DATA: 2009 Bowman Orange (62 38/250)

ACQUIRED: checkoutmycards.com

PING: Ah, this card reminds us of autum. Such a wonderful time of the year here in the midwest. If only Joey and the Reds were playing at this time – meaning in October. They’ll get there someday, and it will be on the shoulders of Mr. Votto.

DATA: 2009 Bowman Blue (410/500)

ACQUIRED: www.checkoutmycards.com

PING: The blue border version of the 2009 Bowman set is pretty good lookin’. With Joey sporting the red alternate jersey, it makes for a nice complementary-colored border.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Updates Blue (BDP9)

ACQUIRED: Man, I don’t remember

PING: It’s Bowman. It’s Blue. It’s Votto. Numbered 069/300, this card is holding it’s own.

DATA: 2009 Bowman Gold

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: If you haven’t heard, JV went on the DL today. Total bummer. It seems that this inner ear infection (or, whatever it is) just won’t go away. From what I’ve heard about those things, it takes a while to get it out of your system and it can make anything athletic a challenge real quick. Obviously, let’s hope that Joey can get over this soon and return to the team. I’m sure that’s what he wants more than anything.

So, here we have a 2009 Bowman Gold card of Mr. Votto. Pretty sweet photo of him, isn’t it. With all the 2009 releases coming, it’s fun to see some new photography on his cards. Overall, these Bowman cards are a bit cheesy – the little baseballs containing the numbers are a bit to cliche for my taste. Nice choice of font though – clean and legible with a little hint of style in the serif.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Updates Gold (BDP9)

ACQUIRED: Don’t remember

PING: Joey’s Gold parallel from the 2008 Bowman Draft Picks and updates release. He’s the cover boy for the set, so you know he’s rockin’ all fly the parallels. I like that Bowman went with the thin stock on these gold insert cards. The thick ones – used as dummy cards in packs – were just kinda lame. Plus, they stretch out my 9-pocket plastic sheets. I just can’t get on board with that mess.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Sterling Gold Chrome Refractor (BS-JV)

ACQUIRED: From Cincy Reds Cards

PING: This is a mac-daddy of a card right here. Ol’ Joe, proprietor of the venerable card blog, Cincy Reds Cards hooked me up with this bad boy. This was a major solid, from one Reds fan to another. I can say enough about my man Joe, but I owe him some mad hook-up now.

Let’s talk about the card, shall we?

AWESOME.

That about sums it up. This card, number 45/50, really kicks my Votto Bowman Sterling collection up a notch.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Chrome Refractor (BDP9)

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: Votto comin’ strong with the 2008 Bowman refractor. Great stuff in person, not so much in a scan. Maybe we should change up our techniques? Maybe. Again, Joey’s about to stroke one against the Yankees.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Sterling Box Topper (BS-JV) 

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: Again, another card that scanning just doesn’t do justice. From what I can gather, this Joey Votto card was a box-topper in the Bowman Sterling product. It features a different photo of Joey than his base and parallel 2008 Sterling cards. This card is not serial numbered, nor is it a refractor. Good lookin’ card if you ask me.

DATA: 2007 Bowman Chrome Refractor (BDPP98)

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: 2007 Bowman keeps on truckin’. I’ve got six different variations of Joey’s card from this set. I think about done with them. Maybe I’ll track down the blue border and xfractor versions and call it quits.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Sterling Black Refractor

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: Hey-oh! Sweet card here. Fatty-numbered 3/25, this shiny little Bowman Sterling is a great addition to vottoTRON.

DATA: 2007 Bowman Gold Chrome Refractor (BDPP98)

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: Serial numbered 49/50, this shiny little number is a nice addition to the collection.

DATA: 2008 Bowman Blue Border (204)

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: Serial numbered 29/500, it’s just another needless parallel keeping vottoTRON alive. I actually do really dig the blue color. Nice complement to the Reds’ red.

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Shiny! Shiny! Shiny! You love it. Numbered out of 299, this card is bringing the brilliance. Don’t let it blind you while browsing vottoTRON.

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Ah yeah… great card right here. A sweet horizontal layout with a dual relic and autograph combination. Very nice card design with a great chrome finish – all ruined by the scan. Ah well… that’s what you get with scanning chrome cards, right? Bowman Sterling is a bit audacious design-wise, but it’s fun. That’s what it’s all about, right? Numbered out of 199, if you’re keeping tabs.

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: This card right here is NUCLEAR Chrome. How about that scan? Retina burning, huh? You love it though, don’t you? Yeah, I know you do. This sucka is numbered 31/50… so it’s a little on the rare side. Just the way I like it.