On behalf of SCF and the SCF Basketball Team, we would like to extend our greatest appreciation to Topps for providing us with a box of 2008-09 Bowman Draft Picks and Stars for us to review.

http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/Bowmanbox.jpg


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
- 2 Brands in 1 Pack - Bowman & Bowman Chrome!
- 1 Bowman Chrome Autograph Rookie Card Per Box!
- 2 Bowman Relic Cards Per Box!
- 2 Bowman Chrome Cards Per Pack!
- 1 Rookie Card Per Pack!
- 1 Hot Box Per Hobby Case!

CONTENT BREAKDOWN
RELIC CARDS - INSERTED 2 PER BOX!
- Bowman Relics(40) - Seq. #'d.
- Draft Day Issue(15) - Seq. #'d to 399.
- Draft Day Issue Autographs(10) - Seq. #'d to 99.
- Draft Day Issue Combos(5) - Seq. #'d to 99.
- Draft Day Issue Combo Autographs(10) - Seq. #'d to 99.

Draft Day cards will be featured in the following parallels:
- Hobby Exclusive! Red - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Gold - Seq. #'d to 10.
- Orange - Seq. #'d to 25.
- Blue - Seq. #'d to 50.
- Hobby Exclusive! Logoman(5) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Hobby Exclusive! Autograph Logoman(10) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Hobby Exclusive! Destination Letterman(5) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Hobby Exclusive! Destination Letterman Autographs(10) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Hobby Exclusive! Destination Tags(5) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Hobby Exclusive! Destination Tags Autographs(10) - Each is a 1 of 1.

BOWMAN CHROME AUTOGRAPHED ROOKIE CARDS - 1 PER BOX!
- Bowman Chrome Rookie(33)
Also available in the following parallels:
- Hobby Exclusive! SuperFractor(33) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Red Refractor - Seq. #'d to 5.
- Gold Refractor - Seq. #'d to 50.
- Refractor - Seq. #'d to 99.

BOWMAN BASE CARDS
- Veteran/Retired(110)
- Rookies(40)

BOWMAN CHROME BASE CARDS - 2 PER PACK INCLUDING BOWMAN CHROME PARALLELS!
- Veteran/Retired(110)
- Rookies(40)

BOWMAN & BOWMAN CHROME PARALLEL CARDS
- Hobby Exclusive! Bowman Chrome SuperFractor(150) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Bowman Chrome Red(150) - Seq. #'d to 5.
- Bowman Chrome Gold(150)- Seq. #'d to 50.
- Bowman Chrome Blue(150)- Seq. #'d to 99.
- Bowman Chrome X-Fractor(150)- Seq. #'d to 299.
- Bowman Chrome Refractor(150)- Seq. #'d to 499.
- Hobby Exclusive! Bowman Red(150) - Each is a 1 of 1.
- Bowman Gold(150)- Seq. #'d to 50.
- Bowman Orange(150)- Seq. #'d to 299.
- Bowman Blue(150)- Seq. #'d to 499.

PRINTING PLATES - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!
- Framed Bowman & Bowman Chrome Printing Plates(300) - Each is a 1 of 1!
- Framed Autographed Rookie Printing Plates(33) - Each is a 1 of 1!

HOT BOX - 1 PER HOBBY CASE!
- 2 autos per box, 4 Bowman Relics per box, 4 Bowman Chrome cards per pack.

Approximate retail price: $60 to $70
__________________________________________________ _

What we pulled:
Bowman base: 63/150 42%
Bowman Chrome base: 31/150 21%
Duplicates: 0
Bowman Blue parallel, #d/499: 2
Bowman Orange parallel, #d/299: 2
Bowman Chrome Refractor, #d/499: 3
Bowman Chrome Xfractor, #d/299: 2
Bowman Relics: 2
Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs: 1

