SUMMARY
- A modern curse has been associated with players featured on the cover of the video game MLB The Show.
- The curse suggests that players' on-field performances may see a dip after becoming the cover athlete.
Every baseball fan has heard of the Curse of Bambino. A curse that set in after the Boston Red Sox sold legend, Babe Ruth, to the New York Yankees amid controversy. The curse saw the Red Sox without a World Series title for an outstanding 86 years.
But in modern times, a similar curse has awakened ever since the dawn of the virtual world of baseball. But instead of cursing the whole team, it has been cursing the performance of players. It is believed by many that whichever player graces the cover of the widely popular video game, MLB The Show, sees a dip in his performance.
Mostly the talk about the curse is used in a tongue-in-cheek manner. However, given that players who adorn the cover of the game are the ones who have exceptional stats in the ballpark, some see a dip in their performance right after becoming a cover athlete.
Whether it’s just video game lore or if some higher power is interfering with athlete’s performances cannot be confirmed with the technology in hand. However, let’s delve deeper into every athlete who has fallen prey to the MLB The Show curse.
Dustin Pedroia – 2009
In 2008, he had a standout year with his first All-Star appearance, being crowned the American League MVP, and receiving the first of his four Gold Glove awards. Leading all of baseball with 213 hits and 54 doubles was a remarkable feat.
Yet, after gracing the cover of MLB The Show, a slight downturn was noticeable in his performance. His hit and double counts decreased, his batting average took a hit, and his OPS saw a decline of .050.
Joe Mauer – 2010 and 2011
The only player to date to grace the cover twice. He was chosen because of his extraordinary year, which saw him earn the AL MVP. Topping baseball with a .365 batting average and a .444 on-base percentage, he also won a Gold Glove award. However, his OPS experienced a substantial decline, with fewer than half the number of home runs, and he fell short of repeating as the MVP.
In 2011, following his second consecutive cover appearance, his performance took a further hit. Limited to only 82 games, he achieved a less-than-average .729 OPS.
Adrian Gonzalez – 2012
In the 2011 season, Gonzalez delivered an outstanding performance. He was leading the league with 213 hits, earning an All-Star nod, and securing a Gold Glove award with the Boston Red Sox.
However, by the season’s end, his statistics experienced a significant decline across various stats. It wasn’t until the next year after that he was rid of the ‘curse’ and dominated the ballpark.
Yasiel Puig -2015
Puig enjoyed a solid 2014 season, showcasing incredible prowess with a batting average of .296, an on-base percentage of .382, and a slugging percentage of .480, which is remarkable. However, the following year, 2015, proved to be a challenging period in his career.
He faced a massive decline in his stats. The ‘curse’ hit him the hardest because from then on he had an extended stint in the minor leagues.
Aaron Judge – 2018
In 2017, Aaron Judge burst onto the major league scene like a supernova in his first full season. The guy practically owned the American League in home runs and walks, flaunting a stunning 1.049 OPS.
Then came 2018 – a bit of a hiccup in Judge’s stats across the board. After a brief hiatus, he has now reclaimed his throne as one of the top dominant players across the league.
Javier Baez – 2020
In 2019, Baez secured a ticket to the All-Star Game with his incredible plays. He also flaunted an OPS of .847. Fast forward to 2020, and it was like Baez entered the Twilight Zone at the plate. It was a downright gloomy year for his batting stats, however, he did do well in the field, which earned him a Golden Glove.
Now that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has made it to MLB The Show 24 as the cover athlete, time will tell whether the star sees a dip or a hike in his performance. According to ESPN, Vlad said that this was going to be his year, “I’ve said this since last year — that this is my season, and that this is when people are going to know about me.”
So hopes are high on that note. On the other hand, given that players who are on top of their game make the cover, breaking their own personal record can be a bit hard. Many athletes on the cover have maintained their performance more or less.