The 2022 Bowman baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases each year for collectors young and old. Produced by Topps, the Bowman brand is legendary for featuring prospects and young stars just starting their MLB careers. While 2021 saw record sales and interest in the hobby, 2022 may be primed to be an even bigger year.
Bowman is the first major release each season to highlight rookie cards of players drafted or signed in the previous year’s amateur draft. Some of the biggest names in this year’s set include 2021 top overall pick Henry Davis, 2020 #2 pick Spencer Torkelson, and 2019 #1 pick Adley Rutschman who is expected to make his MLB debut soon with the Baltimore Orioles. With many top prospects poised to graduate to the majors in 2022, this year’s Bowman is generating a ton of buzz.
In addition to starring baseball’s future stars in their early career uniforms and with shiny rookie card status, Bowman is known for its parallel and autographed parallel inserts that add to the excitement of each box break. In 2022, look for popular parallels like Green, Blue, Purple, Orange and Pink to return alongside new parallels like Vintage Stock, Black Gold, and 1/1 Rainbow Foil autographs. The hunt to pull the short printed parallels that can yield huge rewards keeps the Bowman opening experience fun and engaging for collectors.
While rookie cards remain the primary focus of each year’s Bowman set, veterans and current MLB players also receive base and insert cards that add to the comprehensive nature of the release. Stars like Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Ronald Acuña Jr. can all be found in the 2022 Bowman set in addition to their flagship Topps cards. Insert sets in recent years like ‘Bowman Chrome Best of’ and ‘Bowman’s Best’ reintroduce popular current players among the prospects.
The design aesthetic of Bowman cards has evolved over the decades but maintains a classic vintage baseball card look and feel. For 2022, the front of the base cards feature action player photos on a solid color background with team logo at top. Player name and stats run along the bottom. The back provides a headshot, personal info and stats. As with Topps flagship, parallels feature foil treatments, color variations or serial numbering to make each hit feel extra special.
While the rookie cards and young stars are the primary collectibles, Bowman boxes offer fun for all levels of collectors. Even casual fans can enjoy pulling base cards of their favorite teams and current MLBers. With 9 total card designs including multiple parallels and inserts, there is no shortage of variety in each pack. Autograph and memorabilia cards provide that extra excitement for those chasing big hits. And who doesn’t love the thrill of the hunt for the elusive 1/1 parallel?
For investors, 2022 Bowman is shaping up to be a vintage year. With so many top prospects ready to impact MLB rosters coupled with the momentum of rising card values, rookie cards from this set could appreciate significantly with a strong career. Stars of the future like Davis, Torkelson, Rutschman and more may someday be worth thousands based on precedent from recent years. Even base rookies of potential impact players hold value.
Whether collecting for the fun of the hobby, the thrill of the chase, or the long term investment, Bowman 2022 has something for all fans and collectors. With baseball’s next generation of stars on full display alongside current greats, this set is a must have to start or add to any collection. The vintage style design combined with modern parallels and inserts make each box a fun experience. With release date set for May 4th, 2022 Bowman is an early season release that will set the tone for what’s sure to be another huge year in the trading card industry.
