Allen's Note

I wrote 1,800 words last week telling you to skip the Value Boxes. Then my four Value Boxes showed up at the door. Three autos from four boxes. I'm calling that a win.

The haul: a Daniel Dickenson base chrome auto, a Victor Arias /99 numbered chrome auto (Blue Jays prospect — getting a numbered parallel on a Value Box rip always feels good), and a Shotaro Morii paper auto. Morii is the two-way A’s prospect who signed for $1.51M out of Japan — think Ohtani-lite upside if he can stick on both sides of the ball. Early Morii autos from any product are worth holding on that thesis alone.

The Arias /99 is the card I’m most excited about. Numbered chrome autos have a price floor that base cards simply don’t, and Toronto has been developing prospects well. I’ll be watching his season closely. All three autos from four Value Boxes — hard to complain.

Before I ripped, I put together the full math on what to expect from 2026 Bowman boxes — Hobby vs. Jumbo vs. Value, which parallels are worth chasing, and where the real value (and traps) are. If you haven’t read it yet: