2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball has more prospects. And autographs. And Refractors. In many ways a continuation of 2023 Bowman Baseball, the checklist this time out is all Chrome instead of largely Chrome.
All the highlights of modern Bowman releases remain, led by a new assortment of Chrome Prospect Autographs, many of which represent some of the first MLB cards players receive.
2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball has two types of hobby boxes. Standard versions promise a pair of autographs and an assortment of other cards. HTA Choice boxes are all-autograph affairs with just three cards.
2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball Checklist Overview
The main base set, which is often overlooked in Bowman Chrome releases, has a modest 100 cards. It’s a mix of veterans and rookies.
Parallels include:
- Refractors – /499
- Fuchsia Refractors – /299
- Aqua RayWave Refractors – /199
- Blue Refractors – /150
- Wave Refractors – /100
- Green Refractors – /99
- Yellow Refractors – /75
- Gold Refractors – /50
- Orange Refractors – /25
- Red Refractors – /5
- Superfractors – 1/1
Rookie Image Variations exist for select players. There are also new rare Rookie Color Run Variations (/23) that opt for a tie-dyed background based on the player’s team colors.
Joining these cards are 100 Prospects, which come numbered differently and are a continuation of the similar cards in 2023 Bowman.
Although there is overlap, the rainbow for these is noticeably bigger:
- Shimmer Refractors – 1:12 hobby packs
- Refractors – /499
- Speckle Refractors – /299
- Purple Refractors – /250
- Purple Shimmer Refractors – /250
- Fuchsia Pink Vapor Wave Refractors – /199
- Fuchsia Shimmer Refractors – /199
- Blue Refractors – /150
- Aqua Refractors – /125
- Aqua Pink Vapor Refractors – /125
- Green Refractors – /99
- Green Shimmer Refractors – /99
- Yellow Refractors – /75
- Yellow Orange Vapor Wave Refractors – /75
- Gold Refractors – /50
- Gold Shimmer Refractors – /50
- Orange Refractors – /25
- Orange Shimmer Refractors – /25
- Red Refractors – /5
- Red Aqua Vapor Wave Refractors – /5
- Shimmer Red Refractors – /5
- Superfractors – 1/1
Autographs and Memorabilia Cards
Chrome Prospect Autographs are the main signature component of the product. As usual, collectors can expect on-card ink and a deep roster of players getting their “Bowman 1st”s.
In addition to the base versions, there are:
- Refractors – /499
- Speckle Refractors – /299
- Purple Refractors – /250
- Blue RayWave Refractors – /150
- HTA Choice Mojo Refractors – /150 (HTA only)
- Atomic Variation Refractors – /100
- Green Refractors – /99
- Green Lave Refractors -/99 (HTA only)
- Yellow Refractors – /75
- Gold Refractors – /50
- Gold Mini-Diamond Refractors – /50 (hobby only)
- Shimmer Gold Refractors – /50 (HTA only)
- Orange Refractors – /25 (hobby only)
- Orange Wave Refractors – /25 (HTA only)
- Shimmer Orange Refractors – /25 (hobby only)
- Red Refractors – /5
- Red Wave Refractors – /5 (HTA only)
- Shimmer Red Refractors – /5
- Superfractors – 1/1
Similar Chrome Rookie Autographs are also on the checklist. These feature players who have made their MLB debuts. Available in smaller numbers, the rainbow here consists of:
- Refractors – /499
- Blue Refractors – /150
- Green Refractors – /99
- Gold Refractors – /50
- Orange Refractors – /25 (hobby only)
- Red Refractors – /5
- Superfractors – 1/1
Prime Chrome Signatures (/50) are back. Historically, some of these also include inscriptions. Orange Refractors (/25), which are HTA-exclusives, and Superfractors (1/1) are the lone parallels for these.
The long-running All-American Game Autographs program continues.
For those looking for signed memorabilia cards, there are a couple of option.
First is Chrome Auto Relics, which have Gold Refractors (/50), hobby-only Orange Refractors (/25) and Superfractors (1/1).
The Arizona Fall League is where the product’s other memorabilia cards come from. These include 2022 AFL Relics, 2022 AFL Relics Autographs, and 2022 AFL Jumbo Chrome Relics (/10).
Additional Inserts
The 2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball checklist has a lot of other insert sets as well. Some are returning themes while others make their debut.
Bowman Iconic (1:3 packs) draws from some of the brand’s top modern cards. Images on these are the same as the one used for the player’s first Bowman card. The design takes a very different approach, though.
Topps has been hyping their new Retrofractors for a while. 2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball is where they make their debut. The idea behind these rare cards is that they offer “1st Bowman Chrome” cards to some of the game’s all-time greats.
Prospect Process (1:12 packs) give a nod to print production with the same image used for each of the found main colors and then a final shot showing them all mixed together.
Parallels for both of these include Atomic Refractors (/150), Orange Refractors (/25) and Superfractors (1/1).
Arizona Fall League content isn’t just hits. 2022 AFL Fall Stars offer another look at top prospects. There’s also a separate short print for the MVP.
Bowman Invicta (1:24 packs) and Bowman Ascensions (1:144 packs) both carry on from where they left off in 2023 Bowman Baseball. There’s also a new batch of the ultra scarce cross-brand Hidden Gems.
Autographs are available for select cards in Bowman Iconic, Prospect Process, AFL Fall Stars, Bowman Ascensions and Bowman Invicta.
Hunting for Pearls
The base and Prospects rainbows have one version that isn’t available in standard packs. Ultra scarce Pearl Refractors are only available in special bonus packs. These packs land approximately 1:10 hobby cases.
Each 2023 Bowman Chrome Pearl pack has four cards, one base and three Prospects.
2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Hobby – 5, HTA – 3
Packs per box: Hobby – 12 (two 6-pack mini boxes), HTA – 1
Boxes per case: Hobby – 12, HTA – 12
Set size: 100 cards
Release date (subject to change): September 13, 2023
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs – 2
- 2022 AFL Fall Stars – 2
- Bowman Iconic – 4
- Prospects Process – 1
- Prospect Shimmer Refractors – 1
What to expect in an HTA box:
Recent Bowman Chrome Baseball releases:
The full 2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball checklist and team set lists will be up as soon as they’re available, likely shortly before the set’s release.
