The Dirty Dozen: 1999 Bowman's Best

Ah yes, Bowman's Best. One of the great products of the 90s; ruined by gimmicks in the 00s. But will a pack of the 1999 edition make me "better feeling?"

The 200 card base set is divided into four color-coordinated subsets: 85 Veterans, 15 Best Performances, 50 Prospects, and 50 "Rookies" which are short-printed and seeded at the rate of one-per-pack.

Being that this is a Bowman brand, there are a shitload of rookie cards and the 1999 class was one of the best in recent years. Amongst the RCs are Cap'n Cheeseburger, Matt Holliday, Alfonso Soriano, Brad Lidge, and Pat Da Bat. Unfortunately, being that this is a Bowman brand, for every CC, Holliday, and Pat Da Bat, there's an equal chance of getting Mike Nannini, Eric Valent, or Masao Kida.

In addition to the usual Refractors (and their inbred cousin the "Atomic Refractor"), you also have an outside shot at an autograph of Michael Jack Schmidt, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Pat Da Bat and others.

Let 'er rip!

Base:
Matt Clement
This card is from the sliver-bordered prospect subset. Clement was a third round pick of the Padres in '93 who went on to have a respectable nine-year career. Last seen with the '06 Red Sox.

John C-3POlerud
Each of the gold-bordered veterans has a "Best Against/Career" blurb. From the back of C-3POlerud's card, we find that he was 10-for-13 with a 1.308 SLG against Mark Leiter; 8-for-15 with 2 HR off Darryl Kile; and 6-for-8 against Brian Meadows.



Another C-3POlerud!!!!!
NO!!!!!!!!!!!

I'VE BEEN BIPPED!!!!!

Tom Glavine
Tom was 0-for-16 (with 5 SOs) against Al Martin; and went 1-for-23 against both Rey Sanchez and Brad Ausmus.

Kevin Brown
Mark McGwire: .156, 1 HR, 15 SOs in 45 ABs
Eric Davis: 0-for-11, 5 SOs
Bill Mueller: 1-for-12

Giuseppe Chiaramonte (RC, 1:1)
My one-per-pack "rookie" is a catcher who was drafted in the 5th round of the '97 draft, topped out at AAA Fresno, and never played a game in the Majors. For all you Joe Collectors who bitch and complain about the MLBPA's "Rookie Card" rules, I present Giuseppe Chiaramonte.

God what a shit pack. A "Rookie" of a catcher who never played a game in The Bigs, and two C-3POleruds. This has not made me "better feeling."