Whenever I see a collector pull something huge out of a brand new product, Im of the ilk that thinks they should capitalize on the perfect storm of the new release and the big hit. When Topps said they were putting golden tickets into Bowman to possibly win the opportunity to be on a Bowman card in 2013, I was shocked. It also sparked a personal debate of whether or not I could sell it.
The first two contracts for the drawing have been pulled, and one is up on eBay as we speak. The price is already climbing by the hour, and should reach ridiculous heights.
Here is the gist. You sign and redeem the contract to be entered into the drawing. By entering the collectors are guaranteed a Yu Darvish autographed baseball, and at least a 1 in 10 chance to win. For the winner, there is a 500 dollar prize and their very own card in 2013 Bowman. I gotta say, money can buy lots of things, but there are not many chances to be immortalized in the hobby you love. For a lot of the people who will be buying boxes of this product, Bowman is the flagship set of the year. Im not sure I would give up that chance so easily.
The chances are that not all of the contracts will be pulled, and that after the initial run, maybe 5-6 contracts make it into the drawing. To have a 1 in 6 chance of getting picked, I have to believe I would like those odds. I would also like the five to ten grand one could get for a contract on eBay, but as stated above, there are a few things that money cant buy.
When considering how much cards like the Darvish superfractor will bring right now, maybe this contract is right in that range. The first Yu Darvish red refractor has already been posted, and the contract might get to a price like that. Regardless, this is a GREAT promo from Topps, who have really no need to add futher things to a product like Bowman. There are already offers in each year’s Ginter Code to be included in a set, but its rare to have the ability in codebreaking to achieve what is necessary.
This is the opportunity of a lifetime for those lucky enough to pull the contract, and I have to give it to Topps for thinking of ways to create huge buzz outside of the normal national attention that the expensive cards in Bowman already receive.
I really want to say I’d sell it but I don’t think I live with knowing I missed that opportunity. the question is whether or not you would grade a card of yourself.
panini will copy. they’ll send the winner stickers to sign, make their card a redemption and then apply the stickers upside down upon release 9 months too late.
You know, this is a great idea by Topps and add a lot to the excitement for the product. And, like a lot of great showmen, Topps has found a way to pump up the hype a whole lot for something that really isn’t as great as it seems:
What do you really get?
-A Yu Darvish signed baseball–cool and definitely valuable but I’m a little sad that it’s a baseball instead of some type of SSP refractor. Any fan at a game can get a baseball signed.
That’s it. That’s all you get.
What do you have a ONE in TEN chance of getting?
-$500–pretty cool but nothing life changing.
-A “Team Bowman” Jersey (Really?)
-A baseball card where you are featured. Pretty cool but only valuable to the person who gets it. In other words, if your mother needed a kidney transplant in 5 years, this isn’t going to help you.
It will be interesting to see how much this first one goes for. Again, like the promotion but I would definitely be selling if I pulled this.
atleast its topps having this…If it were Panini I would be scared they would take a creepy picture of me sitting on a random staircase.
HA! Perfect.
Ha! Perfect again!
If Upper Deck did this, they’d make me wear a sweater with my alma mater’s name on it.
hey, do you know if these are just inserted into the regular Bowman hobby boxes or also the HTA Jumbo boxes? thanks man & i agree this is so awesome! if i pull one my life would be made haha.
Not really 1 in 10. It is really just 1 in how many are pulled in time to redeem on 10-01-2012.
With the wrapper frenzy basically over, I think the busting will slow again.
There have been two pulled that have been reported – and that is a lot of the product opened. I expect another to surface tomorrow on the west coast and maybe a couple more after that. Just a guess of course.
Should be both flavors of boxes.
…If it had a picture of you on it at all.