
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball Cards
![]() | $475.00 | ![]() |
Product Details
Keeping with its pattern of distinct designs, 2017 Bowman's Best Baseball also serves up some fresh options for collectors, and increased Atomic Refractors by the case.
Just like the 2016 product, master boxes promise four autographs. Plus, there is the new case-hit Monochrome Autograph insert.
2017 Bowman's Best Baseball Base / Inserts
Identifying notable veterans, rookies and prospects, the 2017 Bowman's Best Baseball checklist contains a chromium base set with accompanying parallels. In addition to the base Refractor are box-hit Atomic Refractors, along with numbered Purple Refractor, Blue Refractor, Green Refractor, Gold Refractor, Orange Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/10) and SuperFractor (1/1) editions.
Inserts mix in some variety for collectors, with several sets to build. The new Baseball America Dean's List cards rely on the esteemed magazine to assess the young stars in the league with a letter grade. Also debuting, 1997 Best Cuts uses the '97 design and Raking Rookies features the top-hitting first-year players. A carryover insert, the Mirror Image set again pairs two subjects on one card.
Parallels extend to the inserts, as well, with case-hit Atomic Refractor to go with numbered Gold Refractor and one-of-one SuperFractor cards. All the inserts except Mirror Image also have low-numbered Autograph versions.
2017 Bowman's Best Baseball Autographs
Combining to fall four per master box, the signed lineup in 2017 Bowman's Best Baseball is led by the primary Best of 2017 Autographs set. Parallels provide a rainbow chase with Refractor and serial numbered Green Refractor, Gold Refractor, Atomic Refractor (#/25), Red Refractor (#/10) and SuperFractor (1/1) cards.
Dual Autographs doubles up the Bowman fun with on-card signatures and even Atomic Refractor (#/10) and SuperFractor (1/1) parallels. Lastly, there is the new Monochrome Autograph set that highlights first-round picks as well as star players with hard-signed cards. Parallels here include Gold Refractor (#'d), Atomic Refractor (#/25) and SuperFractor (1/1).
Release Date: 12/20/2017
Product Configuration: 5 cards per pack, 6 packs per mini box, 2 mini boxes per master box, 8 master boxes per case
2017 Bowman's Best Baseball Master Hobby Box Break
- 4 Autographs
- 1 Atomic Refractor Base Parallel
2017 Bowman's Best Baseball Hobby Case Hits
- 1 Monochrome Autograph
- 2 Dean's List Atomic Refractors
- 2 Best Cuts 1997 Atomic Refractors
- 1 Mirror Image Atomic Refractor
![]() | Making purchases through affiliate links can earn the site a commission |
Set Checklist
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball Checklist
Base Set Checklist

