Showing posts with label Baseball Cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball Cards. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2019

Baseball Happenings Podcast | Celebrating National Baseball Card Day With Susan Lulgjuraj Of Topps

On the latest episode of the Baseball Happenings Podcast, we caught up with Topps Marketing and Communications Manager Susan Lulgjuraj in Brooklyn at the Topps Truck to celebrate National Baseball Card Day.


During the interview, we discussed how Topps' baseball card wrapped truck connected with National Baseball Card Day, the return of Bowman Sterling to their release lineup, and how Topps has shared in the positivity of Gary Vaynerchuk's involvement with the collecting hobby.

If you enjoyed the interview, feel free to subscribe to our podcast, or click here to follow us on your favorite social media platform.



Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Essential Tips For Surviving The National Sports Collectors Convention



Heading to the National Sports Collectors Convention? In our latest for Forbes, we break down some often-overlooked survival tips for attending the collecting "World Series" that is known as the National.

Do you have some tips for first-timers, as well as veterans who are checking out the National? Feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball | Review, Autographs, Checklist And Box Break

If collectors have only one baseball card set to pursue this season, 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball is making a strong push for their hearts and wallets. Last year, we said Topps should consider making Stadium Club their flagship brand, and 2019’s release has only further reinforced that theory. With outstanding photography for the current stars, rookies and retired veterans in the set, 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball is a winner on all fronts.

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set and Parallels

The 301-card base set contains an array of interesting parallels. Collectors will find red and black logo parallels, as well as toned (sepia or black and white) cards. Scarcer variations contain Members Only or First Day Issue insignias. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso rookie cards set alongside the fabulous legends cards will create intrigue for collectors of all ages.

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Parallels / Topps

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Inserts

Ninety different subjects make up the Chrome Insert set (1:16 packs), with these inserts coming in scarcer colored refractor versions (Orange #/99, Gold Minted, and 1/1 SuperFractors). The Chrome inserts feature different photos than the base set, giving collectors a second attractive card of their favorite player to track down. Other insert sets include Beam Team, Emperors of the Zone, Power Zone, and Warp Speed—all coming with multiple colored parallels.

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Inserts

Another bonus is the oversized box topper cards. Measuring approximately 4”x6” these blowups make a beautiful display for a desk or a shelf.

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Box Topper / Topps

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Autographs

Topps guarantees two on-card autographs in each box. A majority of collectors will wind up with autographed base cards as pictured below; however, some with extreme luck will find signed versions of Stadium Club inserts, or Co-Signers Autographs that are serial-numbered to 10 or less.

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball Autographs / Topps

2019 Box Break and Final Thoughts

2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball / Topps
While the baseball card manufacturer has returned to a familiar set of Hall of Famers for 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball, the rarely seen photos keep the legends fresh. When they are paired with the current players, the set is masterful in capturing their excitement, grace, and skill. The combination makes 2019 Topps Stadium Club Baseball the high-water mark for Topps' annual releases.




Friday, July 19, 2019

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Relics, Box Break and Review

Topps’ choice of Cal Ripken Jr. to headline 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball is a bet on the product matching the Hall of Famer’s legendary consistency and reliability. Serving as a Topps staple for both design and intrigue, 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball delivers a premium experience that offers a luxurious payoff.

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball / Topps

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Base Set, Inserts, and Checklist

The 100-card base set is fitted with a silver design, offering an immediate pop when they come out of the pack. The set is a mix of rookies, veterans, and retired players that will please a diverse group of collectors. Each pack also comes with one parallel card in Copper, Sapphire (#/150), Amethyst (#/99), Ruby (#/50) and Emerald (1/1) versions.
Click here for the complete checklist.

2019 Topps Museum Collection Base Set / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Parallels / Topps

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Autographs

Each box of 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball contains four mini-boxes, each with either a relic or an autograph. Two autographed cards comprised half of the hits in the box Topps provided for this review.

The base Archival Autographs set comes with an impressive lineup that includes Rookie of the Year favorites Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as well as Ichiro and Mike Trout. The case-hit Framed Autographs are even more impressive, with legends such as Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, and Sandy Koufax dominating the list of signers. For the lucky few, a dual or triple autograph card if pulled from this product can easily be the centerpiece of any collection.

Our autographs included a Sean Manaea Archival Autograph, and an Eddie Rosario 2019 Topps Museum Collection Dual Jersey Autograph numbered to 50.

