Here is your Chart of cards issued per team and an analysis by ChatGpt

[Dolenz_PSN]

Since I don't see these numbers changing much going forward and because I was kind of bored last night I compiled the number of overall cards released for each team and the number of those cards that are 99 overalls.

I then fed it into ChatGpt to have it come up with a graph and some analysis

1. General Observations

Total Cards:

• The range of total cards spans from 33 (Kansas City Royals) to 95 (New York Yankees).
• The Yankees have a significant lead with 95 cards, while most other teams are clustered in the range of 40–60 cards.
• The bottom five teams (Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Oakland Athletics) have totals close to or below 40 cards, showing a significant disparity in representation.

99 Overall Cards (Top Tier Cards):

• The range of 99 Overall Cards goes from 10 (Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays) to 37 (New York Yankees).
• Only a handful of teams have 20+ 99 Overall Cards, including the Yankees, Dodgers, Braves, and Padres, which points to the prominence of these teams in the game.

Percentage of Total Cards that are 99 Overall Cards:

• This highlights the focus on elite representation. The Yankees stand out again with 38.95% of their cards being 99 overall, followed by the Dodgers (42.67%) and Braves (36.2%).
• Teams like the Mariners (25%) and Nationals (25.6%) have fewer top-tier cards relative to their already small total.

2. Notable Trends

Large Market Teams Dominate:

• Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Braves, and Cubs have high total card counts and high 99 Overall Card counts, reflecting their historical prominence, fan base size, and star player rosters.
• Small market teams like the Royals, Marlins, and Athletics are underrepresented, with both low total cards and fewer 99 overall cards.

Elite Teams’ Representation:

• The Yankees are the clear leaders, with the highest number of total cards (95) and most 99 overall cards (37), solidifying their presence as a team historically associated with stars and fan demand.
• The Dodgers are close behind, with 75 total cards and 32 of them as 99 overall, reinforcing their position as one of the most talent-packed teams.

Even Representation in the Mid-Tier:

• Teams like the Cardinals, Red Sox, and Phillies fall in the mid-range of both total and 99 overall cards, reflecting balanced but less flashy representation.

3. Insights on Card Ratios

High Ratios of 99 Overall Cards to Total Cards (40%+):

• Dodgers and Braves stand out, indicating that these teams' cards prioritize elite-tier players.

Low Ratios of 99 Overall Cards to Total Cards (20% or less):

• Teams like the Mariners, Nationals, and Angels have a high proportion of cards below 99 overall, which could indicate either fewer historically dominant players or a lack of emphasis on these teams in the game.

4. Disparities and Outliers

Yankees' Dominance:

• The Yankees are an outlier with almost 50% more total cards than most teams. Their high 99 card count reflects their historical and current star power.

Low Representation of Some Teams:

• The Kansas City Royals, Marlins, and Nationals have fewer than 40 cards each, raising questions about their importance in the game’s meta.

5. Conclusions

Large Market and Historically Successful Teams Benefit:

• Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Braves clearly dominate in both quantity and quality of cards. This reflects their real-world success, fan engagement, and the game’s marketing focus.

Smaller Market Teams Struggle:

• Teams like the Royals and Athletics, which have historically fewer notable players, are underrepresented, suggesting a lack of attention in the game.

Disparities Reflect Real-World Popularity and Success:

• The numbers closely align with teams’ historical significance, popularity, and competitive strength. This suggests the game emphasizes teams and players that resonate with the larger fan base.

Balance in the Mid-Tier:

• Teams like the Phillies, Red Sox, and Cardinals strike a balance, with enough total and elite cards to appeal to their fanbases without overshadowing the major teams.

Suggestions for Players or Developers

For Players:

• Focus on large market teams like the Yankees and Dodgers for top-tier cards.
• Mid-tier teams (e.g., Cardinals, Phillies) also provide a decent mix of total and elite cards.

For Developers:

• Consider boosting representation for underrepresented teams like the Royals and Nationals to encourage diversity in gameplay and team-building strategies.

[SaveFarris_PSN]

Part of the issue is Sets & Seasons, which is going away next year. No longer having to replenish the card base means there will most likely be fewer cards next year. And fewer cards means the high/low discrepancy will decrease. (For example, it's impossible for an NFL team to finish 25 games back, like the 2024 Angels, because they only play 17 games.)

The other issue that made the Yankee count this year exorbitantly high is the Jeter Storyline and deep playoff run. Those 2 alone account for 21 extra cards.