2008 Bowman

Set Size: 220 cards

Design Notes: A television-style red border surrounds the veterans, while a green border is used for rookies. The player's name, team, and position are printed at the bottom, and a facsimile autograph is placed in a semi-opaque box at the bottom of the photo. The backs contain a scouting report ("Briefing" for veterans) plus some statistics.

Parallels and Similars: Red, blue, gold, and orange parallels were inserted into packs, and the design was also used for the Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects sets. Additionally, a Prospects set for each of these releases uses the same design with white borders. Flagship Bowman cards are identifiable by the card number having no prefix, and the front logo being just "Bowman" instead of "Bowman Chrome".

Distribution: Cards were sold in hobby (jumbo and regular) and retail (various pack types) configurations. Due to the inclusion of Prospects and Chrome Prospects cards in the Bowman flagship release, only a percentage of the cards in each pack were from this set.

Thoughts: I'm glad to have John Smoltz as my type card for this set, as he is one of my favorite pitchers. The design is similar to all of Bowman's designs for at least the past 12 years, and none of them stand out as good. I've come to dislike black borders, too, due to my scanner auto-cropping the cards. It isn't ugly (I don't like the row of dots above the team name) but it's one of Bowman's weaker designs.

2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects

Set Size: 55 cards

Design Notes: A green "shiny" border circles the card. The player's name, team, and position are beneath the photo and a semi-opaque white rectangle at the bottom of the photo frames a facsimile signature. Backs use the same basic design, reminiscent of a modern television screen. A detailed scouting report and some statistics fill the majority of the card.

Parallels and Similars: A prospects set contains players who had not yet played in the major leagues. Multiple colored parallels of this set and the prospects set, plus chrome and multiple refractor versions were issued. Additionally, this design was also used for the regular Bowman/Bowman Chrome release. This set is identified by the green border and the card number prefix: BDP. Prospects have the prefix BDPP.

Distribution: Hobby boxes contained 24 packs of 7 cards each. Two of the seven cards were from this set, two were Bowman Chrome cards, two were prospect cards, and the final card was one of the parallels.

Thoughts: Ever since Bowman has been using the same basic design and color scheme I've had no interest in the set. The use of the same design over three releases with complicated naming/numbering schemes make the releases difficult to distinguish. With similar designs from year to year, no one year stands out over others.  Of course, Bowman is a prospecting release and most purchasers are interested in the latest rookies.

2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs

Set Size: 70 cards

Design Notes: The set uses the 2011 Bowman design with white borders, since the players are prospects. A white semi-opaque box at the bottom holds an on-card autograph.

Parallels and Similars: Refractor autographs are available in regular, superfractor, blue, gold, orange, and red, plus four printer plate versions.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2011 Bowman products. Refractor versions are numbered between 1 and 500.

Thoughts: Bowman's rookie autographs are some of the most sought-after because they are usually a player's first MLB-release autograph. However, out of the 70 players in this set, only one or two might make it big. Reese Havens, for example, had a successful 2010 and a good 2011 in the minors, but hit only .215 in 2012 with the Mets' AA affiliate.

2011 Bowman/Chrome/Draft Parallels

Set Size: Regular parallels have 220 cards, and Draft parallels have 110 cards. Plus, prospect parallels are an additional 220 cards, and prospect Draft parallels have a set size of 110 cards.

Design Notes: The design looks like a modern TV screen, with colored arcs in the bottom corners. The borders on the base version of the card is black for regular cards and white for prospect cards.

Parallels and Similars: Regular cards come in blue, gold, and red parallels, with Chrome parallel refractors in blue, gold canary, gold, orange, purple, red, regular, and superfractor versions. Plates for regular and Chrome versions were also issued.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2011 Bowman products. Some parallels are serial numbered as low as 1. Purple parallels were included in retail rack packs.

Thoughts: The red refractor parallel shown above (numbered out of five) is my favorite color combination: the green RC color in the bottom arcs matches perfectly with the red border to make this a very Christmas-y card. Keeping track of all the different sets (regular, Chrome, regular Draft, Chrome Draft) and the multiple parallels is quite difficult but the different refractor colors are attractive.

Additional Images: Various parallels.

 Bowman Chrome Draft version (RC green).

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Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Refractors.

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 Bowman Draft.

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 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Gold Refractors

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 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Blue Refractors

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 Bowman Chrome Draft Blue Refractors

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 Bowman Draft Prospects Blue

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 Bowman Draft Blue

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 Bowman Chrome Draft Refractors

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 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Refractors

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2000 Bowman Chrome Retro/Future

Set Size: 440 cards

Design Notes: This set is a parallel to the regular 2000 Bowman Chrome issue, but all the cards use a television border similar to the 1955 Bowman set.

Parallels and Similars: A refractor version of this parallel exists, as well as a refractor version of the original base set.

Distribution: Inserted one in six packs of Bowman Chrome.

Thoughts: Before Bowman Heritage issued a real throwback version of the '55 Bowman issue, this parallel served a similar function. I wonder if some of the 1990s sets that have nods to the internet and computers in their designs will be as lovingly remembered as much as this just-as-gimmicky design from the early days of television.

2007 Bowman Sterling Prospect Refractors

Set size: 118 cards

Front Design: A player portrait is placed inside a shield-shaped border with the word PROSPECT across the top. The player's team is in a banner beneath the photo, followed by the Bowman Sterling logo. The player's name is in a banner at the bottom. The cards have a foil background with a refractor finish. Of the 118 cards in the set, 68 are autographed, and 18 of those have memorabilia inserts.

