2013 Bowman Sterling N F L
6 packs per box // 5 cards per pack & 1 boxtopper
2 Auto'd Relics, 4 Autos, PLUS 6 Jumbo Relics per box
I received these:
16 base cards - 16% of the base set
Bowman Sterling is a premium issue. The cards are printed on very stiff stock and they have a mirror-like finish on the front. The cards seem to me to be a bit dark. Personal preference - I prefer a card/photo design with a lighter presence (for lack of a better word!) The rookie cards carry a RC logo. 12 of the 16 I received are rookie cards.
The reverse of the card has stats - both personal and career along with the Bowman Reflection. Numbers on the cards are very easy to read.
Parallels
Gold #ed to 50 - Kenjon Barner
Blue #ed to 99 - Landry Jones
Relics / Autos
3 #ed to 1206
C. Patterson
E.J. Manuel
M. Barkley
2 #ed to 1214
A. Dobson
J. Randle
Blue Refractor #ed to 99
M. Goodwin
K. Allen
S. Bailey
Chris Harper #ed to 99
S. Taylor #ed to 250
Q. Patton#ed to 125
C. Patterson #ed to 55
Box Topper
Geno Smith #ed to 171
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Bowman Sterling NFL is a beautifully produced product. At bit pricey, (in Orlando - $260-$280 per 6 pack box) but the cards look fantastic - especially the relics and auto/relics. The relics and autos are all on cards that are extremely thick. One should buy Bowman Sterling with the intent of collecting the cards - not reselling them on the 'bay or some where else. I don't think the ROI will be real high - unless you hit the one or two cards that will sell for three figures.... I did mention earlier in this post that the cards were a little dark for my personal preference, but they still look very cool.
For the set builder, (if you are a purest - wanting to build the set from cards pulled from your own packs) you're going to need deep pockets - looking at a chunk of change to pick up enough boxes for a base set. The player collector, rookie collector, and the team builder will have a good time chasing the various parallels and auto/relics.
I have a question - who decides how many of a card to produce - 1206? 1214? 171? -- why not 1200 or 1000 or 750 or 150??? The numbers seem random to me. Maybe someone else can give me some insight here.
The box topper is a really large jersey piece - it looks great!
Overall grade A - just a bit dark!
Go buy several boxes - I would have said 'send the Bucs to me' but they are beyond terrible again this year!!
Duane
