The 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is set to be a must-have for enthusiasts of MLB draft picks and rising stars. This year’s release has an exciting addition that is sure to surprise collectors: Tom Brady, the legendary NFL figure, is featured as an insert and autograph card. Brady, who was a 1995 draft choice of the Montreal Expos, is celebrated in the collection as a “Dream Draft Pick,” adding a unique twist to the set. Although no preview images are available, fans are eagerly awaiting this unexpected inclusion.
Scheduled to release in mid-December, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection follows the success of 2023 Bowman Baseball and Bowman Chrome. The collection features notable prospects like Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, and Ethan Salas, who are expected to make a splash in the MLB in the coming years. The collection offers Hobby Jumbo and Super Jumbo boxes, each containing a variety of cards, autographs, and parallels.
The base set of 200 cards highlights the top draft picks and MLB prospects, with special “1st Bowman” notations and image variations for 10 players. In addition to the promising young talents, the collection also features two Hall of Famers as short-printed RetroFractor cards: Josh Gibson and Carl Yastrzemski. Yastrzemski’s card also has an autographed version, adding to its desirability.
The collection boasts an array of parallels in both paper and chrome formats, ensuring collectors have a variety of options to hunt for. This year, the collection introduces new Aqua/Pink and Red/Green Gradient Borders, as well as hobby box exclusive Orange Borders. Chrome cards introduce several new refractors, including Lunar Glow and Fuchsia Lunar, adding a unique and eye-catching element to the set.
Fans of vintage designs will be pleased to see the Bowman 1954 Flag Variation inserts, paying homage to the 1954 Bowman baseball design. These inserts showcase young players against their home flags, creating a visually appealing and nostalgic element to the collection. The Bowman Draft Glass and Chrome Prospector’s Special Die-Cut inserts are also featured, adding further excitement and depth to the set. Additionally, the Transformative Talents and Draft Picks & Prospects inserts debut in this year’s collection, giving collectors even more to look forward to.
However, one of the most intriguing aspects of the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is the inclusion of Tom Brady as a “Dream Draft Pick.” Brady’s card raises the intriguing “What if?” question, sparking the imagination of fans. The card comes in various limited Refractor parallels, making it a highly sought-after collectible for both football and baseball enthusiasts. Brady’s addition to the collection adds a unique twist and creates a buzz among collectors.
As with any Bowman collection, autographs play a significant role. The 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection offers a diverse range of autographs for collectors to discover. From Chrome Prospect Autographs to Mood Ring Red Autographs and Bowman ’54 Flag Variation Red Refractor autographs, there is something for everyone. Dual signatures are showcased in the Franchise Futures Dual Autographs, while the Class of 2023 Autographs spotlight this year’s notable MLB draft choices. The set also features special autographed booklets and Under Armour Game Autographed cards, adding a level of exclusivity and rarity to the collection.
Furthermore, collectors will have the opportunity to find unique and rare autographs in the Class of 2023 Autographs section. This section highlights the most prominent MLB draft picks of the year, with the introduction of new Green Refractor parallels. Alongside the Green Refractors, collectors can also find Gold, Red, and SuperFractor parallels, providing a variety of options and making each autograph a unique find.
The inclusion of Tom Brady as a “Dream Draft Pick” has generated significant interest among collectors. Brady’s Gold Refractor parallels are limited to just 50 cards, adding to their desirability and value. Other Refractor parallels of Brady’s card, including Orange, Red, and the extremely rare SuperFractor, make for an exciting and unique addition to the collection.
Additionally, the set features Base Set Gold Retrofractor Autographs, limited to 50 cards, following the same parallel configuration as the Brady autographs. These autographs provide collectors with an additional layer of rarity and value, making them highly sought after.
For collectors seeking even more unique and exclusive items, the Draft Glass Autographs section presents an exciting opportunity. Numbered to 99, these autographs come with various parallels, including Lava, Gold Mini-Diamond, hobby-exclusive Orange, Red, and SuperFractor, providing collectors with a range of options and making each autograph a special find.
The Image Variation Autograph parallel cards offer another element of surprise and diversity within the collection. Numbered to 99, these cards provide a different visual take on some of the players included in the set, adding an intriguing twist for collectors.
The autographed booklets in this year’s collection are something truly special. The “Positioned for Excellence” booklet, limited to just 10 copies, and the “Picked for Excellence” Autographed booklet, limited to only 5 copies, are exceptionally rare and highly sought after. Each booklet also has a Red Refractor parallel, limited to 5 copies, and a SuperFractor, which is a one-of-a-kind item. These autographed booklets are undoubtedly some of the most coveted items in the collection.
Finally, collectors can look forward to the inclusion of Under Armour Game Autographed cards. With varied serial numbers, these cards offer a wide range of autographs from some of the most promising young talents in baseball, adding another layer of excitement and exclusivity to the collection.
Overall, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball collection is set to be a comprehensive and exciting release for collectors and fans alike. With its blend of MLB prospects, established stars, and the surprising inclusion of NFL legend Tom Brady, this collection offers something for everyone. The variety of cards, parallels, and autographs make it a highly anticipated release that collectors will be eagerly awaiting.
