This write up is focusing on some of the legends of the games past, while I could go on and on forever choosing legends to create, I chose 7 from the past that were dangerous with the bat.
***UPDATE*** George Brett card has been fixed
First up is Ernie Banks and his 1959 MVP season. He won back to back MVPs in 58 & 59 and i chose 59 due to his higher on-base percentage. He put up 25 double as well as 45 home runs to go along with 143 RBIs. This baseball hall of famer was a 14 time all-star and gold glove winner.
Next is George Brett and his 1980 MVP season for the Kansas City Royals. It was his only MVP season but we was an on-base monster with a .454 OB% and a.390 batting average. Along with that he had 33 doubles, 9 triples and 24 home runs. This hall of famer was a 13 time all-star, 3 time silver slugger, and 3 time batting champ.
Up third is one of the all time great home run hitters in Hank Aaron, with his 1969 season, it wasn’t his MVP season but it was his best as an Atlanta Brave. Thirty doubles and forty four home runs for Hammerin Hank. On top of winning one MVP he was a 25 time all star, 3 time gold glove winner and two time batting champ.
Fourth is the legendary Jackie Robinson, the man with his own day in baseball where everyone where his jersey number. This hall of famer is a six time all star, rookie of the year, batting champ and MVP. This card is based off of his MVP 1949 season where he had 38 doubles, 12 triples, 16 homer runs and 37 stolen bases.
Fifth is Roberto Clemente and his 1966 MVP season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also won a gold glove that season for the sixth season in a row, in his streak of 12 straight gold glove seasons. 31 doubles, 11 triples, and 29 home runs to go along with a great glove is a great resume builder to go along with his 2 time world series champion, 15 time all star, 12 gold gloves, world series MVP and 4 time batting champ.
Sixth we have Pete Rose and his 1973 MVP season where he had 230 hits, 36 of them being doubles. This 17 time all star was also a rookie of the year, MVP, 3 time World Series Champion, World Series MVP, 2 time gold glove winner, and 3 time batting champion. I also realize that he is not a hall of Famer but I think we can agree he’s very deserving of it.
Finally we have the legendary Willie Mays, who much like Roberto Clemente won 12 straight gold gloves. This season is his 1965 MVP season where he racked up 21 doubles and 52 home runs. Over his career he was rookie of the year, 2 time MVP, 24 time all star, 12 time gold glove winner, batting champ and World Series champion.
I hope you enjoyed this walk through Cooperstown, and if there is any other players you would like to see give me some recommendations.
Is Willie Mays meant to be a +2 or a +3? The card has both.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is he's a +3 for CF, with +2 at the corners
DeleteYes there wasn’t enough space for lf/rf
DeleteI love this set idea! So many favorites, with all cards being incredibly potent and useful to lineups! I think my favorite has to be Jackie Robinson -- he's got speed, defense, and a lot of extra base hits for not that many points!
ReplyDeleteOn a non-Showdown note, earlier this year my local radio station played an old interview with Robinson from the 1960s during a rain delay. I'd honestly never actually heard Jackie speak, and it's so rare that your heroes live up to expectations... but Jackie surpassed them. It was an old radio call-in, with people from all over the country asked him questions. He had a "who was the toughest pitcher you ever faced" and he told awesome stories about some lefty from Cincinnati, before the interview just completely flipped with a female caller from Arkansas who refused to give her name. The caller wanted to know how Jackie could support interracial marriage and didn't he think it would water down races/lead to violence. Jackie didn't skip a beat and launched into one of the most nuanced answers I've ever heard, offering that (a) he personally would never marry a white woman because he needs a romantic partner who could really understand his experiences with racial tension, (b) that if his or any child was interested in an interracial marriage, he and the caller should support them because he and the caller were clearly good, caring parents who've taught their children to make the right choices and love people well (What a way to twist it on what was truly a vile caller... I can't express how much her tone was just seething to talk to a black man over the phone) so their kids choosing to love someone of another race must be the right, loving choice, and (c) that black men are not just out to marry white women for non-loving reasons because after all, black women are already the darker shade that white women try so hard to tan to be -- adding a little extra levity to the conversation, he said it in a way that you could just feel him winking.
All together, Jackie Robinson is an amazing man and I definitely want to actually hear him speak more, and I'm glad I get to use his card in Showdown now too!
go 42!
DeleteThese are sweet
ReplyDeleteNext thing I want to do is like unsung heroes for your guys favorite teams. Everyone knows these names but like one of my favorite indians is Ronnie billiard. Why? I have no clue, but everyone has players like that so if anyone wants to nominate some not so 500pt guys I’d love to work on them
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOrioles homer here. The Orioles had quite the consistent lineup in the 70s into the 80s, and these guys were some of the glue around your Murrays and Ripkens:
DeleteRick Dempsey C
Mark Belanger SS
Paul Blair CF
Al Bumbry LF
And for a non-Oriole, how about Smoky Burgess? Best known for the pinch-hit record, he was also a catcher.
Cool idea! Top of my head:
DeleteRangers -- 2011 Michael Young
Orioles -- whenever JJ Hardy was best!
Orioles -- Dylan Bundy
Blue Jays -- Chris Woodward
2017 Pat Neschek (I think he ends up on the Rockies, but he had a GREAT year)
These cards look amazing. I have always thought a Hall of Fame/Legends set of Showdown cards would be great. I am surprised by the lack of speed as there are 5 C speeds. Surprising to see Mays and Clemente with single digit C speeds.For Clemente being one of the best defensive players of his generation, the +1 defense catches my eye as well. Robinson and Brett are my 2 favorite cards as they have no weakness in the cards, can do everything for your team.
ReplyDeleteThe steals were so low back then, all of them were below 10 stolen bases, and the Clemente had a high amount of errors that season. He did win the gold glove that year, which I forgot to check before I made the card. Usually if they r a gold glove winner I give them the higher for their position
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the old timers get cards! cool comparison of styles of game play. Also just a heads up-George Brett is missing a 3 on his card- making a spreadsheet to track players stats/values to compare them and whatever other purposes may come up
ReplyDeleteGood catch walks we’re supposed to begin at 3 I will post an updated one when I can fix it
DeleteRoberto Clemente had a gold glove season that year and 12 overall but u only gave him a +1, doesn't make sense
ReplyDeleteI love these HoF cards! Specially the Hank Aaron.
ReplyDelete