September 13, 2013. First look of 2014 Bowman yields first clue that Kris Bryant’s coveted 1st Bowman Chrome autos are slated for spring 2014 Bowman release rather than November 2013 Bowman Draft release.
October 9, 2013. Then-prospect Kris Bryant tweets a photo of what appears to be an unsigned 1/1 Superfractor variation of what would have been his 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft prospect auto.
First professional baseball card! Thank you topps!! pic.twitter.com/TNAXb2U1d2
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) October 10, 2013
November 13, 2013. 2013 Bowman Draft is released. As expected, no Kris Bryant Bowman Chrome Draft prospect autos were issued.
April 30, 2014. 2014 Bowman is released, including a full slate of 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Kris Bryant autos. All variations carry the “1st Bowman” logo indicating that the 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Kris Bryant autos represent Bryant’s first Bowman Chrome autos, and thus his most highly-valued cards. A limited number of base (non-color, non-serialized) autos appear, leading many observers to believe that the base autos were short-printed.
Prices are through the roof. On June 30, a BGS 9.5/10 Gem Mint base auto sold for $1,000 on eBay, while on July 2 a BGS 10/10 Pristine base auto sold for $1,500.
June 27, 2014. 2014 Bowman Inception is released. To the shock of everyone, inserted into packs of 2014 Bowman Inception were base autos of the 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant auto. The 2014 Bowman Chrome Kris Bryant autos are no longer Bryant’s first Bowman Chrome auto, and face instant devaluation.
July 30, 2014. 2014 Bowman Platinum is released, including more 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant base autos.
September 26, 2014. 2014 Bowman Chrome is released, including the first color refractor parallels of the 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant auto. Also included were base auto of the 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Kris Bryant auto, further devaluing the card previously thought to have been short-printed.
30 cases worth of Kris Bryant autos in 2014 Bowman Chrome @blowoutcards @SHOWYOURHITS @BOGroupBreaks @WatchTheBreaks pic.twitter.com/WBtN9a8RZq
— BlowoutTV (@BlowoutTV) September 29, 2014
April 7, 2015. 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant Superfractor Auto 1/1 is sold on eBay for an undisclosed amount. The list price: $89,999.
March 2016. A Black Wave #/50 variation of the 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant auto is listed on eBay. No such variation was previously known to the collecting public to exist.