Topps introduces Bowman Prospect Challenge

Posted Nov 13, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 10:10 PM

I am always amazed at the detailed knowledge baseball fans have of up-and-coming players. It’s one thing to know your favorite major-league team’s 25-man roster; but when a fan knows about a player toiling in the Florida State League and can recite statistics? Now, that’s impressive.

Topps is now giving those fans that are big prospect geeks a chance to test their knowledge — and win some prizes. The Bowman Prospect Challenge will begin with the Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects baseball set, which will be released Nov. 28 and will be seeded one in every six packs.

Bowman will insert code cards into upcoming releases that will allow collectors to play a digital game and compete for monthly prizes. Those prizes will include autograph cards from Bowman releases and a grand prize that will feature autographs of top prospects numbered to 10 or less.

Here’s how to play. When you pull a code card, enter the code on http://www.topps.com/BowmanGame.  Each code entered will unlock four prospects; you pick one of them for your team. Eight prospects will complete a team roster (you can have additional prospects on your bench).

Points for players will be earned based on their performance, and also through their progression through the minor league.
Some random codes will unlock a special five-card pack of Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Blue Wave refractors. Other packs will include autographs.
Here are the other sets you can find a code card, with the release dates and ratio of cards you might find in a hobby box:

Bowman Sterling will be released Dec. 19 and will have a card in one out of every six packs.

Bowman will be released May 1, 2013, and will have the same ratio: 1:6.

Topps said it will award 10 prizes each month. Top players in the monthly contest will receive the following (based on the contestant’s rank) each month: an all-new prospect set, a Bowman Sterling rookie set, a Bowman Platinum prospect set, Bowman prospect set, Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects set; Bowman Chrome prospect set, Bowman Chrome prospect set, 2012 Perfect Game cards, 2012 Under Armour game cards, and an uncut sheet of Perfect Game cards or Under Armour cards. And finally, the season’s grand prize winner will receive an exclusive set of 150 Bowman victory autographs.

That’s an awful lot of prospects.

And it’s a nice interactive challenge for collectors.