There are thousands of different cards to own in Diamond Dynasty on MLB: The Show 24; from players to stadiums, to uniforms, to equipment to the sound effects in the stadium. Every card is different, and every card has its own unique value, price and usefulness. In this article, we are going to break down and rank the top 25 best cards in the game to own.
To make our list, we are going to look at the rarity of the card, the card's usefulness, and how the card can be obtained. Some cards can be easily unlocked by completing conquer maps and doing other challenges; some are found in packs and then sold on the community market for stubs, often for an inflated price; and some require stacking up multiple wins online. One thing all the cards on this list have in common is that they are some of the best cards in the game and you can’t go wrong having any of them in your inventory.
Stubs are the in-game currency for MLB: The Show and can be earned by playing the game or purchased from the online store. For reference, this is the price to buy stubs from the online store.
Cost to purchase stubs:
- 1,000 stubs for $0.99
- 5,000 stubs for $4.99
- 11,000 stubs for $9.99
- 24,000 stubs for $19.99
- 67,500 stubs for $49.99
- 150,000 stubs for $99.99
25. Juan Marichal (Finest Series)
Players will make this list for multiple reasons and the first player to make the list is Juan Marichal because of his ability and market value. Marichal is a 99 overall starting pitcher from season three’s finest series with a great arsenal.
We like Marichal in this spot because he is one of the better pitchers in the game and has a current market value to sell now at over 450,000 stubs. This is a player you can either use for his talents or sell in the market to acquire stubs and get the players you want.
Marichal strengths:
- Marichal is a 99 overall starting pitcher, the highest natural overall in the game
- He has multiple elite breaking balls with command
- High market value: currently selling for over 450K stubs which is roughly $300
- Has break outlier quirk, so he loses less break on his pitches as he fatigues
24. New Balance FuelCell Ohtani 1 (Equipment)
Players aren’t the only cards on our top 25 list. Coming in at 24 we have the New Balance FuelCell Ohtani 1 cleats. These cleats are the best in the game, designed for two-way players, they add +14 speed, +10 steal, +8 reaction, +10 K/9, and +5 H/9 to players who wear them. This shoe was inspired by Shohei Ohtani and is a must have for your road to the show (RTTS) player.
If you’re playing RTTS, these are a must-have piece of equipment because of their attribute boosts. Having the best equipment is a must if you want to be the best and compete with the best, and the New Balance FuelCell Ohtani 1 is the best.
New Balance FuelCell Ohtani 1 strengths:
- The best cleats in game boosting +14 speed, +10 steal, +8 reaction, +10 K/9, and +5 H/9
- Rare piece of equipment that boosts pitchers and field position players
- Perfect equipment for two-way players
- Most valuable equipment in the market, selling for roughly 30,000 stubs
23. Polo Grounds (Stadium)
The only stadium on our list: the Polo Grounds. The Polo Grounds is a stadium that can be unlocked exclusively by collecting other classic stadiums; meaning if you have this card, you have the ten other classic stadiums to play in. One of the most underrated aspects of MLB: The Show is the stadiums, and having the classics is a must.
We included the Polo Grounds on our list because once you have it, you can’t lose it, and the same goes for the ten stadiums you collected to unlock it. The ten stadiums needed to complete the collection can be found in packs and on the market, but the Polo Grounds is not in those places. Soak in the history of this park and more and complete the classic stadium’s collection to add it to your inventory.
Polo Ground strengths:
- You will have ten other classic stadiums
- Will forever be in your inventory
- One of the most iconic ballparks with an immense history
- Great for inside-the-park home runs
22. Van Down by the River (Home Run Call)
We have a ballpark on the list and now we have a home run call. Paying homage to the late Saturday Night Live (SNL) star and comic, Chris Farley. It can be hard to believe, but there was a time when SNL was funny, and in the 90s, one of its biggest stars played a character that has transcended generations. Farley played a motivational speaker, Matt Foley, who was hired by a dad to motivate his troublesome kids. Foley would rant about what would happen if the kids kept on their path, and enthusiastically tell them that they would end up living “In a van down by the river”.
