Live Cards vs other program cards

Faerukon · 11-10-2025, 10:22 AM

I'm new to perfect team (and OOTP as a whole) and I'm trying to find some ways to upgrade my team. I've been saving up for the Live Acuna card (big Braves fan), but as I've been adding cards to my watch list I've started to notice that some of the non live cards that are a lower overall than Acuna have better stats than him. In particular, the 99 Dale Murphy seems to just be a better card all around despite being one overall point lower. Is this something that's generally known for all live cards or is it just this one instance where the higher overall live card doesn't seem to stack up to some of the lower overall non live cards?

Fabtron7 · 11-10-2025, 11:30 AM

As a general rule of thumb "non-live" cards (which would be historical cards as well as cards with contemporary players such as Future Legends and PT Elite series) will be better than the "live" cards. Early in the year the live cards are decent but as the year goes on the power of the newly released non-live cards ramp up steadily, and new ones come out every week... So at this point in the year you'll find bronze non-live cards that will out perform some of the live perfect cards.

rburgh · 11-10-2025, 12:02 PM

The all time best players can be drawn from any season starting in 1873. I think 1892 is when the game first became the game we know today. And even then, there were enormous differences in the rules from today. But the basic issue is that, if you have over 150 seasons to choose from, there will be many more outlier individual seasons than we can possibly expect from the current (or any individual) season.

And with the improved player development available to amateurs, the worst players in MLB today would be competent regulars at the very least if transported through time to, say, 1950. In 1950, MLB drew on a population of 120 million or so, foreign players were very few. Roberto Clemente in 1955 opened the door for other Latin players, and Japanese players started showing up in the sixties. So now, with Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Japan added to the population where baseball is available to children, MLB draws from a population 4-5 times as large as in 1950, and that population has much better coaching available for the children. So the best high school age players today have had access to competent coaching for years.

That' kind of a long way around in saying that, if they graded the current players on the same scale as the all-timers, it would be rare for there to be more than a few MLB cards in the 90's. Aaron Judge has had an historic season, and I doubt that you will find many PT leagues above the LD level where that card is used. Player grades are based on how far above or below average they are at a particular skill. The bottom of the player pool has risen enormously since 1950 as first blacks, then Latinos and Asians have become commonplace.

Fabtron7 · 11-10-2025, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rburgh

Aaron Judge has had an historic season, and I doubt that you will find many PT leagues above the LD level where that card is used.

Until his super-banger PT Elite version come out.

rburgh · 11-11-2025, 09:05 AM

But I was talking about the everyday MLB 2025 Card.

hibees70 · 11-23-2025, 10:58 AM

Best way to get a lot of PP cheaply if you’re just starting is to complete the initial Live level missions and quick sell the Gold and Diamond rewards.

bailey · 11-23-2025, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hibees70

Best way to get a lot of PP cheaply if you’re just starting is to complete the initial Live level missions and quick sell the Gold and Diamond rewards.

You don't have to do that, and you may regret it later when you have to buy those cards back to complete a mission.

On the other hand, if you earn a berth in perfect league you may be well advised to sell or quicksell all of your duplicates and all of your non-dups that are not locked and are not being used to raise PP to buy 104 Ted Williams or some other card or two you are missing but absolutely need to compete.

11-10-2025, 10:22 AM	#1
Faerukon Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2025 Posts: 7	Live Cards vs other program cards I'm new to perfect team (and OOTP as a whole) and I'm trying to find some ways to upgrade my team. I've been saving up for the Live Acuna card (big Braves fan), but as I've been adding cards to my watch list I've started to notice that some of the non live cards that are a lower overall than Acuna have better stats than him. In particular, the 99 Dale Murphy seems to just be a better card all around despite being one overall point lower. Is this something that's generally known for all live cards or is it just this one instance where the higher overall live card doesn't seem to stack up to some of the lower overall non live cards?

11-10-2025, 11:30 AM	#2
Fabtron7 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 1,060	As a general rule of thumb "non-live" cards (which would be historical cards as well as cards with contemporary players such as Future Legends and PT Elite series) will be better than the "live" cards. Early in the year the live cards are decent but as the year goes on the power of the newly released non-live cards ramp up steadily, and new ones come out every week... So at this point in the year you'll find bronze non-live cards that will out perform some of the live perfect cards. __________________ Last edited by Fabtron7; 11-10-2025 at 11:31 AM.

11-10-2025, 12:02 PM	#3
rburgh All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 998	They are trying to resolve a conundrum The all time best players can be drawn from any season starting in 1873. I think 1892 is when the game first became the game we know today. And even then, there were enormous differences in the rules from today. But the basic issue is that, if you have over 150 seasons to choose from, there will be many more outlier individual seasons than we can possibly expect from the current (or any individual) season. And with the improved player development available to amateurs, the worst players in MLB today would be competent regulars at the very least if transported through time to, say, 1950. In 1950, MLB drew on a population of 120 million or so, foreign players were very few. Roberto Clemente in 1955 opened the door for other Latin players, and Japanese players started showing up in the sixties. So now, with Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Japan added to the population where baseball is available to children, MLB draws from a population 4-5 times as large as in 1950, and that population has much better coaching available for the children. So the best high school age players today have had access to competent coaching for years. That' kind of a long way around in saying that, if they graded the current players on the same scale as the all-timers, it would be rare for there to be more than a few MLB cards in the 90's. Aaron Judge has had an historic season, and I doubt that you will find many PT leagues above the LD level where that card is used. Player grades are based on how far above or below average they are at a particular skill. The bottom of the player pool has risen enormously since 1950 as first blacks, then Latinos and Asians have become commonplace. Last edited by rburgh; 11-10-2025 at 04:04 PM.

11-11-2025, 09:05 AM	#5
rburgh All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 998	Well, yes But I was talking about the everyday MLB 2025 Card.

11-23-2025, 10:58 AM	#6
hibees70 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 75	Best way to get a lot of PP cheaply if you’re just starting is to complete the initial Live level missions and quick sell the Gold and Diamond rewards.