Bowman Baseball is one of the most highly anticipated baseball card releases each year from Topps. The 2023 edition is no exception, as collectors and investors are already making plans to pre-order boxes and packs of the upcoming rookie class. While the full checklist won’t be known until closer to the official release date, here’s a detailed look at what to expect from Bowman 2023 pre-orders.
Bowman is the flagship baseball card product from Topps that features prospects, rookie cards, and young MLB talent. It’s released annually in late winter/early spring to kick off the new baseball season. The 2023 edition is expected to hit stores in late March or early April. Topps usually announces pre-order availability for Bowman boxes and packs a couple months prior, so collectors should keep an eye out starting in January 2023.
There are several Bowman product levels to consider for pre-order. At the top is Bowman Draft, which contains cards of players selected in the most recent MLB amateur draft. It’s usually the priciest Bowman release at around $150-200 per box. Draft boxes yield 12 packs with 10 cards each, including autographed and memorabilia rookie cards of top draft picks. This set is geared towards long-term holding of prospects who may develop into stars.
The standard Bowman retail release is the next tier down. A box of 2023 Bowman will likely run $85-100 to pre-order and contain 12 packs with 5 cards apiece. In addition to prospects, these boxes feature the coveted “paper” rookie cards of current MLB rookies. Hits can include autographed and numbered parallels. Bowman retail boxes are a good balance of affordability and potential returns through rookie cards.
For those seeking a budget-friendly way to participate in the Bowman release, the best option is pre-ordering loose packs. A pack of 5 cards will cost around $4-5 to pre-order. While pack odds of hitting a valuable rookie are lower than with a box, it’s an affordable means of acquiring cards from the set without a major upfront commitment. Packs also become available on release day at local hobby shops and mass retailers.
In terms of specific rookies to target, the 2023 Bowman class is headlined by high school prospects like Max Clark, Dante Berti, and Jackson Ferris – all expected to be early picks in the 2023 MLB Draft. On the MLB side, rookies like Oneil Cruz, Bobby Witt Jr., and Adley Rutschman could have flagship rookie cards after impressive debut seasons in 2022. International prospects like Romy Gonzalez and Ynmanol Marinez are also names to watch.
When it comes to parallels and short prints, collectors should seek out especially low numbered versions of top prospects. Topps usually includes parallels like Gold /50, Rainbow Foil /25 and Black 1/1. Autographed cards remain the true chase, especially “on-card” autos where the signature is directly on the front of the card rather than a separate sticker autograph. Memorabilia cards with swatches of jersey or bat material are also highly coveted.
As for pre-order logistics, Topps usually lists Bowman pre-sales on their website and via major online card retailers. Quantities tend to sell out fast for popular products like Bowman Draft boxes. Payment is typically required upfront at the time of order. Most pre-orders are expected to ship within 1-2 weeks of the official release date. Topps is usually good about providing tracking numbers and release updates as that date approaches.
In terms of the investment potential, Bowman rookie cards have proven extremely lucrative for patient collectors in recent years. Stars like Soto, Acuña, Tatis and others all had their rookie cards featured in Bowman before breaking out. While prospects carry risk, even a few major hits can make a Bowman pre-order very profitable long-term. Secondary market prices for top rookies steadily increase as their careers progress.
All in all, the 2023 Bowman release shapes up to be another can’t-miss event for baseball card collectors and investors. With an exciting new crop of MLB rookies and amateur prospects on the horizon, pre-ordering boxes and packs early ensures the best odds of acquiring these coveted rookie cards before they take off in value. Those who do their research on prospects and target especially scarce parallels stand to profit handsomely if a few players emerge as future superstars down the road. The 2023 Bowman pre-sale period is sure to be highly competitive – so collectors will want to sign up for notifications and pounce as soon as pre-orders open up.