2 Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
3 Tyler Glasnow - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
4 Daniel Murphy - Washington Nationals
5 Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
6 Alex Reyes - St. Louis Cardinals RC
7 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
8 Manny Machado - Baltimore Orioles
9 Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
10 Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
11 David Dahl - Colorado Rockies RC
12 Jose De Leon - Tampa Bay Rays RC
13 Franklin Barreto - Oakland Athletics RC
14 Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox RC
15 Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
16 Jose Berrios - Minnesota Twins
17 Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
18 Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins
19 Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox
20 Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
21 Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox RC
22 Brett Phillips - Milwaukee Brewers RC
23 Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
24 Jose Ramirez - Cleveland Indians
25 Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
26 Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
27 Craig Kimbrel - Boston Red Sox
28 Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies
29 Yu Darvish - Los Angeles Dodgers
30 Jorge Alfaro - Philadelphia Phillies RC
31 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
32 Luke Weaver - St. Louis Cardinals RC
33 Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
34 Christian Arroyo - San Francisco Giants RC
35 Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
36 Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
37 Hunter Renfroe - San Diego Padres RC
38 Ian Happ - Chicago Cubs RC
39 Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies
40 Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Dodgers
41 Yulieski Gurriel - Houston Astros RC
42 Lewis Brinson - Milwaukee Brewers RC
43 Sean Newcomb - Atlanta Braves RC
44 Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
45 Aroldis Chapman - New York Yankees
46 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
47 Trey Mancini - Baltimore Orioles RC
48 Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
49 Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays
50 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
52 Ichiro - Miami Marlins
53 Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics
54 Alex Bregman - Houston Astros RC
55 Raimel Tapia - Colorado Rockies RC
56 George Springer - Houston Astros
57 Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
58 Ryon Healy - Oakland Athletics RC
59 Josh Bell - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
60 Jake Lamb - Arizona Diamondbacks
61 Dansby Swanson - Atlanta Braves RC
62 Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
63 Wil Myers - San Diego Padres
64 Bradley Zimmer - Cleveland Indians RC
65 Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers RC
Top Prospects
TP-1 Amed Rosario - New York Mets
TP-2 Austin Meadows - Pittsburgh Pirates
TP-3 Mickey Moniak - Philadelphia Phillies
TP-4 Jo Adell - Los Angeles Angels
TP-5 Alex Faedo - Detroit Tigers
TP-6 Austin Beck - Oakland Athletics
TP-7 Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
TP-8 Victor Robles - Washington Nationals
TP-9 Michael Kopech - Chicago White Sox
TP-10 Ronald Acuna - Atlanta Braves
TP-11 Kyle Wright - Atlanta Braves
TP-12 Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
TP-13 Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
TP-14 Jay Groome - Boston Red Sox
TP-15 Adam Haseley - Philadelphia Phillies
TP-16 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
TP-17 Shane Baz - Pittsburgh Pirates
TP-18 Brendan Rodgers - Colorado Rockies
TP-19 MacKenzie Gore - San Diego Padres
TP-20 Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
TP-21 Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
TP-22 Eloy Jimenez - Chicago White Sox
TP-23 Kyle Tucker - Houston Astros
TP-24 Clarke Schmidt - New York Yankees
TP-25 Keston Hiura - Milwaukee Brewers
TP-26 Brent Honeywell - Tampa Bay Rays
TP-27 Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
TP-28 Pavin Smith - Arizona Diamondbacks
TP-29 Blake Rutherford - Chicago White Sox
TP-30 Jake Burger - Chicago White Sox
TP-31 Triston McKenzie - Cleveland Indians
TP-32 Willy Adames - Tampa Bay Rays
TP-33 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays
TP-34 Evan White - Seattle Mariners
TP-35 Royce Lewis - Minnesota Twins
Best of 2017 Autographs Set Checklist

B17-ABE Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
B17-AE Anderson Espinoza - San Diego Padres
B17-AF Alex Faedo - Detroit Tigers
B17-AH Adam Haseley - Philadelphia Phillies
B17-AJ Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
B17-AR Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
B17-ARO Amed Rosario - New York Mets
B17-AUB Austin Beck - Oakland Athletics
B17-AV Alex Verdugo - Los Angeles Dodgers
B17-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
B17-BM Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
B17-BMC Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
B17-BP Brett Phillips - Milwaukee Brewers
B17-BR Blake Rutherford - New York Yankees
B17-CA Christian Arroyo - San Francisco Giants
B17-CAD Chance Adams - New York Yankees
B17-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
B17-CC Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
B17-CF Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
B17-CR Cole Ragans - Texas Rangers
B17-CSA Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox
B17-CSC Clarke Schmidt - New York Yankees
B17-CSE Christopher Seise - Texas Rangers
B17-DC Dylan Cozens - Philadelphia Phillies
B17-DD Dane Dunning - Chicago White Sox
B17-DE Drew Ellis - Arizona Diamondbacks
B17-DF Dustin Fowler - New York Yankees
B17-DF Derek Fisher - Houston Astros
B17-DH D.L. Hall - Baltimore Orioles
B17-DM Daniel Murphy - Washington Nationals
B17-DPE David Peterson - New York Mets
B17-DS Dansby Swanson - Atlanta Braves
B17-EW Evan White - Seattle Mariners
B17-FM Francisco Mejia - Cleveland Indians
B17-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
B17-HR Heliot Ramos - San Francisco Giants
B17-IH Ian Happ - Chicago Cubs
B17-JA Jo Adell - Los Angeles Angels
B17-JB Jorge Bonifacio - Kansas City Royals
B17-JBU Jake Burger - Chicago White Sox
B17-JC J.P. Crawford - Philadelphia Phillies
B17-JDU Jon Duplantier - Arizona Diamondbacks
B17-JG Jason Groome - Boston Red Sox
B17-JMO Jordan Montgomery - New York Yankees
B17-JS Justus Sheffield - New York Yankees
B17-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
B17-KH Keston Hiura - Milwaukee Brewers
B17-KM Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
B17-KME Kevin Merrell - Oakland Athletics
B17-KW Kyle Wright - Atlanta Braves
B17-LA Lazarito Armenteros - Oakland Athletics
B17-LB Lewis Brinson - Milwaukee Brewers
B17-LE Lucas Erceg - Milwaukee Brewers
B17-LGJ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays
B17-LW Logan Warmoth - Toronto Blue Jays
B17-MG MacKenzie Gore - San Diego Padres
B17-MK Mitch Keller - Pittsburgh Pirates
B17-MKO Michael Kopech - Chicago White Sox
B17-MM Mickey Moniak - Philadelphia Phillies
B17-MMA Manny Machado - Baltimore Orioles
B17-MS Matt Sauer - New York Yankees
B17-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
B17-MW Mitchell White - Los Angeles Dodgers
B17-NPE Nate Pearson - Toronto Blue Jays
B17-NS Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
B17-NSE Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
B17-PC P.J. Conlon - New York Mets
B17-PS Pavin Smith - Arizona Diamondbacks
B17-QH Quentin Holmes - Cleveland Indians
B17-RA Ronald Acuna - Atlanta Braves
B17-RL Royce Lewis - Minnesota Twins
B17-RM Ryan Mountcastle - Baltimore Orioles
B17-RR Roniel Raudes - Boston Red Sox
B17-SB Shane Baz - Pittsburgh Pirates
B17-TC Trevor Clifton - Chicago Cubs
B17-TH Tanner Houck - Boston Red Sox
B17-TL Tristen Lutz - Milwaukee Brewers
B17-TM Triston McKenzie - Cleveland Indians
B17-TR Trevor Rogers - Miami Marlins
B17-TTR Taylor Trammell - Cincinnati Reds
B17-YG Yulieski Gurriel - Houston Astros
B17-YM Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox
Monochrome Autographs Set Checklist

