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 "rules," each Bowman-branded product has been divided into two separate sets: A 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 Prospect insert set. Because those Prospects were considered an insert (even though they were produced in around the same quantities as the base set), they were 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 placed all 30 Prospects into the base set. Whether this was an accident or not remains to be seen. 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 only "true" rookie card.
These 30 players have a different design than the other 70 in the base set, so it can be assumed that Topps had planned to creating the Prospects as a separate insert set. We have designated these 30 cards in the checklist below with "PROS." Many, but not all, of the Prospects have yet to make their Major League debut, and do not 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 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. 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 June 22nd, 2021, 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 being held back by the MLBPA for 2022. But, because Franco is 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.
Distribution
Two, six-pack miniboxes per box, five cards per pack. Eight boxes per case. Hobby only.
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Hobby Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 70 | - | ? |
| Top Prospects | 30 | - | ? |
| Refractor | 100 | - | REF |
| Atomic Refractor | 100 | - | 1:12 REF |
| Purple Refractor | 100 | 250 | REF |
| Blue Refractor | 100 | 150 | REF |
| Green Refractor | 100 | 99 | REF |
| Gold Refractor | 100 | 50 | REF |
| Orange Refractor | 100 | 25 | REF |
| Red Refractor | 100 | 10 | REF |
| Superfractor | 100 | one-of-one | REF |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites | 40 | - | 1:3 |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Atomic Refractor | 40 | - | 1:48 |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Gold Refractor | 40 | 50 | ? |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites SuperFractor | 40 | one-of-one | ? |
| Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts | 30 | - | 1:4 |
| Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts Atomic Refractor | 30 | - | 1:48 |
| Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts Gold Refractor | 30 | 50 | ? |
| Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts SuperFractor | 30 | one-of-one | ? |
| Power Producers | 20 | - | 1:6 |
| Power Producers Atomic Refractor | 20 | - | 1:96 |
| Power Producers Gold Refractor | 20 | 50 | ? |
| Power Producers SuperFractor | 20 | one-of-one | ? |
| Decade's Best | 10 | - | 1:18 |
| Decade's Best Atomic Refractor | 10 | - | ? |
| Decade's Best Gold Refractor | 10 | 50 | ? |
| Decade's Best SuperFractor | 10 | one-of-one | ? |
| Best of 2020 Autographs | 90 | - | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Refractor | 90 | - | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Blue Refractor | 90 | 150 | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Green Refractor | 90 | 99 | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Gold Refractor | 90 | 50 | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Atomic Refractor | 90 | 25 | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Red Refractor | 90 | 10 | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs SuperFractor | 90 | one-of-one | AU |
| Best of 2020 Autographs Printing Plates | 90 | four for each | AU |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Autographs | 25 | - | AU |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Autographs Gold Refractor | 25 | 50 | AU |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Autographs Atomic Refractor | 25 | 25 | AU |
| 2000 Franchise Favorites Autographs SuperFractor | 25 | one-of-one | AU |
| Franchise 2000 Die-Cuts Autographs | 16 | - | AU |
| Franchise 2000 Die-Cuts Autographs Gold Refractor | 16 | 50 | AU |
| Franchise 2000 Die-Cuts Autographs Atomic Refractor | 16 | 25 | AU |
| Franchise 2000 Die-Cuts Autographs SuperFractor | 16 | one-of-one | AU |
| Decade's Best Autographs | 10 | 99 | AU |
| Decade's Best Autographs SuperFractor | 10 | one-of-one | AU |
| Power Producers Autographs | 15 | - | AU |
| Power Producers Autographs SuperFractor | 15 | one-of-one | AU |
| Dual Autographs | 3 | 25 | AU |
| Dual Autographs Atomic Refractor | 3 | 10 | AU |
| Dual Autographs SuperFractor | 3 | one-of-one | AU |
- REF: One Refractor parallel per pack.
- AU: Odds of finding an Autograph: 1:3/packs.
