ATG9 - ATG "Unleashed"

What if the entire ATG pool of players could be selected as the "Unleashed" set (similar to the way 20XX game works)?

In that scenario, the default set would be limited to (a) years 1901 (when the American League started play) through 2000 and (b) some threshold of Plate Appearances and/or Innings Pitched (like, say 400 plate appearance for a batter, 120 innings for a starter, 70 innings for a reliever...?).

For example, I really like having the recently added Don Padgett card (a .400 hitter in 257 plate appearances) in the set, but he's a journeyman who had one fluky season. A fun card to try out, but nobody's idea of an "All-time Great."

Been saying this for years...…… maybe one of these days it will come to fruition.

I like the real old timers and thus don't support the "unleashed" scenario as outlined by Riggo Drill.

However, for cards that are clearly outliers like Gates Brown, Ken Smith and many others who were basically one season wonders with otherwise undistinguished careers, including them in an unleashed set would be awesome.

Then we could add another vote each year for the Barnstormer's Finalists in addition to the cap and dh vs no dh controversies.

I like the real old timers and thus don't support the "unleashed" scenario as outlined by Riggo Drill.

I don't like the scenario either.

Why should it be limited at pre 2000 years? The recent cards were almost unanimously voted, they clearly don't belong to an unleashed package.

But I wholeheartedly support the idea of unleashing the freak cards

I would even agree to 1894-present day. Before 1894, it wasn't really the same game, although I know this has been hashed out on the boards before...……...

Only the freak cards should be unleashed. Old-old timers and Negro Leaguers should be part of the default set.

However, for cards that are clearly outliers like Gates Brown, Ken Smith and many others who were basically one season wonders with otherwise undistinguished careers, including them in an unleashed set would be awesome.

Precisely. Some weren't even one-season wonders...some were two month wonders.

Various Rules Changes to Baseball in latter half of 19th Century:

1867-1887 Batter could request a High or Low ball from the Pitcher (Ross Barnes, Pete Browning, Tip O'Neil, King Kelly, Dan Brouthers cards all come from this era)

1877 The Fair-Foul hit (bunt) was outlawed. Ross Barnes batting average dropped from .429 in 1876 to .272 in 1877. To those who say he was ill in 1877, he also played full seasons in 1879 and 1881 at ages 29 and 31, batting .266 and .271, respectively.

1880 8 balls constituted a Base on Balls, no wonder pitchers from that era had few walks

1884 6 balls constituted a Base on Balls

1884 The Ban on Overhand Pitching was lifted (Tommy Bond, George Bradley, Guy Hecker, Will White, Larry Corcoran, Candy Cummings, Frank Hankinson, and John F. Coleman cards in ATG all pitched underhanded) And that underhand pitching was a toss, not a fast-pitch softball windup. Until 1884, they were playing slow pitch softball...............

1885-1893 One side of the Bat was allowed to be flat

1887 5 balls constituted a Base on Balls

1887 Walks were counted as HITS---11 hitters batted over .400 that year (Tip O’Neil and Pete Browning in ATG)

1889 4 balls constituted a Base on Balls

1893 Pitching distance increased from 50 feet to 60’6”


I can't and don't speak for Rosie, but these rules changes are reasons why I personally prefer 1893-1894 and ascending cards for Strat.
The game has made minor changes to the rules since then, but for the most part the rules have been fairly consistent.

Again, an Unleashed Set (incorporating these earlier cards, other outlier cards) to go along with an MLB set beginning 1893-1894 would make both sides happy here.

Seems like a good argument to put in this thread.

ATG stands for All-Time Greats, and the default set should be just that - including old-old timers and NeL players. Folks are free to create a strict MLB shuffle or whatever suits them if they prefer to play something other than All-Time.

If that's the case, then there's no need for an Unleashed Set. However, I'm for an Unleashed set, because extreme outlier cards and cards for stats compiled before baseball became what we know today (1893-1894) could be included for those that want those cards.


Actually, in its beginnings, All-Time Greats referred to All-Time Great TEAMS; the 27 Yankees, 61 Yankees, 70 Orioles, 34 Cardinals, etc……….. That's how the early sets like ATG1/ATG2 were populated.

So in its strict sense it didn't refer to the PLAYERS as All-Time Greats, but the All-Time Great TEAMS.