MLB Showdown 2004 - Top 10 Foil Cards
MLB Showdown 2004 - Top 10 Foil Cards
Showdown was starting to gain some popularity by 2004 and for good reason…this game is awesome. Barry Bonds was finally dethroned from his #1 ranking (even though he won the MVP in ‘04) and guys like Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols have emerged onto the showdown scene. As you can see from the pictures below the playing cards underwent another facelift which I appreciated because I was never a fan of the 2003 cards. Nevertheless, let’s dive into my top 10 and continue the series of MLB Showdown card rankings!
Alex Rodriguez - Finally someone has overtaken Bonds for my #1 Ranking. In 2004 A-Rod was an animal. Finishing the season with 36 home runs and 106 RBIs, Rodriguez was not only the best shortstop but one of the best overall players in all of baseball. A-Rod was awarded the MVP, HR, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove icons which makes him almost an unfair card.
Stats
ON-BASE: 13
HIT: 18-20 HR
FIELD: SS +4
SPEED: B(16)
OUT: 1-6
POINTS: 620
Albert Pujols - “I am not a machine, I am just Albert”. In 2004 Pujols would go on to mash 46 home runs and hit 126 RBIs. The numbers are straight-up daunting and there is a reason Pujols would go on to play in 8 consecutive All-Star games from 2003-2010. Earning a Silver Slugger icon was expected after his season as he was one of the best bats in the league. Pujols might be the best player of my generation, definitely up for grabs (not sure we consider Ohtani my generation!).
Stats
ON-BASE: 14
HIT: 19-20 HR
FIELD: LF/RF +1
SPEED: C(11)
OUT: 1-6
POINTS: 810
Javy Lopez - Elite catchers are extremely difficult to find but in 2004 we were blessed to have Javy Lopez around. Lopez’s 2004 card was used in the ‘perfect lineup” and was most likely the best Catcher card in the entire game from 2000-2005. Javy not only had a great bat he was an exceptional catcher owning a defense grade of +7. Mike Matheny earned the Gold Glove in the National in 2004 so Javy didn’t earn the Gold Glove icon, but it was still impossible to steal bases off of Lopez back in the day.
Stats
ON-BASE: 12
HIT: 18-20
FIELD: C+7
SPEED: C(10)
OUT: 1-6
POINTS: 680
Mark Prior - Prior was a beast while he played. The issue is he didn’t play for that long. Suffering from vast shoulder damage in his throwing shoulder he unfortunately had a short-lived career. On the bright side, the Cubs had a gem for a while in Prior. In his prime, his arsenal of pitches included a mid-90s mph fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. Fun fact - He is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Stats
CONTROL: 5
IP: 7
OUT: 1-18
POINTS: 670
Roy Halladay - In my opinion one of the most underrated cards in the game. The ability to pitch 8 innings with a 5 control is absurd. There is a reason why Roy Halladay is considered one of the all-time greats! 2x Cy Young awards and 8x All-Star appearances. The reason I think he is underrated outside of the ability to go 8 innings… only 500 points. Big discount for such a dominant card.
Stats
CONTROL: 5
IP: 8
OUT: 1-17
POINTS: 500
Curt Schilling - The name alone should say enough. Schilling was on one in the early 2000s. Easily one of the best pitchers that has played during my time. Surprisingly no icons were added to this card, but still a menace on the mound versus opposing lineups.
Stats
CONTROL: 4
IP: 7
OUT: 1-17
POINTS: 650
Tim Hudson - Another Moneyball snub. Hudson was another player who was famously not mentioned in the movie “Moneyball”. I don’t know why as that movie/book is based on the 2002 Oakland Athletics and Hudson was an All-Star just a couple seasons prior in 2000. Nevertheless, Tim Hudson is a baller and was a fantastic MLB Showdown card. Also able to go 8 innings without losing any control, a very underrated feature of the card.
Stats
CONTROL: 5
IP: 8
OUT: 1-17
POINTS: 640
Todd Helton - The first batter we have in a while on this list. What can I say, there were a ton of dominant pitchers in 2004! Helton was a masher in the early 2000s. Appearing in 5 straight All-Star games from 2000-2004, he was simply a hitting force to be reckoned with. Owns a career batting average of .316 but batted .347 in 2004. Talk about going beast mode.
Stats
ON-BASE: 14
HIT: 20
FIELD: 1B+1
SPEED: C(10)
OUT: 1-6
POINTS: 630
Eric Gagne - With the Cy Young Winner and the Relief Pitcher Icons this card was simply unfair. Gagne was easily the best closer card in the game and it was justified by his on-field performance. I had to include the top Closer in the game on the list.
Stats
CONTROL: 6
IP: 1
OUT: 1-18
POINTS: 310
Billy Wagner - Dean is going to get mad at me here for putting Wagner below Gagne. Both were awesome and Wagner had a better career. Gagne was simply coming off a Cy Young season and his card was juiced. Wagner was not as effective in 2004 as in other years but still a legendary Closer. Here’s to you Billy, hopefully, we can get you on the show someday!
Stats
CONTROL: 6
IP: 1
OUT: 1-17
POINTS: 270
Honorable Mention:
Vladimir Guerrero
Roger Clemens
Edgar Renteria
Jose Reyes
Pedro Martinez
Jason Schmidt
Jim Thome
Octavio Dotel
Dontrelle (D-Train) Willis