Lucky collector will be included in 2013 Bowman set

Posted May 1, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated May 1, 2012 at 08:44 PM

The Bowman brand of baseball cards put out by Topps is known for its rookie cards. It’s easy to imagine the thrill a young professional ballplayer gets when he sees his image on a baseball card for the first time.

Some of us have had mock baseball cards made up. I had one done at Florida’s defunct Boardwalk and Baseball in 1987, and I still cherish the card. I also got to write in my own statistics on the back of the card, and believe me, I was marvelous. Talk about a ticket to the Hall of Fame.

Speaking of tickets, Topps is going to give one collector his own card for the 2013 Bowman baseball set. When the 2012 Bowman baseball set hits stores on May 9, 10 Bowman Debut Golden Contracts will be randomly inserted in hobby boxesl.  Each contract will guarantee the recipient an autographed Yu Darvish baseball.

The grand prize is even better.

One of those 10 collectors who finds a contract will receive a $500 signing bonus, a Bowman jersey and will appear on a baseball card from one of the 2013 Bowman releases.

I mean, a Darvish autographed ball is OK, but the jury is still out on the Rangers’ pitching phenom. He might be a Hall of Famer someday (and the ball’s value would reflect that) or he could be a bust despite his hot start.

But being featured on a baseball card by a major manufacturer is forever. It’s even better than a Boardwalk and Baseball card.