This list would not be complete if it only contained players, as they are just one aspect of MLBTS and the game's experience. When you hit a home run, you want to celebrate in style and feel the energy from within the game radiate through your gaming area. Hearing this iconic call does just that. This card is available in packs and on the market for roughly 22,000 stubs. Collect this card and add it to your inventory; if you don’t, you’ll end up living in a van down by the river!
Van Down by the River strengths:
- An iconic call that resonates across generations
- One of the most energetic home run calls in the game
- The most valuable home run call in the market, going for around 22,000 stubs
21. Aaron Judge (Live Series)
All rise. Coming in at lucky 21 in the live series Aaron Judge card. Judge is one of the best home run hitters in baseball and that translates to him being one of the live series players in the game with a 95 overall. With elite power and plate discipline, Judge is a home run threat every at bat who also has a cannon of an arm and the ability to throw runners with missiles from the outfield.
Although he is one of the best live series players on the game, there are many other better players and even better versions of Judge. We like the live series Judge here because he is in the core set and can play in all seasons and because he is necessary to complete the live series collection which can unlock even better players.
Judge strengths:
- 95 overall with the best power in the game
- Can sell in the market for roughly 50,000 stubs, can sell for much higher at the start of a new season
- Core player that can be used in any season
- One of the toughest cards to obtain in the live series
20. Hunter Greene (Season Awards Series)
The season awards series is something unique to MLBTS and highlights players throughout the season who win weekly awards, monthly awards and so on. Hunter Greene was one of the season awards winners after posting an incredible 3-0 record, 0.27 era, and 40 strikeouts in 5 starts between 7/6 and 8/3. His season awards card offers you a Hunter Greene that performs similarly.
Entering the game with season two, drop nine, this 99 overall Greene has 99 velocity and break making his pitches tough to make contact with. He has multiple breaking balls giving you more options to choose from when going for the strikeout. And to top it off, he sells in the market for around 100,000 stubs.
Greene strengths:
- 99 overall making him one of the top pitchers on the game
- Elite velo and break with multiple breaking balls
- Sells in the market for around 100,000 stubs
19. Alfonso Soriano (Finest Series)
Next up we have one of the best second basemen in the game from the finest series: Alfonso Soriano. Soriano was a great infielder for the Yankees early in his career before going to the Cubs and moving to the outfield. This card is the version of Soriano when he was at his best.
At 99 overall, Soriano has great speed and defense to pair with his excellent batting ability. He can hit for contact, hit for power and even lay down a bunt for a base hit. This makes him one of the more versatile players in the game and why he finds himself on this list.
Soriano strengths:
- Great hitter who can hit for contact and power
- Has great speed and fielding ability
- 99 overall that sells for around 80,000 stubs on the market
18. Gary Sanchez (Awards Series)
The first catcher to make our list is the awards series, Gary Sanchez. The awards series highlights players that have previously won MLB awards such as Gold Glove, Cy Young and Silver Slugger. Sanchez’s awards series card features a version of him when he won the Silver Slugger Award as a catcher with the Yankees in 2017.
Highlighting Silver Sluggers means two things, elite power and elite contact. That is just what Sanchez brings to your lineup. Oh, and he’s got a canon from behind the plate making it extremely tough to steal when he’s in the game.
Sanchez strengths:
- With 125 power against left and right, he has the highest power in the game
- Well-rounded 99 overall player with excellent defense
- One of the best players from season 2, this card sells for roughly 160,000 stubs on the market
17. Buck O’Neil (Jin Kim Series)
The Jin Kim series offers players from the Negro Leagues at their best. The Jin Kim series is a special one as there are many online events that limit the players you can use by series, and Jin Kim series cards are usually one of a few series you can use. One of the season three additions to this series is first baseman Buck O’Neil.
