Three years ago, the "MLB The Show" video game franchise introduced 30 greats from the past to its pool of players. The two years that followed saw that number expand to 75. With another 35 making their debut in "MLB The Show 18," which officially released Friday, the group of legends now stands at a very healthy 110.
After a decade-long absence, Babe Ruth makes his return to video games in "MLB 18" but there are many other notable additions that will get fans excited. There are two ways in which legends are utilized in "The Show," as they are found as rare commodities in the team-building Diamond Dynasty mode or can be signed to teams as free agents in Franchise Mode.
By turning on the "Allow Legend Free Agents" setting when starting Franchise Mode, the historic players enter the free-agent pool and can be signed by any team. Given that each club starts with limited monetary flexibility, considerable salary has to be dumped by those interested in signing one of them or the "Ignore Budgets" option needs to be turned on. The legends have been created based on their peak seasons, and that is reflected in their contract demands.
MORE: 'MLB 18's' top-rated players and debut of Shohei Ohtani
LF Babe Ruth
Age 26
99 Overall Rating
Seeking $31M per year contract
SP Vida Blue
Age 22
99 Overall Rating
Seeking $31M per year contract
SP Bob Gibson
Age 32
99 Overall Rating
Seeking $31M per year contract
RP Fergie Jenkins
98 Overall Rating
Age 28
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
C Mike Piazza
97 Overall Rating
Age 28
Seeking $31M per year contract
LF Albert Belle
96 Overall Rating
Age 28
Seeking $31M per year contract
RF Vladimir Guerrero
96 Overall Rating
Age 29
Seeking $31M per year contract
SP Bob Feller
94 Overall Rating
Age 21
Seeking $31M per year contract
SP Don Sutton
94 Overall Rating
Age 31
Seeking $29.5M per year contract
1B Frank Thomas
93 Overall Rating
Age 26
Seeking $31M per year contract
SP Roy Oswalt
93 Overall Rating
Age 26
Seeking $31M per year contract
RF Dale Murphy
92 Overall Rating
Age 27
Seeking $31M per year contract
3B Joe Torre
91 Overall Rating
Age 30
Seeking $23.1M per year contract
RP Troy Percival
91 Overall Rating
Age 40
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
LF Billy Williams
91 Overall Rating
Age 32
Seeking $20.5M per year contract
SP Doug Drabek
90 Overall Rating
Age 27
Seeking $29.5M per year contract
RP Ron Guidry
90 Overall Rating
Age 27
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
RF Shawn Green
89 Overall Rating
Age 27
Seeking $21.4M per year contract
SS Omar Vizquel
89 Overall Rating
Age 32
Seeking $17.3M per year contract
C Benito Santiago
89 Overall Rating
Age 25
Seeking $29.5M per year contract
LF Jim Rice
89 Overall Rating
Age 25
Seeking $31M per year contract
RP Lee Smith
88 Overall Rating
Age 25
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
RP Dock Ellis
87 Overall Rating
Age 26
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
RP Eric Gagne
87 Overall Rating
Age 27
Seeking $8.3M per year contract
SS Pee Wee Reese
87 Overall Rating
Age 30
Seeking $16.3M per year contract
1B Tony Perez
86 Overall Rating
Age 28
Seeking $20.2M per year contract
1B Steve Garvey
86 Overall Rating
Age 25
Seeking $31M per year contract
LF Lou Brock
85 Overall Rating
Age 35
Seeking $10.3M per year contract
3B Paul Molitor
84 Overall Rating
Age 36
Seeking $9.3M per year contract
CF Richie Ashburn
82 Overall Rating
Age 24
Seeking $22.4M per year contract
1B Keith Hernandez
81 Overall Rating
Age 25
Seeking $20.5M per year contract
CF Larry Doby
81 Overall Rating
Age 30
Seeking $7.3M per year contract
RF Enos Slaughter
80 Overall Rating
Age 26
Seeking $15.2M per year contract
2B Bill Mazeroski
79 Overall Rating
Age 21
Seeking $19.3M per year contract
RF Harold Baines
78 Overall Rating
Age 26
Seeking $13.1M per year contract
Among the players carrying over from the 2015-17 editions of the series are Ken Griffey Jr., Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Joe Morgan, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Bert Blyleven, Chipper Jones, Johnny Bench, Willie McCovey, Wade Boggs, Roberto Alomar, Mike Schmidt, Cal Ripken Jr., Yogi Berra, Eddie Murray, Juan Marichal, Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson, Billy Wagner, Edgar Martinez and Ozzie Smith.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and can be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.