Checklist
Base Set
- 1 Shun Yamaguchi RC
- 2 Mike Trout
- 3 Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- 4 Buster Posey
- 5 Bo Bichette RC
- 6 Justin Verlander
- 7 Xander Bogaerts
- 8 Anthony Rizzo
- 9 Christian Yelich
- 10 Luis Robert RC
- 11 Justin Dunn RC
- 12 Yoshi Tsutsugo RC
- 13 Bobby Bradley RC
- 14 Kris Bryant
- 15 Manny Machado
- 16 Jordan Yamamoto RC
- 17 Corey Kluber
- 18 Nolan Arenado
- 19 Dustin May RC
- 20 Mookie Betts
- 21 Sean Murphy RC
- 22 Shohei Ohtani
- 23 Pete Alonso
- 24 Jorge Alfaro
- 25 Gerrit Cole
- 26 Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
- 27 Rhys Hoskins
- 28 Blake Snell
- 29 Jacob deGrom
- 30 A.J. Puk RC
- 31 Kyle Lewis RC
- 32 Aristides Aquino RC
- 33 Josh Bell
- 34 Yadier Molina
- 35 Zac Gallen RC
- 36 Nick Solak RC
- 37 Juan Soto
- 38 J.D. Martinez
- 39 Max Scherzer
- 40 Brendan McKay RC
- 41 Gavin Lux RC
- 42 Starling Marte
- 43 Tim Anderson
- 44 Francisco Lindor
- 45 Yordan Alvarez RC
- 46 Nico Hoerner RC
- 47 Trent Grisham RC
- 48 Jesus Luzardo RC
- 49 Brusdar Graterol RC
- 50 Adbert Alzolay RC
- 51 Bryce Harper
- 52 Dylan Cease RC
- 53 Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- 54 Freddie Freeman
- 55 Joey Votto
- 56 Anthony Rendon
- 57 Dan Vogelbach
- 58 Trey Mancini
- 59 Albert Pujols
- 60 Paul Goldschmidt
- 61 Aaron Judge
- 62 Eddie Rosario
- 63 Cody Bellinger
- 64 Austin Meadows
- 65 Jose Altuve
- 66 Mauricio Dubon RC
- 67 Miguel Cabrera
- 68 Jorge Soler
- 69 Matt Chapman
- 70 Shogo Akiyama RC
Top Prospects
- TP-1 Wander Franco
- TP-2 Emerson Hancock
- TP-3 Garrett Crochet
- TP-4 Casey Mize
- TP-5 Jarred Kelenic
- TP-6 Justin Foscue
- TP-7 Heston Kjerstad
- TP-8 Robert Hassell
- TP-9 Dylan Carlson
- TP-10 Royce Lewis
- TP-11 Nick Yorke
- TP-12 Zac Veen
- TP-13 Adley Rutschman
- TP-14 Joey Bart
- TP-15 Julio Rodriguez
- TP-16 Patrick Bailey
- TP-17 Nick Gonzales
- TP-18 Asa Lacy
- TP-19 Andrew Vaughn
- TP-20 Bobby Witt, Jr.
- TP-21 Cristian Pache
- TP-22 Nate Pearson
- TP-23 Ed Howard
- TP-24 MacKenzie Gore
- TP-25 Max Meyer
- TP-26 Forrest Whitley
- TP-27 Jo Adell
- TP-28 Reid Detmers
- TP-29 Austin Hendrick
- TP-30 Spencer Torkelson
Parallels
All 70 base cards and all 30 Top Prospects are available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Refractor
- Atomic Refractor
- Purple Refractor (serial-numbered to 250 copies)
- Blue Refractor (serial-numbered to 150 copies)
- Green Refractor (serial-numbered to 99 copies)
- Gold Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Orange Refractor (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
- Red Refractor (serial-numbered to ten)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
Inserts
NOTE: All inserts are Refractors and available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Atomic Refractor
- Gold Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
2000 Franchise Favorites
- FFA-AA Aristides Aquino
- FFA-AH Austin Hendrick
- FFA-AL Asa Lacy
- FFA-AV Andrew Vaughn
- FFA-BJ Bryce Jarvis
- FFA-BM Brendan McKay
- FFA-BW Bobby Witt, Jr.
- FFA-CJ Chipper Jones
- FFA-CR Cal Ripken, Jr.
- FFA-EH Emerson Hancock
- FFA-EHO Ed Howard
- FFA-FT Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- FFA-GL Gavin Lux
- FFA-GM Garrett Mitchell
- FFA-HK Heston Kjerstad
- FFA-JF Justin Foscue
- FFA-JJ Josh Jung
- FFA-JL Jesus Luzardo
- FFA-JS Juan Soto
- FFA-JW Jordan Walker
- FFA-KG Ken Griffey, Jr.
