One of the most common themes I have used recently is 2013 football releases need either to put in more hits if they are rookie based or go to a “veteran-vintage” based concept with hits. This year’s rookie class has obviously been underwhelming and it’s hurt sales of a lot of products for perceived lack of value.
The latest product to reach store shelves is 2013 Bowman Sterling Football. Each six-pack box promises two autograph/relics plus four other autographs and six jumbo relics.
As Sports Collectors Daily revealed in our preview earlier this year, Sterling promises a pretty good haul with four rookie or veteran autographs, one rookie autograph relic and one rookie autograph patch card plus other relics/patches and base cards.
Now, six autographs out of a box with six packs and five cards per pack is darn good. That implies most collectors will receive an average of one autograph per pack which is a pretty good guarantee. Of course, with a watered down rookie class, there’s still plenty of gamble involved here.
How is the product doing on the secondary market? My local card store (Triple Cards, Plano TX) had due to a shipping error not received his product in a timely manner while leading on-line retailers are $230-240 per box. I would think the box would be $50 per pack and about $279.95 at Triple Cards.
Base Cards; 16 of 100
Blue Refactors (#’d to 99): J.J. Watt
Black Refractor (#d to 75): Jordan Reed
Relics: (All different serial numbering): Montee Ball, Dion Jordan, E.J. Manuel, Christine Michael, Geno Smith
Relics Blue Wave Refractors (#d to 99): Denard Robinson
Rookie Patches Blue Wave Refractors (#d to 171); Marquise Goodwin (box topper)
Autographs: Mike Gillislee, Marquise Goodwin
Rookie Autograph Relics Blue Wave Refractors (#d to 125); Cordarrelle Patterson
Autograph Printing Plate Yellow: Chris Gragg
Prism Refactors Dual Autographs Dual Relics: (#d to 35): Eddie Lacy/Montee Ball
A double dose of Marquise Goodwin but we did score a very nice dual relic auto with two promising running backs and Patterson, too, could be a star soon.
You know, it is really a shame the 2013 football rookie crop is so weak because there are certainly enough hits in this box to make just about any collector happy with how he or she does. With the average of one autograph per pack and the relics, just about every pack gives collectors a fighting chance. Now if only some of these players make gains going forward, Bowman Sterling might end up being a long-term success.
Below, you can see a list of the ‘most watched’ 2013 Bowman Sterling football cards on eBay.
Rich Klein can be reached at [email protected]