2019 Topps Museum Collection Eddie Rosario Gold Patch Autograph / Topps
2019 Topps Museum Collection Sean Manaea Archival Autograph / Topps

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Relics

Some of Topps’ most creative relic work comes in their Museum Collection set. The multi-player quad relics focus on four stars from one team, each with a small piece in the middle from each player. As an added twist this year, Topps slid in one quad relic of four Japanese players (Ichiro, Ohtani, Tanaka, and Matsui) on the same card. For the player collectors, Topps included quad relics from both active and retired players, as well as the single relic Meaningful Materials cards. Super collectors will be busy chasing down 1/1 bat relics from the Jumbo Lumber nameplate set.

Our two relics included a Johnny Cueto Gold Meaningful Materials patch numbered to 25 and a Yankees quad relic numbered to 99.

2019 Topps Museum Collection Quad Patch Relic / Topps

2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball Box Break and Final Thoughts

Topps has created a streak of exciting experiences with Museum Collection that would make Cal Ripken Jr. proud. Topps has upgraded from the 2018 set, making these cards look and feel even more like a collectible the moment they reach your hands. The patch and relic cards are a well-designed entry point for collectors who want a premium display that is within financial reach. With hobby boxes settling in at the $200 range, 2019 Topps Museum Collection Baseball is a drive that collectors should strongly consider taking.



Wednesday, July 10, 2019

2019 Topps Finest Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Box Break and Review

Topps furthers their attempts to fancy collectors with their release of 2019 Topps Finest Baseball. Minted in a glossy chrome format, 2019 Topps Finest Baseball stands out from the pack with an eye-catching design and tight checklist that sharpens the focus for the cardboard obsessed.
20919 Topps Finest Baseball / Topps

2019 Topps Finest Base Set and Checklist

The 101-card base set features an assortment of active stars and rookies, including 2019 Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso, and a tougher to find Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in card 101. In addition to each card having a basic parallel refractor, they also carry the usual Topps serial-numbered rainbow (Purple (/250), Blue (/150), Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), and Superfractors (1/1).)

2019 Topps Finest Base Set / Topps
While a few boxes can complete the base set, Topps upped the ante for the 25-card short-printed set (cards 101-125) by limiting them to 1:30 packs. Note that two cards share #101, Guerrero Jr. and Yusei Kikuchi. The former is part of the base set, while the latter is part of the short prints. These short prints have ultra-rare refractors—Gold Refractors (/50 - 1:350 packs), Red Refractors – (/5 - 1:3,462 packs), and Superfractors – (1/1 - 1:16,756 packs).

Click here to download the complete 2019 Topps Finest Baseball checklist.

2019 Topps Finest Aaron Nola Blue Refractor / Topps

2019 Topps Finest Inserts

Keeping with the narrow theme of the base set, Topps goes for simplicity with 2019 Topps Finest Baseball’s inserts. There are four insert sets: Blue Chips, Finest Firsts, Prized Performers, and a 10-card die cut set as a tribute to Mariano Rivera. These insert sets also have serial numbered refractors, as well as autographed versions.

2019 Topps Finest Baseball Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps Finest Autographs

This is where 2019 Topps Finest Baseball shines. The on-card autographs in this set help to separate this Topps issue from the myriad of sticker autographs on the market. With collectors growing even more refined in their collecting habits, the on-card signatures in this product when combined with the enhanced design help to give 2019 Topps Finest Baseball a proper niche in the hobby.

The two-mini boxes each yielded one autograph. The first autograph was a base Finest signature from San Francisco Giants rookie Chris Shaw.

2019 Topps Finest Chris Shaw Autograph / Topps
The other was a much rarer Gold Finest Origins autograph from the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year, Ronald Acuña Jr. This card was serial-numbered to 50, with the odds being 1:779 packs of landing one of these difficult hits.
2019 Topps Finest Ronald Acuña Jr. Finest Origins Gold Auto / Topps

2019 Topps Finest Box Break and Final Thoughts

With 12-pack master boxes checking in at $120, Topps has placed a premium on quality and performance with 2019 Topps Finest Baseball. With an appealing design, on-card autographs, and cards of both potential Rookie of the Year candidates, the baseball card giant is making sure that collectors take notice of 2019 Topps Finest Baseball.


Friday, June 14, 2019

2019 Topps Tier One Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Box Break, Review

Topps takes collectors on a dice roll with the release of 2019 Topps Tier One Baseball. Each box packs a guaranteed two autographs and one relic card, making the $120 price tag on this product a high-risk bet for collectors in search of a glorious return.

