for AL MVP, winning his first batting title (an MLB-best .332) and leading the Majors in hits (211)).
He went 30/30 for the second consecutive year (32 home runs, 31 stolen bases) and topped 100 RBIs (109) and 100 runs (125) for the first time.
The 24-year-old shortstop wasn't done there.
He collected two massive hits in Kansas City's Wild Card road sweep of Baltimore, pacing the Royals to their first playoff series win in nearly a decade.
2024 Topps Heritage #405 Bryce Harper
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
It was so great to see Bryce Harper fully healthy again for the 2024 MLB season.
Whether he was recovering from Tommy John surgery or battling other issues, injuries nagged at the Philadelphia superstar throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
In all, Harper missed nearly 100 regular-season games during that time.
Philly fans surely missed seeing Harper out of the lineup so often.
But no one was more irritated by it than Harper himself.
So, after spending part of 2023 at first base, he agreed to play the position full-time in 2024 to limit the risk of further injuries.
Since breaking into the league in 2012, Harper spent most of his time roaming the outfield.
That said, no one was surprised to see Harper rate as a below-average first baseman in 2024.
The trade-off was worth it, though.
Harper hit to a .285 average while smacking 30 home runs with 87 RBIs, 42 doubles, 85 runs scored and an NL-best eleven intentional walks.
The importance of having Harper's MVP caliber could not be understated.
And it's a big reason why the Phillies finished six games ahead of the division-rival Atlanta Braves and New York Mets for the NL East title.
2024 Topps Heritage #143 Juan Soto
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
No one was surprised when Juan Soto signed a 15-year deal worth $765 million to continue playing in New York.
Most just thought he would stay in Yankee pinstripes.
Instead, starting in 2025, the generational talent will play on the other side of town for the Mets.
Yankees fans were shocked at the news.
When the Yankees initially brought Soto over as part of a seven-player blockbuster deal with the Padres, everyone wondered how he'd do under the New York spotlight.
Soto did just fine.
During his one-year stay in the Bronx, Soto teamed up with Aaron Judge to form one of the most potent 1-2 punches in recent memory.
Judge had one of the most historic seasons in MLB history.
And Soto finished third in the MVP race, hitting .288 with a .989 OPS, 41 home runs, and 109 RBIs in 157 games.
He led the AL with 128 runs scored and finished third to Judge and Ohtani in OPS+ (178).
Soto was even better in the postseason, hitting .327 with a 1.101 OPS and 12 runs scored in New York's 14-game AL pennant run.
2024 Topps Heritage #499 Mookie Betts
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
The 2024 MLB season didn't start quite as Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers had anticipated.
But it finished just fine.
Since his rookie debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2014, Betts had gradually earned a reputation as one of the most versatile stars in the game.
As a Gold Glove outfielder for both Boston and Los Angeles, Betts was as solid as it gets in the outfield.
Over time, though, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts continued using him more and more to fill gaps in the infield.
And Betts made the transition without skipping a beat.
He was such a reliable infielder that, heading into the 2024 season, Roberts intended to use Betts as a full-time second baseman.
However, with Gavin Lux struggling early, Roberts moved Betts to shortstop before eventually having him split time in right field again.
It didn't matter where the Dodgers needed him: Betts was there.
And his bat remained as reliable as ever, too, as the superstar picked up his sixth Silver Slugger, slashing .289/.372/.491 with 19 home runs, 75 runs scored and 75 RBIs before helping L.A. to their eighth World Series title.
2024 Topps Heritage #248 Freddie Freeman
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
Some of the game's biggest superstars shone brightest during the 2024 postseason.
Guys like Mookie Betts and Juan Soto played red-hot baseball throughout the playoffs.
But no one was hotter when it mattered most than Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Another All-Star season saw Freeman slash .282/.378/.476 with 22 home runs and 89 RBIs in 142 games before kicking things into overdrive in October.
After homering in Games 5 and 6 of the 2021 World Series, Freeman belted a home run in the first four contests of the 2024 World Series to extend his Series run to six games, a new MLB record.
Remarkably, one stood out as even more historic than the rest.
With the Dodgers trailing and down to their final out in Game 1, the no-doubt Series MVP sent Dodger Stadium into pandemonium with the first-ever walk-off grand slam in Series lore.
It will take an awful lot for someone to come along in the future and outdo what Freeman did in the 2024 World Series.
