The first pitcher inducted into the Showdown Hall of Fame was at his peak when the glorious card game this site celebrated was introduced. Producing the most valuable card (by points value) in both the 00 and 01 sets, Pedro led the majors in ERA, WHIP, and K while garnering over 40 wins. Over the course of his 18 major league seasons, Pedro led the majors in ERA five times, WHIP six times, and K three times. He took home three Cy Youngs and famously helped the Boston Red Sox break their curse in 2004.
Enjoy looking back at some of Pedro's most memorable seasons, from his rise to stardom in Montreal, to his incredibly dominate years in Boston at the turn of the century, to a final Cy Young-level season as a New York Met. We're happy to present an extremely deserving Showdown Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
2001 Seattle Mariners
After posting the 1998 Yankees, we had to follow them up with the 2001 Mariners. Seattle's 2001 squad had the greatest regular season (purely from a "racking up the wins" perspective), setting a still-standing record with 116 victories. However, their dominate regular season did not end in a title, as the Mariners were knocked off by the dynastic Yankees in the ALCS.
This team is very good, although they lack any superstar cards. Sure, Ichiro won the MVP this season (and Freddy Garcia should have won the AL Cy Young), but they have pretty lackluster cards. Rather than stars, this team benefits from solid depth at every level. Perhaps not so coincidentally, this is the strength of the 1998 Yankees and, to an extent, the 2016 Cubs. Top heavy rotations and lineups can carry a team in a series or two, but serious depth and consistency wins out over the grinding 162 game MLB season. Enjoy this team, one of the most memorable "how did they not win it all" teams in recent memory.
This team is very good, although they lack any superstar cards. Sure, Ichiro won the MVP this season (and Freddy Garcia should have won the AL Cy Young), but they have pretty lackluster cards. Rather than stars, this team benefits from solid depth at every level. Perhaps not so coincidentally, this is the strength of the 1998 Yankees and, to an extent, the 2016 Cubs. Top heavy rotations and lineups can carry a team in a series or two, but serious depth and consistency wins out over the grinding 162 game MLB season. Enjoy this team, one of the most memorable "how did they not win it all" teams in recent memory.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
1998 Yankees
The 1998 New York Yankees won 114 games, setting a (now eclipsed) record for wins in a single season. Unsurprisingly, the amount of wins in a season usually translates to a team's Showdown strength, so I was extremely excited to see what kind of firepower the 1998 Yanks brought to the game. The answer: not as much as expected. Oh sure, each component of this team is at least GOOD, but there is no unit that screams "wow!" like the 2004 Red Sox lineup or the 2016 Cubs rotation. The Big Four are still in their relative infancy (with Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera putting up prime seasons), and Roger Clemens has not yet joined the rotation.
On closer inspection, this team still looks like an all-timer, although it is not as instantly sexy on paper as, say the 2003 Yankees. However, the rotation is extremely solid (which was so important in the year of the HR), the bullpen is steadfast, and the lineup is incredibly deep. Trading HRs for consistency, speed, and enough OB to steal some charts from even the best aces, the Yankees will score runs while limiting opposing offenses. It will be fun to put this team up against other recent greats, especially the 2016 Cubs!
On closer inspection, this team still looks like an all-timer, although it is not as instantly sexy on paper as, say the 2003 Yankees. However, the rotation is extremely solid (which was so important in the year of the HR), the bullpen is steadfast, and the lineup is incredibly deep. Trading HRs for consistency, speed, and enough OB to steal some charts from even the best aces, the Yankees will score runs while limiting opposing offenses. It will be fun to put this team up against other recent greats, especially the 2016 Cubs!
