Platinum Status

 

A reasonably priced blaster? In 2021? 

 

I had a decent day at the monthly card show last Saturday once I got over the fact that 95% of the tables are not for me. So many people involved in this business have tables full of marked up retail products and ten cent cards in dollar boxes. I spent most of my time at the show in dime boxes at a couple of tables, and even found a blaster that wasn't marked up at all on my way out the door.

Bowman Platinum is never my favorite product, as the foilboard heavy product always tends to veer towards tackiness rather than something special. I do think Walmart usually comes up short in their retail exclusives versus the other big box chain.

This design isn't terrible, but I'm not sure I'll remember it in a few years. Dylan Carlson's RC is one of four Cardinals on the base checklist, which checks in at 100 cards. There's also the expected Prospects cards, where the Cardinals only have one participant.

I also pulled a "foil ice" parallel of the third place finisher in the NL ROY award. I surely can't complain about that.

I also ended up with both versions of the George Springer card, but no other cards for my collection.

I'm not sure how "Renowned" this catcher who played 10 games for the Rangers in 2020 is, but he's still rookie eligible in 2022.

I think this is supposed to be an insert design called Periodic Elements, but the gimmick is ruined a bit by the player obscuring part of the design. Also, it's weird to see his name printed as R.Hassell on the card (his first name is Robert.)

Here's what the Prospects design looks like (in foil ice form.)

Jake Cronenworth was one of the better players who had RCs in 2021 products.

Here's another one of the foil ice Prospects cards. This reminds me that I still have a boxed up bunch of Nationals cards with no address to send them to, because the person who claimed them claimed to be a fan of Cade Cavalli.

Brailyn Marquez is apparently one of the Cubs better prospects, but he didn't pitch at all in 2021. I'm guessing there was some sort of injury at play.

The best card of the box was objectively this Ronald Acuña Jr. card, which is numbered to just 99. This one heads to my trade box.