ESPN All-Decade Team

Espn published an article picking their all decade team for the 2010s, while also picking an all decade team for every decade from 1900!!. Well as usual we like to discuss which team is better so lets see how they stack up in showdown form. Sadly no I didn't make the guys from the early parts of the century but we can look at the most recent ones for fun. We had the 2010's, 2000's and 1990's all with cards for each player, so those teams will be featured in this post. Do you think you can beat any of these teams with your drafted 5000 team? even just once?

Merry Christmas Stocking Stuffer

Merry Christmas everyone, and to continue with my holiday tradition, I have a stocking dump of cards for ya. I have a lot of cards saved on my computer from making randomly, and figured they aren't doing any good there and they need to be shared for all to enjoy in some showdown battles.

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Colorado Rockies

Hello all yes I'm still making cards. Just been super busy these days. But besides doing some of the stats for the 2019 set I was able to find time to make one of my favorite teams, The Colorado Rockies. They definitely had a disappointing 2019 after a nice 2018 season. High hopes were let down by sub optimal pitching especially losing Ottavino. The 2019 Rockies finished a poor 71-91 and 4th place in their division. They did have a few steller performers and you will see them below. Lets just right into those batters (where all the talent lies).

All Time Expos

All Time Expos (New Cards!)


Today's team is the Montreal Expos, who are no longer a team. I debated combining the Expos and Nationals,  but I felt that there were just too many good cards that I wanted to showcase here. To bolster the team a bit I decided to include David's "What If" Expos . The Expos were created in 1969 and failed to post a winning season in their first ten years. They only managed to make the playoffs in the strike shortened 1981 season when they won the NL East, however they were in a prime position to be a competitive club when the 1994 strike crippled their chances, and their existence as an organization. In 2002 the MLB purchased the club and in 2005 they moved them to Washington DC to create the Nationals.

ALL DECADE BREWERS

My favorite team, the much maligned and quite possibly cursed Brewers. Yes, they play in an extremely difficult division and yes, we're the smallest market in the Majors.... but this past decade has arguably been the Brewers' best decade of baseball EVER! We're led by the LEGEND Christian Yelich and made the playoffs back-to-back for the first time in my life. What I'm saying is.... even though they didn't win a pennant IRL, you can't count us out of the All Decade Showdown league!

My all-time favorite cut out that I've done, for one of my all-time favorite players, MVP Yelich!!!

However, 2019 Yelich surpassed the MVP and took his spot on the All Decade team!

ALL DECADE ANGELS

The franchise with Mike Trout.... has had a disappointing turn in the last decade after dominating the AL West through most of the 2000s. However, as far as the all-decade team goes, the early part of the decade's strong starting pitching is going to keep this team hanging around!! With 2019 Trout leading the way, arguably the best player we've made from the decade, they've got a shot at a Wild Card berth! 

He just missed the All Decade Cut, but I love this 2008 Mark Teixeira card... 

if ever I do an all 00s league, the Angels are going to be a top contender

ALL DECADE DBACKS

Arizona had a rocky decade, but made the playoffs a few times! The 2011 NLDS that they barely lost to Milwaukee was particularly memorable. Sadly, they had to deal away Pauly G and Grienke, but both guys are back this year, teaming with near-MVP Justin Upton, a healthy AJ Pollack, and a fantastic 2019 Marte to create a real contender for the playoffs in the All decade league!

Goldy is arguably the best player in franchise history... and he was remarkably productive all decade!

ALL DECADE WHITE SOX

Chicago is one of a handful of teams that failed to make the playoffs during the 2010s. Accordingly, they have one of the bleaker All Decade squads. However, as they play in the extremely mediocre AL Central, there's some hope for the Southsiders!

Disappointing to think what they'd look like in 2020 with this guy leading the rotation!

ALL DECADE PIRATES

Pittsburgh essentially had a three year run amidst another disappointing decade... but at least the 20 year playoff drought was snapped! Unfortunately, the Pirates were 1-2 in Wild Card games and lost the 2013 NLDS. I just.... don't have much to say about Pittsburgh. I'm hoping their fans will enjoy this squad as much as I enjoy their distinctive yellow cards!

I think Pittsburgh would rather have the two guys on the Rays' all-decade squad now, 

but trading for Archer made Pittsburgh pretty exciting for a couple weeks in 2018! 

