In case you haven't noticed, this year's Bowman Heritage set kicks ass. In fact, I'd have to say that Bowman Heritage has been consistently great. It's almost too bad that there weren't more designs from the Fifties that today's Topps designers could mooch off.

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure how I got on Clay Luraschi's public relations email list. But whatever, I'm not complaining. So I don't know if this has already been posted, but here's a release I just got from Topps HQ.


NEW BOWMAN HERITAGE SET FEATURES BACKGROUND TWISTS

Collectors ripping packs of the recently-released 2007 Bowman Heritage Baseball will find some very interesting and sometimes familiar backgrounds on certain cards (image attached). In addition to the backgrounds, a couple of players have added text to their photo including “Joba Rules” on Joba Chamberlain’s card. Following is a list of the cards with a description for each:

# 23 Carlos Delgado - Ebbets Field background
# 36 Paul Lo Duca - Ebbets Field background
# 40 Adam Dunn - Cornfield in background
# 50 Albert Pujols - Background from 1952 Bowman Stan Musial
# 51 Tom Glavine - New Citi Field Construction in background
# 68 Andy Pettitte - Old Yankee Stadium background
# 70 Roger Clemens - Yankee Stadium Monument Park background
# 75 David Ortiz - Background from 1952 Bowman Johnny Peske [sic; should be 'Pesky']
# 83 Greg Maddux – “4 CY” on glove
# 90 David Wright - Background from 1952 Bowman Gil Hodges
# 91 Ryan Garko – “Topps TV” on Microphone
# 100 Ryan Howard - Background from 1952 Bowman Richie Ashburn
# 110 Jose Reyes - Background from 1952 Bowman Pee Wee Reese
# 120 Jorge Posada - Old Yankee Stadium background
# 140 Carlos Beltran - Polo Grounds background
# 150 Derek Jeter - Background from 1952 Bowman Phil Rizzuto
# 155 Jimmy Rollins - Liberty Bell background
# 176 Johnny Damon - Old Yankee Stadium background
# 181 Ichiro - Background from 1952 Bowman Duke Snider
# 190 Alex Rodriguez - Background from 1952 Mickey Mantle Card
# 200 Barry Bonds - Background from 1952 Bowman Willie Mays Card
# 210 Joe Smith - Coney Island Ferris Wheel background
# 250 Daisuke Matsuzaka – Background from 1952 Bowman Maurice McDermott
# 251 Joba Chamberlain – “Joba Rules” written on baseball