MLB Showdown Cards

Custom Cards: Pirates Greats 2

Honus Wagner 1908- I couldn’t resist on the picture. As an amateur trading card collector there is one “Holy Grail”. Not the Alpha Black Lotus. Not the first edition, mint Charizard. The Honus Wagner t206 is the most famous trading card ever. My mother has no idea who Honus Wagner was or how amazing of an offensive player he was before Babe Ruth ever played. Even she recognizes pictures of his card as important works of art. He lead the league in OBP 4 times. He stole 723 bases paired with 252 triples. His 11 OB, speed A card for 580 points only is marred by his +0 fielding… He did have 50 errors. It makes him more fun not less in my opinion. Have guts and play with this legend.

Bill Mazeroski 1960- In the 1960 MLB Showdown World Series Ralph Terry would roll a 2 against a mediocre 7 on-base Bill Mazeroski. That is when all of us Showdown players know that in a tie game in the bottom of the 9^th of a crazy 9-9 game that something amazing was going to happen. Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente could have ended the series. In this crazy Showdown World Series Bill Mazeroski, the near carbon copy of Rey Ordonez 2000 expect if he rolls a 20 at the right time and becomes the first player to win the World Series with a walk off home run. A player known for his slick fielding and amazingly fast double-play turns deserves a usable card and he got one. A 2B+5 for 150 points as a 7 with a 20 homer is usable.

Pie Traynor 1923- Pie’s one bold number on his stat sheet? Triples in 1923 with 19. That is good for 4 on his chart as a 8 OB. His 20 homer, 16-19 3B, 14-15 2B, 12-13 1B+ for a speed B(17) 3B+0 for 310 is very interesting. He can get into scoring position on his own. For one of those old timers who found gaps he may find a spot in the bottom of some line-ups in front of a cheap 9 with lots of singles. It could mean runs. Many are hoping Pedro Alvarez puts it all together one day so that Pie Traynor is the back-up for the All-Pirates team. I do like this card though.

Doug Drabek 1990- Doug Drabek put it all together one time in his career in 1990. He pitched 9 complete games. He won 22 and only lose 6. He sported a nifty 2.76 ERA and won the Cy Young. Was he ever dominant? Probably not. Was he a horse in his prime? Very much so. He could win against anyone and go deep. We made him very comparable to the 2000 Curt Schilling. Drabek was less elusive than Schilling so he has a scary 1-5 none advancing out. For 600 points though he will save bullpen and win games as a number 2.

 Steve Blass 1968-  First off Bob Gibson in 1968 has a season right up there with Pedro Martinez 2000 (which earned his 2001 card). Blass would finish 11^th that year in ERA with 2.12. He earned a very good card but don’t forget there was a legend that year. His 5, 1-16, 17 BB, 18-20 1B for 7 IP can win plenty of games.  A step above Kevin Brown 2000. For 620 points you will pay more for him too. He has a small, 1-5 none advancing out which is scary. He will definitely start on the All-Pirates team.

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