Some Bowman/Draft/Chrome questions...

RatedRookie · 10-15-2011, 09:50 AM

Recently returned to the hobby and am trying to wrap my head around a few things. I've done some research, but would also love some input/confirmation on a few questions. Any help would be appreciated.

-Seems that guys will have different base RC's in both Bowman and Bowman Draft. Is one of these viewed as preferable to the other? Or as base cards, is there just not much of a difference?

-For the vets that appear in both sets, does Bowman Chrome base use different photos than Bowman base? From looking at 2010 cards, it appears so. But from looking at 2009 cards, assuming the auctions are labelled correctly, the photos appear the same.

-In past years, did auto BDPP cards come only as an auto, with no facsimile cards? For example, are there any facsimile 2008 Posey's, or are all Posey's auto-only?

-Team USA card appearances aside, seems that the first possible card for a draftee is that year's Bowman Draft product. If there's no appearance there, the subsequent possibilities in order would be the following season as a BP in the Bowman set, Topps Pro Debut, Topps Minor League Heritage (if that set continues, and seems unlikely that a guy who missed the previous sets would land in that one) and then Bowman Chrome.

I realize much of this is probably extremely elementary, but I really appreciate any insights. Again, I've looked into most of this myself, but have been unable to find any absolute confirmation.

Coug46n2 · 10-15-2011, 12:20 PM

Welcome to BO, not a bad question at all. Others here might add to my comments as every year/player is different over the years.

Nearly all players will have a 'prospect' chrome card that is the highest value/most desireable. '07 Heyward, '09 Starlin Castro, '10 Ackley, '11 Harper.... Some come from the Draft product, some from the Chrome product, and some from the original Bowman release (chrome versions). There is a set of Chrome propects in each of the three releases every year. Draft includes a good number of that year's draft picks, but not all of them. Bowman saves a few for the following year's Bowman release.

Chrome RC (with RC designation) can only come out after the player has made his debut. Often they are cool cards to have, but the Chrome Prospect card trumps them in value. Most times the Chrome Prospect is at least one year before the Chrome RC (Heyward example). Sometimes they are within the same year such as Strasburg. Bowman had his Chrome prospect, then Chrome and Draft each had a Chrome RC.

Sometimes the player's first chrome card (Prospect) is also his first chrome auto. Posey, Ackley, Longoria all fit into this category. Sometimes (most times?) this is from the Draft release but not always the case. Again, Bowman saves some prospects and autos for the following year to keep sales up.

Draft is almost always the best product for the first chrome card (prospect) for players. Followed by Bowman (last two years especially with Harper and Strasburg), then bowman Chrome. This year's bowman Chrome could be the exception, as Hosmer and Lawrie are included - with autos.

My best advice, if you're looking to buy a chrome prospect or "prospect" in general, do the research. When Dee Gordon got hot people went crazy for his 2011 Chrome card but he was first included back in 2008. Or last year people went nuts for 2010 Chrome Castros but he was included first in 2009 Bowman Chrome. Do the research so you're not buying the second chrome release of someone.

Finally, every once in a while there will be a player that has NO prospect card and the Bowman Chrome RC is actually the first and best. Danny Valencia from last year and Hosmer from this year fall into this category. Also, Bowman can and does make a "prospect" of a player sometimes more than once. Dee Gordon was an example. His 2011 Chrome is a prospect card, but it won't say "1st Chrome" on it. Watch carefully for that "1st chrome" designation on the card. Then again, Bowman has made mistakes on this as well.... Listing a "1st chrome" when it's not. That is rare.

At least for the last two years, bowman has used different photos for their veteran base and chrome cards.

Facimile auto question..... Depends. Posey had NO chrome prospect card in 2008, only the chrome auto. IF he did have a chrome prospect, it would have had a facimile auto.

I think I answered the other question already, draft is usually the first chrome for a player, but not always. Again, Bowman wants to spread the wealth so they save some players for the following year's prospect sets. Cole and Rendon are saved for next year.