- FFA-LR Luis Robert
- FFA-MM Max Meyer
- FFA-MT Mike Trout
- FFA-NG Nick Gonzales
- FFA-NGO Nolan Gorman
- FFA-NH Nico Hoerner
- FFA-NY Nick Yorke
- FFA-PB Patrick Bailey
- FFA-PM Pedro Martinez
- FFA-RA Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- FFA-RD Reid Detmers
- FFA-RG Riley Greene
- FFA-RH Robert Hassell
- FFA-SA Shogo Akiyama
- FFA-SO Shohei Ohtani
- FFA-ST Spencer Torkelson
- FFA-WF Wander Franco
- FFA-YA Yordan Alvarez
- FFA-ZV Zac Veen
Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts
- FFDC-AA Aristides Aquino
- FFDC-AB Alec Bohm
- FFDC-AR Adley Rutschman
- FFDC-BB Bo Bichette
- FFDC-BR Brendan Rodgers
- FFDC-BW Bobby Witt, Jr.
- FFDC-CK Carter Kieboom
- FFDC-CM Casey Mize
- FFDC-CP Cristian Pache
- FFDC-FT Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- FFDC-GL Gavin Lux
- FFDC-JA Jo Adell
- FFDC-JB Joey Bart
- FFDC-JBL JJ Bleday
- FFDC-JD Jeter Downs
- FFDC-JDO Jasson Dominguez
- FFDC-JK Jarred Kelenic
- FFDC-KH Ke'Bryan Hayes
- FFDC-KHI Keston Hiura
- FFDC-LR Luis Robert
- FFDC-NG Nolan Gorman
- FFDC-NH Nico Hoerner
- FFDC-NJ Nolan Jones
- FFDC-NS Nick Solak
- FFDC-PA Pete Alonso
- FFDC-RLA Ramon Laureano
- FFDC-RLE Royce Lewis
- FFDC-RP Robert Puason
- FFDC-YA Yordan Alvarez
- FFDC-ZG Zac Gallen
Decade's Best
- DB-1 Yoshi Tsutsugo
- DB-2 Gavin Lux
- DB-3 Dustin May
- DB-4 Shogo Akiyama
- DB-5 Yordan Alvarez
- DB-6 Luis Robert
- DB-7 Jesus Luzardo
- DB-8 Nico Hoerner
- DB-9 Brendan McKay
- DB-10 Aristides Aquino
Power Producers
- PP-AA Aristides Aquino
- PP-AJ Aaron Judge
- PP-BH Bryce Harper
- PP-CB Cody Bellinger
- PP-CY Christian Yelich
- PP-ES Eugenio Suarez
- PP-JD Jasson Dominguez
- PP-JS Juan Soto
- PP-LR Luis Robert
- PP-MT Mike Trout
- PP-NA Nolan Arenado
- PP-NG Nick Gonzales
- PP-PA Pete Alonso
- PP-RA Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- PP-RH Robert Hassell
- PP-SO Shohei Ohtani
- PP-ST Spencer Torkelson
- PP-VG Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
- PP-YA Yordan Alvarez
- PP-ZV Zac Veen
Autographs
Best of 2020 Early Form Autographs
Each Best of 2020 Early Form 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 Refractor (serial–numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
- Red Refractor (serial-numbered to ten)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- Printing Plates (set of four for each card)
- B20-AA Adbert Alzolay
- B20-AAQ Aristides Aquino
- B20-AB Andrew Benintendi
- B20-AC Antonio Cabello
- B20-ADR Adley Rutschman
- B20-AJ Aaron Judge
- B20-AV Andrew Vaughn
- B20-BBB Bobby Bradley
- B20-BG Brusdar Graterol
- B20-BM Brendan McKay
- B20-BR Bryan Reynolds
- B20-BTY Brett Baty
- B20-BW Bobby Witt, Jr.
- B20-CK Carter Kieboom
- B20-CY Christian Yelich
- B20-DC Dylan Cease
- B20-DM Dustin May
- B20-EP Everson Pereira
- B20-FT Fernando Tatis, Jr.
