You've spent weeks flipping cards on the app. Your stubs balance is finally looking healthy. Then you see him: the 99 overall Hall of Fame Series Babe Ruth. He is the "Big Boss" of the Live Series Collection, and honestly, he's the reason most people even bother with the market this year. But let's be real—unlocking him is a massive commitment. Is he actually the best card in the game, or is he just a shiny trophy that sits on your bench?
Most players assume the Babe is just a home run machine. That’s partly true. But in MLB The Show 24, he’s actually a two-way player. He’s a starting pitcher who can also hit 500-foot moonshots. This sounds like a dream, but the reality of using him in Ranked Seasons or Co-Op is a lot more complicated than the stats suggest.
The Grind: How to Actually Get 99 Babe Ruth
You can't just pull this card from a standard pack. Don't waste your time looking. To get the 99 Babe Ruth, you have to complete the entire Live Series Collection. That means collecting every single current MLB player card from all 30 teams.
It’s expensive. Like, millions of stubs expensive.
Most veteran players will tell you the same thing: do not buy stubs with real money unless you're just flush with cash and hate your free time. Instead, you've gotta be smart. Complete the Team Affinity programs. Grind the Mini Seasons. Sell every duplicate diamond you pull.
Is it worth the millions?
If you're a "No Money Spent" (NMS) player, this is your mountain to climb. The reward for finishing the American League is 95 OVR Pedro Martinez. The National League reward is 95 OVR Rafael Palmeiro. Both are fine, but they aren't the Bambino. Once you lock in every single team, the Babe unlocks.
Why the Pitching Stats are a Trap
Look at the back of the card and you’ll see some insane numbers. 125 Stamina. 99 Break. A 5-pitch mix that includes a sinker and a slider. On paper, he should be unhittable.
In practice? He’s kinda mid on the mound.
His windup is famously slow. If you’re playing against someone who has a good eye, they’re going to time up that 4-seam fastball eventually. His H/9 (Hits per 9 innings) is a 96, which is good but not elite for this stage of the game. Most high-level players use him as a "fake" starter. They’ll pitch an inning or two, then sub him to first base or DH so they can keep his bat in the lineup without risking a blowout on the mound.
The Bat: 125 Everything
This is where the Babe earns his legendary status. His hitting attributes are basically a cheat code:
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- Contact vs Right/Left: 125
- Power vs Right/Left: 125
- Clutch: 125
- Discipline: 125
He has the "Dead Red" and "Bad Ball Hitter" quirks, which means he punishes fastballs and can still go deep on pitches slightly outside the zone. If you make contact, the ball is gone. Period.
One thing people forget is his Vision (104). While not a perfect 125, it’s high enough that your PCI (Plate Coverage Indicator) is going to be massive. Even if you're slightly off with your timing, the Babe’s "hidden" swing animations tend to result in bloop hits or "no-doubt" home runs that would be flyouts for other players.
The Co-Op Headache
Here is a weird quirk about MLB The Show 24 that drives people crazy. In Ranked Co-Op, using the 99 Babe Ruth is a nightmare. Because he is technically a pitcher, the game often forces you to use him as a pitcher only. You can't easily sub him into the field like you can in solo Ranked.
Many squads have spent millions of stubs only to realize they can't actually use the Babe's bat in 2v2 or 3v3 games without some serious "double-switch" gymnastics that often don't even work. If you primarily play with friends, this card might actually be a waste of your resources.
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Better Alternatives?
Is he the best 1B in the game? Probably. But is he 2 million stubs better than some of the other options?
Buck Leonard (from the Negro Leagues Storylines) is a popular alternative. He’s much faster and has a smoother swing for some people. Then there's the Season 3/4 power creep. As the year goes on, more 99s will drop that are easier to get. However, the Babe is a Core Card. This is the most important detail.
Being a Core card means he is eligible for every single season. You don't have to worry about him being "filtered out" when the game transitions to a new set. He is a permanent fixture of your "God Squad."
Actionable Tips for Your Squad
If you're serious about getting the Babe, stop spending stubs on "Choice Packs" in the store. They are a trap.
- Use the Companion App: It is much faster to flip cards for profit on your phone than it is on the console.
- Focus on the Gatekeepers: The most expensive cards are usually Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Corey Seager. Buy these first. Their prices usually go up before they go down.
- DH Him: Don't let his pitching delivery frustrate you. If you can't handle his slow windup, just put him at DH and let him carry your offense.
- Wait for Flash Sales: Every few weeks, SDS drops flash sales that tank the market. That is when you buy the high-tier diamonds you're missing.
The 99 Babe Ruth is the ultimate status symbol in MLB The Show 24. He isn't a perfect player—his speed is mediocre and his pitching is bait—but as a pure hitter, nobody touches him. If you have the patience to grind the Live Series, he will likely be your best player until the day MLB The Show 25 launches.
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Next Steps:
Go into the "Collections" menu and see which division you're closest to finishing. Start by completing the "cheaper" teams like the Athletics or Rockies to get the XP rewards, then use those stubs to target the big "Gatekeeper" diamonds in the NL West or AL East.