At 99 overall, O’Neil is well rounded and a force to reckon with on MLBTS. He is high on the attribute charts for all hitting and fielding categories and isn’t limited to first base as he has left field and right field as his secondary positions. If that isn’t enough for you, you can also sell him in the market for roughly 450,000 stubs.
O’Neil strengths:
- Part of the Jin Kim series, this card is eligible for most events
- Well-rounded with a 99 overall that can hit and field
- Big money in the market selling for 450,000 stubs
16. Rich (Goose) Gossage (Hall of Fame Series)
Having a great starting pitcher is important, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t have a reliable closer who can finish off the game. Goose Gossage fills that void. One of the first editions to the game in season one, the Hall of Fame series Gossage has a high strikeout rate that you can capitalize on with his pitching repertoire.
We like Gossage right outside the top 15 because of his ability to come in and close out games without allowing the other team to make any noise. At 99 overall, he is one of the few closing pitchers in the game to earn that mark and it translates on the mound.
Gossage strengths:
- At 99 overall he is one of the best closers in the game
- This card has the max K/9 attribute rating at 125 and is complemented with 99 velo and break
- Elite strikeout repertoire featuring a 4-seam fastball, slurve, sinker and changeup
15. Blake Snell (Milestone Series)
The milestone series highlights just that, milestones. The Blake Snell milestone is from season two and showcases the Blake Snell who threw a no-hitter on 8/2/24. Snell is one of a few elite left-handed pitchers on the game and he doesn’t disappoint. Plus, he can be unlocked rather easily by completing the season two, awards drop nine, program.
At 99 overall, Snell has great pitching clutch at 125 and stamina at 119 allowing him to pitch much deeper in a game. Add to that his 125 H/9 and 123 K/9 and he found himself leading off our top 15.
Snell strengths:
- Elite stamina and pitching clutch allowing him to remain effective in late innings
- 99 overall with 99 break and 123 K/9 makes it tough for batters to make contact
- Features a slider and a slurve that fools hitters with ease
14. Ethan Salas (Pipeline Series)
The second catcher on our list, pipeline Ethan Salas is one of the most sought-after catchers from season two. The pipeline series features a glimpse into the future of MLB with MLB’s top prospects rated on their potential. Contact, power, and defense. That is how you sum up Salas’.
Batting left-handed Salas is a great addition to any lineup as he tops the attribute charts for contact and power. When you combine that with his arm, he becomes one of a handful of catchers on the game that you want behind the plate. If you already have a catcher you like, no problem, you can sell him in the market for a nice haul of stubs.
Salas strengths:
- Elite hitter for contact and power
- 99 overall scoring 90+ in all fielding categories
- Has a market value of over 300,000 stubs.
13. Martin Dihigo (Jin Kim Series)
The Jin Kim series does not disappoint when it comes to the quality of players. Listed as a starting pitcher Martin Dihigo is no exception coming in at 99 overall. But that’s not all, Dihigo is a two-way player who can play all eight other field positions. Having a player with this kind of diversity is a must have in any inventory. Whether you start him on the mound, start him in the field or have him as the ultimate utility player on the bench, you can’t go wrong.
As a pitcher, Dihigo has velocity and movement that can strike out the best of the best. And as a hitter, he has power and contact like few others in the game. Having this kind of diversity makes him one of the most sought-after players on MLBTS as his card goes on the market for over 250,000 stubs.
Dihigo strengths:
- 99 overall two-way player
- Great velo allowing him to blow fastballs by any hitter
- Great bat that can hit for contact and power
- Valuable in the market going for over 250,000 stubs
12. Dylan Cease (Milestone Series)
Next up we have another player who had a no-no this season. Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter on 7/25/24 and this card displays that feat well. Cease has one of the nastiest changeups in the game that has players swinging so early they look like they don’t belong in the league.
The second milestone series player with a no-hitter on the list, Cease has the pitching clutch, stamina and command to go the distance in any start. Cease can be unlocked by completing the season two, drop eight program and is relatively easy unlockability is why we placed him at twelve one our list.
