2018 Bowman High Tek Baseball Box Break & Review

Within the last week some big cards have been on the auction block.  First off, the Shohei Ohtani 2018 Bowman Chrome RC Auto Superfractor #’ed 1/1 sold for an outstanding $184,000.  That’s an incredible amount of money for a modern day card of a rookie.  Especially one who’s future is up in the air upon hearing that it’s recommended he should have Tommy John surgery.  Who knows what he’ll be like after that happens.  Considering all of the unknown factors, I believe it was a good idea to sell it.

Another big card to popup recently is the Juan Soto 2016 Bowman Chrome Auto Superfractor #’ed 1/1.  This one has some controversy behind it.  At one time this card was graded by BGS a 9 with a 9 autograph grade.  Sometime after that it was removed from it’s BGS holder, had the autograph altered, and then submitted to PSA which gave it a Gem Mint 10 grade.  No card in my book should get a 10 grade after the autograph has been altered.  There’s also talk of it being trimmed too.  PSA really dropped the ball on this one.  I don’t see how anyone could do this to a Superfractor.

Speaking of rookies and prospects, 2018 Bowman High Tek recently came out.  Its loaded with lots of good stuff.  I know rookies and prospects that come from products like Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft tend to garner more attention.  But I enjoy how products like Bowman Tek are configured.  One box, one pack, and four autographs.  It gets right to business.

Tek has and always will be known for it’s acetate card stock and crazy background patterns.  Just as it was when it debuted in the late 90’s.  There are (56) cards to the base set.  All a mix of prospects and rookies.  (10) different patterns can be found.  The base pattern (Pattern #1) has the following parallels: Purple Rainbow #’ed/191, Green Rainbow #’ed/99, Ocean Blue Tidal #’ed/75, Gold Rainbow #’ed/50, Orange Magma Diffractor #’ed/25, Red Orbit Diffractor #’ed/10, Black Galactic Diffractor #’ed 1/1, and Printing Proofs #’ed 1/1.  Patterns #2-8 do not have parallels.  Pattern #9 are SpecTEKular Diffractors #’ed 1/1.  The tenth pattern only comes in Black Galactic Diffractor form also #’ed 1/1.

As I mentioned before, (4) autographs come per box.  When it comes to the base autographs, Pattern #1 is all you’ll find along with it’s accompanying parallels.  Having autographs cover all ten patterns would be too much.

Three inserts are available – 1st Bowman Tek, PyroTEKnics, and Tides of Youth.  Each has their own set of parallels and autographs.  Of those three, I like the 1st Bowman Tek inserts the most.

If you’re into rookies and prospects, but don’t want tons of base cards, Bowman High Tek would be an excellent product to open.

Here is what I pulled:

Autos

• Jo Adell Green Rainbow Parallel Redemption #’ed/99
• Shane Baz
• Jesus Sanchez
• Tristen Lutz

Parallel

• Ronny Mauricio Pattern #1 Purple Rainbow #’ed/191

Base

• Shed Long Pattern #3
• Michel Baez Pattern #4
• Evan White Pattern #2
• Corbin Burnes Pattern #2
• Corbin Burnes Pattern #1

Red Sox ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest Winner Announced

Congrats to Jeffery Turri on being the lucky winner of the Roniel Raudes 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Once Jeffery Turri sends me his mailing address, I will ship this card ASAP.  Thanks!

Red Sox ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for a Roniel Raudes 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, December 22, 2017 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

Card of the Day: 2015 Topps Star Wars High Tek Warwick Davis as Wicket Auto

Cardinals ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest Winner Announced

Congrats to Shawn Gandert on being the lucky winner of the Junior Fernandez 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Once Shawn Gandert sends me their mailing address, I will ship this card ASAP.  Thanks!

Cardinals ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for a Junior Fernandez 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, December 8, 2017 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

Braves ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest Winner Announced

Congrats to Jason Longwith on being the lucky winner of the Ian Anderson 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Once Jason Longwith sends me his mailing address, I will ship this card ASAP.  Thanks!

Braves ’17 Bowman High Tek Auto Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for an Ian Anderson 2017 Bowman High Tek Auto.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, December 1, 2017 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

2017 Topps High Tek Baseball Box Break & Review

If prospecting isn’t your thing, Topps High Tek Baseball will probably satisfy that Tek busting itch.  Unlike Bowman High Tek, Topps High Tek contains cards of rookies, current stars, and veterans.  In classic Tek fashion, there are numerous background patterns, parallels, and inserts to pull.  All printed on clear acetate.

