MLB Showdown Obsession

 1953 saw a change in the process. No more Old Timer's Committee. This was the first year for the Veterans Committee, where they submitted six men from way-back in baseball like Chief Bender and Bobby Wallace, as well as notable umpires and executives. Meanwhile, the BBWAA contributed more recent players Al Simmons and Dizzy Dean, giving the '53 class a total of 8. Also inducted: -Ed Barrow (Pioneer / Executive) Executive of the New York Yankees who built their original dynasty. First executive to put numbers on player uniforms. First to retire a number in a players honor (Lou Gehrig). First to require the "Star-Spangled Banner" to play before every game. -Tommy Connolly (Umpire) Umpire for the first ever American League game, as well as the first World Series game. -Bill Klem (Umpire) Umpired a record 18 different World Series as well as the first All Star Game. -Harry Wright (Pioneer / Executive) Introduced defensive shifting of outfielders to baseball.

  Mike Piazza had a very busy 1998. He started in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, was sent over to Florida for a short spell with the Marlins, then was shipped off to New York to continue his career with the Mets. The trades centered around the Florida Marlins and their cost cutting fire sale in which lots of big names besides Piazza were sent all over the place. Previously, we chronicled the different versions of Piazza that 1998 gave us, and today we look at the rest of the men involved in the merry-go-round. Mike Piazza wasn't alone when he was packing his bags to leave the Dodgers. Heading out was also Todd Zeile, a big time baseball nomad that spent his career with 11 different teams. 1998 was in the middle of a dizzying time where Zeile played for 7 different teams in a four year stretch. Here we have Todd as a member of the Marlins. While Piazza only lasted eight days before the Marlins traded him off, Zeile lasted a bit longer in Miami. And with the extended time spent with ...

 Ken Caminiti was a good player with a tragic end. And in the midst of it all he became the first player to come forward and be open about his steroid use. There were other addictions that did him in at the end, becoming the next player in what was now becoming a list of men featured in the MLB Showdown game who have died, and in 2004 the game was still active in it's short history. Officially he had 2 Showdown cards, the original set featuring his 1999 season, and the 2001 Pennant Run set showcasing his upcoming change in teams. But there was quite a career that missed the prime Showdown years... July 1987, Caminiti arrives on the scene for Houston. Not a lot of opportunities for Ken, but he hits his first few dingers. In 1988, Houston brought in a different guy to play 3rd and left Ken to toil in the minors. He was brought in late in the year for even less time than he played in '87. Terrible sample size. Ken had good, sometimes even perfect defense over the years at 3rd base...

It's almost time to announce the Hall of Fame class of 2025. This year features at least one no brainer, while at the other end we have one man in his final attempt. Bobby Abreu Year 6. Previous year: 14.8% Andruw Jones Year 8. Previous year: 61.6% Mark Buehrle Year 5. Previous year: 8.3% Torii Hunter Year 5. Previous year: 7.3% Andy Pettitte Year 7. Previous year: 13.5% Manny Ramirez Year 9. Previous year: 32.4% Alex Rodriguez Year 4. Previous year: 34.8% Omar Vizquel Year 8. Previous year: 17.7% Billy Wagner Year 10. Previous year: 73.8% Francisco Rodriguez Year 3. Previous year: 7.8% Jimmy Rollins Year 4. Previous year: 14.8% Chase Utley Year 2. Previous year: 28.8% David Wright Year 2. Previous year: 6.2% Carlos Beltran Year 3. Previous year: 57.1% Carlos Gonzalez First year on ballot. Felix Hernandez First year on ballot. Curtis Granderson First year on ballot. Hanley Ramirez First year on ballot. Adam Jones First year on ballot. Ian Kinsler First year on ballot. Russell Marti...