2008 Topps Heritage features a couple of very rare base card variations. Johan Santana (Card #201) and John Smoltz
(Card #440) each have two variations. The regular Johan Santana card features him in his old Twins uniform.
There is also a Johan Santana variation card featuring him in his new Mets uniform. The Mets Santana variation
is much tougher to find than the Twins version. Out of three cases (864 packs) I have only come across one Mets
Santana card. The John Smoltz variation is even tougher to find. I still have not pulled one from a pack!
The Smoltz variation card has his name misspelled (Jon instead of John) and shows him as a lefty.
This is a tribute to card #440 from the original 1959 Topps set, which featured Lew Burdette. Topps misspelled
Burdette's first name (Lou instead of Lew) and as a prank, Lew had grabbed Warren Spahn's left handed glove and
posed as a lefty when Topps snapped his photo. It's really cool that Topps paid tribute to the original card like that.
2008 Topps Heritage Jon Smoltz and Johan Santana Variation Cards
Search for the Johan Santana Mets Variation Card
Search for the John "Jon" Smoltz Variation Card
