2021 Bowman's Best
Description
2021 Bowman's Best was released December 31st and consists of a 100-card base set. Each pack will yield one Refractor parallel, and each 12-pack Hobby box will have four autographs, six inserts, and an Atomic Refractor.
Use of non-MLB players in the base set
Since the 2006 establishment of MLB/MLBPA's rookie card guidelines, each Bowman-branded product has been divided into two separate sets: The base set for all active players and rookies, and a separate "insert" set for prospects and draft picks. Since its revival in 2015, Bowman's Best has also followed this format, with a 70-card base set supplemented by a 30-card Top Prospects insert set. Because Top Prospects was considered an insert (even though it was produced in roughly the same quantities as the base set), they are NOT considered "Rookie Cards" -- either by The Hobby's accepted definition (the "Beckett Definition") or the MLBPA's definition -- and were not eligible to have the "RC Icon" on their card.
For 2021 Bowman's Best, Topps sequentially-numbered all 30 Top Prospects as part of base set. Whether this was accidental or not remains to be seen, since earlier in 2021 Topps lost their MLB/MLBPA licenses to Fanatics beginning in 2025. But since Bowman's Best is the final product of 2021, for these 30 players, their 2021 Bowman's Best card will be their first and likely only "true" rookie card.
These 30 cards have a different design than the other 70 in the base set, so it can be assumed that Topps had planned on creating a separate Top Prospects insert set. (We have designated these 30 cards in the checklist below with "PROS".) Most, but not all, of the Top Prospects have yet to make their Major League debut and the subset includes 2021 draft picks. None of these cards have the "RC Icon." However, some of these "Prospects" did make their Major League debut during the 2021 season, the most prominent of which is Tampa Bay's Wander Franco.
Under the 2006 guidelines, any player who played in an MLB game in the current year would be entitled to appear in an MLB/MLBPA licensed baseball card set that year, and any player who made their MLB Debut before September 1st would have the "RC Icon" on their card. (Those players making their debut after September 1st, would be held back for the following year's products.) However in recent years, this September 1st date -- without any explanation or justification from the MLBPA -- has shifted. For example, 2019 AL Rookie of the Year Yordan Alvarez made his MLB Debut June 9th, 2019, yet the MLBPA held back his rookie cards for 2020.
Like Alvarez, Franco made his MLB Debut before September 1st (June 22nd), and under the 2006 guidelines, should have had his first rookie cards (complete with the "RC Icon") in late-season 2021 products. But like Alvarez in 2019, Franco's RCs were held back by the MLBPA for 2022. But because Franco was included in the 2021 Bowman's Best base set, this card will be recognized as his first, and likely only, rookie card -- even though it will not have the RC Icon -- and all of his 2022 cards will be considered (RC)'s, even though they will have the RC Icon.
Like most of The Hobby, Baseballcardpedia recognizes the "Beckett Definition" of a rookie card, and has tagged all 30 Top Prospect subset cards, as well as 29 base cards of rookies, as RCs.
Distribution
Two, six-pack miniboxes per box, four cards per pack. Eight boxes per case. Hobby only.
