My Reference Cards #3 - 2000 Bowman

Although Bowman had started "color-coding" their cards in 1997, they hadn't quite settled into the black-red and black-blue motif that they relentlessly followed for the next 10 years or so. By "color-coding" I mean that veteran players had a red highlight while rookies had a blue highlight. The set had 440 cards and was issued in one series. Individual packs had 10 cards and were available for $3.00.

A nice design although the player photo is a bit squeezed. Instead of black, the cards are gray. The red is more maroon to me. The player name and card logo are in gold foil. The "Bowman Briefing" on the back first appeared in 1999 and continues to this day.

In addition to the blue highlight, the 'rookie' cards had silver foil. Since Oswalt didn't actually appear in the majors until 2001, under MLB's current rules, this would be called a "1st Bowman Card" and be part of the "Prospects" subset.

There were no subsets in 2000 Bowman, just the division into veteran and rookie cards.  There were however inserts and parallel cards.

Bowman Retro and Bowman Future

This parallel set was printed on foil board and was inserted one per pack. The veteran players were featured on an old-fashioned TV while the rookies were featured on a more modern looking TV set. The cards had the same photos as the base set but cropped to only show the players heads.

Bowman Autographs

There were 40 autographed cards inserted at a 1:144 ratio. I did not get an auto in the hobby box I bought but got this on eBay later. The card has "Certified Autograph Insert" embossed in in blue foil on the front and a holographic sticker on the back. The auto is on-card.

Bowman’s Best Preview

These were inserted in 1:18 packs. I got one of them in the box.

Bowman Early Indications

This 10-insert set had a strange finish. The swirling lines on the front were raised giving the card some texture. These were inserted 1:24 packs. I pulled just this one from the box.

Bowman Major Power

Another 10-card set with a glossy, textured finish. These were inserted 1:24 as well, but I got two of them.

Bowman Tool Time

 Bowman was really fond of this hard-to-scan finish in 2000. This was a 20-card set inserted at 1:8. Higher insert ratio, better chance of getting one. I got 3, including the Phillies Pat Burrell.

There was also a Bowman Gold parallel in this set but I don't have one. Other than that, I have at least one representative card of the entire issue. There's lots of Bowman to go. Coming up will be Bowman Chrome, Bowman Draft Picks (regular and Chrome) and Bowman's Best.

Random Cards From My Collection #63

Card #29353
2008 SP Legendary Cuts #58 Roy Oswalt

Comments on the card/player: One of my favorite players who played for my two favorite teams, the Astros and the Phillies. I never bought much of this product because it was always pricey.
How/When acquired: I paid $0.50 at one of the very few Houston card shops in October 2009.

Card #8187
1991 Upper Deck #537 Pat Combs

Comments on the card/player: Packs of those early years of Upper Deck were always more expensive than other sets. Today repacks are loaded with them.
How/When acquired: No clue.

Card #22098
2003 Bowman Chrome #237 Edwin Jackson

Comments on the card/player: Edwin Jackson made his first start in 2003 on his 20th birthday. And he beat Randy Johnson.
How/When acquired: Paid $0.98/card for several packs of Bowman Chrome in August 2003.

Card #37212 
2011 Bowman Chrome Refractor #31 Shin-Soo Choo

Comments on the card/player: Choo was the MVP and best pitcher of the 2000 Junior Baseball World Championship won by his South Korean team. The Mariners signed him to a $1.35MM contract and turned him into an outfielder.
How/When acquired: Paid $1.00/card for 1 blaster box of Bowman Chrome in November 2011.

Card #40370
2011 Tri-Star Obak #86 Jonathan Singleton

Comments on the card/player: One of several minor league players the Phillies traded to the Astros in 2011 for Hunter Pence. Singleton made is major league debut with the Astros this season. In 60 games he's batting 0.193. The Astros must think highly of this guy since they have him signed through 2021.
How/When acquired: Paid $1.60/card for 5 Phillies cards in September 2011.

Card #46678
2014 Topps Allen & Ginter Natural Wonders #5 Door To Hell

Comments on the card/player: A natural gas fire that's been burning since 1971!  Why is there someone standing right next to it?
How/When acquired: Paid $0.50/card for 2 blasters and 3 rack-packs in July 2014.

Card #34922
2010 Topps #89 J. A. Happ

Comments on the card/player: 2010, the year that Topps made a radical change to the All-Star Rookie cup, but only on the base set.
How/When acquired: Paid $0.24 per card for 2 blasters in January 2010.

Card #5963
1990 Score #126 Tim Belcher

Comments on the card/player: In 1988, Score pioneered the use of a color photo on the card backs. They kept the same design, with some changes, through 1991.
How/When acquired: The only boxed set I ever bought when new.  I don't remember what I paid for it however.

Card #4109
1989 Donruss #227 Mark Langston

Comments on the card/player: In 1989, Langston was actually playing for the Expos. It was one of only 2 years of his 16-year career in the NL. He was 12-9 with the Expos.
How/When acquired: Acquired in a repack in 2007. There are always 1989 Donruss cards in repacks.

Card #13672
1995 Collector's Choice Silver #365 Lenny Dykstra

Comments on the card/player: Parallel cards were still a relatively new idea in 1995. Collector's Choice base cards had no facsimile signature. The Silver parallel had a facsimile signature in silver foil and the Gold parallel had one in gold foil. That's Jim Eisenreich with Dykstra on the back.
How/When acquired: Paid $0.60/card for 16-card Phillies set on eBay in October 2010.

January 2014 Card Show - Part 3

More odd cards from the early 2000s.

2003 Fleer Authentix #170 Delmon Young

I bought a few packs of this product back in 2003 but never saw one of these. Cards 162-175 of the set are minor league players. The cards have "Ticket to the Majors" on the front. They also have a replica ticket imbedded into the card and are serial numbered.

2003 Fleer Avant #54 Craig Biggio

Fleer had so many different sets in the 2000s that is hard to keep up with them. The only other card from this set I have is a Mike Schmidt I got at a different card show.

2003 Fleer Rookies and Greats Looming Large Delmon Young

There were a lot of Delmon Young cards in 2003 because he looked to be a future star. He was the Rays #1 draft pick that year. He's had his moments but never became a top rate player.

2003 Upper Deck Play Ball 1941 Series #26 Roy Oswalt

This 2003 Upper Deck set was designed to look like the classic 1941 Play Ball set issued by Gum, Inc., a forerunner of Bowman. The base set were full-sized cards. The 1941 Series were a parallel, in the same size as the original 1941 set. I already had the regular Oswalt from the set. What I didn't know is that the smaller card also has a different background from the full-sized card. You can compare this to a 1940 Play Ball card which I happen to own and which had the same design as the 1941 set, here.

2005 eTopps #156 Gavin Floyd

I've heard of eTopps but this is the first I've owned. I don't really know the concept. The card came in a thick plastic case sealed with a holographic Topps sticker.

2005 Origins Old Judge #277 Stephen Drew

Origins was a 200-card Upper Deck set of which I have none. This is from a 286-card insert. It may be a parallel of the main set but I don't know.

2006 Bowman Chrome Refractors #34 Kevin Youkilis

In 2006, Bowman Chrome was an insert in the regular Bowman packs. I didn't buy much Bowman then and didn't have a single refractor.