Good points -- a shortstop hitting .372 and an OPS of 1.033 with a 2 range rating should be among the best. That's Nomar in 2000.
When I checked the actual stats for 80M leagues, Nomar's '99 card is ranked 5th with a .946 OPS actual in play. Yet that 2000 card is 13th with an .895 OPS. But 2000 was a better season for Nomar. Not technically a whole lot better than '99 in OPS ('99 is 1.021 in real life). I know, but go figure....
Anyhow, another example of how the cards don't reflect real life, and bargains, value can be found (and sentimentalism or fan-favorite-seasons aren't smart to lock on to).