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
2016 Cleveland Indians
Spring Training has begun, marking the start to the 2017 baseball season. The new season comes on the heels of one of the best World Series ever, with an instant classic Game 7 that saw this scrappy, bullpen reliant Indians team nearly come back in the ninth inning again All Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Sadly, despite overcoming massive injuries to the rotation, the Indians will be remembered as that team that blew a 3-1 lead to the Cubs. In reality, Cleveland put together an amazing run, neutering high-powered Boston and Toronto offenses with savvy bullpen moves and clutch hitting.
The 2016 Cubs and Indians both have complete squads uploaded on the site, so feel free to use these teams to replay the World Series! Hopefully, your showdown simulation will be as epic as the real thing!
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
SHOWDOWN HALL OF FAME: Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds is the greatest hitter of all-time, at least by Showdown standards. In fact, it was Bonds' ridiculous 2001 campaign that caused the original Showdown cards to adjust their formula, as his extreme OBP and 73 HRs broke the formulas. Luckily, here at Greatest MLB Showdown, we are unwilling to bend our methods! So, get ready for the greatest of Barry's seasons in the original card format. For you Pirates fans, no worries-- we've got his early 90s MVP seasons included here as well (including the season that Terry Pendleton robbed him). Yes, I realize there's a real possibility Bonds used steroids to enhance his game, which clearly takes a big leap from his early 90s MVP days to his early 00s MVP season. Here at The Greatest MLB Showdown Project though, we aren't in the business of judging or excluding players, just recording respective Showdown cards of historical legends. So, feel free to ban him from your leagues or let him play and watch some fireworks unfold from his (metaphorical) bat!
Without further ado, an ode to a player who's still waiting for his Hall of Fame induction, but is the FIRST player inducted to the MLB Showdown Hall of Fame.
Without further ado, an ode to a player who's still waiting for his Hall of Fame induction, but is the FIRST player inducted to the MLB Showdown Hall of Fame.
Friday, February 24, 2017
2003 Chicago Cubs
One of the most heartbreaking teams in baseball history, the 2003 Chicago Cubs were supposed to be the team that broke the Billy Goat curse. Unfortunately (for Chicago and my middle school classmates on the Chicago bandwagon), the Cubs ended up adding to the C-U-R-S-E legend. As a Showdown team, the 2003 Cubs are heavy on the pitching and light on the on-base percentage. It almost pushed them to a World Series showdown with the Yankees, but the Bartman incident (followed by the Gonzalez error and an epic bullpen collapse) doomed the team in Game 6, before they blew a lead in Game 7 as well.
Without further ado, one of the most heartbreaking baseball teams in history:
Without further ado, one of the most heartbreaking baseball teams in history:
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
1994 Montreal Expos
We're back! It's been a busy transition into 2017 thanks to law school finals, the holidays, and spending time with family. However, the next team is ready for launch: the best Expos team ever assembled!
The 1994 Expos are one of the most legendary "what if" teams in baseball. On pace for over 100 wins, the Expos best opportunity for a World Series berth was stopped by the baseball strike. Sadly, when baseball came back in 1995, the Expos had been dismantled. Before long, their best all stars would be on other rosters and they'd be playing last place ball in a near empty Olympic Stadium.
However, for the first time, we can see just how good that Expos team really was by printing their MLB Showdown squad out and pitting them against teams of other eras. Overall, their batting order leaves a lot to be desired, but the world class pitching of the Expos makes them a real contender to take down anyone. Without further ado, the Montreal Expos of 1994:
The 1994 Expos are one of the most legendary "what if" teams in baseball. On pace for over 100 wins, the Expos best opportunity for a World Series berth was stopped by the baseball strike. Sadly, when baseball came back in 1995, the Expos had been dismantled. Before long, their best all stars would be on other rosters and they'd be playing last place ball in a near empty Olympic Stadium.
However, for the first time, we can see just how good that Expos team really was by printing their MLB Showdown squad out and pitting them against teams of other eras. Overall, their batting order leaves a lot to be desired, but the world class pitching of the Expos makes them a real contender to take down anyone. Without further ado, the Montreal Expos of 1994:
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