MA-ABE Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
MA-ABR Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
MA-AH Adam Haseley - Philadelphia Phillies
MA-AJ Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
MA-AV Alex Verdugo - Los Angeles Dodgers
MA-BM Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
MA-BMC Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
MA-BR Blake Rutherford - Chicago White Sox
MA-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
MA-CF Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
MA-CS Clarke Schmidt - New York Yankees
MA-DF Dustin Fowler - New York Yankees
MA-DH D.L. Hall - Baltimore Orioles
MA-EW Evan White - Seattle Mariners
MA-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
MA-JA Jo Adell - Los Angeles Angels
MA-JG Jason Groome - Boston Red Sox
MA-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
MA-KH Keston Hiura - Milwaukee Brewers
MA-KM Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
MA-KW Kyle Wright - Atlanta Braves
MA-LB Lewis Brinson - Milwaukee Brewers
MA-LG Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays
MA-MG MacKenzie Gore - San Diego Padres
MA-MK Michael Kopech - Chicago White Sox
MA-MM Mickey Moniak - Philadelphia Phillies
MA-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
MA-NS Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
MA-PS Pavin Smith - Arizona Diamondbacks
MA-RL Royce Lewis - Minnesota Twins
MA-SB Shane Baz - Pittsburgh Pirates
MA-TR Trevor Rogers - Miami Marlins
Dual Autographs Set Checklist

Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
BDA-GG Yulieski Gurriel - Houston Astros
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays
BDA-JF Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
Jason Groome - Boston Red Sox
BDA-SM Dansby Swanson - Atlanta Braves
Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
BDA-TB Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
1997 Best Cuts Set Checklist

97BC-ABE Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
97BC-AG Andres Galarraga - Colorado Rockies
97BC-AJ Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
97BC-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
97BC-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
97BC-CC Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
97BC-CS Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
97BC-DC Dylan Cozens - Philadelphia Phillies
97BC-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
97BC-DS Dominic Smith - New York Mets
97BC-EJ Eloy Jimenez - Chicago White Sox
97BC-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
97BC-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
97BC-JB Jeff Bagwell - Houston Astros
97BC-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
97BC-KGJ Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
97BC-LA Lazarito Armenteros - Oakland Athletics
97BC-LB Lewis Brinson - Milwaukee Brewers
97BC-MM Mark McGwire - St. Louis Cardinals
97BC-MP Mike Piazza - Los Angeles Dodgers
97BC-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
97BC-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
97BC-NS Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
97BC-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
97BC-RH Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
97BC-TO Tyler O'Neill - St. Louis Cardinals
97BC-WC Willie Calhoun - Texas Rangers
97BC-YM Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox
1997 Best Cuts Autographs Set Checklist

97BCA-ABE Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
97BCA-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
97BCA-CC Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
97BCA-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
97BCA-DO David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
97BCA-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
97BCA-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
97BCA-JB Jeff Bagwell - Houston Astros
97BCA-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
97BCA-LA Lazarito Armenteros - Oakland Athletics
97BCA-MM Mark McGwire - St. Louis Cardinals
97BCA-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
97BCA-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
97BCA-NS Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
97BCA-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
97BCA-YM Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox
Baseball America’s 2017 Dean’s List Set Checklist

