Set information and print runs
1998 Bowman Chrome Series 1 Promo Sheet
The 1998 Bowman Chrome set was issued in two separate series with a total of 441 cards. Series one contained 221 cards and series two contained 220. When it was issued in 1998, the four-card packs retailed for $3.00 each. These cards were produced with a premium chrome finish and a facsimile autograph copied from each player's original topps contract is printed vertically on the left hand side. International and international refractor cards feature a background map detailing the nation and/or region where that player was born. The following major league All Stars have RC cards featured in this set: Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Lee, Troy Glaus, Magglio Ordonez, David Ortiz (first bowman card), Francisco Cordero, Odalis Perez, Brian Fuentes, Christian Guzman, Randy Wolf, Kevin Millwood, Ted Lilly and Mike Lowell. The 50 card Rookie Reprints insert set highlights chrome and chrome refractor versions of famous Bowman chrome rookie cards originally issued between 1948 (Yogi Berra) and 1996 (Livan Hernandez).
Total production was limited, and series two production was nearly 20% lower than series one. Given that there are serial numbered inserts included in packs, total print runs for the base cards and each type of insert can be back-calculated and are as follows:
Base Bowman Chrome: calculated print run of 28,764 for each series 1 card, and 23,317 for each series 2 card.
Golden Anniversary refractors: This parallel insert set features a gold facsimile autograph as well as a refractive finish and a gold serial numbered stamp /5 on the card reverse which guarantees a print run of 5 copies of each card. Inserted at a rate of 1: 1640 series 1 packs and 1:1330 series 2 packs.
Hall of Fame Players: Amazingly, there are 30 Hall of fame players featured in this set! This was truly the "Golden Era" of baseball.
2004 Paul Molitor
2005 Wade Boggs
2007 Tony Gwynn
2007 Cal Ripken, Jr.
2009 Roberto Alomar
2012 Barry Larkin
2014 Greg Maddux
2014 Frank Thomas
2014 Tom Glavine
2015 Randy Johnson
2015 Pedro Martinez
2015 John Smoltz
2015 Craig Biggio
2016 Ken Griffey Jr.
2016 Mike Piazza
2017 Jeff Bagwell
2017 Ivan Rodriguez
2018 Vladimir Guerrero
2018 Jim Thome
2018 Chipper Jones
2019 Mike Mussina
2019 Roy Halladay
2019 Edgar Martinez
2019 Mariano Rivera
2020 Derek Jeter
2020 Larry Walker
2022 David Ortiz
2023 Scott Rolen
2023 Fred McGriff
2024 Adrian Beltre
Total production was limited, and series two production was nearly 20% lower than series one. Given that there are serial numbered inserts included in packs, total print runs for the base cards and each type of insert can be back-calculated and are as follows:
Base Bowman Chrome: calculated print run of 28,764 for each series 1 card, and 23,317 for each series 2 card.
Golden Anniversary refractors: This parallel insert set features a gold facsimile autograph as well as a refractive finish and a gold serial numbered stamp /5 on the card reverse which guarantees a print run of 5 copies of each card. Inserted at a rate of 1: 1640 series 1 packs and 1:1330 series 2 packs.
Hall of Fame Players: Amazingly, there are 30 Hall of fame players featured in this set! This was truly the "Golden Era" of baseball.
2004 Paul Molitor
2005 Wade Boggs
2007 Tony Gwynn
2007 Cal Ripken, Jr.
2009 Roberto Alomar
2012 Barry Larkin
2014 Greg Maddux
2014 Frank Thomas
2014 Tom Glavine
2015 Randy Johnson
2015 Pedro Martinez
2015 John Smoltz
2015 Craig Biggio
2016 Ken Griffey Jr.
2016 Mike Piazza
2017 Jeff Bagwell
2017 Ivan Rodriguez
2018 Vladimir Guerrero
2018 Jim Thome
2018 Chipper Jones
2019 Mike Mussina
2019 Roy Halladay
2019 Edgar Martinez
2019 Mariano Rivera
2020 Derek Jeter
2020 Larry Walker
2022 David Ortiz
2023 Scott Rolen
2023 Fred McGriff
2024 Adrian Beltre