ALL DECADE METS

New York's "other team" went to more World Series this decade than the Bronx Bombers in the 2010s and had a plethora of young arms that had them posed for so many more pennants. However, baseball is a sport, especially with today's influx of talented youth, that is so hard to win big over the long haul and injuries (plus a tough division) hamstrung the Mets' chances. BUT in the All Decade league, the Mets are going to be LOADED with fantastic starting pitching (perhaps the best rotation in the league) and a high OB lineup with speed at nearly every spot. For that reason alone, the Mets are going to contend in the NL East and, possibly, for so much more!

Really a shame that injuries robbed us all of seeing this fantastic, do-everything 3B 

play much in the later portion of the decade!

ALL DECADE TWINS

Ah my beloved Twins!! Yes, the Brewers are my top team, and I realize that technically the Brewers-Twins rivalry was (kind of?) fierce/important back in the day.... but I only remember the Brewers as an NL team, so the Twins have always been my AL squad. Thanks to the 2019 season, they're going to have an All Decade team capable of competing in the AL Central (they'd be in GREAT shape for a 00s Decade season). Get ready for a team FULL of power, albeit with a watered down rotation, and one that'll be super interesting in its quest to outscore teams. Enjoy!

A couple of my all-time favorite Twins players who just missed the cut!

ALL DECADE BRAVES

The Braves were indisputably the NL's "Team of the 90s" and their NL East dominance carried through the better part of the 00s too. However, they weren't quite the dominate force in the past decades, although they finished with a new NL East title streak.

Acuna's rookie year was something special... but his Super Sophomore season made the All Decade squad!

ALL DECADE CUBS

2016 featured arguably the greatest World Series in history, as the Cubs broke their curse and finally won another World Series. They're coming in hot, as one of the 12 teams thus far to reach the 7000 point barrier. They've got explosive power and speed at the plate, a dynamic rotation led by a Cy Young winning Jake Arrieta (tier 1, control 6, no doubles) and a stellar bullpen thanks to Aroldis. Definitely going to contend for the NL Central crown despite their complete ineptitude as a team for the first half of the decade! In fact, only two of their players hail from 2009 through 2014!! So enjoy this Cubs team, and fly the W flag after you play with them!

Even if he gets traded, this wonderful man will always be a Cubs legend

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Baltimore Orioles

Well everyone I did it!! 22 teams, and sadly this is the last one, so much for saving the best for last because I am struggling to find something to say about the Baltimore Orioles. Most things that come to mind I feel like I have already said about the other bottom half of the league. A few good pieces and then a nice pile of trash. Going 54-108 they finished last in the AL East, and after parting ways with Jonathan Villar this off season, will things get any better for the poor fans in Baltimore.

Last Orioles card for Villar as he is headed on his way to the Marlins for 2020

All Time Indians

All Time Indians (New Cards!)


Today's team is the Cleveland Indians. With many of the contributors to this site being Indians fans, there is considerably more cards to chose from than any other team. Sadly to say, none of these fans have seen an Indians championship team, as the only two came in 1920 and 1948. However, with 6 AL Pennants, 11 Divisional Championships and a Wild Card berth, there has been plenty of October baseball since the teams inception in 1900. They also set the record for longest win streak in the AL with 22 games in 2017.

 Logo Circa 1915- I'm sensing a pattern here

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals were a bottom of the barrel team in 2019, finishing 4th in the AL Central with a record of 59-103 and third worst in the American League total. The showdown gods were not very kind to them and it shows in the cards representing the team this season. The top 3 or 4 players are use able, and many draft able pieces to help fit under a salary cap. Sadly I do not believe we will be seeing and first or second round picks used on the guys available from this team. 

His high home run rate puts Jorge on the Bomb Squad

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Pittsburgh Pirates

If you followed @Bobbumbarger on twitter this season any time you saw a tweet go out saying " STUD ALERT" you knew Josh Bell had done something special. A stud he is, and was this season being a great player for this Pirates franchise. The Pirates finished last in the NL Central this season with a 69-93 record. Like many of the weak teams in the showdown set, the offense is good enough to get them some runs, but the pitching on this team is going to continually hurt them over and over. Even worse news for the Pirates pitching staff, is their best reliever probably won't be on the team again and their bullpen is not very strong without him.

