Fanatics Launches Red Rookie Program: Bowman Cards Now Come With Real-World Payoffs

Rookie cards just got a serious upgrade—and collectors are here for it.

At the Topps Industry Conference in Atlanta, Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan announced the launch of the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program, a new feature rolling out in the 2025 Bowman Baseball release, which hits hobby shops on May 7.

Select rookie cards in this set will carry a special red “RC” logo and be randomly inserted into packs. What makes these cards stand out? They're tied directly to player performance—with real money on the line.

If the featured rookie wins Rookie of the Year in 2025, that card can be redeemed for $100 in Fanatics FanCash. Collectors will have until March 31, 2026 to redeem the card once the award is announced in November.

But it doesn’t stop there. The card continues to gain value if the player’s career takes off. One MVP or Cy Young boosts the payout to $300. Two awards? That becomes $500. A third brings the total to $700. And if that rookie makes the Hall of Fame within 10 years of retirement, the reward tops out at $1,000 in FanCash.

In cases where a player wins both Rookie of the Year and either an MVP or Cy Young in the same season, collectors can immediately redeem the card for $400.

The program adds a new layer to collecting—blending long-term investment with career-based milestones. One of the rookies already confirmed for this program is Dylan Crews, making his Red Rookie a top chase in the 2025 set.

This is the first time trading cards have offered a direct cash incentive based on a player’s actual success on the field. Fanatics is clearly betting big on rookies—and giving collectors a reason to root even harder for their investments.

Full redemption info is available at fanaticscollect.com/red-rookie-redemption.