Bowman Baseball returns in 2019, providing fans with the first cards of some future Major League players. I’ve reviewed a hobby box of the product.
Topps was kind enough to send me a hobby box of Bowman Baseball 2019 to review. I wasn’t overly familiar with Bowman Baseball before this (I did know that many collectors value the product’s rookie autographs in high regard), but after taking a look at the whopping pile of cards that sat on my table after opening the packs, I must say, Bowman Baseball is great.
I think it all hinges on what kind of collector you are. If you’re looking for the stars of today, then you’ll find some base (and parallel) cards featuring those players. But that’s not what Bowman Baseball is about.
It’s about the stars of tomorrow.
So you’ll find a ton of rookie cards, including some that are “1st Bowman” – meaning that is the first time a particular player has been on a Bowman card.
There are also 18 Chrome parallels for prospects – each serial numbered.
But if 18 different parallels weren’t enough for you, don’t worry. There are also a plethora of insert cards available. They are as follows.
30th Anniversary of the Return of Bowman: These cards feature current players, with the look of the 1989 cards.
Ready for the Show: These inserts showcase some of the top prospects in MLB – those that will soon be on the Major League roster.
Rookie of the Year Favorites: Bowman’s takes a shot at the prospects who might be winning the Rookie of the Year awards.
Bowman Scouts’ Top 100: Pretty self-explanatory here, but this is a 100-card insert set that features the top 100 prospects in baseball.
In each hobby box you’ll get 24 packs, with each pack containing 10 cards. You’ll also get one autographed card. My box had one from Braves pitcher Kolby Allard that was numbered to 499. As of 2018, Allard was Atlanta’s No. 10 prospect.
If you’re a die-hard MLB fan, who is always checking in on the Minor Leagues, then this is definitely the product for you. If you like the big-name players, I’d suggest checking out Gypsy Queen.
Order your Bowman Baseball 2019 Hobby Box from Topps.
Topps provided Nathan Cunningham with one hobby box of Bowman Baseball 2019 for the purpose of this review.