- B20-IH Ivan Herrera
- B20-JD Jasson Dominguez
- B20-JDU Jarren Duran
- B20-JL Jesus Luzardo
- B20-JM Jeff McNeil
- B20-JR Jake Rogers
- B20-JS Juan Soto
- B20-JT J.T. Realmuto
- B20-LA Logan Allen
- B20-LR Luis Robert
- B20-MC Michael Chavis
- B20-MD Mauricio Dubon
- B20-MK Mitch Keller
- B20-MM Max Muncy
- B20-MT Mike Trout
- B20-NH Nico Hoerner
- B20-NS Nick Solak
- B20-PA Pete Alonso
- B20-RA Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- B20-RD Rafael Devers
- B20-RL Ramon Laureano
- B20-RP Robert Puason
- B20-SA Shogo Akiyama
- B20-SM Sean Murphy
- B20-SY Shun Yamaguchi
- B20-TA Tim Anderson
- B20-TG Trent Grisham
- B20-TS Tarik Skubal
- B20-WM Whit Merrifield
- B20-WS Will Smith
- B20-YA Yordan Alvarez
2000 Franchise Favorites Autographs
Each 2000 Franchise Favorites Autograph is also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Gold Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial–numbered to 25 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- FFA-BJ Bryce Jarvis
- FFA-CJ Chipper Jones
- FFA-CR Cal Ripken, Jr.
- FFA-EH Emerson Hancock
- FFA-GL Gavin Lux
- FFA-HK Heston Kjerstad
- FFA-JF Justin Foscue
- FFA-JJ Josh Jung
- FFA-JJB JJ Bleday
- FFA-JL Jesus Luzardo
- FFA-JS Juan Soto
- FFA-LR Luis Robert
- FFA-MM Max Meyer
- FFA-NG Nick Gonzales
- FFA-NGO Nolan Gorman
- FFA-NH Nico Hoerner
- FFA-NY Nick Yorke
- FFA-PB Patrick Bailey
- FFA-RA Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- FFA-RD Reid Detmers
- FFA-RG Riley Greene
- FFA-RH Robert Hassell
- FFA-SA Shogo Akiyama
- FFA-ST Spencer Torkelson
- FFA-VB Vidal Brujan
Franchise 2020 Die-Cuts Autographs
Each Franchise 2020 Die-Cut Autograph is also available in the following Refractor parallels.
- Gold Refractor (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
- Atomic Refractor (serial–numbered to 25 copies)
- Superfractor (one-of-one)
- F20-AA Aristides Aquino
- F20-AB Alec Bohm
- F20-AR Adley Rutschman
- F20-BR Brendan Rodgers
- F20-CK Carter Kieboom
- F20-DC Nolan Gorman
- F20-GL Gavin Lux
- F20-JA Jo Adell
- F20-JJ JJ Bleday
- F20-KH Keston Hiura
- F20-LR Luis Robert
- F20-NH Nico Hoerner
- F20-NS Nick Solak
- F20-PA Pete Alonso
- F20-RP Robert Puason
- F20-YA Yordan Alvarez
Decade's Best Autographs
Each Decade's Best Autograph is also available in a one-of-one SuperFractor parallel.
- DB-1 Yoshi Tsutsugo
- DB-2 Gavin Lux
- DB-3 Dustin May
- DB-4 Shogo Akiyama
- DB-5 Yordan Alvarez
- DB-6 Luis Robert
- DB-7 Jesus Luzardo
- DB-8 Nico Hoerner
- DB-9 Brendan McKay
- DB-10 Aristides Aquino
Power Producers Autographs
Each Power Producers Autograph is also available in a one-of-one SuperFractor parallel.
- PP-CB Cody Bellinger
- PP-JD Jasson Dominguez
- PP-JS Juan Soto
- PP-LR Luis Robert
- PP-MT Mike Trout
- PP-NA Nolan Arenado
- PP-NG Nick Gonzales
- PP-PA Pete Alonso
- PP-RA Ronald Acuña, Jr.
- PP-RH Robert Hassell
- PP-SO Shohei Ohtani
- PP-ST Spencer Torkelson
- PP-VG Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
- PP-YA Yordan Alvarez
- PP-ZV Zac Veen
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-CG Dylan Carlson / Nolan Gorman
- DA-ML Dustin May / Gavin Lux
- DA-RW Adley Rutschman / Bobby Witt, Jr.
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