View Full Version : SCF Official Review: 2009 Bowman Chrome


Enigma
10-07-2009, 08:50 PM
First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Topps (http://www.topps.com) for providing us with this box.

http://www.blowoutcards.com/images/baseball/2009bowmanchromeBB.jpg

18 packs per box
4 cards per pack
Current Retail Price: 49.99 - 59.99

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

AUTOGRAPHED PROSPECT CARDS - 1 PER BOX!
24 Non-Major League Prospects who did not appear in 2009 Bowman Baseball are numbered BCP91-BCP114, show off their MLB uniforms for the first time, and personally sign each of their cards!

Available in the following numbered Parallels:
- Super-Fractor: HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! 1 OF 1!
- Red: #'d to 5
- Orange: #'d to 25
- Gold: #'d to 50
- Blue: #'d to 150
- X-Fractor: #'d to 250
- Refractor: #'d to 500

ALL-NEW PROSPECT CARDS - 2 PER PACK!
110 Prospects who did not appear in 2009 Bowman Baseball! 70 players are numbered BCP128-BCP197 and shown in their MLB uniform with a "First Bowman Chrome Card" logo. 40 players in their 2009 World Baseball Classic uniforms, numbered BCW21-BCW60 also appear!

Available in the following numbered Refractor Parallels:
- Super-Fractor: HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! 1 OF 1!
- Red: #'d to 5
- Orange: #'d to 25
- Gold: #'d to 50
- Blue: #'d to 150
- X-Fractor: #'d to 250
- Refractor: #'d to 500

BASE CARDS - 2 PER PACK!

VETERANS - 190 sensational Major League Baseball® players!
ROOKIES - 30 young stars featured with the MLB Rookie Card Logo

PARALLEL CARDS - 7 PER BOX!

All 220 players from the base set are paralleled in the following numbered Refractor versions:
- Super-Fractor: HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! 1 OF 1!
- Red: #'d to 5
- Orange: #'d to 25
- Gold: #'d to 50
- Blue: #'d to 150
- X-Fractor: #'d to 250
- Refractor

PRINTING PLATES - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!

Base Cards - 330 subjects
All 220 players from the base set and 110 Prospect Cards are featured on 4 different framed printing plates. 1,320 one of one plates in all!

Autographed Prospects - 20 subjects
4 Framed Printing Plates of each Autographed subject. 80 Autographed 1 of 1 plates in all!


WHAT WE PULLED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoEqDwWBDBE

Base (29/220) - 13.2%
Dupes - 0

***Brightness lightened in order to show more of the cards in the scan***
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/CCF10062009_00023.jpg

Chrome Prospects (19/70) - 27.1%
WBC Prospects (15/40) - 37.5%

Insert Scan Here

Refractors (4) - Joba Chamberlain, Yovani Gallardo, Bobby Parnell, Freddy Sandoval
Xfractors /250 (1) - Felix Hernandez

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/CCF10062009_00024.jpg

Chrome Prospects Refractors /500 (1) - Andy Parrino
WBC Prospects Xfractors /250 (1) - Brad Harman
WBC Prospects Blue Refractors /150 (1) - Kwang-Hyun Kim

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/CCF10062009_00025.jpg

Connor Graham Autograph

***Brightness lightened in order to show more of the cards in the scan***
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/CCF10012009_00000.jpg

FINAL RATINGS

Base Set - 3
Overall Design - 4
Fun - 4
Value - 4
Rebuy - 4
Total - 19/25 (76%)

Bowman Chrome's base cards are a carbon copy of the base design for the earlier Bowman release. The obvious difference is the use of the chrome coating on the cards. Along with the 220 card base set are a 70 card prospect set and a 40 card set devoted to prospects from the World Baseball Classic.

Outside of the printing plates, there are no insert sets to be found. However, there are numerous parallels. Each card has 7 refractor parallels, with six being serial numbered for the base cards and all seven for the prospects.

There are 24 prospects in the autograph series. None of these players appeared in the earlier release of Bowman, so these are their first Bowman cards. Like the regular cards, these also have 7 refractor parallels that are all serial numbered.

The allure of Bowman Chrome has always been the prospect cards, primarily the autographs and the low numbered parallels. Prospectors continue to flock to this release year in and year out. However, for casual collectors, Bowman Chrome can be a hard pill to swallow. With only autograph and 3-4 numbered cards, some will be turned off by this release. The big turnoff I find is that it would take a collector around a case of the product in order to hope to complete the base set from a low-end release. Not to mention, why do two unnecessary checklist cards count towards the 72 cards I receive in a box?

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Topps (http://www.topps.com) for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, be sure to check them out at www.topps.com (http://www.topps.com).

JammingJames23
10-07-2009, 08:57 PM
I agree they could jazz up the design a little - that can be done while still having something of a classic Bowman look. I like the swirly blue color on the refractor, though.

andrewcstein
10-08-2009, 08:41 AM
I kinda wish they'd make the prospect set look more like the regular set, instead of two completely different issues.

etmill01
10-08-2009, 10:26 AM
I also think that they should make the prospect set look more like the regular set..Ed

hagansp
10-08-2009, 02:20 PM
3 autos in a box when you are only supposed to get 1? Or are they scanned autos?

Thanks Topps

mikesilvia
10-08-2009, 04:01 PM
I'm a fan of Topps and Bowman Chrome products from all sports. It looks like another solid year!

trevorp121
10-08-2009, 04:16 PM
Nice looking product. Thanks Topps!

garnett_21
10-08-2009, 09:08 PM
Nice break and review! It's nice to finally see the chrome products in a cheaper price range, where most collector's can afford. Thanks, Topps!

BBonds25
10-08-2009, 11:48 PM
I love me some chrome! Another great review Tony.

JKC
10-10-2009, 12:00 PM
Nice break and review! Thank you, Topps, for providing this!

Darin

harrid4
10-10-2009, 04:18 PM
nice review. i love the product, but i am also annoyed by the checklists.