BADL-AS Tony Santillan - Cincinnati Reds
BADL-AV Alex Verdugo - Los Angeles Dodgers
BADL-BD Bobby Dalbec - Boston Red Sox
BADL-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
BADL-BHO Brent Honeywell - Tampa Bay Rays
BADL-BR Blake Rutherford - Chicago White Sox
BADL-CF Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
BADL-CS Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
BADL-CST Christin Stewart - Detroit Tigers
BADL-DC Dylan Cozens - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-DS Dominic Smith - New York Mets
BADL-EJ Eloy Jimenez - Chicago White Sox
BADL-FM Francisco Mejia - Cleveland Indians
BADL-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
BADL-JD Jon Duplantier - Arizona Diamondbacks
BADL-JG Jason Groome - Boston Red Sox
BADL-JM Jorge Mateo - Oakland Athletics
BADL-JN Josh Naylor - San Diego Padres
BADL-JS Justus Sheffield - New York Yankees
BADL-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
BADL-KM Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
BADL-LA Lazarito Armenteros - Oakland Athletics
BADL-LE Lucas Erceg - Milwaukee Brewers
BADL-MK Mitch Keller - Pittsburgh Pirates
BADL-MM Mickey Moniak - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
BADL-NS Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
BADL-PW Patrick Weigel - Atlanta Braves
BADL-RA Ronald Acuna - Atlanta Braves
BADL-RD Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
BADL-RH Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-RM Ryan Mountcastle - Baltimore Orioles
BADL-SK Scott Kingery - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-SS Sixto Sanchez - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-TM Triston McKenzie - Cleveland Indians
BADL-TO Tyler O'Neill - St. Louis Cardinals
BADL-TT Taylor Trammell - Cincinnati Reds
BADL-WC Willie Calhoun - Texas Rangers
Baseball America’s 2017 Dean’s List Autographs Set Checklist

BADL-AV Alex Verdugo - Los Angeles Dodgers
BADL-BD Bobby Dalbec - Boston Red Sox
BADL-CF Clint Frazier - New York Yankees
BADL-DC Dylan Cozens - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-DS Dominic Smith - New York Mets
BADL-EJ Eloy Jimenez - Chicago White Sox
BADL-FM Francisco Mejia - Cleveland Indians
BADL-GT Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
BADL-JG Jason Groome - Boston Red Sox
BADL-JM Jorge Mateo - Oakland Athletics
BADL-JN Josh Naylor - San Diego Padres
BADL-JS Justus Sheffield - New York Yankees
BADL-LA Lazarito Armenteros - Oakland Athletics
BADL-LE Lucas Erceg - Milwaukee Brewers
BADL-MK Mitch Keller - Pittsburgh Pirates
BADL-MM Mickey Moniak - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-NS Nick Senzel - Cincinnati Reds
BADL-PW Patrick Weigel - Atlanta Braves
BADL-RA Ronald Acuna - Atlanta Braves
BADL-RD Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
BADL-SK Scott Kingery - Philadelphia Phillies
BADL-TM Triston McKenzie - Cleveland Indians
BADL-TT Taylor Trammell - Cincinnati Reds
BADL-WC Willie Calhoun - Los Angeles Dodgers
Mirror Image Set Checklist

Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
MI-2 Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
MI-3 Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
Christian Yelich - Miami Marlins
MI-4 Rougned Odor - Texas Rangers
Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox
MI-5 Jacob Faria - Tampa Bay Rays
Michael Fulmer - Detroit Tigers
MI-6 A.J. Pollock - Arizona Diamondbacks
Victor Robles - Washington Nationals
MI-7 Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
Mike Moustakas - Kansas City Royals
MI-8 Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
Michael Kopech - Chicago White Sox
MI-9 Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins
Kevin Maitan - Atlanta Braves
MI-10 Amed Rosario - New York Mets
Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
MI-12 Brendan McKay - Tampa Bay Rays
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
MI-13 MacKenzie Gore - San Diego Padres
Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox
MI-14 Kyle Wright - Atlanta Braves
Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
MI-15 Austin Beck - Oakland Athletics
Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
MI-16 Eric Hosmer - Kansas City Royals
Pavin Smith - Arizona Diamondbacks
MI-17 Michael Brantley - Cleveland Indians
Adam Haseley - Philadelphia Phillies
MI-18 Keston Hiura - Milwaukee Brewers
Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
MI-19 Jo Adell - Los Angeles Angels
Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
MI-20 Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
Royce Lewis - Minnesota Twins
Raking Rookies Set Checklist

