Is Bowman Sterling dead?

[danimal875]

Just scanned the completed listings for 2012 Bowman Sterling Baseball. Barely any of the top picks from 2012 Draft are breaking $20 for an on card auto? I guess it is safe to say this product is basically being ignored by the hobby.

Personally, I wish it was a veteran only product that had the same colored refractors and numbering as Bowman Chrome so you could keep collecting your favorite player's color autos throughout their career. I.E. have all of a certain player's orange autos etc..

[The Chad]

Personally I think sterling was dead after 2006. I haven't bought any since.

I liked their on card auto approach this year, it makes more sense for a higher end break to be on card. However I feel they took a similar auto design they already released in bowman platinum this year. Cards were boring looking to me. Nothing that made me wanna buy at those prices.

[Ajax1723]

Yea on card saved them for a couple more years. It will be dead soon if they don't decrease the price though, If price point was around 200, they would probably reenergize the set.

[rolewiii]

The design of this Bowman Sterling set is the best it has ever been. With the (mostly) on-card autos, I believe that Sterling is still alive. The sell prices are pretty low, though, as I've grabbed all of the Blue Jays except for Mitch Nay (don't want the sticker), Gose and Sean Nolin, along with four Francisco Lindors for well under $50 (closer to $30). You won't be making much selling off the basic autos, but pull a gold Billy Hamilton and you can make a lot back.

[cowboyzqna]

The blue prospect auto set is nice. I am working on completing it.... highest card seems to be no more than 30 and I will try to get it for 20.... should be a fun project.

I'd never break more than a pack or two of this product but the singles are nice.

[go_steelers07]

Originally Posted by The Chad

Personally I think sterling was dead after 2006. I haven't bought any since.

+ 100%..............

[death2redemptions]

I think the design is ugly and reminds me of Bowman Platinum which is a set I have always hated. However I thought these cards would sell just a little better with the addition of on-card autographs. Sales have been truly pathetic but Sterling will be back again in 2013 I'm sure of it.

[dlab85]

Not a huge fan of the design, but I think the offseason lull and the proximity of its release to draft is KILLING its prices. I picked up a Zunino for 22 bucks + shipping the other night. I've always loved buying Sterling singles

[archiebunkerjr]

Originally Posted by Ajax1723

Yea on card saved them for a couple more years. It will be dead soon if they don't decrease the price though, If price point was around 200, they would probably reenergize the set.

Bingo. For the last 5 years, Topps has increased the number of autograph cards in their Bowman products (usually by adding prospects with little to no chance of developing into MLB talent). It has allowed them to produce more sales while keeping the price per box very consistent. Sterling at $220 to $250 per box is simply not a good purchase. $200 may still be too much.

I wouldn't mind if Sterling went back to using stickers if it meant a lower price point. I always thought Sterling did a good job of creating a card that worked well with the stickers.

By the way, I think the 2012 design is a tie with the 2008 design and 2006 was the best. I do like the on card autos.

[Amberkow]

The on card auto's are nice, but as other have seen it seams like there are way to may auto's in the set.

However I can't complain as I have been able to pick up a bunch of cards on the cheep.

[benshobbies]

QC on the product is horrible. Bubbling auto windows & Streaky autos on some of the cards. Also the platinum feel doesn't do it for me since 2011.

[mdogg]

Give me addison Russell's all day at 12-15. A purple for 150, what a steal!!!!

[hotbox]

The red 1/1 Billy Hamilton auto was pulled last night.

[mdogg]

Addison Russell's prices only have room to go up, as he is the most well rounded SS in the minors with emerging power. His prices along with Dahl and Zunino in sterling are flat out steals, plus this is Victor Roaches first certified auto in a Topps product. Love stockpiling sterling singles

[Pine Tar]

They look hideous this year and is plain for the base auto. So it does not surprise me that they are not get any think over 20.

[iTwins]

The ugly design has kept me away. Some of the autos seem to "wash out" in the card design. Blue ink + blue background = blah visual appeal.

[friarbolt]

Price point kills it. Most prospects will never amount to anything. Collectors know that so adding more random prospect auto hits per box and in turn jacking up the price is a negative more than a positive.

[natbornkiller]

toooo much bowman product clumped together
chrome in october
draft in november
and sterling in december

its like when topps puts out finest and topps chrome in the came month

[Gator993]

Originally Posted by cowboyzqna

The blue prospect auto set is nice. I am working on completing it.... highest card seems to be no more than 30 and I will try to get it for 20.... should be a fun project.

I'd never break more than a pack or two of this product but the singles are nice.

This is not a bad idea I kind of like the look and they are on card. I might try this, will take some time though. Might look to pick up some lots first.

[RipitRipken]

I personally don't care for the look of the cards either. I liked 2009, call me crazy.

Don't you guys think some of the value will go up a little once the season picks up?

[rolewiii]

Originally Posted by RipitRipken

I personally don't care for the look of the cards either. I liked 2009, call me crazy.

Don't you guys think some of the value will go up a little once the season picks up?

Maybe for some of the guys that are close to the majors, such as Billy Hamilton or Marcus Stroman (by Spetember), but much of the auto class were 2011 and 2012 picks...few years away at best for most of them.

[dthimesch]

Sterling resale blows, and always has. Because of this I just don't understand why people buy the stuff. But, whatever, to each their own.

[Srt42004n]

personally I love the prices...where else can you pick up auto prospects in lots of 3 for $8...

[death2redemptions]

Originally Posted by RipitRipken

I personally don't care for the look of the cards either. I liked 2009, call me crazy.

Don't you guys think some of the value will go up a little once the season picks up?

Once the season starts the value will go up on "most" all baseball...the value of some of the bigger prospect names will go up, not as much as in Sterling as in their Bowman Chrome cards.

[pigeonsbaseball]

I understand there are some people who like the cards and some who don't but regardless the pure volume of cards being sold right now is just crazy. Just doing a real quick scroll through ebay there are about 500 cards ending in the next 24 hours! I don't care what the product is, with that many items ending in such a short period of time it is going to drive down the price, it is a field day for anyone PC'ing or prospecting...