Get Your Own Baseball Card with the 2012 Bowman Debut Golden Contract Contest

Topps has announced a new promotion for 2012 Bowman Baseball that gives collectors the chance to appear on their own Bowman baseball card in 2013.

Ten Bowman Debut Golden Contract Redemptions will be inserted in 2012 Bowman Baseball hobby boxes. Those who pull one get a Yu Darvish autographed baseball. One collector will also get their own card in a 2013 Bowman product, a Bowman jersey and a $500 "signing bonus."

This isn't the first time that Topps has offered collectors their own card in a promotion. In 2008, the company debuted the Ginter Code in Allen & Ginter. The first person to crack the mysterious puzzle received their own card in the following year's set. It remained this way for a couple of years. While the Ginter Code continues, the grand prize is now a collection of autographs.

Besides giving collectors something many dream of, the Bowman Debut Golden Contract contest fits with the Bowman brand. One of its main selling points is having a player's first cards. By making it a "contract" instead of a generic instant-win contest, it fits well with the Bowman name. That said, unless the winner is pictured with a hobby superstar, it's doubtful that the card will have a lot of appeal outside of the winner's family and co-workers.

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