Dog Days of Summer Program Breakdown

After the truncated Field of Dreams Program, we get a 13-day program featuring three new bosses and one key mini-boss. The three new bosses are Finest Cal Ripken Jr., Milestone Johnny Bench, and Awards Pedro Martinez. The mini-boss of note is 2nd Half Heroes Mickey Mantle. In addition, there are plenty of solid packs and some new flashbacks and legends to snag as well.

Let’s get to it.

Dog Days Of Summer Program Breakdown

Bosses

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• Finest Cal Ripken Jr.
• Milestone Johnny Bench
• Awards Pedro Martinez

I really like Cal Ripken Jr. this year based on his earlier diamond card. I think his swing plane and general stance can throw some people off, and some years he seems worse than others, but I think he’s quite good this year. He can only play shortstop, but he’s basically the perfect fielding shortstop. The one drawback is he does not have top-end speed, so his range might be slightly diminished.

Johnny Bench is another tricky one to gauge because he’s quite bad some years. This card looks very solid, and he’s got maximum positional flexibility, though his best use is still behind the plate. That said, maybe you really like him as a super utility player, and if that’s the case he can fill that role as well.

Pedro Martinez does get Outlier on his 4-seam fastball, which is big. He also has 109 H/9 and nearly maxed out stamina. I would have loved to have seen a bit more velocity difference between the cutter and 4-seam fastball, but I do think he’ll still be worth checking out. His early diamond got smacked around quite a bit, but this should be much better than that card.

Flashbacks & Legends

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• Finest Andrelton Simmons
• Milestone Harold Baines
• Awards Keith Hernandez
• Milestone Robin Roberts
• Finest Troy Percival

Outside of maybe Troy Percival, I don’t see much use for these cards in most lineups, but I suppose they could help with collections.

Mini-Boss

We’ll be getting a better Mickey Mantle, but his cards generally play above their ratings. That said, I’m not blown away by this card, but you’re getting the expected max power against RHP, and he’s still going to find his way into some lineups due to name recognition alone.

Featured Program Moments

Each moment is worth 2,000 XP

• