The eagerly anticipated 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is set to make waves among MLB draft pick and rising star enthusiasts. This year’s release brings a thrilling addition to the table: the inclusion of Tom Brady, the iconic figure of the NFL, as both an insert and autograph card. Celebrated as a “Dream Draft Pick” from his 1995 selection by the Montreal Expos, Brady’s presence in the collection adds an extra level of excitement for fans. Although no preview images are available, the anticipation is at an all-time high.
Scheduled to hit shelves in mid-December, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection follows the successful releases of 2023 Bowman Baseball and Bowman Chrome. It showcases notable prospects such as Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, and Ethan Salas, offering collectors a blend of familiar names and fresh faces. The collection includes Hobby Jumbo and Super Jumbo boxes, each featuring a variety of cards, autographs, and parallels to indulge in.
The base set of 200 cards highlights top draft picks and MLB prospects, with special notations like “1st Bowman” and image variations for 10 players. Additionally, the collection features the inclusion of Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Carl Yastrzemski as short-printed RetroFractor cards. Yastrzemski, a standout in this section, also has an autographed version available.
To amp up the excitement, the collection boasts an array of parallels in both paper and chrome formats. These include vibrant new Aqua/Pink and Red/Green Gradient Borders, as well as orange borders available exclusively in hobby boxes. Chrome cards introduce several new refractors, such as Lunar Glow and Fuchsia Lunar, offering collectors even more eye-catching options.
The inclusion of inserts pays homage to the beloved 1954 Bowman baseball design, with the Bowman 1954 Flag Variation. This insert showcases young players alongside their respective home flags, providing a nod to the history of the sport. Other featured inserts include the Bowman Draft Glass and Chrome Prospector’s Special Die-Cut inserts, with the debut of Transformative Talents and Draft Picks & Prospects inserts in this year’s collection.
An intriguing addition to the lineup is Tom Brady’s Dream Draft Picks card, which sparks the “What if?” question. This card offers various limited Refractor parallels, adding an extra layer of exclusivity to an already highly sought-after card. The collection also boasts a diverse range of autographs, such as Chrome Prospect Autographs, Mood Ring Red Autographs, and Bowman ’54 Flag Variation Red Refractor autographs, guaranteeing collectors an opportunity to find unique and rare gems.
Collectors will also be thrilled to find dual signatures showcased in Franchise Futures Dual Autographs, as well as the Class of 2023 Autographs highlighting this year’s most significant MLB draft choices. As the collection comes to a close, it features special autographed booklets and Under Armour Game Autographed cards, adding the finishing touches to an already comprehensive and exciting release for baseball card enthusiasts.
The Class of 2023 Autographs section provides collectors with an opportunity to snag autographs from the most notable MLB draft picks of the year. This section features Green Refractor parallels, a new addition that injects freshness into the collection. Alongside Green Refractors, collectors can also expect to find Gold, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, ensuring a wide range of options to suit every collector’s preference.
Of course, the inclusion of Tom Brady as a “Dream Draft Pick” makes the collection even more enticing. The Gold Refractor parallels of Brady’s card are limited to just 50 cards, making them highly exclusive. Other Refractor parallels available for Brady’s card include Orange, Red, and the incredibly rare SuperFractor. These parallels offer a unique and exciting opportunity for fans of both football and baseball to acquire a truly special collectible.
The collection doesn’t stop there – it also features Base Set Gold Retrofractor Autographs, limited to just 50 cards. These autographs follow the same parallel configuration as the Brady autographs, giving them a premium touch and adding value to the collection.
Moreover, the set includes Draft Glass Autographs, numbered to 99, which provide collectors with another exclusive aspect to explore. These autographs come with Lava, Gold Mini-Diamond, hobby-exclusive Orange, Red, and SuperFractor parallels – offering a wide range of options to satisfy even the most discerning collectors.
For collectors seeking even more uniqueness and surprises, the set presents Image Variation Autograph parallel cards, numbered to 99. These cards offer visually distinct takes on some of the players featured in the collection, adding an element of surprise and diversity to the overall set.
The cherry on top of this exciting release is the inclusion of autographed booklets. Among them, the “Positioned for Excellence” booklet, limited to 10 copies, and the “Picked for Excellence” Autographed booklet, limited to just 5 copies, stand out as exceptionally rare and highly sought-after items. Each of these booklets also has a Red Refractor parallel, limited to 5 copies, and a SuperFractor, which boasts a one-of-a-kind status. These autographed booklets are sure to captivate the hearts of collectors, making them some of the most covetable items in the entire collection.
Last but not least, the set includes Under Armour Game Autographed cards, offering varied serial numbers and a wide range of autographs from promising young talents in baseball. These cards present collectors with an opportunity to acquire unique and personalized autographs from players who are poised to make their mark in the sport.
In summary, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is an incredibly comprehensive and thrilling release that combines MLB prospects, established stars, and the legendary status of Tom Brady. With its wide variety of cards, parallels, and autographs, this collection is a highly anticipated release that will undoubtedly attract both collectors and fans of the sport alike.