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Hobby Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 100 | - | ? |
| Refractor | 100 | - | REF |
| Atomic Refractor | 100 | - | 1:12 REF |
| Purple Refractor | 100 | 250 | REF |
| Aqua Lava Refractor | 100 | 199 | REF |
| Blue Refractor | 100 | 150 | REF |
| Green Refractor | 100 | 99 | REF |
| Gold Lava Refractor | 100 | 75 | REF |
| Gold Refractor | 100 | 50 | REF |
| Orange Refractor | 100 | 25 | REF |
| Red Refractor | 100 | 10 | REF |
| Red Lava Refractor | 100 | 5 | REF |
| Superfractor | 100 | one-of-one | REF |
| Future Vibrance | 40 | - | 1:3 |
| Future Vibrance Atomic Refractor | 40 | - | 1:48 |
| Future Vibrance Lava Refractor | 40 | 50 | ? |
| Future Vibrance SuperFractor | 40 | one-of-one | ? |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts | 30 | - | 1:6 |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Atomic Refractor | 30 | - | 1:48 |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Lava Refractor | 30 | 50 | ? |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts SuperFractor | 30 | one-of-one | ? |
| Rookie Craftmanship | 18 | - | 1:8 |
| Rookie Craftmanship Atomic Refractor | 18 | - | 1:96 |
| Rookie Craftmanship Lava Refractor | 18 | 50 | ? |
| Rookie Craftmanship SuperFractor | 18 | one-of-one | ? |
| Masterpieces | 12 | - | 1:18 |
| Masterpieces Atomic Refractor | 12 | - | ? |
| Masterpieces Lava Refractor | 12 | 50 | ? |
| Masterpieces SuperFractor | 12 | one-of-one | ? |
| Best of 2021 Autographs | 85 | - | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Refractor | 85 | - | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Blue Refractor | 85 | 150 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Green Refractor | 85 | 99 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Gold Lava Refractor | 85 | 75 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Gold Refractor | 85 | 50 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Atomic Refractor | 85 | 25 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Red Refractor | 85 | 10 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Red Lava Refractor | 85 | 5 | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs SuperFractor | 85 | one-of-one | AU |
| Best of 2021 Autographs Printing Plates | 85 | four for each | AU |
| Future Vibrance Autographs | 28 | - | AU |
| Future Vibrance Autographs Lava Refractor | 28 | 50 | AU |
| Future Vibrance Autographs Atomic Refractor | 28 | 25 | AU |
| Future Vibrance Autographs SuperFractor | 28 | one-of-one | AU |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Autographs | 13 | - | AU |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Autographs Lava Refractor | 13 | 50 | AU |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Autographs Atomic Refractor | 13 | 25 | AU |
| Heatwave Die-Cuts Autographs SuperFractor | 13 | one-of-one | AU |
| Rookie Craftsmanship Autographs | 15 | 99 | AU |
| Rookie Craftsmanship Autographs SuperFractor | 15 | one-of-one | AU |
| Masterpieces Autographs | 7 | - | AU |
| Masterpieces Autographs SuperFractor | 7 | one-of-one | AU |
| Dual Autographs | 9 | 25 | AU |
| Dual Autographs Atomic Refractor | 9 | 10 | AU |
| Dual Autographs SuperFractor | 9 | one-of-one | AU |
- REF: One Refractor parallel per pack.
- AU: Odds of finding an Autograph: 1:3/packs.
Checklist
Base Set
NOTE: Cards that should have been part of the "Top Prpspects" insert are designated as "PROS".
- 1 Mike Trout
- 2 Kyle Lewis
- 3 Cristian Hernandez RC PROS
- 4 Aaron Judge
- 5 Alec Bohm RC
- 6 Yoelqui Cespedes RC PROS
- 7 Cristian Pache RC
- 8 Yordan Alvarez
- 9 Jose Ramirez
- 10 Alex Kirilloff RC
