December marked a significant milestone for baseball card collectors with the highly-anticipated release of Bowman Draft. This annual product has long been a favorite among enthusiasts, serving as the debut platform for many rising stars fresh from the previous year’s draft. Traditionally, Bowman Draft showcases a plethora of first-round picks, reserving a few standout names for its companion set, Bowman Baseball, released early in the following year.
This year’s Bowman Draft stayed true to this formula, with notable prospects like Charlie Condon and JJ Wetherholt held back for the 2025 edition. Despite their absence, collectors were treated to a myriad of exciting new additions to the set. Among the highlights were the inaugural Bowman cards for Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick, and Jac Caglianone, the sixth overall pick dubbed as the “next Shohei Ohtani.”
Caglianone’s inclusion held particular significance due to his groundbreaking collegiate career at the University of Florida. As the first college baseball player to sign an exclusive deal with Fanatics and Topps, his cards during his college years were notably absent from Topps’ lineup. However, collectors can now rejoice in owning cards that immortalize Caglianone’s time at Florida through other channels.
Unlike the rapid ascent of players in sports like basketball and football, baseball prospects often undergo years of development in the minor leagues. For collectors, investing in First Bowman cards requires patience and foresight, as these cards can skyrocket in value once the player makes their mark in the majors.
Topps’ foray into college-themed cards mirrors the changing landscape of collegiate athletics with the introduction of NIL agreements. With the introduction of college football and basketball products post-NIL, it was only a matter of time before college baseball found its place in the Bowman Draft lineup, opening up a new realm of possibilities for collectors.
The standout feature of this year’s Bowman Draft is the inclusion of Chrome College Variations, a captivating addition that breathes fresh life into the set. While not a standalone college-focused series, these variations offer a unique twist never before seen in the Bowman brand. The response from collectors has been nothing short of extraordinary, with Jac Caglianone’s college card fetching an impressive $6,500, establishing a new record for Florida Gators cards.
The subset of Chrome College Variations features ten outstanding players, each adding a touch of rarity and exclusivity to the collection. With base versions appearing at incredibly low odds in hobby and super jumbo packs, collectors are on a quest to obtain these coveted cards, including sought-after parallels like gold refractors, orange refractors, red refractors, and the ultra-rare 1/1 Superfractor.
The blend of rarity and novelty in these college-themed cards has ignited a fervor among collectors, appealing to both seasoned enthusiasts and newer fans entranced by the infusion of college aesthetics into the Bowman Draft lineup. It’s a moment that encapsulates the thrill of prospecting intertwined with the nostalgia of college sports.
As Bowman Draft continues to evolve, Topps’ commitment to innovation shines through with the introduction of Chrome College Variations, underscoring the brand’s dedication to pushing boundaries in the hobby. Each pack opened unravels a connection between baseball’s future stars and their formative college years, weaving a narrative that celebrates the game’s heritage, present, and future through the lens of an ever-vibrant collecting community.