RR-ABE Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
RR-AJ Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
RR-BZ Bradley Zimmer - Cleveland Indians
RR-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
RR-FB Franklin Barreto - Oakland Athletics
RR-HR Hunter Renfroe - San Diego Padres
RR-IH Ian Happ - Chicago Cubs
RR-RH Ryon Healy - Oakland Athletics
RR-YG Yulieski Gurriel - Houston Astros
Raking Rookies Autographs Set Checklist

RR-AJ Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
RR-BZ Bradley Zimmer - Cleveland Indians
RR-CB Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers
RR-HR Hunter Renfroe - San Diego Padres
RR-IH Ian Happ - Chicago Cubs
RR-RH Ryon Healy - Oakland Athletics
RR-YG Yulieski Gurriel - Houston Astros
Shop Boxes
Shop for 2017 Bowman's Best Baseball Hobby Boxes
Each hobby box is slated to have:
- 4 Autographs
Here are the top deals on hobby boxes currently listed on eBay.
2017 BOWMAN'S BEST BASEBALL HOBBY MINI FACTORY SEALED BOX | $199.99 | ![]() |
2017 Bowman Best Hobby Box (2 Mini-boxes) MLB Baseball Sports Cards | $479.99 | ![]() |
Product Review
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball Product Review
Reviewed by Trey Treutel
Good: Tons of on-card autographs; some stars mixed in with the prospect signatures; bold designs really stand out.
Bad: Not the greatest overall team representation as far as autographs; sticker autographs for most inserts.
The Bottom Line: Starting to feel like Finest 2.0, but for prospects, 2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball is still an interesting option from the Bowman lineup. With four autographs per box (and likely all will be hard-signed), the appeal extends beyond prospect collectors as rookies, current stars and a few retired legends are also featured.
Card Design: 4.0/5.0
Clearly the base design goes a bit more fanciful, with various background shapes and patterns that all form one abstract mashup. While I do prefer it to the large team logo of 2016, it is certainly a busy design. Although color Refractors are again sparse, I didn't seem to notice as much this year given the colorful look of each card.
The autographs and inserts are generally more subdued, but this contrasts well, in my opinion. The main signed set, Best of 2017, has a lined, sloping effect that looks more like what I would have expected from the base set. These are signed on-card, and they look pretty good. The hard-signed Monochrome cards with a sepia-style scheme are even more impressive.
As far as the inserts, they are all solid, but I especially liked the 1997 throwback Best Cuts cards, complete with a pearl finish, and the vivid Raking Rookies set.
Checklist: 3.75/5.0
Skewing heavily to teams like the Red Sox and Yankees, the autograph choices in the 2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball checklist are fairly strong, but likely to disappoint many team collectors. Given how large the signers list is, you'd expect a little bit better distribution.
Although Bowman sets naturally focus on prospects, and come with the expected risks for that form of collecting, Bowman's Best does a good job rolling in rookies and established stars, as well. This is a plus for the checklist.
Value: 3.75/5.0
Priced at about $105-120 per master box, you get four autographs, which is a good haul. While the checklist is of course heavy on prospects, with multiple low-value subjects to go along with big names such as Acuna, Senzel and top 2017 draft picks, it's not all about hoping for the next young stud. Superstar players like Jeter, Trout, Harper and Bryant give an extra bump to the value potential, not to mention options for Hank Aaron and Aaron Judge, plus the low-numbered Refractor and SuperFractor parallels across the board.
In terms of what you get for your money, 2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball is nothing to look down on. The problem is that Bowman already has a frontrunner set, and this is not it. That does limit value, since the Bowman Chrome prospect autographs will always be the preferred option. Still, with a distinct design and on-card signature, these are a worthy option and perhaps a sleeper.
The Fun Factor: 4.5/5.0
This is the sort of set that really speaks to my personal collecting style. The designs are fairly unique with enough variety for me to feel satisfied by the contents of a box. And you also get four autographs that aren't exclusively prospects, although that is the most likely result. Combine that with a decent box price and a few cool inserts, and this leaves me quite pleased.
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball Hit Gallery / Pack Odds, NPN Info
The box used for this review was provided by Topps.
![]() | Making purchases through affiliate links can earn the site a commission |
Kyle B
^^ Correction to my comment above…. I see the Daniel Murphy Auto now. I must have accidentally skimmed over it!