2019 Topps Tier One Baseball Box / Topps

2019 Topps Tier One Autographs

The rush of two guaranteed autographs in each 2019 Topps Tier One Baseball box will draw those looking for the immediate high of seeing multiple signatures flash right before their eyes. The impressive list of on-card Tier One signers includes Deion Sanders, Hank Aaron, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani. These have lower numbered parallel versions (Bronze #/25, Silver #/10, Gold 1/1).

The Break Out autographs set is the most plentiful series in 2019 Topps Tier One Baseball. The subset (#/299 or less) features Major League Baseball's up and coming talents. Eloy Jimenez, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Juan Soto comprise some of the young stars that 2019 Topps Tier One Baseball features in their set.

2019 Topps Tier One Autographs / Topps
Topps looks to satisfy the high-end market with the inclusion of Clear One acetate autographs. These unique inserts and their dual-autographed counterparts are limited to quantities of 10 or less.

Click here for the entire checklist of 2019 Topps Tier One baseball autographs and relics.

2019 Topps Tier One Box Break Video

The box provided for this review yielded a bonus autograph, drawing four cards in total (three autographs and a relic). The Break Out autographs comprised two-thirds of this box — Miles Mikolas and Rowdy Tellez (#/250). The third bonus signature was an Eric Thames Prime Performers autograph (#/299). The lone relic card was of Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber (#/375).



2019 Topps Tier One Final Take

Most collectors would be excited to score a third autograph from a 2019 Topps Tier One Baseball box, as $120 is a heavy proposition for a scant few cards. While the obvious attraction is the on-card autographs, collectors will take a long pause before opening their wallets on a product that is going to have to hit a home run to deliver on its price tag.




Tuesday, May 21, 2019

2019 Bowman Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Chrome Prospects, Review, and Box Break

Wander Franco. His 2019 Bowman baseball card has quickly become the face of this year’s product, with the 18-year-old Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect dominating the collecting realms of social media. As his chrome autographs and serial numbered parallels continue to pop up in collector’s feeds, 2019 Bowman Baseball has taken flight largely on the back of this prized phenom.

2019 Bowman Baseball Base Set, Prospect, and Chrome Checklist


The 2019 Bowman Baseball base set is limited to 100 cards. The base set consists mostly of established stars and veterans with a few choice rookies mixed in. The box provided for this review yielded a complete base set. Set collectors who are looking for a challenge, card there is a Bryce Harper SP variation for card number three (Joey Wendle).

2019 Bowman Wander Franco Chrome and Base Prospects / Topps

Both the prospect and chrome sets contain 150 cards each, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Joey Bart, and the aforementioned Franco. Demand for these chrome rookies have been high, especially for the lower numbered Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange Border (/25), Red Border (/5), and Platinum (1/1) parallels.


2019 Bowman Parallels / Topps

Click here for the complete 2019 Bowman Baseball checklist.

2019 Bowman Inserts


Bowman honors the 30th anniversary of their 1989 landmark set with stars and prospects molded in its classic design, this time fit to standard size proportions with a glossy finish. Collectors will also find familiarity a few of the insert sets that make a return in 2019 —Bowman Scouts Top 100, Talent Pipeline, and Rookie of the Year Favorites.

2019 Bowman Inserts / Topps

Collectors will enjoy the horizontally oriented Ready for the Show inserts, which feature 20 of the top MLB-ready prospects. This set comes in a myriad of serial numbered parallels, further increasing their desirability with collectors.

2019 Bowman Inserts / Topps

2019 Bowman Autographs


The prized possession for those going deep with 2019 Bowman Baseball are the Chrome Prospect Autographs. Collectors anticipate 2019 Bowman’s release; eagerly waiting for the opportunity to secure the debut autograph of the next player they think will make a profound mark on the game. The limited edition serial numbered colored autograph parallels are sure to keep fans coming back to this product as different prospects take off throughout the season.

Other autograph cards include signed versions of the Scouts Top 100, Rookie of the Year Favorites, and Sterling insert sets. The box provided for this review contained a Ryan McKenna autographed Atomic Refractor Chrome Prospect card #/100.

