A hobby box has 18 packs, with four cards to a pack. Topps promises two autograph cards per hobby box, and that was the case in the box that I opened. The price is affordable, in the $60 to $70 range depending on the retailer.
The design is pretty much what one has come to expect from Bowman Chrome — an action shot of the player set against a chrome background that exhibits a soft focus. I really enjoy the vertical design on the card fronts, too.
The hobby box I opened yielded 27 base cards and 30 prospects, plus a pair of orange parallels.
There were refractor cards of Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and Cardinals outfield prospect Rowan Wick, both numbered to 499.
An Anibal Sanchez purple refractor, numbered to 250, also was in the mix.
Several types of inserts dot the set. One making its debut this season is Series Next, a 35-card die-cut series that focuses on up-and-coming young players. There were two in the box I opened, including Marlins pitching star Jose Fernandez.
Bowman Scouts Updates is a 25-card subset that, well, updates the collector on a player’s progress. Some already have made it to the majors, while others are climbing steadily through the minors. This card provides a view of that player’s progress; I pulled three of these cards.
Bowman Chrome helps the prospect collector scratch his itch, providing cards of players that could have a future in the majors. For fans of teams that won’t be in the playoffs this year, that is a positive outlook. The future always looks brighter.