After a month long delay, 2020 Bowman finally began hitting shelves towards the end of May.  The hobby prices of much anticipated release skyrocketed, which in turn resulted in collectors clearing the shelves of any retail packaging they could find at MSRP.

Let’s take a look at what the fuss is all about!

The Breakdown

Following the same pattern for the last few years, the 2020 Bowman release is really three sets.  First, a 100 card veterans and rookies set is printed on paper stock and is the most plentiful set pulled from packs.  Luis Robert, Yordan Alvarez, Aristides Aquino, and Gavin Lux all have RC cards in the set.  

The 150 card prospects set comes in both a paper and chrome version and is the primary driver of collector interest.  Well, except for the autographs that is.  The “1st Bowman” card has become one of the primary cards to acquire most many young stars, and this year’s product delivers several notable names.  Bobby Witt Jr. and Jasson Dominguez are the two most popular right out of the gate, but remember, as with all Bowman releases, it is not uncommon for some players to develop in their careers and collectors wind up finding some big cards in their Bowman “commons” box years into the future.

Interestingly, Luis Robert has a rookie card in the “Base” set and a prospect card in the Prospects set!

Check out the 1st Bowman page here at WaxPackHero.com to fine a searchable listing of pretty much every player’s card with the “1st Bowman” logo.

Several different base and chrome parallels exist and provide some additional, often overlooked, value to the release.  Scarcity ranges from /499 to 1/1 Superfractors.

Seven different insert sets are found inside packs.  The 1990 Bowman design is used in a 50 card set falling 1:8 packs.  Bowman Scouts Top 100 is back once again with, yes, you guessed it, 100 cards.  This year a “Gary Vee Variation” exists providing a new twist on 18 cards.  Hidden Finds, Rookie of the Year Favorites, Spanning the Globe, and the Talent Pipeline sets round out the insert offerings.  One odd choice in the Rookie of the Year Favorites set is the inclusion of Yordan Alvarez.  Nobody is questioning his talent, the problem is there is no possible way he will win the Rookie of the Year in 2020…..because he already won it in 2019.  Topps, what were you thinking?

Autographs provide another major chase in the product and fall one per hobby and three per jumbo box.  All the autographs in the hobby packaging are on chrome cards, but the randomly inserted autographs in the retail packaging are mostly stickers on paper cards.  

Pack Break

I did not pick up any hobby boxes, but I did have a chance to open 24 “Value Packs” which were picked up by my friend Dan on a grocery run to WalMart.  Here’s what was inside of one of the packs!

Wrapping It Up

My goal is to put together the base, and both prospect sets, and this break got me started.  I am a fan of the Bowman product, but the current market has driven prices to a level which makes it hard for me to recommend buying at hobby prices.  If you can find retail and are more concerned with building a set than that is a great option.  If you are chasing autos, your best bet is to just buy the players you want  from your LCS or Online marketplace.

I’m happy to have the opportunity to finish out yet another Bowman set!

Checklist

I recommend using a checklist here at Trading Card DB!

Also, if you haven’t heard, I started a new Podcast called the WaxPackHero Sports Card Minute!  It’s available here directly on the site at the Podcast link at the top of the page, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and TuneIn!  Check it out, let me know what you think, and tell your friends!