2019 Bowman Chrome Prospects Atomic Refractor Ryan McKenna Autograph / Topps

2019 Bowman Box Break Video and Final Take




Collectors will keep coming back 2019 Bowman Baseball to this set to find players they either overlooked, or want to ride to the top as the baseball season goes deep into the summer. Whether it is Wander Franco, Joey Bart, or a less heralded prospect that emerges as the king from this set, 2019 Bowman Baseball reminds us that infinite hope that new prospects provide drives the engines of baseball fans throughout a long season.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Box Break, and Review

Collectors in search of new fortunes will find their desires fulfilled inside in a box of 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball. Armed with an upgraded design and quality artwork, Topps has made the necessary adjustments for 2019 Gypsy Queen to compete for attention among their vast release schedule.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball Base Set, Parallels, and Checklist

This year’s base design features a framed border that puts the players in clearer focus and a colored nameplate for easier viewing. The 320-card set contains 300 base cards and 20 short prints. While the base set is a bit thin on the hot rookies, the 20 short prints highlight retired players including Hall of Famers Tommy Lasorda, Vladimir Guerrero, and Hank Aaron.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Base Set / Topps

 The base set has a variety of colored parallels, as well as missing nameplate and GQ logo swap versions. The Jackie Robinson Day and Player’s Weekend variations will also keep collectors eyes glued to the card fronts, as these rare nuances are tough to spot at first glance.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Parallels / Topps

Click here for the entire checklist.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball Inserts

One advantage that 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball has over other Topps releases is the simplicity of their insert sets. There are two basic insert sets— Tarot of the Diamond, and Fortune Teller minis. With only two inserts sets to track down, the ease of completing a master set will be an attractive feature for many collectors.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball Autographs and Relics

Topps lures in collectors with the promise of two on-card autographs in each box. It is an effective hook, as the blue autographs pop against the Gypsy Queen background, making these signed cards in demand throughout the season. The traditional Gypsy Queen autograph set features a mix of both active and retired players, with the box provided for this review yielding signatures from Brad Keller and Torii Hunter.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Torii Hunter Autograph / Topps
Other autograph inserts of note are the Mini Rookie Autographs, Fortune Teller Mini Autographs, as well as the relic containing Autographed Garments, Autographed Patch Book, Bases Around the League Autographs, and Pull Up Sock Autographed Relics.

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Brad Keller Autograph / Topps

2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball Box Break Video and Final Take

Topps’ subtle design changes from the 2018 Gypsy Queen set push the Gypsy Queen product line forward in a market where collectors are looking for both consistency and eye appeal with their purchases. The upgraded 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball delivers on both fronts, making this set one to purchase if you are looking for a fresh take on one of Topps’ time tested products.


Monday, April 22, 2019

Will Gary Vaynerchuk push the sports card market to new heights?

Gary Vaynerchuk, the entrepreneur and social media giant, has set his eyes on the sports card industry with a laser-like focus that could quickly elevate the hobby back into national prominence. While some may think "Gary Vee" is trying to ride the wave of the most hyped prospects; however, he is no stranger to collecting. Vaynerchuk built his chops in the late 1980s and early 1990s, making thousands of dollars as a teenager selling baseball cards at local shows.

Gary Vaynerchuk / Twitter

One just has to look at stacks of Todd Van Poppel and Gregg Jefferies rookies from the sports card boom as a reminder that collecting was designed to be a hobby instead of a venture into an alternate stock market. Despite the historical warnings, collectors are diving into prospects hoping to find the next Mike Trout while sidestepping the likes of Greg “Toe” Nash. With new money flying into sports card investing, will the top cards reach new highs in the coming year?




Modern-era baseball cards will always lag well behind their pre-WWII counterparts, but recent history shows that modern-era cards are starting to attract more lucrative bids. Just six months after a Shohei Ohtani rookie card sold for a modern-era record of $184,000, a Mike Trout rookie card has attracted a $92,000 bid on eBay and could climb higher. According to SBD, on-field greatness only goes so far in upping a card's value, but if Trout continues to stake his claim to the title of best (non-steroid) player since Willie Mays, they set the odds at 1/2 that a Trout card becomes the most valuable modern-era card within the next decade.

2011 Mike Trout Gold Canary Diamond / PSA

With Gary Vee’s massive following turning their attention towards the new generation of sports cards (Vaynerchuk has 1.88 million Twitter followers as compared to Topps’ 125,000), we could get a win-win on both sides of the hobby. Excited hustlers and entrepreneurs could easily drive up the higher ends of the card market while simultaneously drawing an increasing amount of casual fans back into the joys of collecting.

