Introduction

MLB Showdown (colloq. "MLB" or "Showdown") is a collectible card game by Wizards of the Coast, the same company that makes Magic: The Gathering. The game was introduced to the public in 2000, featuring Atlanta Braves 3rd Baseman Chipper Jones on the product cover. Since the 2000 Base set, cover athletes have included Shawn Green, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez, Luis Gonzalez, Torii Hunter, and Albert Pujols, among others.

How to play the game

MLB Showdown simulates baseball with increasing accuracy with each new yearly set. The purpose of this game is to play baseball. This game involves a twenty sided die and baseball cards made specifically for the game. These cards come in booster packs, a staple for a collectible card game, as well as starter sets and draft packs (see below). There are two types of cards, player and strategy (colloq. "strats") cards. The player cards have a point value on them, and the team of 25 players can have no more than 5000 points worth of value. The strategy cards cards that are randomly drawn and used by the player to alter the normal flow of the game usually in that player's favor. Showdown is broken up into two main divisions, the modern era, 2002-present, and the beginning era, 2000-2001. The reason for this distinction is the difference in the On-Base of the Hitter cards (see On-Base below)

The game is based off of 2 numbers on the player cards. For pitchers it is the statistic "Control", which ranges from +0 to +6. A hitter's biggest stat is his "On Base", which ranges from 7-16 in the modern era and 4-11 in the beginning era. The basis at bat goes like this. The pitcher rolls a twenty-sided die and adds his control to that roll. This is called the "pitch". If that number is higher than the On-base of the hitter, the "swing" is rolled on the pitchers chart. If this "pitch" is lower than or equal to the On-base, the swing is rolled on the batter's chart. When the hitter rolls for the swing, the result is read off the correct chart. Common results are Strike Outs, Groundball Outs, Fly Outs, Pop Outs, Walks, Singles, Doubles, Triples and Home Runs. There is a lot more to the game and it is suggested for beginners to play the demo on Wizards.com.

How to purchase cards

Cards can be purchased in standard booster packs (8 player cards and 3 strategy cards), starter sets (the best way to start playing the game comes with 30 player cards, 8 strategy cards, a rulebook, playmat, and 20-sided die), and draft packs (used for draft tournaments, contains 15 player cards including 1 foil card, 45 strategy cards, and rules for drafting).

Organized play

Organized play was set into three levels, Local MLB Showdown Leagues, MLB Showdown Regionals and the MLB Showdown National Championship. The MLB Showdown card game has had four national champions: 2001- Scott Forster, 2002- Gary Quinn, 2003-Keith Pioro, 2004- Terry Dugan. The national championship has been discontinued for the 2005 season, because of changes in Organized Play. Instead, 8 players will be regional champions only and will win the grand prize of MLB Season tickets to the team of his/her choice.

MLB Showdown Timeline

Spring 2000: MLB Showdown is put on the market by Wizards of the Coast Inc at $2.99 per booster pack.

Aug. 2000: First Expansion set titled "Pennant Run" is released

April 2nd 2001: Changes in the game are made to allow more baserunning choices in MLB Showdown's 2nd base set

July 2001: First MLB Showdown National Championship Tourny is held in Seattle, WA, at the All-Star Game. Scott Forster, from St. Louis, MO, wins.

July 2001: Most controverisial strategy card set is released in Pennant Run. Including "Mound Conference" and "Pep Talk", "1st Edition" cards are discontituned.

April 29th, 2002: Biggest change in showdown is the Average On-base of all hitters is moved up by 2-3 with the 2002 Base Set.

July 2002: New Expansion called "Trading Deadline" is created.

Sept. 2002: "Super Season" cards are created, allowing managers to play with player with Stats from previous historic seasons in the "Pennant Run" expansion.

October 6, 2002: MLB National Championship is held in Kansas City, MO. Gary Quinn, from DeKalb, IL, wins.

March 7th 2003: New Base Set, The Icons are but onto Player cards to supplement gameplay.

June 27th 2003: New rookie season cards let managers play with a card based off a Rookie of the Year winner's rookie season.

Aug. 29th 2003: In "Pennant Run", the Cooperstown Collection subset is created, allowing managers to play with classic Hall of Famers such as Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson.

October 5, 2003: MLB National Championship in Cleveland, OH. Keith Prioro, from Florida, wins.

March 26th 2004: New Base set introduced with gameplay changes of 25 man rosters. Player cards from the previous year are still playable.

October 3, 2004: MLB Showdown Championship held in Chicago, IL. Terry Dugan, from Seattle, WA, wins.

Links

MLB Showdown offical Web Site

Showdowncards.com (A place to talk MLB showdown and get cards online)

ShowdownTalk.com (A Place to discuss MLB Showdown and trade cards)