2006 Bowman Sterling: Which Variation To Get?

MattyC

So I'm interested in getting a high-end RC of top Yankee prospect Jose Tabata; I look on ebay and discover there's a daunting amount of variations within this new Bowman Sterling set. As someone who's concentrated primarily on 70s and 80s stars, how does one determine which card of a young player the hobby will embrace and make THE ONE? I remember in 84 when I was a kid, Don Mattingly had three simple RCs, Clemens had the Fleer Update, Brett just a Topps-- but today how do you know which to go for, especially when making a several hundred dollar investment? Tabata has printing plates (4 each 1/1), black refractors (25 made), gold refractors (10 made); can anyone help make sense of this? Thanks as always.

joestalin

You really can't lose on bowman chrome and bowman sterling. Even the base cards are popular with a player gets hot. I am working
on one plate set out of bowman chrome and one plate set out of bowman heritage. I can tell you that plates are usually worth
the least of the cards...or at least less than you may think.

You can't go wrong with any of the parallel sets. Maybe try to get each one!

Good Luck
Kevin

MattyC

Ah, thanks-- was wondering about those plates in comparison to the cards. I guess if Bowman Chrome & Sterling are such great, solid products one can't go wrong. My concern was that if something is so limited (take a 1 of 10 Gold Refractor, for example), then maybe people may just lose interest; there's a critical mass where something is popular, make something too rare and you might not ensnare the public consciousness.

joestalin

That is an excellent post. I see this being more of a problem in football than baseball. Don't ask me why. We are just now seeing
the affects of the super rare cards such as orange refractors and red refractors. Sure you can't really call these cards the gold standard
as far as pricing, but they will always command HUGE premium. I also see BC bring more popluar over Bow Sterling, becuase of the
on card sigs..Im not sure if Tabata has autoed cards in this set

Kevin

MattyC

Haven't seen any Tabata auto cards within the Sterlings yet, only a BGS 9.5 Gold Ref (#1 of 10), which I assume will be a pricey one if he becomes a star (or even a B+ player in the media spotlight of NY). As for another Yankee prospect, Philip Huges, I'll take your advice and pursue a Bowman Chrome 2004 Refractor (which has the auto). Thanks for the input.

MIC

RANDYMOSS84

i have 4 philip hughes Bowman Chrome Refractors Sp'ed /500


For tabata he doesn't have a auto in chrome or sterling... The lower the parallel the more it will be when he takes off, he is already pricey as it is... much better value available.


Edited to add:

Chrome is king always....

And remember buy centered... All my hughes are OC except one that i have in bgs 9

f2tornado

Right now in baseball Bowman Chrome is king. I suspect the hobby will if not already has placed the Tabata (or any other first year player card) Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor as "the one" based on tradition rather than print run. I'd think two gold refractors #/50 will sell for more than one orange refractor #/25. Sterling is a nice looking product but doesn't seem to get the draw of the Chrome. On a side note, I'd probably throw my money at the Phillip Hughes 04 Bowman Auto (or whatever refractor variation) before worrying about Tabata. Hughes looks like he can pitch. Tabata can hit for average but hasn't shown huge power to get the true hobby love. His 20% strikeout average needs improvement. I can't rip an 18 year old too much since he will probably develop well but I'd be scared plunking down several c-notes for one of his more pricey cards.

RANDYMOSS84

<< <i>Right now in baseball Bowman Chrome is king. I suspect the hobby will if not already has placed the Tabata (or any other first year player card) Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor as "the one" based on tradition rather than print run. I'd think two gold refractors #/50 will sell for more than one orange refractor #/25. Sterling is a nice looking product but doesn't seem to get the draw of the Chrome. On a side note, I'd probably throw my money at the Phillip Hughes 04 Bowman Auto (or whatever refractor variation) before worrying about Tabata. Hughes looks like he can pitch. Tabata can hit for average but hasn't shown huge power to get the true hobby love. His 20% strikeout average needs improvement. I can't rip an 18 year old too much since he will probably develop well but I'd be scared plunking down several c-notes for one of his more pricey cards. >>




Yes but one always must remember when prospecting, Pitchers are risky, but when they hit it big.... WEEEEEEE the payoff is huge.

MattyC

Well reasoned on all sides, especially about Tabata's (present) lack of bigtime power. I'll sit on my Sterling boxes in case anyone really emerges, and look into the Hughes Chrome Ref in a high grade. It used to be fun to speculate on prospects (Gary Thurman, Kevin Maas, Gregg Jefferies), but laying down $500 bets when you're not even sure about WHICH CARD of the already inherently risky prospect-- that's two layers of uncertainty, and therefore poor odds of success.

helionaut

Buy the best card you can in the best condition you can. I would go with the Sterling gold if you can find one. There seems to be a disconnect in the market on those right now, being new to the set this year. These super-low print run cards seem to go in a fairly straight line in value, that is, if a orange ref #/25 card is $100, the red ref #/5 card would probably be $500. Recent sales on top-end Sterling Tabatas are a little askew:

Black refs
1/23 $150 (Best offer, wow)
1/25 $217.50
1/27 $285
1/27 $328
2/2 $404

Gold refs
1/24 $391
1/25 $401

That seems to be the result of a couple guys trying to hoard them, wossamottau and cardboardconglomerate (who I believe is Jaypers, the most revered prospector on the Beckett boards), but they are undeniably moving the market, small sample size and all. 20% of the print runs of both cards have changes hands in the past 2 weeks with gains of almost 100% on the blacks and only 25% on the golds (I know a gold sold for $300 even a few weeks ago). I'd expect if another one came up for auction it might hit $600 or more. I'm curious what offers have been made on the one listed at $999 BIN/BO.

More interesting is the path the regular refractors have taken. Seems one guy was intent on stockpiling them, but then gave up. But at 199 copies they might be "too common," and the Bowman Chrome Blue with a similar print run being preferred. And I'd stay away plates. Yes they are 1/1s, but too many people don't like them, especially the unautographed ones.

Of course, it's tough to go wrong just building a big stack of base Bowman Chromes, too.

RANDYMOSS84

here is a scan of some sterlings unc that I have, I have a 1/1 Red Sterling Incoming that I will scan when it arrives so you can see.. IMO the golds are far nicer... In person both are amazing though and you will enjoy them.




in comparison, Id rather have a gold BCDP though or orange..

ORANGE

Just go with a medium end one. Like a blue /199 /150 one. They're not gonna put you out two weeks pay, but if he did make a good showing they'd be super valuable.

RANDYMOSS84

<< <i>Just go with a medium end one. Like a blue /199 /150 one. They're not gonna put you out two weeks pay, but if he did make a good showing they'd be super valuable. >>




Blues are in chrome, I think he was asking for sterling....


Here is a blue from chrome(one of my favorite colors)



And here are 1/1 versions of sterling

TNTonPMS

Wow ! Nice cards ! 1/1 huh ?? Nice pull
I love the sterlings .
I collect the football mostly .
Just picked up a hobby box last weekend
and they also had a box of 2006 playoff National Treasures football so I had to have those too .
Got killed when I got home from the old lady but . . . .
These things go away in time