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers finished 78-84 in 2019 third in the AL West and this team reflects a middle of the pack team. They have some players that will make a huge difference in the lineup. Rangers probably could have been better had Joey Gallo played the full season. This team will certainly have plenty drafted from it as they can be explosive at the top of the order. The pitching is what hurts this team, especially once you get past the top two starters. Pitching is a struggle for this team, and the great batters that they have will need to score a lot of runs to keep this team competitive.

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins were a rough team in 2018 and nothing changed in 2019. They finished with the third worst record overall in the entire MLB with a record of 57-105. This team doesn't have any star power or even top 5 round talent in a deep draft. The players on this team are back end of the lineup or rotation quality players. It will be interesting to see if this team can ever turn it around and not trade away the players that can develop to become stars.

I am loving these 01 style cards, if the Marlins ever get good they will look sharp with all the neon colors and the black mixing.

All Time White Sox

All Time White Sox

This article was ready to go before I heard about the MASSIVE 90s drop, so I wanted to wait before putting it out. Once I finish the different teams I'll be going back and releasing an article discussing the new players on each team, since there will definitely be a bit of turnover. Due to the amount of new cards and adding 2019 statistics there actually is a noticeable affect on expected runs-seeing mid range guys move down and the outliers moving less.


Today's team is the Chicago White Sox, one of the original AL charter teams, were established in 1901. Their early history was marred by the famous Black Sox Scandal of 1919, despite winning the World Series in 1906 and 1917. They won again in 2005, and have 6 AL Pennants, 3 Central titles, 2 West titles and no wild card berths. They've had a few players enshrined in Cooperstown, however one of the best players in franchise history is excluded in Shoeless Joe Jackson. Maybe those who are lucky enough to go watch them play the Yankees in Iowa this summer will get a glimpse of him coming out of the cornfield!

Original White Sox Logo 1901-1902 (Cubs!?)

MLB SHOWDOWN SET 2019 -- New York Yankees

Start the Star Wars Darth Vader theme, they are finally here, the 2019 New York Yankees. As a baseball fan from afar, what I knew about the Yankees was they had a great bullpen and they hits BOMBS. Other than that and being a great team in the AL East I couldn't tell you as much as our guest writer and New York Yankees fan, you all know him from my league as the owner of Acuna Matata and from twitter as @Gitrekt, so I will turn it over to him for his Yankees analysis.

" The Yankees had an excellent year winning 103 games and making it to the ALCS before falling to those dirty cheats, the Houston Astros. Although it is probably seen as a great season by maybe every other MLB team, the expectations for the Yankees every year is win a World Series or bust. After failing to win this year they are now in a transition year where they are saying bye to a great leader and Yankee CC Sabathia after he decided to retire at the end of the season. Brett Gardner might be gone too and it doesn't look like they will bring back Sir DD. With big free agents available we will see if the Yankees turn to their old ways and do some big fish shopping this off season.

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Seattle Mariners

A very tough 2019 season for the Seattle Mariners but worse for the fans. If you follow me on twitter you see tons of interaction during the season watching games and highlights. Early on in the season a few Seattle followers and I were interacting a lot as they were playing great baseball and winnings games. They started the season off at a hot 13-2 and the Seattle faithful were buzzing. Sadly after that they went 55-92 finishing last in the AL West with a record of 68-94. A few fun times for the team as Ichiro got to play in Japan to start the season before retiring, and King Felix hanging it up at the end of the regular season. Aside from those highlights I personally don't know of any others from the season, and by the looks of this team, sadly there weren't many in showdown form either.

Lets start this off on a good note, and look at Bobs beautiful 1996 Edgar Matinez

MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds, my in state rival, yet I find myself usually rooting for them other than the battle of OHIO. The Reds placed 4th in the NL Central with a record of 75-87, but what we did see this year is a glimpse of hope for the next few years of cards that we may be seeing from some bright young players, as well as Eugenio Suarez continuing to mash and blossom into a dominant hitter. This team if developed how they look could bring a new homer run hitting sensation in Aquino, and a new dynamic center fielder in Nick Senzel every year with high speed and great fielding to go along with whatever stats he puts up. This Reds team is like every other team that didn't make the playoffs, there are pieces to pick from in a redraft situation, you just don't want to have the whole team on your side, unless theres a fight. (and really this is the highlight of the reds season for me anyways)