If others have comments please add. PM me directly if you need more help.

RatedRookie · 10-16-2011, 09:30 AM

Thanks, appreciate the comments. Definitely helps me try to get this all straight. I'm always looking for hard and fast rules, but seems like there's always going to be the need to do a little research. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Appreciate the advice as well. Already fallen victim to that a few times, and a few close calls. When I first got back into things earlier this year, I picked up a few Lincecum and Tulo RCs off eBay (thinking the old rules from circa 1990 still applied). They weren't expensive, and as I became familiar with the new products available, I quickly realized why.

As for Dee Gordon in particular, there was a 2011 Bowman auto on eBay this past week that I initially bid on before realizing that it wasn't hit first card. I didn't win, but the lesson was there.

Thanks again!

JDK16 · 10-16-2011, 09:45 AM

that isnt dee gordon 1st card but it is his first chrome auto so will still have value

go_steelers07 · 10-16-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatedRookie

As for Dee Gordon in particular, there was a 2011 Bowman auto on eBay this past week that I initially bid on before realizing that it wasn't hit first card. I didn't win, but the lesson was there.

Thanks again!

but that will be the best card of him to have. simply because of the auto.

just like Heyward's '07 Chrome Draft card vs. the '08 Chrome auto. the '07 Chrome Draft is his first Chrome card, but the '08 Chrome Auto will always outsell the Chrome Draft.

HadWayTooMuch · 10-16-2011, 10:35 AM

What's up with Danny Valencia? I don't know much about him. Is he a much heralded prospect?

RatedRookie · 10-16-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_steelers07

but that will be the best card of him to have. simply because of the auto.

just like Heyward's '07 Chrome Draft card vs. the '08 Chrome auto. the '07 Chrome Draft is his first Chrome card, but the '08 Chrome Auto will always outsell the Chrome Draft.

I'll still actually try to pick up the auto card, especially given his performance after returning from the injury (SSS I know, but just a sick September). But my issue was more that I dropped a quick bid on something without knowing enough about it. I just tied prospect card to first card in my head (despite the fact that the picture of the card on the auction should have told me different).

dthimesch · 10-16-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HadWayTooMuch

What's up with Danny Valencia? I don't know much about him. Is he a much heralded prospect?

People were very high on him coming into this year and he disappointed. The potential is there.

HadWayTooMuch · 10-16-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthimesch

People were very high on him coming into this year and he disappointed. The potential is there.

Gotcha, thanks. I'm sure I have a bunch of his BDP laying around somewhere.

10-15-2011, 09:50 AM	#1
RatedRookie Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 167 hollywoodcrowe	Some Bowman/Draft/Chrome questions... Recently returned to the hobby and am trying to wrap my head around a few things. I've done some research, but would also love some input/confirmation on a few questions. Any help would be appreciated. -Seems that guys will have different base RC's in both Bowman and Bowman Draft. Is one of these viewed as preferable to the other? Or as base cards, is there just not much of a difference? -For the vets that appear in both sets, does Bowman Chrome base use different photos than Bowman base? From looking at 2010 cards, it appears so. But from looking at 2009 cards, assuming the auctions are labelled correctly, the photos appear the same. -In past years, did auto BDPP cards come only as an auto, with no facsimile cards? For example, are there any facsimile 2008 Posey's, or are all Posey's auto-only? -Team USA card appearances aside, seems that the first possible card for a draftee is that year's Bowman Draft product. If there's no appearance there, the subsequent possibilities in order would be the following season as a BP in the Bowman set, Topps Pro Debut, Topps Minor League Heritage (if that set continues, and seems unlikely that a guy who missed the previous sets would land in that one) and then Bowman Chrome. I realize much of this is probably extremely elementary, but I really appreciate any insights. Again, I've looked into most of this myself, but have been unable to find any absolute confirmation.

