I nominate
2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada, .308 34 131 .354 .508, ss 1e19, bulletproofI was all set to nominate
1973 Darrell Evans, the man Bill James once called “the most underrated player in baseball history, absolutely number one on the list,” but SOM changed the rules on nominations, saying only players without cards could be nominated. I understand that thinking when it comes to HOF players, many of whom we already have their best 2 or 3 seasons. But it is unfair to advocates of players who have only one or two cards representing mediocre seasons. Does this mean that we are forever stuck with those crummy cards?
What about newly minted (after 103 years) triple crown winner 1912 Heinie Zimmerman? Does this mean we are forever stuck using his cheapo $0.97 mil card? SOM's decision seems so unfair and arbitrary. Veteran SOM ATG managers can all easily rattle off at least half a dozen players with only a cheap card or two who are worthy of a better card and whose better card would be regularly used.
Evans played in 21 seasons and hit 414 career home runs.
Evans 1973 slash line was:
.281 41 104 .403 .556. He played in 161 games and had well over 700 PA, so his card will be bullet proof.
Below is a preview of what his 1973 card looks like from the '70s mystery card game (make sure to click on the 1973 season). Not only is Evans a lefty bat at 3B, but he is one of those rare lefties who hits lefties better than righties. His 1973 card has good power and high OBP and he plays respectable D,
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/pl ... /1670/1/70He currently has two mediocre cards in the ATG set that are seldom used. Near needless to say, there are numerous less accomplished players with cards for their best season who lack Evans' longevity and productivity.
Evans' 1973 card would get a lot of use in boomer parks and lefty parks as a lower priced alternative to other lefty third basemen like Brett, Boggs and Mathews and as a greater offensive threat than Ventura and Nettles.
Evans' best card is worthy of inclusion in the ATG card set. SOM can ashcan Evan's other two cards and nobody will miss them.