The 2021 Bowman baseball card release delivered another exciting set for collectors to pursue. As one of the premier rookie card releases each year, Bowman continues to unveil prospects heading into their first MLB seasons along with established stars. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the highlights from the 2021 Bowman baseball cards checklist.
The set includes 350 total cards with prospects, major leaguers, and paper/insert parallels. On the prospect side, the big names included 2020 top overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson, as well as 2020 No. 2 pick Austin Martin. Torkelson’s prized rookie card pulled in big bucks upon release. Additions like Martin and a host of other highly-touted farmhands made the set a must-have for prospect collectors.
Veteran stars in the main checklist included Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mookie Betts among many others. Insert sets within Bowman also featured these types of big names. The Platinum Anniversary parallels paid tribute to stars who had been in the league for a full decade. Guys like Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, and Nolan Arenado were highlighted through these commemorative cards.
International prospects were once again strong within Bowman. Names like Luis Matos, Jamar Hernandez, and Yoendrys Gomez started to gain recognition in the hobby. For Latin American signees, their shiny Chrome rookie cards from Bowman serve as an introduction to the collecting community. With continued development, some of these players could end up as stars down the line.
Paper parallels within the base set included Silver Packs, Gold Ink, Atomic Refractors, and Camo parallels among the more popular variations. The Chrome and Paper versions as always provided multiple opportunities for collectors at different price points. Higher-end parallels like 1/1 Superfractors ensured some cards maintained ultra-rare status as well.
This year’s Bowman product also unveiled a special Mike Trout “Card of the Year” insert. This premium card highlighting the reigning AL MVP was a huge chase for sets. Other popular inserts within the 2021 release featured Future Five Hobby-Exclusive parallels and Gold Blast parallels of top prospects. International Prospects inserts dug deeper into some of the overseas signees as well.
Autographs remained a major attraction of Bowman packs as usual. Top collegiate draft prospects like Jordan Lawlar, Termarr Johnson, and Sal Frelick all featured coveted 1st Bowman autos that collectors scrambled to pull. International auto parallels showcased the signings of organizations additionally. Higher-end parallels within auto sets like Printing Plates and Superfractors maintained rarity.
The 2021 Bowman baseball release delivered another exciting year of rookie cards, prospects, stars and parallels for collectors at every level. With another unusual MLB season in the books, the crop of rookies featured within provided an intriguing look towards the future of the league. The premier release always provides a fun and investable set to chase each spring. Based on the talent and variations included, the 2021 checklist poised collectors with plenty of viable cards to enjoy for years to come.
