The increasing popularity in Bowman Chrome products has created a stir among some collectors who are now not only looking for a player’s rookie card, but also their first Bowman Chrome card. It’s really an interesting phenomenon. The emphasis in recent years has been greatly on rookie cards, but as is the case with some budding stars, their first Bowman Chrome card — even if it was released a year later — has caught fire, the most recent example being Chase Utley. His 2002 Bowman Chrome card has hit double digits, and in some cases has surpassed or matched the going rate of his actual rookie cards that were produced a full year earlier. But while this trend has become even more popular with chrome cards produced in recent years, there is one first Bowman Chrome card that likely will not ride this wave: 2001 Bowman Chrome Miguel Cabrera.
There are two factors that play into this. First off, Cabrera has a Topps Traded Chrome rookie card, so that sooths the chrome itch for collectors. But secondly, Cabrera’s first Bowman Chrome card is an error, he is not even pictured on the card. Take a look at the card above, do you know who that is? I’m almost certain that is Miguel Batista. (edit: I’ve been informed that it could be Denny Bautista, who actually played for the Marlins in 2001.)
It’s a shame that Topps — the maker of Bowman products — did not catch this error. (Note: This has happened a few times — see 1995 Topps Traded Carlos Beltran RC error, and 2000 Bowman Eric Byrnes error) This card would have been interesting to watch if conditions were right because the 2001 Bowman Chrome set has become one of the most important issues created over the last decade. The Albert Pujols autographed rookie is perhaps the most sought-after card this side of Y2K, and other cards in the set have also caught fire, namely rookies of Jose Reyes, Jake Peavy, and Justin Morneau. But for now, and probably forever, we’re looking at another ho-hum second-year issue of Cabrera that does not actually picture Cabrera.
