MLB Showdown Cards

Custom Cards: Pirates Greats

Barry Bonds 1992- Want to know what I thought the other day? I feel like Showdown needs 1 more great Barry Bonds card. 2000 was great but 9, 16-20 homer was a dime a dozen then. The 2001 was a nice addition to pair with McGwire but only a 10 OB... A little light don't you think. Then we had the 2004 highest OB ever created for Showdown with the 13 OB card. This guy is a tank, just as good as any of the others just in different ways. I can't imagine this is the last Bonds card we will be commissioned to make. There is still a 2001 card with 73 homers no one has asked for (remember the WotC 2001 card was for 2000 stats). There is a 1996 40/40 year which has still yet to be made. Give it a few weeks another Bonds should show up.

Roberto Clemente 1967- To change gears from a player that polarizes baseball fans to a player that everyone I have ever talked to would agree was an amazing player and better human being. One of the great "tools" players of all time had one of many great years in 1967. This is a great set to compare to modern players. When I look at the numbers and the card it is tough not to gravitate to Andrew McCutchen. Clemente had 209 hits, 26 double, 10 triples and 23 homers in 1967 with 9 stolen bases. I was suprised Clemente didn't steal more during his career when I did my research. He has a reputation as being a power/speed combo guy. Ether way great player that is all but interchangeable with the 2012 Andrew McCutchen.

Willie Stargell 1973- No modern player seems to produce the way Willie Stargell did. Maybe Giancarlo Stanton turns into that guy. Albert Belle was the most natural comparison for me to make. Though Albert Belle likely isn't a great comparison for our younger readers. Manny Ramirez also seems like a different sort of player but similar. No matter who he plays like he had an amazing ability to hit the ball hard and often. Putting some power in the all-time Pirates outfield which is quickly becoming competitive. Giles, Bonds, McCutchen, Clemente, Stargell and ...

Ralph Kiner 1949- He had a pair of seasons with over 50 homers. Lead the NL in homers each of his first 7 years while amassing 294 homers. He would suffer a back injury and rob the game of one of the great sluggers ever. Thankfully he is immortalized in an amazing card which has the power to scare anyone. For 630 points he is on par with all the other great power sluggers. Like most at 630 points it is about finding OB in front of him and putting someone behind him who will discourage intentional walks. The question is does he start on the all-time Pirates team. He compares very well to a young Adam Dunn with a better average.

Manny Sanguillen 1975- Getting OB from a catcher is always a nice benefit. Get enough speed to keep double-plays from being automatic is nice. His +5 arm for this year is actually very low, he would have averaged a +8 for his career. He compares very well to Joe Mauer... at least at his best moments. He would hit .296 for his career but would not show the eye needed to have a career OBP similar to Mauer. Having that ability to get lots of hits from a catcher is still a rare and valuable thing. In Showdown doing it for cheap is a nice bonus. I likely would still draft Brent Mayne given the opportunity.

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