Official Review: 2008 Bowman Sterling

[hagansp]

2008 Bowman Sterling Football Hobby Box Break

Video Break (Do Not Scroll Further if you want to watch video before seeing pics)





Each sealed box contains 6 packs of 5 cards each in a 195 card set including 50 Rookie cards, 50 Veteran Memorabilia cards, 40 Autograph Rookie cards, 30Rookie Memorabilia cards, and 20 Autograph Rookie Memorabilia cards.

Each BOX contains TWELVE Memorabilia cards and EIGHT Autograph cards. Parallel sets: Refractor (#`d to 199), Black (#`d to 50), Gold (#`d to 25; also #`d Autograph Rookie, #`d Veteran Memorabilia, #`d Rookie Memorabilia, and Dual Autograph 1:24 > #`d to 400), and Red (each is a 1-of-1), and Framed Printing Plates (each is a 1-of-1).

EVERY 5-CARD PACK CONTAINS GUARANTEED VALUE
- 1 Autographed Rookie Card
- 1 Rookie Relic Card
- 2 Rookie Cards
- 1 Veteran Relic Card

EVERY 6-BOX PACK CONTAINS GUARANTEED VALUE
- 2 Rookie Autographed Relics
- 4 Rookie Autographs
- 12 Veteran and Rookie Relics
- 2 Autographs and/or Printing Plate

EVERY 4-BOX CASE CONTAINS GUARANTEED VALUE
- 1 Dual Autographed Gold Refractor

EVERY 8-BOX PACK CONTAINS GUARANTEED VALUE
- 2 Dual Autographed Gold Refractors


CONTENT BREAKDOWN
BASE CARDS
- Rookies (50) - 2 per pack.
- Autographed Rookies (40) - 1 per pack.
- Rookie Relics (35)
* Autographed Rookie Relic Variations (20) - 1:3 packs...2 per box!
- Veteran Relics (50) - 1 per pack!

REFRACTOR PARALLEL CARDS (195)
- Red - All one of one!
- Gold - #'d to 25.
- Black - #'d to 50.
- Refractor - #'d to 199.

DUAL AUTOGRAPHED GOLD REFRACTORS (20 cards) - 1 PER 4-BOX CASE! 2 PER 8-BOX CASE! NUMBERED TO 400.

CHECKLIST/SCOUTING REPORT - 1 PER CASE AS A CASE LOADER.

AUTOGRAPHED CARDS AND PRINTING PLATES - 2 PER BOX! A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED BELOW:

- Gold Rookies (30)
- Gold Rookie and Veteran Relics
- Dual Autographed Gold Rookie Relics
- Framed Autographed Rookie Printing Plates (40 subjects/160 plates) - All one of one!
- Framed Relic Printing Plates (35 subjects) - All one of one!
- Framed Printing Plates (50 subjects/200 plates) - All one of one!


What We Pulled
Base Set Rookies - 9 of 50 (24%) Wheatley #6, Jackson #9, Jackson #12, Balmer #22, Laws #23, Albert #27, Wheeler #34, Zbikowski #41, Cottam #44
Dupes - 0
Refractors #d 199- 2 (Bryan Smith #19, Terrell Thomas #7)


Jerseys



Earl Bennett #171 #d 384/569
Jordy Nelson #1565 #d 091/399
Jamaal Charles #158 #d 001/569
Eddie Royal #167 #d 010/569
Chad Henne #147 #d 146/309
Joe Flacco #148 #d 359/399
Andre Johnson #77 #d 205/349
Derek Anderson Refractor #81 #d 161/199
Braylon Edwards #79 #d 058/249
Brian Westbrook #87 #d 277/389
LaDainian Tomlinson #63 #d 047/249
Adrian Peterson #62 #d 157/249

Autographs

Fred Davis Rookie Auto Redemption
Jacob Hester Rookie Auto #119
Ryan Torain Rookie Auto #125
DJ Hall Rookie Refractor Auto #137 #d 084/199
Andre Caldwell Gold Rookie Auto #160 #d 0487/1050
Justin Forsett Gold Rookie Auto #122 #d 036/400
John David Booty Rookie Jersey Auto #143

This box was a ton of fun to open. If you are a set collector or low end collector this product is not for you. If you are looking to drop about $200 and walk away with 6 packs and 20 hits, this product is for you! Bowman Sterling is a great product for everyone in my opinion. You definitely get your value because worse case scenario you figure 20 hits a little over $200 for a box your paying 12 bucks or so per hit. Not horrible in the high end collectors market. Granted with all the hits you do receive, you will not always have that top of the line hit, but every pack packs a punch and some fun in and of itself. You don't have to tear through 20 packs of base to get to 1 pack of an auto or jersey. Or for that matter have a 24 pack box pull the hit in pack 1and open the rest knowing unless you hit a hot box nothing remains.

The design is more crisp then years past but has a similar look so everyone knows this is Sterling. I like Bowman removing the 2 Gold auto toppers per box, generally they were not very valuable anyway, and adding them into some packs allows dealers to not get off with any freebies. In this specific box if you are looking for resale value, I don't believe you would get it, but all in all you can't beat the great hits and flashiness of this beautiful product. Top that off with the 3 best RBs in the NFL and some nice Rookie autos on the side and you have yourself a very solid box. Thanks again to Topps for sending us this to preview. Now go and get yourself a box of Bowman Sterling...shoooo go on...you know you wanna...


Final Ratings (out of 5):
Base Set – 4.5
Fun – 5.0
Overall Design – 5.o
Value – 4.5
Rebuy- 4.5

Total – 23.5/25 (94%)

[acecardking34]

thanks for the break sean, really like how the video was done, not a bad box of sterling

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Nice review. This set is loaded with gu and autos!

[DanielSweeney]

Nice review of a nice product. It definitely seems like you get a good bang for your buck!

[mikesilvia]

Excellent review Sean!

[etmill01]

Awesome review Sean, very nice pulls too...Thanks Ed

[TurdFerguson]

Nice job Sean. Too bad you for got to move that ugly hat that was on the table though.....

[meuandthelot]

Great review on a great product!!
Another release Topps has nailed & subtly improves, ala Topps Chrome.


PS: *Cue the twilight Zone theme song*
Your good..
Subliminal message is getting me..Checking Topps sell sheet and DACW for a possible box now.

[lil5up3rman]

Not a bad break at all bro. Daniel.

[demonpower55]

Nice review and great looking cards! Love the video as well!