Tue Apr 23, 2019 11:40 am
Before the advent of the online computer game, when the game was based solely on the cards issued, SOM issued composite cards for a player who played for two or more teams during the season only if the cards were based on teams in the same league. The defensive ratings, running, hit and run and bunting ratings were the same on such cards, but since they were based on different stats in different leagues, the rest of the card was based on those stats. So, for example, 1972 Duke Sims had separate Dodgers and Tigers cards. The Dodgers card was awful (.192 BA), but Duke stepped up for the Tigers, who were in a pennant race and actually had a pretty good card (.316). Oscar Gamble, who played for Texas and the Yankees in 1979 had a composite card then, which was part of the Yankees' team card set, since that was the last team he played for in 1979. 2000 Charles Johnson played for the Orioles and White Sox, so he has a composite card, which was carded to the White Sox in 2000 (his last 2000 team), but SOM, IMHO, departed from its long standing practice of carding players to their last team and made a mistake by carding him to the Orioles in the ATG game (he played in more games for the Orioles than the White Sox in 2000). Also, Rick Sutcliffe in 1984 came to the Cubs in June from Cleveland, going 16-1, winning the Cy Young award while leading the Cubs to their first divisional title. In 1984, he had cards for both the Cubs and the Indians, but in the ATG game he has a composite card for the Cubs, his last 1984 team, which does not do justice to his dominating NL performance for the Cubs. There are other examples as well, but those mentioned above came immediately to mind.
My guess based on SOM past history and practice since the advent of the ATG computer game is that SOM would issue a composite ATG card for 1995 Bonilla, with Bonilla being carded to the Orioles, his last 1995 team.
FWIW, I agree that the 1995 Bonilla card has better numbers than the 1991 card nominated by rburgh, but I get it, as rburgh is an avowed Pirates fan and obviously wants to see a better Bonilla Pirates card. The same issue was raised several years ago when I nominated the 2002 Magglio Ordonez White Sox card, .320 38 135 .381 .597 .978, but people wanted his 2007 .363 Tigers bating champ card. I withdrew the 2002 nomination and the 2007 card was eventually added to the ATG set, though I'd still like to see that Ordonez White Sox card added, as it is better defensively, has more power than the 2007 card, and of course, would give the White Sox a good RFer in franchise leagues.
I hope this helps.
Last edited by
BDWard on Tue Apr 23, 2019 1:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
