Diamond Dynasty is one of MLB The Show’s most popular game modes. Integrated with unique mechanics and a simplistic progression system, it has garnered attention in every iteration of the game. But while most people only look at the OVR, there’s another aspect to the cards that is commonly overlooked: the design and aesthetic.
I completely agree that gameplay-wise, OVR is, without a doubt, the most important stat in order to progress. But once you’ve unlocked all those top-tier cards, you might wonder what cards have had the best design throughout the years? That’s the question I’ll be answering today as we take a trip down memory lane.
The Coolest Diamond Dynasty Cards of All-Time
The cards mentioned today don’t just stand amongst the top in terms of OVR, they’re also the ones with the best design in their respective years. While each card series has its own appeal, and opinions might differ, these were the cards that stood out the most for me.
I’ll be starting back from MLB The Show’15 and working my way up. So, let’s look at how the art style has developed over the years, and can today’s best designs truly surpass the greats from the past? Without further ado, let’s dive straight in.
Mike Trout – MLB The Show 15
Mike Trout is my first entry into the list for best-designed cards. The Los Angeles Angels’ center fielder is one of the top-performing players in MLB history. Not only did he have some of the best aesthetics of his time, but he was also the highest OVR player for the next 6 years.
The card itself was stunning, especially at a time when games hadn’t progressed as much. The visuals, as well as the color combination, made it a sought-after card. Not to mention how valuable a player he was even then.
Clayton Kershaw – MLB The Show 16
Next, we have MLB The Show 16 featuring Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw was the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, leading them to several memorable victories. He was on par with Mike Trout at 99 OVR, the highest Diamond Dynasty rating, after a one-point increase from the previous year.
Clayton Kershaw’s card looks pretty old and rough, but that is where the essence of the card lies. A 99 OVR card was appealing as it is, but the extra detail to it made it stand out from the rest. While most of these games are now completely obsolete, if you do manage to find an old edition, make sure to check out this card in particular.
Jose Altuve – MLB The Show 17
I’ve mentioned that OVR isn’t the main focus of this article, and Jose Altuve proves that. While Altuve wasn’t the strongest card in MLB The Show 17, he stood amongst the best in card design. The 2B for the Houston Astros has been leading the charge for the past 8 years, and is even featured in the latest edition, MLB The Show 25.
While today’s version of Jose Altuve might seem a little underwhelming, in 2017, this card had a 96 OVR with a bright, eye-catching design. In his prime, he was a must-have card, both for the stats and the design.
Albert Pujols – MLB The Show 18
The closer we come to the present, the better the card designs we see. For MLB The Show 18, I picked Albert Pujols, 1B for the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols is a player-turned-coach, professionally managing Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
Unlike Jose Altuve, Albert Pujols decided to take an early retirement to shift his focus to his managerial career. However, that doesn’t take away credit from his exemplary record in MLB. His card in MLB The Show 18 can be seen as part of the Immortal collection, with a golden hue to highlight him. While the Immortal collection had a large number of cards, Pujols always stood out.
Cody Bellinger – MLB The Show 19
MLB The Show 19 showed us you don’t need tons of vibrant colours to make a card look good. The 2019 edition of Cody Bellinger is something to be appreciated. MLB The Show 19 saw a variety of card series hitting 99 OVR (MLB The Show 25 Adds 99 Overall Scott Rolen as Collection Reward) mostly the Signature series. But the Finest card series easily beats the former in terms of card design.
The RF for the Los Angeles Dodgers had multiple things going on in his card, from striking the perfect pose to the baseball material flying in the background. The card was a masterpiece, rivaling even those we see today.
Ken Griffey Jr. – MLB The Show 20
The Finest series might have topped the charts in 2019, but 2020 was a different story. We saw Ken Griffey Jr’s Diamond Dynasty card (check out the Live Series Bargains Worth Adding to Your Squad ) shine through as part of the Prestige series. Now, this isn’t to say other series weren’t good, but Prestige cards looked ethereal and clearly were made with more detail in mind.
The pose Ken Griffey Jr. hit in his ‘20 card was iconic, to say the least. The CF for the Seattle Mariners holds this honor for the 2020 edition of MLB The Show, forever inscribed in history.
Mike Trout – MLB The Show 21
I said I’d show you the best card designs throughout the years, even if that means giving the spot to the same player twice. Mike Trout’s 2021 ‘Finest’ series card is just amazing to look at. While I did take others like Milestone Willie Mays and 2021 Postseason Logan Webb into consideration, they just fell short in terms of aesthetics.
The Finest card series has, without a doubt, some of the best designs in the game. Trout’s hyperrealistic image, combined with a dull gray colour palette, is everything the card needs. Aesthetics aside, the Los Angeles Angels’ CF was still rocking a 99 OVR this late into the series, a truly commendable feat.
Shohei Ohtani – MLB The Show 22
2022’s entry goes to Shohei Ohtani, hands down. That’s because MLB The Show 22’s cover athlete was the Los Angeles Angels’ SP himself. The card design is extraordinary, considering they used him to market the game. Alongside a 99 OVR, Shohei Ohtani’s card got the Japanese makeover, resembling him to an overlord of sorts.
This was the easiest selection in this list by far, as no other series even came close to this card design. Even though there’s not a lot except for his OVR and design, the card is a must-have in your MLB The Show 22 collection.
Mickey Mantle – MLB The Show 23
It was a tough decision between Incognito Mickey Mantle and Kaiju Joe Mauer, but in the end, Mickey Mantle’s card was just something I couldn’t let up on. Unlike most other card designs on the list, Incognito takes a more colourful and cartoonish approach to the card. The vibrant blue designs popping out of the card really make you look a second time.
Mickey Mantle is the CF for the New York Yankees, and an amazing one at that. He also has ‘the Commerce Comet’ written right under his image, adding to the essence of the card. If you’re looking for fun cards that also get the job done, Incognito Mickey Mantle is one you can’t miss.
Lou Gehrig – MLB The Show 24
Lou Gehrig, the 1B for the New York Yankees, is represented in the Hall of Fame card series, making it one you won’t forget. There’s a lot of customization that went into the Hall of Fame cards, from the picture in the background to the inscription, as well as “National Baseball Hall of Fame” written at the bottom.
Gehrig was a dominant force on the pitch, leading the Yankees to several impressive victories. His 99 OVR represents that perfectly as this iconic card is one everyone should be vying to have in their collections.
Carlos Beltran – MLB The Show 25
Our final entry is from the latest iteration of MLB The Show, Carlos Beltran. Carlos Beltran is one of four players in MLB The Show 25 who have an OVR of 99. He plays as a CF for the New York Mets and is unstoppable on the field. Since he’s one of the top few players in the game, he received a special card design with his signature at the bottom, part of the Signature series.
Even though there are only three colours that stand out, the card design looks complete. The gray background, with a dark orange N, represents his team, while the signature at the bottom embeds his presence into the card. I’d recommend grinding out to get this card, if not for the looks, then definitely for the outstanding rating.