Two Game Used:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/2GU.jpg
Autograph:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/auto.jpg
Bowman Blue Parallels:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/BlueParallels.jpg
Bowman Orange Parallels:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/orangeparallels.jpg
Bowman Chrome Refractors:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/refractors.jpg
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/rookierefractor.jpg
Bowman Chrome Xfractors:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/xfractors.jpg
Bowman base:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/bowmanbase.jpg
Bowman rookie base:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/bowmanrookiebase.jpg
Bowman Chrome base pictures are in the next post.
__________________________________________________ _

I, personally, really enjoy the Bowman sets, because you get to build two sets from one product – Bowman and Bowman Chrome. Each pack of cards contains 4 Bowman cards and 2 Bowman Chrome cards, so putting both sets together is easily attainable with only two or three full boxes. Each 150 card set features 100 veterans, 10 retired players, and 40 rookies.

We were able to pull 42% of the base set, which was a definite plus, especially with 18 of those cards being rookies. Highlighting the rookies was a Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Jerryd Bayless, and Brook Lopez.
From the Bowman Chrome set, we were able to complete 21% of the base set, with 9 of the cards being rookies. Highlighting the rookies was a Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Joe Alexander.

The guaranteed two game used and 1 rookie autograph were enjoyable to pull, but I was somewhat disappointed with the rookie autograph, as it was not a well known name. But, pulling a Paul Pierce and a Rip Hamilton game used card was really nice!

The parallels were the best part of this box, in my opinion. Pulling 9 different parallels out of 18 packs seems like very good odds to me. Out of the Bowman set, we pulled two blue veteran parallels, which have a 1:10 pack ratio. These cards are numbered to 499. The players are Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce. We also pulled 2 orange parallels, one veteran and one rookie. The veteran odds are 1:16 and the rookie odds are 1:43. Each card is numbered to 299. The veteran is Pau Gasol and the rookie is Danilo Gallinari.

Out of the Bowman Chrome parallels, we pulled three refractors; two veterans and one rookie. The veterans have a 1:10 ratio, where the rookies have a 1:20 ratio. Each card is numbered to 499. The veterans are Nick Young and Devin Harris, and the rookie is Kevin Love. We also pulled 2 Xfractors; one retired veteran and one rookie. The veteran/retired players have a 1:16 ratio, where the rookies have a 1:33 ratio. Each card is numbered to 299. The veteran is Larry Bird and the rookie is Patrick Ewing Jr.

In closing, I would like to add that I am seriously thinking of purchasing a box of this set. It was really a fun product to review!

Final Ratings:
Base set: 4.5/5
Fun: 5/5
Overall design: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Re-buy: 5/5

23.5/25 94%

As always, the base cards will be given away for free. Watch for the thread in the main basketball trading forum.

Again, I would like to thank Topps for providing us with this box of cards to review!

Bowman Chrome base:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/bowmanchromebase.jpg
Bowman Chrome rookies:
http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o408/SCFBasketball/Sponsored%20Breaks/08%20Bowman/bowmanchromerookiebase.jpg

Nice review Nathan. I like the design of the Bowman this year, though I wish the rookies would be the same color as the rest of the set.

Not too fond of the colors for the parallels, they should go back to the colors like silver and gold like in previous years.

The GU look cool too, i like how there is a B shape for the jersey.

Really like the pictures on the Nick Young and Derrick Rose cards.

Thanks Topps!

Nice review!


I like the design of the GU - this is always a set that I check out. I usually get a couple of hot packs with nearly all chrome cards too, as a nice bonus.

Again, Topps doesn't disappoint with their Bowman Basketball product. The GU look great and I'm not sure I've heard of the rookie auto, but nice cards nonetheless!

Nice Review! And Pretty good Break!
Like the Look of this Years Bowman Basketball

Very nice break and review! I like the card design as well!

Thanks Topps!

Darin

Nice review! Design is very nice. I had great success with last years product. Need to save up for a box of this. :)

nice review Nathan,and the product looks great take care Steve

Nice break! Thanks Topps.

nice review and break..Thanks Ed

Nice review Nathan, I really like the look of the chrome refractors.

Good break and review.