MLB Showdown Cards

Time Machine Center Field 

            Carl Everett 00. There are 2 centerfielders who dominated the early showdown landscape. One player who produced 3 obscene cards was Carl Everett. In 1999 Everett would have 25 homers, 27 steals and bat .325. Everett would make a 9, speed A, 540 point, 18-20 HR, 15-17 2B, 13-14 1B+. He was a great all-around player with a +2 OF defense. It seemed as if all his stats managed to produce just enough to get him to the next level. This year he actually appeared worthy of his speed A as well.

                Carl Everett 00P. They made a Pennant Run version of Carl. Everett would end up on the Red Sox during the off season. What they did was make an absolute tank of a card for him though. Maybe it was in fear that he would head butt someone. This card is a 10, 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B, 15 1B+, OF+2.  You could get all this for the low price of 650 points. The question here is why was it made? I have no answer but it is a fantastic card.

                Carl Everett 01. Everett would be traded to the Red Sox where he would be relatively successful and in short times a head ache. Everett in his first campaign in Boston would hit 34 homers, 4 triples and 32 doubles while hitting .300. He would steal only 11 bases. He was appearing to be gaining power as was the trend league wide at the time. His card was one of the best power hitting centerfield cards ever made. He was a 9, 460 points, speed B, 17-20 HR, 15-16 2B, 14 1B+. For the price he was fantastic. His +1 defense did not hurt at all ether. Then for reasons I do not understand this happened.

                Ken Griffey Jr 00. One of the most beloved players in baseball history had a great Showdown card made for him. He was a joy to watch as he lead the league in home runs or the third straight year in 1999 with 48. He hit the ball so hard for what appeared to be a slender guy. What he got was a 9, 590 point, speed A, 16-20 HR, 15, 2B, 14 1B+ with a 2-1 fielding. The fielding is outrageous to me why he did not get a 3-2. I don’t know what stats they used but the eye test says that one was missed. This along with Brian Giles is the most powerful Showdown CF in existence. Sadly age would catch up to The Kid.

                Ken Griffey Jr 00P. Griffey would go to the Reds where his father was the member of many successful teams. Junior would never experience the team success of his dad but he would put up good numbers when not injured. He would club 40 home runs in his first year. Age was starting to set in as he hit only 22 doubles and stole only 6 bases. His speed was beginning to leave him. He would be a notiably worse 520 point 9 with 17-20 HR, 16 2B and 15 1B+. He did not get a 3-2 fielding that year ether. Still a great card by todays standard but not what we would expect from a player like Griffey who dominated the eye test.

                Ken Griffey Jr 01. Then a great thing was done for Griffey fans. His card was demoted from a speed A to a B. He kept the same basic bottom of his chart and he cost 110 points less. Speed traditionally costs about 50 to 70 points depending on the situation. To lose 110 points for the same card made this a great cheap power hitting option in CF. This guy could hit home runs for cheap and that is no small thing in Showdown. Good to have a useable card for a great player.