- 11 Keibert Ruiz RC
- 12 Taylor Trammell RC
- 13 Pedro Leon RC PROS
- 14 Geraldo Perdomo RC
- 15 Bobby Witt, Jr. RC PROS
- 16 Jacob deGrom
- 17 Matt Chapman
- 18 Jose Altuve
- 19 Luis Robert
- 20 Marco Luciano RC PROS
- 21 Andrew Vaughn RC
- 22 Blaze Jordan RC PROS
- 23 Jose Abreu
- 24 Ketel Marte
- 25 Adley Rutschman RC PROS
- 26 Jazz Chisholm, Jr. RC
- 27 Jarred Kelenic RC
- 28 Alek Manoah RC
- 29 Kris Bryant
- 30 Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
- 31 Jonathan India RC
- 32 Colton Cowser RC PROS
- 33 Whit Merrifield
- 34 Chase Petty RC PROS
- 35 Trevor Story
- 36 Sam Bachman RC PROS
- 37 Akil Baddoo RC
- 38 Nolan Arenado
- 39 Jordan Lawlar RC PROS
- 40 Brady House RC PROS
- 41 Jasson Dominguez RC PROS
- 42 Josh Donaldson
- 43 Miguel Cabrera
- 44 Jackson Jobe RC PROS
- 45 Pete Alonso
- 46 Sam Huff RC
- 47 Cody Bellinger
- 48 Buster Posey
- 49 Julio Rodriguez RC PROS
- 50 Wander Franco RC PROS
- 51 Austin Martin RC PROS
- 52 Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- 53 Max Scherzer
- 54 J.D. Martinez
- 55 Bryce Harper
- 56 Randy Arozarena
- 57 Carson Williams RC PROS
- 58 Sal Frelick RC PROS
- 59 Mookie Betts
- 60 Sixto Sanchez RC
- 61 William Contreras RC
- 62 Nick Madrigal RC
- 63 Gleyber Torres
- 64 Dylan Carlson RC
- 65 Ryan Mountcastle RC
- 66 Jackson Merrill RC PROS
- 67 Shohei Ohtani
- 68 Bobby Dalbec RC
- 69 Xander Bogaerts
- 70 Freddie Freeman
- 71 Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- 72 Ke'Bryan Hayes RC
- 73 Christian Yelich
- 74 Javier Baez
- 75 Zac Veen RC PROS
- 76 Frank Mozzicato RC PROS
- 77 J.T. Realmuto
- 78 Joey Votto
- 79 Jose Barrero RC
- 80 Joey Bart RC
- 81 Andres Gimenez RC
- 82 Joey Gallo
- 83 Benny Montgomery RC PROS
- 84 Spencer Howard RC
- 85 Andrew Painter RC PROS
- 86 Yermin Mercedes RC
- 87 Albert Pujols
- 88 Harry Ford RC PROS
- 89 Jo Adell RC
- 90 Anthony Rizzo
- 91 Logan Gilbert RC
- 92 Henry Davis RC PROS
- 93 Marcelo Mayer RC PROS
- 94 Ha-Seong Kim RC
- 95 Hedbert Perez RC PROS
- 96 Juan Soto
- 97 Casey Mize RC
- 98 Austin Hendrick RC PROS
- 99 Francisco Lindor
- 100 Spencer Torkelson RC PROS
Parallels
All 100 base cards are available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Refractor
- Atomic Refractor
- Purple Refractor (serial-numbered to 250 copies)
- Aqua Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to 199 copies)
- Blue Refractor (serial-numbered to 150 copies)
- Green Refractor (serial-numbered to 99 copies)
- Gold Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to 75 copies)
- Gold Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Orange Refractor (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
- Red Refractor (serial-numbered to ten)
- Red Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to five)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
Inserts
NOTE: All inserts are Refractors and available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Atomic Refractor
- Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
Future Vibrance
- BFV-1 Spencer Torkelson
- BFV-2 Casey Mize
- BFV-3 Joey Bart
- BFV-4 Dylan Carlson
- BFV-5 Andrew Vaughn
- BFV-6 Austin Martin
- BFV-7 Yiddi Cappe
- BFV-8 Alex Kirilloff
- BFV-9 Cristian Pache
- BFV-10 Jazz Chisholm, Jr.
- BFV-11 Julio Rodriguez
- BFV-12 Jarred Kelenic
- BFV-13 Ke'Bryan Hayes
- BFV-14 Yoelqui Cespedes
- BFV-15 Heston Kjerstad
- BFV-16 Blaze Jordan
- BFV-17 Kevin Alcantara
- BFV-18 Maximo Acosta
- BFV-19 Armando Cruz
- BFV-20 Wilman Diaz
- BFV-21 Luis Rodriguez
- BFV-22 Liover Peguero
- BFV-23 Carlos Colmenarez
- BFV-24 Cristian Hernandez
- BFV-25 Austin Hendrick
- BFV-26 Misael Urbina
- BFV-27 Bobby Witt, Jr.
