The 2019 Bowman Chrome baseball card set is one of the most highly anticipated releases each year for collectors and investors alike. Produced by The Topps Company, the Bowman Chrome set is considered the gold standard for prospect cards featuring some of the best up-and-coming young players in Minor League Baseball.
Released each spring, Bowman Chrome provides the first cardboard representation of hundreds of amateur and professional prospects starting their ascension through the ranks of affiliated baseball. For many new draftees and international signees, appearing in this iconic card set marks the true beginning of their journey toward potentially reaching Major League stardom.
What makes the Bowman Chrome products so desirable is their unique chrome photograph design. Instead of the typical paper stock most other card releases utilize, Bowman Chrome cards are printed on a thin layer of actual chrome material. This gives each card a shiny, reflective finish that simply “pops” compared to standard glossy cards. The chrome photograph process also results in incredible image quality and sharpness that accentuates all the finer details in each player photo.
Beyond the flashy aesthetics, the allure of Bowman Chrome stems from its uncanny ability to feature athletes who go on to become true superstars. Past megastars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Cody Bellinger, and Ronald Acuna Jr. all made their collectible debuts in Bowman Chrome as teenage rookies years before reaching the Major Leagues. For example, Trout’s 2009 Bowman Chrome rookie card, which features him as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, is now one of the most valuable modern-era cards in existence.
As such, savvy collectors and investors eagerly sift through each year’s Bowman Chrome release searching for “the next big thing” – attempting to identify future Hall of Famers still in their developmental stages. Some of the names generating the most buzz and demand for the 2019 Bowman Chrome set include rising prospects like Jo Adell, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jimenez, and Casey Mize. Each of these young talents is considered an elite prospect with jaw-dropping talent, and if they reach stardom many believe their rookie cards could challenge the prices commanded by Trout and company down the road.
In terms of structure and contents, the 2019 Bowman Chrome baseball card set is constructed similarly to sets from years past. The base set contains some 300-plus cards showcasing a multitude of up-and-coming players in professional and amateur baseball. From draft picks signed out of high school to international free agents reporting to their new domestic affiliates, this is where collectors can find virtual rookie cards for hundreds of fresh minor leaguers. Beyond the base cards, Bowman Chrome also includes various parallels, autograph and memorabilia inserts emphasizing the set’s most prestigious prospects.
Parallels are alternate versions of base cards that vary by color, printing technique or rarity level. In 2019, some of the prized rainbow refractors, gold refractors and blue refractors provide stunning card designs and diminished print runs. Autograph and memorabilia cards pull specific players from the base checklist, featuring on-card signatures or swatches of jersey material for ultimate collecting thrills. And the ultra-limited 1-of-1 autographs and relics represent the true pinnacle finds within the modern era of Bowman products.
For investors, scoping out future star power in the rookie base cards is key, but tracking short and long-term value of the insert cards is equally vital. Parallels and autographs of players who achieve MLB stardom often appreciate far more substantially than their base rookie cards down the road. One unsigned 2019 Bowman Chrome base card of a future superstar may be worth a few hundred dollars in a few years, but a paralell or auto from the same release could gain thousands of percentage points in collector valuation if the player continues ascending.
With its iconic design, history of correctly identifying future Hall of Famers, and ability to deliver sought-after rookie cards and hits, the 2019 Bowman Chrome baseball set is a perennial favorite for those immersed in the collecting hobby and sphere of baseball card investments. Only time will tell which of this year’s featured prospects go on to greatness in The Show, but for now hobbyists are having fun analyzing players and searching packs hoping to uncover the next collectible gem.