When it comes to the main set, there are (112) cards.  There are (8) divisions of patterned backgrounds.  Each one of those divisions has a part “A” and part “B” pattern.  The checklist is split right down the middle.  (56) players will only be found with part “A” patterns while the remaining (56) can only have part “B” patterns.  It seems like first, second, third base, shortstop, and designated hitters are part of the “A” group.  Pitchers, catchers, and outfielders are all part of group “B”.  A good example would be to say that Jim Thome’s cards can only be found with group “A” patterns, while Ichiro’s would only have group “B” patterns.  Are you still following me?

As far as parallels go, most seem to be isolated to part “A” and “B” of the first and most common background pattern.  That looks the same for autographs too.  Parallels and autographs for every pattern would have been overwhelming.

If your head hasn’t exploded yet, a handful of photo variations were also thrown in.  These are easy to spot as the photographs picture players in warm up gear and are serial numbered to (50).  Photo variation autographs are also available.  Inserts include Jubilation, Rookie Tek, TwiliTEK, and Buybacks.

I enjoy opening Tek.  Topps High Tek appeals more to me because the checklist of players is more well known.  With (1) 40-card pack per box containing (2) autographs, both set collectors and thrill seekers should have fun busting a box.  I’m a sucker for on-card acetate autographs.

Here is what I pulled:

Autos

• Raimel Tapia RC Auto
• Aledmys Diaz Green Rainbow Auto #’ed/75

Parallels

• David Price Red Orbit Diffractor #’ed/10
• Tom Glavine Blue Rainbow #’ed/75
• Orlando Arcia RC Tidal Diffractor #’ed/250
• David Price Tidal Diffractor #’ed/250
• Derek Jeter Blackout
• Stephen Strasburg Blackout
• Yoan Moncada RC Blackout
• Noah Syndergaard Blackout

Other Notable Cards

• Kelvin Herrera – pattern 5B
• Freddie Freeman – pattern 6A
• Josh Donaldson – pattern 2A
• Wil Myers – pattern 5A
• Ken Griffey Jr. – pattern 4B
• Eric Thames – pattern 4A
• Sandy Koufax – pattern 4B
• Cody Bellinger RC – pattern 4A
• Aaron Boone – pattern 3A
• Hank Aaron – pattern 3B
• Alex Bregman RC – pattern 3A
• Noah Syndergaard – pattern 3B
• Derrek Lee – pattern 3A
• Michael Fulmer – pattern 3B
• Nolan Arenado – pattern 2A
• Max Scherzer – pattern 2B
• Todd Frazier – pattern 2A
• Jose DeLeon RC – pattern 2B
• Trevor Story – pattern 2A
• Henry Owens – pattern 2B
• Dan Vogelbach RC – pattern 2A
• Lucas Giolito – pattern 2B

2017 Bowman High Tek Baseball Box Break & Review

Acetate, on-card autographs, with a fast-thrill format.  Sign me up!  High Tek makes it’s Bowman debut this year that comes with a major prospecting element.  It also marks the first Topps-issued autographed cards of Phillies phenom Rhys Hoskins.

At a glance, the set doesn’t look that big.  You’d be correct.  There are only (56) cards to the base set.  But with High Tek each card has about eleven different patterned backgrounds.  Each background varies in rarity.  From what it looks like, the parallels only apply to the base pattern background cards and autographs.  I believe all autographs have the base pattern as well.  Are you still with me?  If not, that’s ok.

Waiting inside every box is (1) 10-card pack housing (4) on-card autographs.  There are a few veterans in here, but its mainly geared towards young prospects.  Guys like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, and Kris Bryant have a little presence specifically when it comes to the inserts.  Speaking of inserts, 2017 Bowman High Tek has four of them – 2017 Bowman Rookies, 1992 Bowman Variations, Bashers, and Foundations of the Franchise Die-Cuts.  Other than Foundations of the Franchise, a lot of the other inserts have autographed counterparts.  My favorite insert are the 2017 Bowman Rookies.  These print a player’s rookie found in 2017 Bowman on acetate.  Very cool!  The autographs look even better.

I like this product because it caters to a bunch of different people.  Prospectors get their talented young players.  Set/player collectors have all of those patterns to find.  Those collectors who enjoy a quick-thrill product to open can get their fix here too.

Bowman High Tek or Topps High Tek, it doesn’t matter.  They both carry a concentrated punch.  I’d like to see some mascots in Tek.  Acetate Phanatic!

Here is what I pulled:

Autos

• Justus Sheffield Rush Diffractor Auto
• Junior Fernandez Auto
• Ian Anderson Auto
• Roniel Raudes Auto

Parallels

• Austin Meadows Tidal Diffractor #’ed/199
• Rafael Devers Orange Magma Diffractor #’ed/25

Base Cards

• Willie Calhoun – base pattern #1
• J.P. Crawford – pattern #2 (spirals)
• Rafael Devers – pattern #3 (stripes & arrows)
• Junior Fernandez – pattern #4 (circuitry)