View Full Version : Official Review: 2008 Bowman Chrome


Enigma
12-07-2008, 08:05 AM
First and foremost, I'd like to thank our Sponsor, Topps, for providing us with this box to review.

http://www.blowoutcards.com/images/football/2008bowmanchromeFB.jpg

Product Description
18 packs per box
4 cards per box
MSRP: $51.99-59.99

Key Rookies: Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, Donnie Avery, Joe Flacco, Jonathan Stewart, Devin Thomas, Brian Brohm, Felix Jones, Jordy Nelson, Chad Henne, Rashard Mendenhall, James Hardy, Kevin O'Connell, Chris Johnson, Eddie Royal, Matt Forte, Jerome Simpson, Ray Rice, DeSean Jackson, Kevin Smith, Malcolm Kelly, Jamaal Charles, Limas Sweed, Steve Slaton, and more!

Collectors Can't Wait To Get Their Hands On 2008 Bowman Chrome Football Cards:

With The Best Rookies in the NFL!
" 55 NFL Rookies - 1 PER PACK!
" One Rookie Autographed Card Per Box!
" 5 Refractor Parallel Cards Per Box!
" Hobby Exclusive - Uncirculated Rookie Box Loader!
" NEW! Rookie Premiere Autographed Relic Cards!

WHAT WE PULLED
Base (41/110): 37%
Dupes: 0
Rookies (18): Brian Brohm, Colt Brennan, Dennis Dixon, Darren McFadden, Steve Slaton, Jamaal Charles, Ryan Torain, Mike Hart, Devin Thomas, Eddie Royal, Jerome Simpson, Early Doucet III, Lavelle Hawkins, Marcus Monk, Tashard Choice, Owen Schmitt, Jerod Mayo, Glenn Dorsey

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/CCF12062008_00002.jpg

As it is well-known for, Bowman Chrome is back with it's rainbow foil covered cards. This year's installment features the players in action photos with the design making it appear the card is folding inward. The player's name appears at the bottom of the card, directly below the set's name. Because of the foil, it gives the appearance that the player is in motion. A twist this year is the addition of coaches in the set. The difference between the player cards and the coach cards is the border is in green, instead of red. Also, the pictures depict the coaches in the middle of practice.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/CCF12062008_00001.jpg

As in previous years, there are only 55 rookies released in the main set as the first 55 could be found inserted in packs of Bowman. The design of the card is the same as the base, except that it is bordered in blue, not red. The Rookie Card logo can be found in the lower left hand corner of the card.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/CCF12062008_00000.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/CCF12062008_00003.jpg

There are numerous refractor levels this year. They are:

Base Refractor
Xfractor /250
Blue /150
Gold /50
Orange /25
Red /5
Superfractor /1
Framed Printing Plates /1 (Hobby Exclusive)

We happened to pull a myriad of colors in our break. The different refractor colors stand out so it's easy to figure out which one you pulled.

The Uncirculated Rookie cards are back as a box loader. However, they are not encased this year. There is the regular version, a Silver version numbered to 199 and an auto version numbered to 10.

Base Refractor (6) - Jay Cutler, JaMarcus Russell, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, Amani Toomer, Jason Witten
Rookie Refractor (3) - John David Booty, Jonathan Stewart, Malcolm Kelly
Xfractor /250 (1) - Jon Kitna
Blue /150 (1) - Harry Douglas
Gold /50 (1) - Julius Jones
Uncirculated Rookie Silver /199 (1) - Early Doucet III

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/CCF12062008_00004.jpg

Wish I could give you a better rundown of the look of the rookie autos, but as you can see, not much to discuss. However, there are many variations of the autos. And if you are lucky, there are Rookie Premiere Relics this year in limited quantities.

Rookie Base
Blue /75
Gold /50
Orange /25
Red /5
Superfractor /1 (Hobby Exclusive)
Framed Printing Plates /1 (Hobby Exclusive)

Yellow Refractor Auto/Relic /10

Signature Series /50 (Hobby Exclusive)

Rookie Premiere Relics /25
Rookie Premiere Auto Relics /25

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

Overall: 21.5/25 (86%)

Once again, Bowman Chrome delivers a nice design and great cards at an affordable price. Various parallels keep the collector interested and your top rookies are here to complete the set. Not including the parallels, you get 18 rookies a box. This is great for the casual collector or a prospector looking for the future (Tony Romo comes to mind). And now that there's extra goodies like the Rookie Premiere Relics, it gives more excitement because you don't know what you are going to get.

The drawback to Bowman Chrome has always been its popularity goes hand in hand with the quality of the draft class. The problem is that it doesn't become clear what the draft class will hold until a couple of years down the road.

As always, a huge thanks to Topps for providing this box and allowing us the opportunity to review it.

JKC
12-07-2008, 08:52 AM
Very nice break and review! I've always liked the Bowman releases.

Thanks Topps!

Darin

gladdyontherise
12-07-2008, 08:55 AM
Solid break! to bad about the redemption :(

hagansp
12-07-2008, 12:59 PM
nice break! Oh how I hate redemption's!!!

johan29lhp
12-07-2008, 01:00 PM
not too bad! being a Falcons fan, i'd love to pull that redemption!

htwheelz01
12-07-2008, 01:00 PM
Nice break Tony!

etmill01
12-07-2008, 10:39 PM
nice break..Thanks Ed

spoodini
12-07-2008, 11:14 PM
Love the look of the cards again this year, it looks like the refractors really stand out this year and that's definitely a plus!

molly1984
12-08-2008, 11:53 AM
I like when coaches are in the set, i hope they do that for other sports. I also think die cut would be a cool look for a parallel of this set, with a shape like this )( (based on the border design).

doniceage
12-09-2008, 03:56 AM
good review as always Tony.

DON

RenegadeLonghorn
01-20-2009, 03:57 AM
Nice break. Bowman chrome always looks nice.

Jeremy_Falcons
07-12-2009, 02:20 PM
Nice break. Chrome is always great.