10-16-2011, 09:45 AM	#4
JDK16 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5,644	that isnt dee gordon 1st card but it is his first chrome auto so will still have value __________________ MY CARDS- http://s1181.photobucket.com/home/JDK16_28/index COLLECTOR OF ERIC BERRY AND FREDDIE FREEMAN MOST WANTED CARD ERIC BERRY TOPPS CHROME SUPERFRACTOR

10-15-2011, 12:20 PM	#2
Coug46n2 Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington State Posts: 6,152 Coug46n2	Welcome to BO, not a bad question at all. Others here might add to my comments as every year/player is different over the years. Nearly all players will have a 'prospect' chrome card that is the highest value/most desireable. '07 Heyward, '09 Starlin Castro, '10 Ackley, '11 Harper.... Some come from the Draft product, some from the Chrome product, and some from the original Bowman release (chrome versions). There is a set of Chrome propects in each of the three releases every year. Draft includes a good number of that year's draft picks, but not all of them. Bowman saves a few for the following year's Bowman release. Chrome RC (with RC designation) can only come out after the player has made his debut. Often they are cool cards to have, but the Chrome Prospect card trumps them in value. Most times the Chrome Prospect is at least one year before the Chrome RC (Heyward example). Sometimes they are within the same year such as Strasburg. Bowman had his Chrome prospect, then Chrome and Draft each had a Chrome RC. Sometimes the player's first chrome card (Prospect) is also his first chrome auto. Posey, Ackley, Longoria all fit into this category. Sometimes (most times?) this is from the Draft release but not always the case. Again, Bowman saves some prospects and autos for the following year to keep sales up. Draft is almost always the best product for the first chrome card (prospect) for players. Followed by Bowman (last two years especially with Harper and Strasburg), then bowman Chrome. This year's bowman Chrome could be the exception, as Hosmer and Lawrie are included - with autos. My best advice, if you're looking to buy a chrome prospect or "prospect" in general, do the research. When Dee Gordon got hot people went crazy for his 2011 Chrome card but he was first included back in 2008. Or last year people went nuts for 2010 Chrome Castros but he was included first in 2009 Bowman Chrome. Do the research so you're not buying the second chrome release of someone. Finally, every once in a while there will be a player that has NO prospect card and the Bowman Chrome RC is actually the first and best. Danny Valencia from last year and Hosmer from this year fall into this category. Also, Bowman can and does make a "prospect" of a player sometimes more than once. Dee Gordon was an example. His 2011 Chrome is a prospect card, but it won't say "1st Chrome" on it. Watch carefully for that "1st chrome" designation on the card. Then again, Bowman has made mistakes on this as well.... Listing a "1st chrome" when it's not. That is rare. At least for the last two years, bowman has used different photos for their veteran base and chrome cards. Facimile auto question..... Depends. Posey had NO chrome prospect card in 2008, only the chrome auto. IF he did have a chrome prospect, it would have had a facimile auto. I think I answered the other question already, draft is usually the first chrome for a player, but not always. Again, Bowman wants to spread the wealth so they save some players for the following year's prospect sets. Cole and Rendon are saved for next year. If others have comments please add. PM me directly if you need more help.

10-16-2011, 09:30 AM	#3
RatedRookie Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 167 hollywoodcrowe	Thanks, appreciate the comments. Definitely helps me try to get this all straight. I'm always looking for hard and fast rules, but seems like there's always going to be the need to do a little research. Not necessarily a bad thing. Appreciate the advice as well. Already fallen victim to that a few times, and a few close calls. When I first got back into things earlier this year, I picked up a few Lincecum and Tulo RCs off eBay (thinking the old rules from circa 1990 still applied). They weren't expensive, and as I became familiar with the new products available, I quickly realized why. As for Dee Gordon in particular, there was a 2011 Bowman auto on eBay this past week that I initially bid on before realizing that it wasn't hit first card. I didn't win, but the lesson was there. Thanks again!

10-16-2011, 10:35 AM	#6
HadWayTooMuch Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: I'm not in Kansas anymore... Posts: 8,206	What's up with Danny Valencia? I don't know much about him. Is he a much heralded prospect?