Baseball cards have long been an integral part of baseball culture and fandom. For over a century, fans have collected cards featuring their favorite players and relived memorable moments from seasons past. MLB The Show has incorporated the tradition of baseball cards into its popular baseball video game franchise, allowing players to collect virtual cards just as they would in real life.
The inclusion of baseball cards in MLB The Show can be traced back to the 2006 installment, MLB 06: The Show. This was the first entry in the series to feature a “Card Collection” mode where players could collect digital versions of real life baseball cards. The cards depicted current and former MLB players and could be obtained by completing missions, exchanges, or purchases in the in-game store.
While the cards served no functional purpose other than collection in MLB 06, they helped establish the blueprint for a deeper card-based experience in future Show games. Over the years, Sony San Diego has expanded upon the concept by introducing card-based gameplay modes that allow the virtual cards to be used competitively.
In MLB 07: The Show, developers introduced “Diamond Dynasty” mode, which served as the precursor to the now-iconic franchise/ultimate team style mode seen today. Players could build a team by collecting cards and then face off against other users’ customized squads. This was a major step that transformed cards from static collectibles into integral assets for in-game lineups.
Diamond Dynasty continued to evolve with each new MLB The Show release. In MLB 12: The Show, cards could now be upgraded using “Parallels” to make players more powerful. MLB 13 brought player “Archetypes” like “Five Tool” or “Power Hitter” that boosted certain attributes. By MLB 14, full roster customization was possible with equipment, perks, and player archetypes/parallels.
A major milestone was reached with MLB 15: The Show, as it introduced “Flashback” and “Legend” cards featuring retired greats from baseball history. Suddenly, dream matchups and lineups mixing current stars with legends became possible in Diamond Dynasty. Players could now build a team with Babe Ruth batting behind Mike Trout.
MLB 16 expanded customization further by introducing “equipment” that could be applied to cards to tweak attributes in different ways. This opened up new strategic team-building options. MLB 17 brought “Mission” and “Program” cards that rewarded players for completing in-game objectives, adding another layer of progression.
MLB 18 saw the introduction of “Finest” cards highlighting the top performers from that season, as well as “Awards” cards for accolades like Rookie of the Year. MLB 19 added “Prime” and “Signature” series cards spotlighting the best seasons and defining moments from legendary careers. By this point, Diamond Dynasty had become a robust mode with thousands of possible card combinations.
MLB The Show 20 made Diamond Dynasty even more immersive by introducing “Player Programs” that allowed users to progress individual cards through various missions and objectives to upgrade them to higher “tiers.” This added a sense of long-term progression for specific cards. MLB 21 brought “Finest” cards back along with new “Topps Now” cards highlighting real-life accomplishments each week.
Today in MLB The Show 22, Diamond Dynasty has grown into one of the most feature-rich and customizable ultimate team modes in any sports video game. With over a decade of refinements, it allows users to build the ultimate dream team mixing legends of the past with present-day stars. Players can progress their team through new Player Programs, Collections, Programs, and Missions each month to continuously evolve their squad.
Through faithful recreations of real baseball cards old and new, Sony San Diego has incorporated one of baseball’s classic traditions into its hit franchise. By giving virtual life to cardboard heroes of past and present, Diamond Dynasty lets fans relive history in thrilling matchups while also discovering new player-card combinations. It’s a testament to how baseball cards remain an integral part of the sport’s culture, now experienced through the interactive medium of video games. With annual updates, MLB The Show continues pushing the boundaries of virtual card collecting and team-building for fans worldwide.
