The 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is generating a lot of buzz among collectors and fans of the sport. This year’s release offers an exciting addition: the legendary NFL figure, Tom Brady, is featured as an insert and autograph card. Brady, a 1995 draft choice of the Montreal Expos, is celebrated as a “Dream Draft Pick” in the collection, though no preview images have been released.
Scheduled for a mid-December release, the 2023 Bowman Draft collection follows the popular 2023 Bowman Baseball and Bowman Chrome releases. The collection includes an impressive lineup of notable prospects such as Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, and Ethan Salas. Collectors can choose from Hobby Jumbo and Super Jumbo boxes, each packed with a variety of cards, autographs, and parallels.
The base set of 200 cards showcases the top draft picks and MLB prospects, with a special “1st Bowman” notation and image variations for 10 players. Additionally, Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Carl Yastrzemski are featured as short-printed RetroFractor cards. Yastrzemski even has an autographed version available.
One of the standout features of this collection is the wide array of parallels available in both paper and chrome formats. Collectors can look forward to new Aqua/Pink and Red/Green Gradient Borders, as well as the exclusive Orange Borders, only found in hobby boxes. Chrome cards introduce several new refractors, including Lunar Glow and Fuchsia Lunar, among others.
The collection also pays homage to the 1954 Bowman baseball design with the Bowman 1954 Flag Variation inserts. These inserts showcase young players against the background of their respective home flags. The Bowman Draft Glass and Chrome Prospector’s Special Die-Cut inserts make a return, while new additions this year include the Transformative Talents and Draft Picks & Prospects inserts.
Tom Brady’s “Dream Draft Picks” card is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing aspects of the collection. The card raises the question, “What if?” and offers collectors various limited Refractor parallels. The set also includes a diverse range of autographs, such as Chrome Prospect Autographs, Mood Ring Red Autographs, and Bowman ’54 Flag Variation Red Refractor Autographs.
Fans of dual signatures will be delighted to find Franchise Futures Dual Autographs in the collection. Additionally, the Class of 2023 Autographs shine a spotlight on this year’s notable MLB draft choices. The set is completed with special autographed booklets and Under Armour Game Autographed cards, ensuring there is something for every collector’s taste.
Beyond these exciting features, collectors can expect to find unique and rare autographs throughout the collection. The Class of 2023 Autographs section highlights the most prominent MLB draft picks of the year, with new Green Refractor parallels. These, along with Gold, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, offer collectors a range of options to add to their collections.
Of course, one of the highlights of the collection is Tom Brady’s inclusion as a “Dream Draft Pick.” Limited to just 50 cards, the Gold Refractor parallels are highly coveted by fans of both football and baseball. Other Refractor parallels of Brady’s card include Orange, Red, and the extremely rare SuperFractor, ensuring a unique collectible for fans.
The set also features Base Set Gold Retrofractor Autographs, limited to 50 cards, following the same parallel configuration as the Brady autographs. These autographs add an additional layer of rarity and value to the collection.
For collectors seeking even more unique items, the set includes Image Variation Autograph parallel cards, numbered to 99. These cards provide a different visual take on some of the players included in the set, adding an element of surprise and diversity to collections.
The autographed booklets in this year’s set are particularly special and sought-after. The “Positioned for Excellence” booklet is limited to just 10 copies, while the “Picked for Excellence” Autographed booklet is even rarer, limited to only 5 copies. Each booklet also has a Red Refractor parallel, limited to 5, and a SuperFractor (1/1), making them some of the most coveted items in the collection.
Finally, the set includes Under Armour Game Autographed cards, featuring varied serial numbers and autographs from some of the most promising young talents in baseball.
Overall, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is a comprehensive and exciting release for collectors and fans alike. With its blend of MLB prospects, established stars, and the unique inclusion of a football legend, this collection offers a wide range of cards, parallels, and autographs. It is undoubtedly a must-have for any baseball card enthusiast.