Saturday, March 16, 2019

2019 Topps Heritage Baseball | Checklist, Box Break, Inserts, Autographs, and Review

The metallic borders of 2019 Topps Heritage baseball cards rekindle visions of the concrete architectural designs that were popular in the 1970s. While some collectors passed on the 1970 Topps Baseball card set due to its cold feel, Topps attempts to accentuate its minimalist features in 2019 Topps Heritage Baseball.
2019 Topps Heritage / Topps

Base Set / Checklist / Short Prints / Parallels

Topps marks the 500-card base set with the presence of 100-card short prints that are sure to drive collectors on a season-long mission towards completion. Topps makes an interesting turn with the set checklist, leaving a load of stars within the 100 short prints, which means collectors will have to be either very lucky or pay up for the likes of Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr.

Long-time collectors will note Pat Neshek's tribute to Lowell Palmer's 1970 Topps card in the picture below.
2019 Topps Heritage Base Set / Topps

Base set parallels are difficult to come by, with hobby boxes offering black (#/50) and flip stock (#/5) versions, while Walmart Mega Boxes serve up a variety of serial numbered chrome cards.

Variations and Refractors

One of the Topps Heritage annual features that draw collectors towards the product is the nuanced variations that demand a detailed look at each card. This year’s twists include French-language OPC versions, image, name, error, and throwback variations, as well as a 100-card set of both chrome and silver metal cards.

The box provided for this review landed a Mike Trout image variation card, as well as an Alex Bregman serial numbered chrome refractor.

Mike Trout Image Variation & Alex Bregman Chrome Refractor / Topps

Inserts

Topps stays true to form with their inserts, honoring the time-tested Then and Now, Flashbacks, and New Age Performers series. Another tip of the cap to the 1970 set comes with the Scratch-Off insert set. All of these inserts are a strong complement to what collectors expect annually from Topps Heritage.

2019 Topps Heritage Then and Now Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps Heritage Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps Heritage 50th Anniversary Box Topper / Topps

Autographs and Relics

Each 2019 Topps Heritage Baseball box guarantees either a Real One autograph or a relic. The Real One autographs include two mystery players and red ink parallels that are numbered to 70 or less. Fortunate fans will be able to land coveted dual and triple Real One autographed cards, which are limited to 25 and 5 respectively.

The 1970 Milwaukee Brewers are in focus with a 10-card autographed set including Hall of Fame owner and Commissioner Bud Selig, as well as pitcher-turned-author Dave Baldwin.

Autographs also dominate the relic space, as Topps reserves star power for its Clubhouse Collection signed relics. These hand-numbered autographs of Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant, and Mike Trout exist in quantities of 25 or less. Topps links a further connection to the 1970 season with the Flashbacks autographed relics, celebrating the likes of Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Bob Gibson, and Steve Carlton.

2019 Topps Jose Ramirez Clubhouse Collection Relic / Topps
While the box used for this review did not yield one of the spectacular aforementioned signatures, a neat relic of Cleveland Indians All-Star slugger Jose Ramirez rounded out the box.

Box Break Video

If you want to get a feel of the fresh excitement that 2019 Topps Heritage has brought to the 1970 Topps design, check out our entire box break in the video below. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel for future breaks and interviews.


Wrapping up 2019 Topps Heritage Baseball

Topps has created the 2019 Topps Heritage Baseball for the patient collector, starting with the old-school details, to the extended time needed to complete the entire run of short prints. The experience is an epic that starts well before the regular season that will keep playing out well through the All-Star break. As Major League Baseball attempts to write new rules to quicken the pace of play, 2019 Topps Heritage is a reminder that baseball cards collecting is not something that needs a time clock to get to the next release.





Friday, February 22, 2019

2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball | Checklist, Box Break, Inserts, Autographs, and Review

As baseball fans flock to 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball, it is another signal that spring training is in full swing. The flagship Topps product brings forth the abundant optimism and possibilities that come with the anticipation of the upcoming baseball season. A fresh design that has a slight nod to 1982 Topps makes 2019 Topps Series 1 an attractive treat for collectors.

2019 Topps Base Set / Topps

Base Set / Parallels / Checklist

The 350-card base set has Ronald Acuña Jr. in the leadoff spot, christening the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year with the coveted first card honors. The hobby box provided for this review came about 40 cards short of a complete base set.

2019 Topps 150th Anniversary Parallels / Topps
A few new twists include the 150th anniversary parallels and the hobby exclusive clear parallels for the first 100 cards. Click here for a complete set checklist.

2019 Topps Gold / Topps
Topps keeps collectors busy with a range of colored parallels that go beyond the Rainbow Foil inserts. For those wanting a serial numbered experience, 2019 Topps Series 1 delivers similarly to its 2018 predecessor.