Cease strengths:
- 99 overall with 125 H/9 and 125 pitching clutch
- Elite command
- Best changeup in the game
11. C.C. Sabathia (Hyper Series)
The C.C. Sabathia hyper series card requires you to collect 250 player cards from season one, meaning when you unlock him, you’ll also have 250 solid players with a dozen or so of them top contenders to be in your lineup. This Sabathia card features him with the Yankees, where he won a World Series in 2009.
There are multiple pitchers who match his 99 overall, but Sabathia stands out from even them with his pitching skills and repertoire. This player can’t be found in the market and can only be obtained through collecting, making him even more valuable than the others.
Sabathia strengths:
- Elite command and velocity
- High stamina and pitching clutch allows him to pitch deep into games
- 99 overall and one of the best starting pitchers on the game
10. Josh Gibson (Jin Kim Series)
On May 29, 2024, Major League Baseball incorporated stats from the Negro Leagues into their official record. Once that was complete, Josh Gibson passed Ted Williams in career batting average, becoming the all-time leader in batting average at .372. Not only is Gibson an elite hitter, but he is also a great catcher that can play five secondary positions.
Able to catch, play all three outfield positions, first and third base, Gibson has range on defense making him even more valuable than his hitting indicates. Not only can Gibson hit for contact and get on base, but he can also go long on any pitch as he has 125 power left and right.
Gibson strengths:
- 99 overall with 125 power left and right
- A catcher who can also play all three outfield positions, first and third base
- Sells in the market for roughly 100,000 stubs
9. Stan Musial (Hall of Fame Series)
One of the players unlocked in the season three xp program two, Stan Musial is a lefty that causes pitchers to have nightmares. With 125 conact left and right, 125 plate vision and 125 batting clutch, pitchers are never safe when Musial is at the plate.
Musial is a menace, and he makes sure you know that from the first second you put him in your lineup. Listed as a left fielder, Musial can also play center field, right field, and first base. He has ten quirks and excels at hitting the first pitch, fastball and breaking balls.
Musial strengths:
- 99 overall with 125 contact left and right
- 125 plate vision and batting clutch
- excels at hitting the first pitch, fastball and breaking balls
8. Honus Wagner (Milestone Series)
One of the most iconic players in the game, known as the Flying Dutchman, Honus Wagner’s legacy continues through this card. This isn’t the T206, which is a Honus Wagner card featured in tobacco packs sold from 1909-1911 the sold for a record $7.25 million, but it is the next best thing as he sells in the market for 1,000,000 stubs.
This milestone card highlights Wagner stealing over 500 bases with his speed and stealing maxed out at 99. Listed as a shortstop, Wagner plays six other positions with the catcher being the only fielding position he doesn’t play.
Wagner strengths:
- 99 overall with 99 speed and stealing
- Shortstop that can play all positions in the field except catcher
- Sells in the market for a whopping 1,000,000 stubs
7. Lou Gehrig (Hall of Fame Series)
Another player that can be unlocked by completing the season three xp program two is Lou Gehrig. A 99 overall player, his offensive attributes are all 99 or higher with 125 contact left and right, 125 hitting clutch and 125 plate discipline making him lethal with the bat in his hands.
A lefty that only plays first base, Gehrig is limited in your lineup to first base or designated hitter; but if you have him in your inventory, you’d be crazy not to have him in your lineup. As he is unlocked by completing the season three xp path program, once you have him unlocked you will have already unlocked a few other elite players to insert in your lineup.
Gehrig strengths:
- 99 overall with 125 contact left and right, 125 hitting clutch and 125 plate discipline
- Great power with 119 power right and 115 power left
- Can bunt like no other with 99 bunt, 99 drag bunt and 118 plate vision
6. Ernie Banks (Action Figure Series)
Just outside of the top five sits action figure Ernie Banks. Banks can be unlocked by completing the action figure special collection. You must collect 35 action figure series cards to unlock Banks, meaning you’ll have a team of 99 overall action figure players when you get Banks in your inventory.
