{{Short description|Collectible card game}} {{Italic title}} {{Infobox game |subject_name= MLB Showdown |image_link= File:MlbShowdownLogo.jpg |image_caption= ''MLB Showdown'' logo |designer= |years=2000–2005 |publisher= Wizards of the Coast |genre=Collectible card game<br>Dice game |players= 2 |ages= 10 and up |setup_time= < 5 minutes |playing_time= < 30 minutes |random_chance= High<sup>1</sup> |skills= Card playing<br>Some knowledge of baseball |footnotes=1: Due to the 20-sided die }} '''''MLB Showdown''''' (colloq. ''Showdown'') is an out-of-print collectible card game made by Wizards of the Coast that ran from April 2000 to 2005.<ref name="MILLER2">{{Citation |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |title=Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition | year=2003 |pages=387–396 |postscript=.}}</ref> The game was introduced to the public in 2000, featuring Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones on the product cover.<ref name="DUMMIES">{{cite book|title=Trading Card Games For Dummies|url=https://archive.org/details/tradingcardgames00kauf|url-access=registration|last1=Kaufeld|first1=John|last2=Smith|first2=Jeremy|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2006|isbn=0470044071}}</ref> Subsequent cover athletes included Shawn Green, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramírez, Luis Gonzalez, Torii Hunter, Albert Pujols, and Craig Biggio.
==Gameplay== thumb|200px|left|Original ''MLB Showdown'' Logo ''MLB Showdown'' simulates baseball through a card game, with heavy randomness. It involves a 20-sided die and cards made specifically for the game. These cards were available in booster packs, a staple of collectible card games, as well as starter packs and draft packs. There are two types of cards: player cards (current and former Major League players) and strategy cards (actions that can add to or subtract from dice rolls, change results, draw extra cards, etc.)
The outcome of an at-bat largely depends on the player cards. The player whose pitcher is pitching that turn rolls a die to determine whether the batting player rolls on the pitcher's chart or the batter's chart. Each of the two charts has a list of possible results from the at-bat.
==Organized play== The organized play was set into three levels: local leagues, regionals, and the national championship. The ''MLB Showdown'' card game had four national champions: Scott Forster (2001), Gary Quinn (2002), Keith Pioro (2003), and Terry Dugan (2004).
For the 2005 season, the national championship was set as a different format than previously because of changes in organized play. Eight players were regional champions only and won the grand prize of MLB season tickets to the team of his/her choice. However, Wizards of the Coast eventually approved a national championship in Houston, Texas. Prizes were reduced to merely autographed memorabilia sent in from Wizards of the Coast. Four players, Stephen Mendel, Ben Taylor, Jonathan Rose, and Daniel Rosen, split the tournament and were named national champions of the 2005 season.
There was no formal organized after Showdown was discontinued by Wizards of the Coast in January 2006.
==Sets== {| class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year ! Set ! Type of card ! # of cards |- | rowspan="7" | 2000 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 462 |- | Strategy || 55 |- | rowspan="2" | Pennant Run || Player || 150 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | Spring Training Promo || rowspan="3" | Player || 34 |- | Home Run Hitter Promo || 14 |- | Pennant Run Promo || 8 |- | rowspan="6" | 2001 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 462 |- | Strategy || 75 |- | rowspan="2" | Pennant Run || Player || 175 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | MLB Showdown 2001 Promo || rowspan="2" | Player || 34 |- | Ace Pitchers Promo || 16 |- | rowspan="7" | 2002 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 356 |- | Strategy || 50 |- | rowspan="2" | Trading Deadline || Player || 150 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | rowspan="2" | Pennant Run || Player || 150 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | All-Star Game || Player || 50 |- | rowspan="6" | 2003 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 304 |- | Strategy || 50 |- | rowspan="2" | Trading Deadline || Player || 145 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | rowspan="2" | Pennant Run || Player || 125 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | rowspan="6" | 2004 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 348 |- | Strategy || 50 |- | rowspan="2" | Trading Deadline || Player || 125 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | rowspan="2" | Pennant Run || Player || 125 |- | Strategy || 25 |- | rowspan="4" | 2005 || rowspan="2" | Base || Player || 348 |- | Strategy || 50 |- | rowspan="2" | Trading Deadline || Player || 168 |- | Strategy || 25 |}
==MLB Showdown timeline== *February 4, 2000: MLB Showdown 2000 is announced by Wizards of the Coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/News/pressrelease.asp?20000204b|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|title=WIZARDS OF THE COAST TO DELIVER A HOME RUN WITH NEW MLB SHOWDOWN 2000 CARD GAME|date=2000-02-04|access-date=2008-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001014073921/http://www.wizards.com/News/pressrelease.asp?20000204b|archive-date=2000-10-14}}</ref> *April 24, 2000: MLB Showdown is put on the market at $2.99 per booster pack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/News/pressrelease.asp?20000426a|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|title=Wizards Of The Coast Hits A Grand Slam With New MLBTM Showdown 2000TM Card Game|date=2000-04-26|access-date=2008-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419230034/http://www.wizards.com/News/pressrelease.asp?20000426a|archive-date=2001-04-19}}</ref> *August 14, 2000: The first expansion set, entitled "Pennant Run," is released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20000727a|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|title=Pennant Fever Hits The MLBTM Showdown 2000 Card Game With First Expansion Set|date=2000-07-27|access-date=2008-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010424102536/http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20000727a|archive-date=2001-04-24}}</ref> *March 30, 2001: MLB Showdown 2000 is named the 2000 Collectible Card Game of the Year by Card Trade Magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20010330a|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|title=MLB Showdown 2000 Card Game Named Collectible Card Game Of The Year|date=2001-03-30|access-date=2008-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010405075148/http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20010330a|archive-date=2001-04-05}}</ref> *April 2, 2001: MLB Showdown 2001 is released; changes in the game are made to allow more baserunning choices. *July 2001: The strategy card set is released in Pennant Run. New cards include "Mound Conference" and "Pep Talk." "1st Edition" cards are discontinued. *April 29, 2002: MLB Showdown 2002 is released with revamped on-base values. *July 15, 2002: MLB Showdown 2002 Trading Deadline is announced. It was released less than a week later. *September 2002: "Super Season" cards are created, allowing managers to play with player with stats from previous historic seasons in the "Pennant Run" expansion. *March 7, 2003: MLB Showdown 2003 is released. Icons are put onto player cards to supplement gameplay. *June 27, 2003: New rookie season cards let managers play with a card based on a Rookie of the Year winner's rookie season. *August 29, 2003: In the "Pennant Run" set, the Cooperstown Collection subset is created, allowing managers to play with classic Hall of Famers such as Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson. *March 26, 2004: MLB Showdown 2004 is released. *March 25, 2005: MLB Showdown 2005 is released. *January 8, 2006: Wizards announces the cancellation of MLB Showdown.
==Reviews== *''Pyramid''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=1765 |title = Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Major League Baseball Showdown 2000}}</ref>
==Further reading== *[https://archive.org/details/ScryeMagazineIssue52/page/n69/mode/2up Strategy] in ''Scrye'' #52
==See also== *''NFL Showdown'' *''NBA Showdown''
==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.showdowncards.com/mlb/mlb.php ''MLB Showdown'' card database] *{{bgg|618|''MLB Showdown''}}
Category:Card games introduced in 2000 Category:Discontinued collectible card games Category:Wizards of the Coast games Category:Baseball board games Category:Products and services discontinued in 2005 Category:2000 establishments in Washington (state) Category:2005 disestablishments in Washington (state) Category:Baseball cards