Time Machine: Corner Outfield

Larry Walker (00): One of the great outfielders. Much more impressive player then the stats would show. The .379 batting avg. in 1999 is one of those great years. 37 homers, 4 triples and 26 doubles is nothing to scoff at in 438 AB's. His card has a +0 fielding which is a crime. He is one of the better outfielders in his day. Not the fastest player as a speed B. A great base runner which again is hard to capture in a card game. This 10 card has a nice small 1-2 out but also has a big homer of 17-20 and 15-16 2B. Hard to justify the 620 points. Always tough to find +600 points for a player. More of an all star player then a draft player at that points

Time Machine Catchers

Jason Kendall (00): No disrespect to anyone who caught during the 2000/2001 showdown cards era but there were only 2 catchers. Known for 2 different things. Jason Kendall was neither of these players. The guy could play. In 1999 Kendall had a jaw dropping 22 stolen bases in 280 AB's. That is a lot by any position but for a catcher that is obscene. He would finish his career with more then a 2:1 ratio stolen bases to home runs (189:75). A great young player when the Pirates had a lot of great young players. They never could really come at the right time to amount to a formidable team record wise. Kendal is a 10 Speed A, 20 HR, 18-19 2B, 16-17 single+. His 9 arm is fantastic when the top speed is only 20. At 460 points he just is not worth being on most teams. If you want to steal all the way through the line up however there are few options but Kendall.

MLB Showdown 2011 Time Machine: Third base

Bill Mueller 00 I will start by saying Wade Boggs career deserves this spot more then Bill Muellers. They are the same points and on-base. Mueller will be remembered for that great 2003 season which won him a batting title batting eighth for one of the better offensive teams every assembled. In 1999 he was a slap hitting third basemen who had a .388 OBP. His 00 card is one of the great cheap On-Base cards in showdown history. At a position that is traditionally pretty expensive to hit at he gives you a 9 speed B for 220 points. Granted he doesn't homer and takes a 12 to get a single. He won't drive in a bunch of runs but he will get on base for cheap. His +3 fielding is what really puts his card well above Wade Boggs.

Time Machine: Shortstop

Nomar Garciaparra: The late 90's had a lot of great shortstops. The first of the triplets was the beloved “Nomah” in Boston. Loved for his amazing range and his gun slinging from shortstop they over looked his high error totals. The Georgia Tech product had the distinct honor of having Ted Williams believe he may be the player to next bat .400. He has 2 good cards and even more great seasons. His 2001 card is 510 points for a 10 speed B, +1 fielding with 19-20 homer, 15-18 double, 6 or higher for a single. He could bat third for most Showdown teams just and he did for the Red Sox and produce a lot of runs. For the guy who was by many people viewed as the most fun of the big three shortstops to watch. Showdown makes it hard to capture all that he brought as a player. It is tough to imagine now, especially after the Red Sox have won 2 recent World Series the amount of hope Nomar and Pedro brought to a team constantly being reminded they were second best to the Yankees at the time. Which leads us to...

 MLB Showdown Time Machine: Second Base 

Jeff Kent: Remembered by many for his altercation with Barry Bonds in the dug out when Barry Bonds was at his apex. Others remember him as the guy who looked like your red neck uncle at the gun range. This was a guy who could swing the stick. He was like having two first basemen out there offensively and defensively often. He had 33 homers with 7 triples and 41 doubles in 2000. The guy will fall short of the Hall of Fame and should but remember he was maybe the best hitting second basemen of a generation. This guy was a 10 on base for 580 points, 18-20 homer, 17 3B, 15-16 2B with a 14 single+, 9 or higher for a walk. The guy was runs. He fielded for +2 and was a speed B. Made a lot of showdown all star teams. 

The Time Machine: First Base

Mark McGwire(00/01): “Big Mac” has some impressive statistics. He was not the best all around ball player to ever play the game. He was not the fastest. He was not the best situational hitter. In his day he was the man who passed the baton of best home run hitter to Barry Bonds. Say what you will about that pairing. If “Andro” bugs you then this is a sad player to look at. He came up in Oakland as a big, strong, athletic kid who hit 49 home runs as a rookie. A record that is tough to imagine being broken. Mark Trumbo hit 29. A different era I guess. Mark McGwire and Tony La Russa were pair together for so many great season and Tony always protect his big slugger. His 65 home run season following his 70 home run record breaking year was a great follow up. That 65 home run season put up an amazing Showdown card. His 32 Homers in 236 AB's in 2000 was also a great Showdown card for the 2001 set.