Available exclusively through the action figure special collection, this player isn’t on the market and can’t be found in packs making the challenge of obtaining him even that much more satisfying. Banks is a core player meaning he can play in any season.
Banks strengths:
- Core player that can play in any season
- 99 overall well-balanced player
- Elite hitter with 110+ in all contact and power categories
5. Mickey Mantle (Hall of Fame Series)
The third player that can is unlocked by completing the season three xp program two, Hall of Fame Mickey Mantle. A switch-hitting center fielder, Mantle is a legend and many regard him as the player who hit the longest home run in MLB history at Griffith Stadium.
A true 5-tool player, Mantle hits for contact and power, has great speed, a great glove and a rocket of an arm. Mantle is a great addition to any lineup and in addition to playing center field, his secondary positions are left field, right field and first base.
Mantle strengths:
- 99 overall switch hitter with 125 contact left and 125 power right
- Hard to get out with 125 plate discipline and 125 batting clutch
- Excels hitting fastballs and breaking balls
4. Paul Skenes (Pipeline Series)
Paul Skenes took the league by storm in his 2024 rookie season and his pipeline series card takes that to the next level forecasting how great he can be. As a 99 overall starting pitcher, Skenes has some of the highest velocity on the game and is a threat to strike out any batter he faces.
Skenes is one of the most sought-after pitchers in the game, fetching over 500,000 stubs on the market. You can sell him if you’d like, but he is a pitcher you want to keep in your rotation as hitters wince just knowing he is going to be on the mound.
Skenes strengths:
- 99 overall with 99 velo and break
- Extra velo on his fastball
- Sells for over 500,000 stubs on the market
3. Shohei Ohtani (Milestone Series)
Like Paul Skenes, Shohei Ohtani took the league by storm in the 2024 MLB season. Unlike Skenes, this wasn’t the first year he had done so. Normally a two-way player, Ohtani had Tommy John surgery after the 2023 and didn’t pitch in 24’. Instead, he became the first player in history to record a 50/50 season, hitting 54 home runs and swiping 59 bases.
Milestone Ohtani is a left-handed DH that can play all outfield positions. He’s a great fielder with a canon of an arm, but that’s not what‘s featured in his milestone card. With 125 power left and right to pair with 99 speed and stealing, he is the ultimate offensive powerhouse in any lineup.
Ohtani strengths:
- 99 overall with 99 speed and stealing
- Great power with 125 power left and right
- Excels at hitting any pitch
- Great contact hitter
2. Babe Ruth (Hall of Fame Series)
The Great Gambino, the Sultan of Swat, the Caliph of Clout, or just The Babe, are a few of Babe Ruth’s nicknames. Once a Boston Red Sox, he was traded to their rival the Yankees in a trade that is known as the Curse of the Bambino as the Red Sox went 86 years without a World Series win after the trade.
A two-way player, the Babe can pitch like a great and hit like a legend. To unlock this card, you will need to complete the live series collection for all 30 MLB teams. Meaning if you have this card in your inventory, you have all the live series players in the game.
Ruth strengths:
- 99 overall two-way player
- Legendary batter that can hit for contact and power with 125 power left and right to go with 125 contact left and right
- Hard to get out with 125 plate discipline, 125 batting clutch and 104 plate vision
1. Hank Aaron (Hall of Fame Series)
The home run king finds himself tops our list of the best cards to have in MLBTS. Hank Aaron is the true home run king, and his hitting is on display when you have this card in your lineup. He excels at hitting the first pitch, breaking balls and fastballs, and can do so for contact and power.
The right fielder has a canon of an arm and can also play center field, left field, and first base. His speed is subpar but isn’t necessary given his power and ability to turn any pitch into a souvenir. Having Aaron in your lineup can scare pitchers to the point that they are thinking about him while pitching to other batters leaving them vulnerable to mistakes.
Aaron strengths:
- 99 overall with 115 contact left and 120 contact right
- Great power hitter with 125 power left and 115 power right
- A hard out for pitchers as he has 115 plate vision, 101 plate discipline and 125 batting clutch