- BFV-28 Pedro Leon
- BFV-29 Hedbert Perez
- BFV-30 Jonathan India
- BFV-31 Jose Barrero
- BFV-32 Jasson Dominguez
- BFV-33 Wander Franco
- BFV-34 Adley Rutschman
- BFV-35 Ryan Mountcastle
- BFV-36 Henry Davis
- BFV-37 Brady House
- BFV-38 Benny Montgomery
- BFV-39 Marcelo Mayer
- BFV-40 Colton Cowser
Heatwave Die-Cuts
Rookie Craftsmanship
- RC-1 Casey Mize
- RC-2 Dylan Carlson
- RC-3 Joey Bart
- RC-4 Jo Adell
- RC-5 Alec Bohm
- RC-6 Nick Madrigal
- RC-7 Nate Pearson
- RC-8 Ryan Mountcastle
- RC-9 Ke'Bryan Hayes
- RC-10 Bobby Dalbec
- RC-11 Cristian Pache
- RC-12 Jazz Chisholm, Jr.
- RC-13 Andrew Vaughn
- RC-14 Jarred Kelenic
- RC-15 Yermin Mercedes
- RC-16 Alex Kirilloff
- RC-17 Logan Gilbert
- RC-18 Ha-Seong Kim
Masterpieces
- BM-1 Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- BM-2 Mike Trout
- BM-3 Spencer Torkelson
- BM-4 Wander Franco
- BM-5 Jasson Dominguez
- BM-6 Dylan Carlson
- BM-7 Alec Bohm
- BM-8 Ke'Bryan Hayes
- BM-9 Aaron Judge
- BM-10 Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- BM-11 Juan Soto
- BM-12 Bobby Witt, Jr.
Autographs
Best of 2021 Autographs
Each Best of 2021 Autograph is also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Refractor
- Blue Refractor (serial-numbered to 150 copies)
- Green Refractor (serial-numbered to 99 copies)
- Gold Lava Refractor (serial–numbered to 75 copies)
- Gold Refractor (serial–numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
- Red Refractor (serial-numbered to ten)
- Red Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to five)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- Printing Plates (set of four for each card)
- B21-AB Akil Baddoo
- B21-AC Armando Cruz
- B21-AG Andres Gimenez
- B21-AKF Alex Kirilloff
- B21-AM Austin Martin
- B21-AMA Alek Manoah
- B21-AR Alexander Ramirez
- B21-AV Andrew Vaughn
- B21-AVE Arol Vera
- B21-AZ Aaron Zavala
- B21-BH Brent Honeywell, Jr.
- B21-BJ Blaze Jordan
- B21-BM Benny Montgomery
- B21-BR Brent Rooker
- B21-BRA Bryan Ramos
- B21-CC Carlos Colmenarez
- B21-CCO Colton Cowser
- B21-CH Cristian Hernandez
- B21-CK Cooper Kinney
- B21-CM Casey Mize
- B21-CPE Chase Petty
- B21-CS Cristian Santana
- B21-DC Dylan Carlson
- B21-DG Deivi Garcia
- B21-DLY Daniel Lynch
- B21-DV Daulton Varsho
- B21-EG Eduardo Garcia
- B21-ER Eguy Rosario
- B21-ERO Emmanuel Rodriguez
- B21-ET Ezequiel Tovar
- B21-EW Evan White
- B21-GH Gunnar Hoglund
- B21-GP Geraldo Perdomo
- B21-GW Garrett Whitlock
- B21-HD Henry Davis
- B21-HK Ha-Seong Kim
- B21-JA Jay Allen
- B21-JB Joey Bart
- B21-JC Jake Cronenworth
- B21-JD Jose Devers
- B21-JG Jose Garcia
- B21-JI Jonathan India
- B21-JK Jarred Kelenic
- B21-JLA Jordan Lawlar
- B21-JQ Jeferson Quero
- B21-JR Julio Rodriguez
- B21-KH Keston Hiura
- B21-KHA Ke'Bryan Hayes
- B21-KL Kyle Lewis
- B21-KI Kyle Isbel
- B21-LG Logan Gilbert
- B21-LP Liover Peguero
- B21-LRZ Luis Rodriguez
- B21-MB Maddux Bruns
- B21-MMA Marcelo Mayer
- B21-MMC Michael McGreevy
- B21-MP Milkar Perez
- B21-MS Malfrin Sosa
- B21-MA Maximo Acosta
- B21-MU Misael Urbina
- B21-NM Nick Maton
- B21-NMA Nick Madrigal
