The 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is set to be one of the most exciting releases for enthusiasts of MLB draft picks and rising stars. This year, the collection introduces a thrilling addition: Tom Brady, the legendary figure in the NFL, is featured as an insert and autograph card. Brady, who was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1995, is celebrated in the collection as a “Dream Draft Pick,” although no preview images are currently available.
Scheduled for a mid-December release, this collection follows the success of the 2023 Bowman Baseball and Bowman Chrome collections. It includes highly anticipated prospects such as Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, and Ethan Salas. The collection offers both Hobby Jumbo and Super Jumbo boxes, each packed with a variety of cards, autographs, and parallels.
The base set consists of 200 cards that highlight top draft picks and MLB prospects. Notable among these are the “1st Bowman” notations and image variations for 10 players. Additionally, the collection features short-printed RetroFractor cards of Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Carl Yastrzemski, with Yastrzemski also having an autographed version.
The collection boasts a wide array of parallels in both paper and chrome formats. New additions include Aqua/Pink and Red/Green Gradient Borders, as well as hobby box exclusive Orange Borders. Chrome cards introduce several new refractors such as Lunar Glow and Fuchsia Lunar, offering collectors even more variety.
This year’s inserts pay homage to the classic 1954 Bowman baseball design. The Bowman 1954 Flag Variation inserts showcase young players against their home flags, evoking a sense of national pride. The collection also features the Bowman Draft Glass and Chrome Prospector’s Special Die-Cut inserts, along with the Transformative Talents and Draft Picks & Prospects inserts that make their debut this year.
The inclusion of Tom Brady’s Dream Draft Picks card raises the intriguing “What if?” question and offers various limited Refractor parallels. In addition to Brady’s card, the set includes a diverse range of autographs to tantalize collectors. Look out for Chrome Prospect Autographs, Mood Ring Red Autographs, and Bowman ’54 Flag Variation Red Refractor autographs.
Dual signatures are showcased in the Franchise Futures Dual Autographs, while the Class of 2023 Autographs spotlights this year’s most notable MLB draft choices. The collection is rounded off with special autographed booklets and Under Armour Game Autographed cards, providing baseball card enthusiasts with a comprehensive and thrilling collection.
One of the standout features of this set is the opportunity to find unique and rare autographs. The Class of 2023 Autographs section celebrates the most prominent MLB draft picks of the year, featuring new Green Refractor parallels. Collectors will also discover Gold, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, offering a variety of options to add to their collections.
The inclusion of Tom Brady as a “Dream Draft Pick” in the set is particularly noteworthy, with Gold Refractor parallels limited to just 50 cards. Other Refractor parallels of Brady’s card include Orange, Red, and the incredibly rare SuperFractor, providing fans of both football and baseball with a truly unique collectible.
The collection also features Base Set Gold Retrofractor Autographs, which are limited to just 50 cards and follow the same parallel configuration as the Brady autographs. These autographs introduce an additional layer of rarity and value to the collection.
Another exclusive aspect of the set is the Draft Glass Autographs, numbered to just 99. These autographs come with Lava, Gold Mini-Diamond, hobby-exclusive Orange, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, offering collectors a chance to discover truly unique items.
For those seeking even more diversity, the set includes Image Variation Autograph parallel cards, numbered to 99. These cards provide a fresh visual take on some of the players included in the set, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the collection.
The autographed booklets in this year’s set are particularly special. With limited quantities of just 10 copies, the “Positioned for Excellence” booklet and the “Picked for Excellence” Autographed booklet are exceptionally rare and highly sought-after. Each booklet also includes a Red Refractor parallel (limited to just 5 cards) and a SuperFractor (limited to just 1 card), making them some of the most coveted items in the collection.
Finally, the set includes Under Armour Game Autographed cards, which feature varied serial numbers and offer a wide range of autographs from some of the most promising young talents in baseball.
In conclusion, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set is a comprehensive and exciting collection that blends a mix of new prospects, established stars, and the unique inclusion of a football legend. With its variety of cards, parallels, and autographs, this release is highly anticipated by collectors and fans of the sport alike. Whether you’re a fan of MLB draft picks or a Tom Brady enthusiast, this collection has something for everyone.
