After being relegated to bench duty last year, there will be a 2016 Bowman Platinum product in Topps’ lineup this year but you’ll have to go to Walmart if you want to buy a box.
Platinum was last produced as a traditional hobby product in 2014 but was dropped last season. It’ll only be available through Walmart stores, beginning August 24.
The content won’t be quite as deep as a traditional hobby release. That’s not to say Platinum will be bare bones. As usual with a Bowman branded product, collectors of rookie and prospect cards will have plenty to chase.
2016 Bowman Platinum Base Set and Parallels
There will be 100 Top Prospects (with 10 short prints) and 100 veterans. Mike Trout will again be card #1.
Color parallels will include purple (numbered to 250), green (numbered to 99), orange (numbered to 25), black (1/1) and printing plates (1/1). Ice parallels are available exclusively in the Value Box (2 per box).
Autographs
Autographs will include: Top Prospect, Rookie , Platinum Presence and Platinum Cuts. Among those who will have signed Top Prospect cards in 2016 Bowman Platinum are David Dahl, Dansby Swanson, A. J. Reed, Alex Bregman and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Other signed cards will include Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant, Max Scherzer, Mike Trout, Trevor Story, Michael Fulmer and Joey Gallo.
Promotional information would indicate autographs are on stickers.
Topps says the premier attraction in the 2016 Bowman Platinum Baseball set are Platinum Cut Autographs. They’ll be cut in the shape of precious gems and feature what Topps calls “elite MLB prospects.” Platinum Cuts will have low-numbered orange (numbered to 5) and black (1/1) parallels.
Top Prospects and Veteran and Rookies autographs will be two of the other signed subsets with color parallels that include green (numbered to 99), orange (numbered to 25), and black (1/1). Prospect Autographs also showcase a purple parallel numbered to 150.
Inserts
The insert sets will be led by a large contingent of Top Prospects, some of which will be single printed, including Yankees standout Aaron Judge. Next Generation, Next Generation Prospects and Platinum Presence will round out the insert sets.
Bowman’s Next Generation and Bowman’s Next Generation Prospects are designed to be collected together. They’ll include a selection of better players from each MLB franchise (Bowman’s Next Generation) along with each team’s top prospect (Bowman’s Next Generation Prospects). Among those featured are Houston’s Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman, and Chicago’s Kris Bryant and Gleyber Torres. Parallels for each include purple (numbered to 250), green (numbered to 99), orange (numbered to 25), and black (1/1).
Platinum Presence will have a foil design and include touted prospects like Yoan Moncada, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., David Dahl and others. There will be autographed variations and a color parallels: green (numbered to 99), orange (numbered to 25), and black (1/1).
Timing could be critical for Platinum. Some of the youngsters on the checklist have already begun to make their marks and generate interest among collectors while others will no doubt make their debuts when September call-ups are announced.
The Ultimate Scouting Experience cards in Bowman Platinum are contest cards with a national winner receiving a trip to the Arizona Fall League, culminating with the Fall Stars Game in November.
2016 Bowman Platinum Baseball Checklist
