The 2011 Bowman Draft baseball card set features prospects selected in that year’s First-Year Player Draft. It was a highly anticipated draft class that featured future stars such as Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen, Trevor Bauer, and Dylan Bundy. While the values of 2011 Bowman Draft cards have fluctuated over the past decade, many consider it one of the stronger Bowman Draft releases from the 2010s in terms of cards that hold significant value today.
The headliner of the 2011 Bowman Draft set is undoubtedly 1st overall pick Gerrit Cole’s base paper card. Considered one of the top pitching prospects ever dating back to his high school days, Cole more than lived up to the hype. After debuting in 2013, he has gone on to become a two-time All-Star and won the 2020 NL Wild Card game with the New York Yankees. Mint condition copies of his base card steadily climbed over the years, reaching upwards of $150-200 in 2019 before the pandemic. With Cole’s continued success and the increased collection demand, his card has remained rock solid and now consistently fetches $300-400 in top-grades.
Another surefire first round talent who panned out was Danny Hultzen, the 2nd overall selection by the Seattle Mariners. Hultzen possessed elite command and a four-pitch mix that projected him as a future #2 starter. Shoulder issues derailed his career before it ever took off. Even so, mint Hultzen rookies from 2011 Bowman Draft have still held $50-75 values thanks to his status as a top prospect. Similarly, 4th overall pick Trevor Bauer dwelled in prospect hype for years but eventually blossomed into a strong major leaguer, making multiple All-Star teams for Cleveland and the Dodgers. His base is around the $75-100 range when fresh.
Beyond the headliners, many other 2011 first round picks have cards that carry significance and robust price tags to serious Bowman Draft PC collectors. The 6th pick, Bubba Starling of Kansas City, has an enticing story as a five-tool player that spurned millions to play college ball. While injuries hampered his pro career, mint Starling rookies command $50-75. Max Fried, taken 7th by San Diego, struggled for years with Tommy John but has emerged as an Atlanta Brave and fetched over $100 for his paper rookie after a strong 2020 campaign.
Further down the first round, reliever Archie Bradley (23rd pick, ARI), starter Ty Hensley (30th pick, NYM), and starter Dylan Bundy (4th pick, BAL) all landed with organizations boasting rich histories. Their 2011 Bowman Draft base cards have steadily risen from $25-40 over the years into the $75-125 range currently. Bundy in particular saw his stock soar after a 2014 debut as a 21-year-old and contributing meaningfully to the Orioles’ Wild Card runs. But injuries slowed his progress thereafter.
The value of cards outside the first round thins out significantly relative to players taken higher in the 2011 draft. Some middle to late round talents like 6th rounder Michael Wacha (STL) (Base: $40-60), 13th rounder Jedd Gyorko (SD) (Base: $30-50), 15th rounder Daniel Norris (TOR) (Base: $25-40), and 30th rounder Daniel Corcino (CIN) (Base: $15-25) all reached the majors to varying degrees of success. As breakouts from deep in the draft, these players’ rookie cards command respectable sums today.
Collectors should also note notable autograph and parallel cards featuring the elite prospects that can push values much higher than the base paper rookies. A Gerrit Cole auto in NM-MT condition ranges between $500-800, while a near-gem Trevor Bauer auto would bring in $300-450. Rarer printing plate and 1/1 autographs of players like Fried and Bundy can surpass $1000 when available on the secondary market. Superfractors aren’t too common in Bowman Draft either, and examples of Cole or Hultzen would be true crown jewels.
While not every prospect hit, 2011 turned out to be a draft for the ages and produced a bounty of future stars at the top. Bowman Draft cards of those big names like Cole, Hultzen, Bauer, and Bundy have stayed exceedingly popular with collectors. Their paper rookies as well as premium signed and parallel hits are foundational inclusions in any Bowman Draft PC. The 2011 edition endures as one of the most collectible and valuable among recent Bowman Draft sets for good reason.