2024 Topps Heritage #255 Joey Votto
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
For the first time since 2006, Cincinnati Reds fans saw something during games that just didn't feel right: Joey Votto was no longer manning first base.
Over 17 seasons with the Reds, Votto became the face of the team and undisputed clubhouse leader.
Few players in MLB history have possessed the combination of power and plate discipline that Votto had.
During his career, Votto amassed 2,135 hits, 356 home runs, and a stellar .294 batting average, complemented by a .409 on-base percentage.
His keen eye at the plate earned him six All-Star selections, a 2010 National League MVP award, and seven Tip O'Neill Awards as Canada's top baseball player.
On seven different occasions, Votto led the league in OBP.
But Votto's story was more than just numbers.
His fiery competitiveness and quirky personality made him a fan favorite in Cincinnati.
Simply put, Votto was the face of the team and one of the most beloved players in franchise history.
2024 Topps Heritage #321 Ronald Acuña Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
Given Ronald Acuña Jr.'s historic season in 2023, nobody expected him to ever outdo that performance the rest of his career.
How could anyone expect him to top his record-setting 41-homer/73-steal season?
Still, everyone was excited to see what he would do for an encore in 2024.
Unfortunately, Acuña missed over two-thirds of the season.
The disaster struck on May 26 during an otherwise forgettable 8-1 blowout against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Attempting to steal his 17th base of the season, Acuña instead ended up tearing his ACL for the second time in his career (2021).
Acuña played just 49 games before going down, hitting .250 with a .716 OPS, four homers and 16 stolen bases.
Sure, he wasn't on pace to meet or beat his eye-popping numbers.
But he was still Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Braves are optimistic he'll be ready by Opening Day in 2025 and if we are lucky, Acuña will bounce back to playing at an incredibly high level.
2024 Topps Heritage #399 Jasson Dominguez Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
Seeing what Jasson Dominguez can do in a full season as the Yankees' projected starting left fielder for 2025 will be fun.
Ever since he took the second Major League pitch he ever saw (off Justin Verlander, no less) over the left field wall late in the 2023 season, "The Martian" has left fans wanting more and more.
Unfortunately, injuries ranging from a UCL tear to oblique strains have derailed and delayed the up-and-coming Dominican star's MLB career.
Fortunately, he's only 22 years old.
And he should have plenty of years of great baseball left in him as long as he can put the injury bug behind him.
With Juan Soto headed over to the New York Mets, the Yankees will look to Dominguez's big bat to make up some of the difference.
More than anything, the baseball world just wants to see Dominguez stay healthy for his sake.
2024 Topps Heritage #388 Colton Cowser Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
Whatever the Baltimore Orioles organization is doing to build up its talent base, it's working.
Two-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman finished runner-up in the 2022 Rookie-of-the-Year vote.
All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson took AL Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2023.
And in 2024, outfielder Colton Cowser finished just behind New York's Luis Gil for second in the 2024 AL Rookie-of-the-Year vote.
It's almost like they have a baseball player factory in Baltimore.
In 153 games and 499 at-bats, Cowser slashed .242/.321/.447 while placing first among AL rookies in runs scored (77), first in fWAR (4.0), third in doubles (24), third in RBIs (69), and third in OPS (.768).
The 24-year-old outfielder also lapped the field with 24 home runs, eight more than any other American League rookie.
But Cowser's talents didn't just stop with his bat.
His sharp glovework also earned him a spot as a Gold Glove finalist.
If the Orioles can keep all this talent on the roster, there should be plenty of winning ahead for Baltimore.
2024 Topps Heritage #442 Austin Wells Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
2024 Topps Heritage Baseball Cards In Review
Every year, Topps Heritage seems to be one of the most highly-anticipated products among baseball collectors.
The throwback designs and focus on recreating a solid set-building experience are terrific features.
And when you add in all of the typical attributes of modern sports card products like inserts, variations, autographs and relics, it's easy to see why the Heritage brand has such a strong backing throughout the hobby.
There were also several different subsets, including:
- 2023 Season Highlights
- A.L. and N.L. All-Stars
- Managers
- All-Star Rookies
- League Leaders
- MVPs
If you are the kind of collector who likes the challenge of putting together a given set, this one is probably right up your alley.
The big-name rookie cards like Elly De La Cruz, Jasson Dominguez, Colton Cowser and more are simply the cherries on top of a great product.