MLB Showdown Obsession

 Politics can be as much of a team sport as what we see on the field. The lines between CNN and ESPN can get pretty blurred with the way some people argue and debate over things. Last year, I made a bunch of cards inspired by the people with presidential aspiration, and for this election season I've decided to create team sets for each of the major parties. Most of the players assembled are from (but not exclusively) presidents, and to make things challenging, the group must be able to field a real team with each position covered. We start with the older of the two major American parties, the blue team of Democrats. Grover Cleveland: We begin with the pitching staff, and with the easiest player to associate with a president. Who better to represent Grover Cleveland than by the man named Grover Cleveland Alexander? The kind of Hall of Fame ace to anchor any rotation. John F. Kennedy:  Backing up Cleveland in the rotation is another 20 game winner in Ian Kennedy. Blue team alrea...

 When the Dominican Republic steps onto a baseball field, they're considered heavy favorites against most opponents. In 2006 they claimed the top spot in their pools for both round 1 and 2, but suffered defeat in the semi-finals to Cuba. They arrived in 2009 ready to climb back to the final bracket and beyond, but were shocked by the Netherlands in a close 3-2 loss. In the losers bracket, they victimized poor Panama 9-0 to keep their run alive. The next game had them against the Netherlands again, this time with advancement or elimination on the line, but they were shocked again in a 2-1 defeat to put an all too early end to one of the WBC favorites. Jose had much better seasons ahead of him, but his current form here isn't too bad on it's own. Aybar might find some use no matter how he's utilized off the bench in the late innings, but you shouldn't be starting him. Cano can hurt you if he gets the advantage. Not great defense, but he wouldn't make a bad DH. Nel...

By the 70's there was still a bit of a traffic jam of great names needing votes. That being said, there are some elites that just have to cut to the front of the line for voters when their name finally appears on the ballot. Sure, there will always be that holdout that refuses to vote for anyone making their debut (except Mariano Rivera) but some best of the best just can not be denied. In 1974, another one of those undeniable names appeared on his first and only ballot: The Mick. Icing on the cake for Mantle was that the voters were sending him to the Hall with his long time teammate Whitey Ford (his 2nd ballot, but who's counting when you finally get the votes?). The other committees added four other names, but 1974 was clearly headlined by pinstripes. Also inducted: Cool Papa Bell - Negro Leagues Jocko Conlan (Umpire) - Called several high profile games including 5 World Series.

 The 2009 iteration of the World Baseball Classic showed things were still a work in progress with the format. There would still be 16 teams (all the original teams from 2006) competing in groups for the first round (the pools of teams were for the most part shuffled around) but instead of the round robin format, it would become a double elimination all the way to the final four. The style would be abandoned for 2013. Participation would prove to be another annoyance for Major League Baseball, who really wanted the competition to catch on and gain momentum. The problem was that while certain countries had no problem fielding their players, the early spring setting for this tournament meant that MLB players weren't quite in shape and a bit unwilling to alter their routine to prepare ahead of schedule for what they saw as exhibition games while their real job was still playing MLB baseball. The possibility of injury was too much of a deterrent for some, while others stayed away becau...