MLB Showdown: Custom Cards

MLB Showdown: Custom Cards 

               Here is the second part of one of our series on 10 cards that one of our fans had created. It is obvious that he wanted to make cards for 10 of the greatest seasons every and here is the list with some cards many of you have been looking forward to.

Barry Bonds 04- Maybe the most impressive statistical seasons I have ever been able to witness. Barry Bonds got on base roughly an extra half as many times as the league leader most years. I scoffed at the 16 Bonds that Wizards of the Coast made under their new play style when it came out. A .608 OBP with 45 homers is beyond impressive. The problem with this card is how does he create runs? He is slow and he walks up to a 15. He is not going to single people in. You can’t steal in in front of him or people will intentionally walk him or they will pitch to him and he will walk. For 900 points I think he hurts the line-up more than he helps it. Easy for me to say until I face a team with him in the line up.

Babe Ruth 1916- Believe it or not Babe Ruth just joined a list with Rick Ankiel. They are now the only two players in MLB Showdown that have both a pitcher and batter card. Ruth is going to have a better version of both. That is no disrespect to Ankiel he was the pioneer. Ruth is an interesting pitcher from a different era. In 1916 people pitcher more innings giving the Bambino an 8 IP. Also he gave up less homers than most people now with a lowish ERA. He also didn’t strike nearly as many people out per 9 innings. That yields an interesting and I think winnable distribution on his chart. I would never take him over the 1927 batting card but still a great card.

Nolan Ryan 1973- As the only man who ever pitched to Roger Maris, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, Ryan actual may be more of a legend than those four 60+ homer hitters. Many of our dads idolized Ryan the way many of us idolize Michael Jordan from this generation. He played the game the way our fathers wanted to play it. No none sense, here it is try and hit this. He would never win a Cy Young. Hopefully this will be one of many great cards of his. As you would expect Ryan would have a large K to match all the other all-time greats. He also gives up very little damage on his own terms. Surrendering more walks than anything else. For 8 IP he could really punish people with a good catcher. With his big K and large walk the catcher is more of a luxury. He can get himself out of trouble. I think he may stack up well against any not named Pedro Martinez.

Dennis Eckersley 1990- No great list of players is complete without a Billy Wagner knock off card. Eck would sport a 0.61 ERA in 1990 while recording 48 saves. He is the first of hopefully many 1990 A’s players to be created. Maybe the most impressive will be Eckersley which is hard to believe against names like Henderson, McGwire and Canseco. He gives up singles with 19-20. He has a 1-9 none advancing out. He can be stretched. He is as good as you will do for a closer and he is right on par points wise with Wagner.

Pete Rose 1968- No lack of controversy on this list. Tough to find a stand out year for Rose. This was as good as any I suppose. He may be one of the best number 2 hitters to ever be created for Showdown. For 320 points he can single in a great lead-off hitter like FP Santangelo 00 or Brett Gardner 2010. I was unaware that he played specifically outfield for a few years of his career until I looked up the stats. This does hurt a tad as he would be more useful on the infield and saving the outfield for power. Still a great player with a great and this time usable card.

For information on how to attain your own set and create your own custom cards e-mail Redsoxman2011@gmail.com