For my next custom Showdown set, we are looking back on the 10th anniversary of the 2016 season (with what little time we have left in 2026).
2016 is one of the first seasons to receive custom card treatment during the Showdown-aissance, according to those who were building cards before I got back into it. A league-wide full set had never got the bot treatment, however, and I decided the O.G. custom set deserved an O.G. style look, so here is the 2016 Bot Set in 00 style.
This set has 540 cards -- 18 per team -- just enough for full rosters across all 30 teams, with 9 batters who cover all positions + DH, 4 starters, and 5 relievers/closers.
I loved to the two-tone look for the foils that I utilized in my 2011 set, so I decided to include it here.
Let’s break open this set with the team that broke the Cubs’ World Series drought. The north side of Chicago has one of the best Showdown squads I’ve ever seen. In my opinion, it even rivals the 2019 Houston Astros.
Where to begin? There’s no wrong answer, but the rotation is a great place to start. The Cubs have 3 foils in their rotation, each 500 points or more. Kyle Hendricks is the best, a 570 point monster tier-2, but any team would be happy with Jon Lester or Jake Arrieta as their ace. Both are tier-3s with no doubles. Once you get past the starter, Pennant Run addition Aroldis Chapman – basically 00 Mariano Rivera – is ready to shut you down.
