The 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is an absolute must-have for enthusiasts of MLB draft picks and rising stars. This year’s release brings an exciting addition to the table: Tom Brady, the legendary figure of the NFL, is featured as an insert and autograph card. Brady, who was a draft choice of the Montreal Expos in 1995, is celebrated in the collection as a “Dream Draft Pick.” Although no preview images are available, the anticipation for his inclusion is immense.
Set to be released in mid-December, this collection follows the highly popular 2023 Bowman Baseball and Bowman Chrome releases. It includes a roster of notable prospects such as Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, and Ethan Salas. The collection offers two different box options: Hobby Jumbo and Super Jumbo. Each box is packed with a variety of cards, autographs, and parallels, ensuring that collectors will find something unique and exciting.
The base set consists of 200 cards and highlights the top draft picks and MLB prospects. It features special “1st Bowman” notations and image variations for 10 players, adding a touch of uniqueness to the collection. Additionally, the base set includes short-printed RetroFractor cards of Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Carl Yastrzemski. Yastrzemski also has an autographed version of his RetroFractor card, which is an absolute gem for collectors.
What sets this collection apart is the array of parallels available in both paper and chrome formats. New additions such as Aqua/Pink and Red/Green Gradient Borders provide a fresh look, while the exclusive Orange Borders can only be found in Hobby boxes. The chrome cards introduce several new refractors, including Lunar Glow and Fuchsia Lunar, among others, adding a touch of elegance to the collection.
The collection also pays homage to the 1954 Bowman baseball design with the Bowman 1954 Flag Variation inserts. These inserts showcase young players against their home country flags, creating a visually stunning display. The Bowman Draft Glass and Chrome Prospector’s Special Die-Cut inserts add a touch of sophistication to the collection, while the Transformative Talents and Draft Picks & Prospects inserts make their debut this year.
Tom Brady’s Dream Draft Picks card raises an intriguing “What if?” question for collectors. The card offers various limited Refractor parallels, giving collectors the opportunity to find a unique version of this iconic football legend’s card. The set also includes a diverse range of autographs, including Chrome Prospect Autographs, Mood Ring Red Autographs, and Bowman ’54 Flag Variation Red Refractor autographs.
Dual signatures take the spotlight in the Franchise Futures Dual Autographs, showcasing the partnership and potential of two players. The Class of 2023 Autographs bring attention to this year’s standout MLB draft choices, while the special autographed booklets and Under Armour Game Autographed cards add a touch of rarity and exclusivity to the collection.
For collectors seeking unique and rare autographs, the Class of 2023 Autographs section showcases the most prominent MLB draft picks of the year. New this year are the Green Refractor parallels, adding a fresh twist to this highly sought-after subset. Collectors can also find Gold, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, offering a variety of options to add to their collection.
The inclusion of Tom Brady in the set as a “Dream Draft Pick” is particularly noteworthy. Collectors will be thrilled to discover that the Gold Refractor parallels of Brady’s card are limited to just 50 copies. Other Refractor parallels, including Orange, Red, and the extremely rare SuperFractor, offer an enticing variety for fans of both football and baseball.
The set also features limited edition Base Set Gold Retrofractor Autographs, following the same parallel configuration as the Brady autographs. These autographs provide collectors with an added layer of rarity and value, making them highly sought-after items in the collection.
Furthermore, the Draft Glass Autographs, numbered to 99, bring another exclusive aspect to the set. With variations such as Lava, Gold Mini-Diamond, hobby-exclusive Orange, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, collectors can enjoy a wide range of options when it comes to these highly collectible autographs.
For those seeking even more unique items, the set includes Image Variation Autograph parallel cards, numbered to 99. These cards offer a different visual take on some of the players included in the set, adding a touch of surprise and diversity to the collection.
The autographed booklets in this year’s set are particularly special, as they are limited to extremely low numbers. The “Positioned for Excellence” booklet, limited to only 10 copies, and the “Picked for Excellence” Autographed booklet, limited to just 5 copies, are exceptionally rare and highly coveted by collectors. Each of these booklets also has Red Refractor parallels (limited to 5) and SuperFractors (limited to just one), making them some of the most desirable and valuable 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.
Overall, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set is a comprehensive and exciting collection for both collectors and fans of the sport. With its mix of MLB prospects, established stars, and the unique inclusion of a football legend, this set is bound to captivate the imagination of collectors. The variety of cards, parallels, and autographs make it a highly anticipated release in the world of baseball card collecting.