Back Design: The backs are monochromatic. A top banner has the card number (or, letters, in this case). Beneath the card number is a shield with a player headshot. To the left is the player's name and team, acquisition history, and a highlight paragraph. That is followed by his prior year and career statistics. The bottom holds copyright information and a serial number stamp.

Parallels and Similars: The entire Bowman Sterling line is essentially parallels. The prospects set has three refractor versions and printing plates.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into (very expensive) packs of 2007 Bowman Sterling. All the cards in the set are serial-numbered to 199, regardless of being a regular card (above), autographed, or autographed relic.

Thoughts: Bowman Sterling really hasn't changed in years, just like the other Bowman lines. However, it is the top of the line set as far as the newest prospects are concerned. The excessive use of sterling-colored foil is a turn-off for my tastes - with some color in the design it could be enjoyable. I get it - Sterling. Silver. But there's nothing that really pops on this card.

2008 Bowman Orange Luke Hochevar

Set size: 230 cards

Front Design: A black frame with green or red highlights (depending on if the player is a rookie or veteran, respectively) surrounds the color player photo. A facsimile autograph is placed in a semitransparent box at the bottom of the photo, and the player's name, team, and position are beneath the photo in the frame. The frame itself is curved in the upper left and lower right corners. The card borders are orange. Note that some cards in the set are autographed.

Back Design: The curved-edge frame and coloring is repeated on the back. A small player photo is at the top next to his name and biographical details. This is followed by a scouting report (for rookies) or "Bowman Briefing" (same information, for veterans). Prior-year and career statistics are at the bottom; rookies have minor league statistics while veteran cards contain major league stats.

Parallels and Similars: This set is a parallel of the 2008 Bowman set. Other parallels for this issue are Blue, Gold, Red, and the four printing plates. There are also twelve Bowman Chrome sets including parallels and plates, but the card numbering differs.

Distribution: The orange set is serial-numbered to 250 and was randomly inserted into packs of 2008 Bowman. Autographed cards are also serial-numbered to 250.

Thoughts: Orange is such a 1990s color for baseball cards, but if there's one thing that I enjoy with Bowman parallels, it's the rainbow of borders. The 2008 Bowman design isn't bad, except for the nameplate on the front. The font choice and perforation line just look odd on the card.

2005 Bowman's Best Green, Red, Blue

 

Set size: 143 cards for each parallel


Front Design: A color photo is surrounded on the right and bottom by a semi-transparent border. On the right side, four dots run vertically from the Bowman's Best logo to the nameplate at the bottom; First Year (card numbers 31-143) players are identified as such in the colored border. At the bottom, the team logo and player name appears in an L-shaped solid team-colored box. Depending on the parallel, the border overlays are red, green, or blue. Forty-three cards in each set (#101-143) are autographed.


Back Design: The backs contain a dot-matrix pattern in the same color as the front. The player's name, position, team, vitals, and prior year highlight appear on the upper right, while prior year stats are stacked against the league and level averages. The cards are serial numbered in the lower right corner (see Distribution, below).


Parallels and Similars: These cards are all parallels of the base Bowman's Best set. There are three other parallels: Gold, Silver, and Black, plus printing plates.


Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of Bowman's Best. Green cards are serial numbered to 899 (399 for autographed cards), Blue cards are numbered to 499 (299 for autographed cards), and Red parallels are numbered to 199 (199 for autographed cards).


Thoughts: Bowman sets are known for their parallels, and six parallels with this set isn't surprising. These three cards are attractive, much more so than the gold-bordered parallels in the regular Bowman set. Being that Best is a premium issue, that should be expected.


Additional Images: card backs:

1998 Bowman's Best Performers

Set size: 10 cards

Front Design: A color photo sits over a background that could best be described as an iris or circular baggage carousel. The top of the card contains team logo, Bowman's Best logo, and the set name, while the player's name is centered across the bottom. The cards have a shiny chrome finish.

Back Design: The player's basic vitals and a short biography appear on the left, while a second color photo is on the right over a sunburst-style design similar to the front. The card back borders appear marbleized.

Parallels and Similars: This set was released with two parallels: a refractor version numbered to 200 and an atomic refractor numbered to 50.

Distribution: These cards were randomly inserted into packs of Bowman's Best at a rate of 1 in 6.

Thoughts: Some Bowman's Best inserts are exciting, but the uninspired background on this card means I'll pass on collecting it. The set contains the ten best minor league players of the 1997 season, so in 1998 it would have been quite popular. I have yet to see the refractor and atomic refractor versions in person, which could be stunning.

Additional Images: card back:

2004 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractors

Set size: 165 cards, numbered 166-330

Front Design: Cards follow the 2004 Bowman design, with a blue tinted refractor effect added. The player's photo appears in a black bordered card; horizontal plateau borders appear above and below the photo. A facsimile autograph is printed over the signature. The bottom of the card contains the Bowman logo, player name and position.

Back Design: Card backs are identical to the 2004 Bowman design, while the card number has the words "BLUE REFRACTOR" printed beneath it, and cards are serial numbered to 290 on the left-hand edge. The Bowman design has the player's name, position and team at the top, followed by a player photo, vital statistics, a scouting report, and prior year and career stats.

Parallels and Similars: This set is a parallel of the regular Bowman Chrome set card numbers 166-330 (the First Year cards in the set). As such, these cards are nearly identical to Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and all the other parallels associated with the set.

Distribution: Exchange cards were included one per hobby box-loader pack, and via the pit.com website.

Thoughts: I prefer the refractor parallels when the borders are different colors, instead of refractors just having a tint. This set really doesn't stand out for me, and only player and team collectors really have interest in these cards. The card was delivered encased, which is why the scan is blurry. You can see a hint of the Topps security label at the bottom of the card front image.


Additional Images: Card back.