December marked the unveiling of the highly anticipated Bowman Draft, a favorite among baseball card enthusiasts. Known for showcasing the first Bowman cards of players from the previous year’s draft, the product took a different turn this year by holding back notable names like Charlie Condon and JJ Wetherholt for the 2025 release. Despite this strategic move, the 2024 set did not disappoint, offering collectors a plethora of excitement and allure.
This year’s edition featured the debut of Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick, and Jac Caglianone, the sixth overall pick dubbed as the “next Shohei Ohtani.” Caglianone’s inclusion was particularly noteworthy as he etched his name in history during his collegiate stint at the University of Florida by signing an exclusive deal with Fanatics and Topps. Although Topps did not release cards of Caglianone during his college days, collectors can now own pieces showcasing his time at Florida through alternate sources.
Unlike other major sports where players often ascend to stardom quickly, baseball prospects undergo rigorous development in the minors. Collectors investing in First Bowman cards need patience and foresight as these cards can skyrocket in value once the players make it big in the majors.
The venture into college-themed cards by Topps aligns with the new era of NIL agreements reshaping collegiate sports. Following the introduction of NIL rules, Topps released college football and basketball products before unveiling the first college-focused Bowman product in decades in 2021. The integration of college baseball cards into the Bowman Draft lineup this year marks a significant expansion in the brand’s offerings.
A standout addition to the 2024 Bowman Draft is the Chrome College Variations subset, adding a unique twist for collectors. Although not a dedicated college series, these cards represent Topps’ closest embrace of college baseball within the Bowman brand. The response to these cards has been phenomenal, with Caglianone’s college card fetching a remarkable $6,500, setting a new record for the highest-priced Florida Gators card.
The subset features ten standout players, including Bazzana, Smith, Caglianone, Moore, Waldschmidt, Benge, Tibbs III, Montgomery, Smith, and Burke. These cards are exceptionally rare, with base versions appearing at odds of 1:713 in hobby packs and 1:185 in super jumbo packs. Collectors can also pursue limited parallels like gold refractors, orange refractors, red refractors, and the ultra-rare 1/1 Superfractor.
The scarcity and allure of these cards have made them highly sought-after by both seasoned collectors and newer enthusiasts attracted to the infusion of college imagery in the Bowman Draft lineup. This incorporation marks an exciting moment that merges the thrill of prospecting with the nostalgia of college sports.
Bowman Draft’s continued evolution, exemplified by the inclusion of Chrome College Variations, underscores Topps’ dedication to innovation in the hobby. As collectors hunt for these rare gems, the connection between the game’s future stars and their collegiate beginnings strengthens. The 2024 Bowman Draft stands not just as a card set but as a tribute to baseball’s past, present, and future, narrated through a hobby that remains as vibrant and captivating as ever.