Gold (#/2019), Vintage Stock (#/99), Independence Day (#/76), Black (#/67 - Hobby/Jumbo only), Mother's Day Pink (#/50), Father's Day Blue (#/50), Memorial Day Camo (#/25), Platinum (1/1), and Printing Plates (1/1)

2019 Topps Carlos Rodon SP Variation / Topps
In an effort to keep collectors on their toes, Topps has both SP and SSP image variations, with the latter including only retired legends. The SSP variations are difficult to track down and have made it very challenging to build a master set.

Inserts

The standout insert for 2019 Topps Series 1 is the 1984 35th anniversary set. The updated gloss finish with the white background makes today’s talent pop in the 1984 designs, while also giving Don Mattingly’s iconic rookie card a new look with different photos. Sticking with the nostalgic insert themes, the 150 Years of Professional Baseball, and Iconic Card reprints further serve to connect generations throughout the hobby.

2019 Topps 1984 35th Anniversary Inserts / Topps

2019 Topps 150 Years Insert Set / Topps
2019 Topps Inserts / Topps

Autographs / Relics

With almost 20 different autographed insert sets, Topps strives for diversity with this year’s offerings. They range from signed versions of the insert sets to highlights of the 2018 World Series Champion Red Sox, as well as 1/1 cut signatures from icons Cy Young, Roberto Clemente, Satchel Paige, Ty Cobb, and Ted Williams.

There is no shortage of relic variations many coming with serial numbered parallel versions. Topps guarantees each box will contain either relic or an autograph. The box provided for this review yielded a Miguel Cabrera Major League Material Relic.



Postgame

Opening 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball is an annual bonding experience for fans, collectors, and families alike. Digging through these baseball cards is a ritual that celebrates the hope of a new baseball season.

2021 Bowman Chrome Baseball

Friday, January 25, 2019

2018 Bowman Draft Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Inserts, Box Break, and Review

As the new year rushes in, baseball fans are at the crossroads of anticipation and despair while they wait for spring training to commence. Bowman seeks to pump excitement into that space by debuting this year's draftees in 2018 Bowman Draft.

Collectors annually salivate at the opportunity to get their hands on the first official cards and certified autographs of the freshest talent in minor league baseball. Judging by the early positive responses to 2018 Bowman Draft, collectors are flocking to the product to get ahead of the curve on 2019's breakout prospects.

2018 Bowman Draft Base Set

The 200-card base set features the top 2018 draftees including the first overall pick Casey Mize, Alec Bohm, and Jarred Kelenic. Mixed in with the new draftees are the crop of 2017 Bowman Draft's featured players that just finished their first full minor league campaign.

2018 Bowman Draft Base Cards / Bowman

The jumbo box provided for this review yielded a complete set with an additional 25 doubles, giving collectors a valuable opportunity to familiarize themselves with every player in the 2018 Bowman Draft. In traditional Bowman fashion, both the base and chrome set have a variety of parallels, including serial numbered colored versions that will further provoke player collectors to corner the market on their favorite upstart. Click here for a complete 2018 Bowman Draft checklist.

2018 Bowman Draft Parallels / Bowman

2018 Bowman Draft Inserts

Bowman taps into nostalgia with the 1998 20th anniversary inserts, fashioned with the distinct black bottom border and vertical signature on the side to force the attention to the on-card action shot. The Sterling inserts also tap into familiarity, taking a horizontal highlight of the top ten draft prospects in the set. While Bowman hits the mark with these two single-player inserts, the dual-player Franchise Futures and Recommended Viewing inserts are a bit crowded and do not give these newcomers their proper space to shine.

2018 Bowman Draft Inserts / Bowman

2018 Bowman Draft Autographs

Each jumbo box guarantees three autographs, allowing collectors a dice roll to land a low serial numbered autograph of a can't-miss prospect. With 2018 Bowman Draft offering the first official certified autographs in their franchise uniforms, these signatures have quickly become coveted commodities in the market. This box landed a Chrome autograph from Los Angeles Angels first-rounder Jordyn Adams, a Class of 2018 Brady Singer autograph #/250, and a Chrome refractor autograph of St. Louis Cardinals slugging third base prospect Nolan Gorman #/499.

2018 Bowman Draft Inserts / Bowman
As baseball fans wait with great anticipation for 2019 spring training and the new baseball cards that come with it, 2018 Bowman Draft is a satisfying treat for those looking for fresh faces until pitchers and catchers report.