- B21-NP Nate Pearson
- B21-PL Pedro Leon
- B21-PP Pedro Pineda
- B21-RD Rikelbin De Castro
- B21-RM Ryan Mountcastle
- B21-RP Robert Puason
- B21-RPR Reginald Preciado
- B21-SA Sherten Apostel
- B21-SF Sal Frelick
- B21-SP Shalin Polanco
- B21-ST Spencer Torkelson
- B21-TB Tyler Black
- B21-TM Tanner Murray
- B21-TS Tyler Stephenson
- B21-TT Taylor Trammell
- B21-TW Taylor Walls
- B21-VA Victor Acosta
- B21-WC William Contreras
- B21-WD Wilman Diaz
- B21-YC Yiddi Cappe
- B21-YCS Yoelqui Cespedes
- B21-YM Yermin Mercedes
- B21-YP Yohendrick Pinango
Future Vibrance Autographs
Each Future Vibrance Autograph is also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial–numbered to 25 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- BFVA-AC Armando Cruz
- BFVA-AH Austin Hendrick
- BFVA-AK Alex Kirilloff
- BFVA-AM Austin Martin
- BFVA-AV Andrew Vaughn
- BFVA-BJ Blaze Jordan
- BFVA-BM Benny Montgomery
- BFVA-CC Carlos Colmenarez
- BFVA-CC Colton Cowser
- BFVA-CH Cristian Hernandez
- BFVA-CM Casey Mize
- BFVA-CP Cristian Pache
- BFVA-CS Cristian Santana
- BFVA-DC Dylan Carlson
- BFVA-HD Henry Davis
- BFVA-JB Joey Bart
- BFVA-JR Julio Rodriguez
- BFVA-KA Kevin Alcantara
- BFVA-KH Ke'Bryan Hayes
- BFVA-LP Liover Peguero
- BFVA-LR Luis Rodriguez
- BFVA-MM Marcelo Mayer
- BFVA-MU Misael Urbina
- BFVA-PL Pedro Leon
- BFVA-ST Spencer Torkelson
- BFVA-WD Wilman Diaz
- BFVA-YC Yiddi Cappe
- BFVA-YCS Yoelqui Cespedes
Heatwave Die-Cuts Autographs
Each Heatwave Die-Cut Autograph is also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Lava Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial–numbered to 25 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
Rookie Craftsmanship Autographs
Each Rookie Craftsmanship Autograph is also available in a one-of-one SuperFractor parallel.
- RC-1 Casey Mize
- RC-2 Dylan Carlson
- RC-3 Joey Bart
- RC-4 Jo Adell
- RC-5 Alec Bohm
- RC-6 Nick Madrigal
- RC-7 Nate Pearson
- RC-8 Ryan Mountcastle
- RC-9 Ke'Bryan Hayes
- RC-10 Bobby Dalbec
- RC-11 Cristian Pache
- RC-12 Jazz Chisholm, Jr.
- RC-13 Andrew Vaughn
- RC-14 Jarred Kelenic
- RC-18 Ha-Seong Kim
Masterpieces Autographs
Each Masterpieces Autograph is serial-numbered to 99 copies and also available in a one-of-one SuperFractor parallel.
- BM-1 Fernando Tatis, Jr. 99
- BM-2 Mike Trout 99
- BM-3 Spencer Torkelson 99
- BM-4 Wander Franco 99
- BM-5 Jasson Dominguez 99
- BM-6 Dylan Carlson 99
- BM-8 Ke'Bryan Hayes 99
Dual Autographs
Each Dual Autograph is serial-numbered to 25 copies and also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Atomic Refractor (serial–numbered to ten)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- DA-AS Juan Soto / Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- DA-BH Ke'Bryan Hayes / Alec Bohm
- DA-GA Paul Goldschmidt / Nolan Arenado
- DA-HH Cristian Hernandez / Ed Howard
- DA-KR Jarred Kelenic / Julio Rodriguez
- DA-SG Clarke Schmidt / Deivi Garcia
- DA-TM Spencer Torkelson / Austin Martin
- DA-TO Mike Trout / Shohei Ohtani
- DA-VR Andrew Vaughn / Luis Robert
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