Chase Pack 20
We're at Chase Pack 20 already which seems wild when you consider there's been 25 Headliner sets released. Chase Packs certainly feature expensive cards that are hard to pull, but they don't feel special anymore.
Pack 20 features 99 Awards Mark McGwire in Oakland Athletics form.
I've been joking about how often Chase Packs feature popular switch-hitters, so this is certainly a humorous change of pace. Big Mac lands as the latest Chase card, and is an old fashioned masher. Terrible defensively with very little Speed, McGwire has 125 ratings in every offensive attribute except for Contact vs RHP which still comes in at 101. I love McGwire, but the community is always weary of Oakland A's versions as the swing doesn't feel as smooth as Cardinals versions.
Regardless, this Big Mac is everything you want in a McGwire card. It'll feel like a steep price to pay for a 1B, but it's hard to deny the absurdly powerful offensive attributes alongside Dead Red and Breaking Ball Hitter Quirks. On debut, this card is the #2 1B according to True Overall and #8 in Meta Overall.
Ryne Sandberg Program
Major League Baseball lost an all-time great recently with the passing of Ryne Sandberg. As often occurs when we lose a legend, SDS released a program commemorating Ryne Sandberg's career that features a free 99 overall Hall of Fame card.
Completion Requirement: 23 Stars
Moments (14 Stars Total)
- 7 Moments worth 2 Stars each
Stat Missions (10 Stars Total)
Featuring the #23, Sandberg's uniform number retired by the Cubs in 2005.
- 23 Hits with 2B
- 23 Hits with Cubs players
- 2300 PXP with Cubs players
- 23 Home Runs (any player)
- 23 Stolen Bases (any player)
Rewards
- 16,100 XP
- 5 Show Packs
- 99 OVR Hall of Fame Ryne Sandberg
If you were looking for a new 2B, Hall of Fame Ryne Sandberg might be it. You'll earn the card fairly easy with some time invested and walk away with the current #1 2B according to True Overall. Elite Contact and Clutch, 87+ Power against both sides, Diamond Fielding and 90 Speed with 99 Stealing perfectly encapsulates Sandberg's toolbox as a player. Sandberg's 99 overalls are often high caliber, and this Hall of Fame version is certainly a fitting tribute.
Rest in power #23.
Cory Wayne Dell
Cory has been writing about all things baseball and gaming since 2022 and has been featured at Operation Sports as well as cited by Forbes. Cory is also a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Cargocastle. Cargocastle's latest single, "Truth and Reconciliation," is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Cory is also the author of Shadow of a Monster, a personal memoir currently seeking publication.
