Bowman Chrome Autograph Guide to Baseball America’s 2017 Top 100 Prospects
By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor
Collectors have no shortage of resources when it comes to tracking prospects as they make their way to the majors. Depending on the amount of time you want to dedicate, there are sites that dig deep into stats on a daily basis. Others are merely casual prospectors. That’s where Baseball America‘s annual list of the top 100 prospects comes into play. And while the rankings are nice, collectors may want to take the next step and start gathering up some early cards.
Baseball America‘s 2017 Top 100 Prospects has some names that are already big ones in the hobby like Yoan Moncada, Dansby Swanson and the top-rated prospect, Andrew Benintendi. Some of the names on the deep list might not be quite so well known.
And when it comes to prospecting in the hobby and early baseball cards, few are going to argue again the power of the Bowman Chrome autograph. Other options exist, but in today’s collecting world, they’re likely to be measured against a players first appearance on a signed Bowman Chrome card. Even if there’s autographs from other companies — even other Bowman brands — in earlier years, Chrome is still king.
Of the 100 players, 83 already have Bowman Chrome autographs with the players in MLB uniforms. Many have been traded since their Bowman Chrome autographs were released, so uniforms don’t always match their current club.
The products most represented on Baseball America’s 2017 Top 100 Prospects list are 2014 Bowman Draft with 14 players and 2016 Bowman Draft with 13. 2015 Bowman Draft has nine players.
Gallery of Bowman Chrome Autographs for Baseball America’s 2017 Top 100 Prospects
Looking to collect Baseball America’s 2017 Top 100 Prospects? Here’s a gallery and list of every player’s first Bowman Chrome autograph. For this gallery, we’re focusing on MLB Chrome autographs. Some players may have earlier cards in USA-themed sets, or others like AFLACs or Bowman Sterling.
1. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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• eBay
2. Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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5. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
6. Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2011 Bowman Draft (USA), 2013 Bowman Draft (MLB)
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7. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
9. Nick Senzel, Cincinnati Reds
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
11. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman
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12. J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2013 Bowman Draft
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• eBay
13. Victor Robles, Washington Nationals
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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14. Eloy Jimenez, Chicago Cubs
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
15. Francis Martes, Houston Astros
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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16. Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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17. Mickey Moniak, Philadelphia Phillies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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19. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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20. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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21. Anderson Espinoza, San Diego Padres
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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22. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
23. Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2013 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
24. Manuel Margot, San Diego Padres
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Chrome
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25. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2013 Bowman
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26. Yadier Alvarez, Los Angeles Dodgers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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27. Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee Brewers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2012 Bowman Draft
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• eBay
28. Francisco Mejia, Cleveland Indians
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a (has retail Bowman autographs in 2015 and 2016)
29. Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman
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30. Brent Honeywell, Tampa Bay Rays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
31. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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32. Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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34. Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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36. Jeff Hoffman, Colorado Rockies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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40. Franklin Barreto, Oakland Athletics
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
41. Jorge Alfaro, Philadelphia Phillies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2013 Bowman Chrome
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• eBay
43. Jason Groome, Boston Red Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
44. Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2013 Bowman Draft
Buy on:
• eBay
45. Blake Rutherford, New York Yankees
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
46. Riley Pint, Colorado Rockies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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47. Leody Taveras, Texas Rangers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
48. Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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49. Raimel Tapia, Colorado Rockies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman
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50. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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51. David Paulino, Houston Astros
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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52. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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53. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
54. Franklin Perez, Houston Astros
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
55. Kevin Newman, Pittsburgh Pirates
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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56. Zack Collins, Chicago White Sox
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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58. Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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59. Anthony Alford, Toronto Blue Jays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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60. Nick Gordon, Minnesota Twins
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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61. Matt Manning, Detroit Tigers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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62. Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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63. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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64. Albert Almora, Chicago Cubs
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2010 Bowman Chrome (USA), 2012 Bowman Draft (MLB)
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65. Carson Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2010 Bowman Chrome (USA), has no MLB Bowman Chrome autograph yet
66. Ian Anderson, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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67. Ronald Acuna, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
68. Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Indians
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
69. Cody Reed, Cincinnati Reds
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Chrome
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70. Jake Bauers, Tampa Bay Rays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman
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73. Lourdes Gurriel, Toronto Blue Jays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
74. Casey Gillaspie, Tampa Bay Rays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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75. Sean Reid-Foley, Toronto Blue Jays
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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76. Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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77. Kevin Maitan, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
78. Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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79. Luis Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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80. Sixto Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
81. Amir Garrett, Cincinnati Reds
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Chrome
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82. Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
83. A.J. Puk, Oakland Athletics
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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84. Jharel Cotton, Oakland Athletics
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman
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85. Jorge Mateo, New York Yankees
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman
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86. Delvin Perez, St. Louis Cardinals
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
Buy on:
• eBay
87. James Kaprielian, New York Yankees
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2015 Bowman Draft
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• eBay
88. Anthony Banda, Arizona Diamondbacks
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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89. Tyler Beede, San Francisco Giants
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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91. Justus Sheffield, New York Yankees
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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92. Willie Calhoun, Los Angeles Dodgers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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93. Isan Diaz, Milwaukee Brewers
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Chrome
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94. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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96. Cal Quantrill, San Diego Padres
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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97. Dylan Cease, Chicago Cubs
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2014 Bowman Draft
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98. Adrian Morejon, San Diego Padres
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: n/a
100. Justin Dunn, New York Mets
First Bowman Chrome Autograph: 2016 Bowman Draft
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Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
Awesome post. This reminds me of the days of the rookie card rolodex.
A pity a number of them don’t have the chrome cards yet, but you could link to other products that have autos too.
I suspect many of the missing ones will show up sooner rather than later.
The point of the article was to show consistency. It does mention other options exist. Those other options will also continue to expand in the months and years ahead. By sticking to just the one brand, it’s easy to update and takes away some of the potential confusion.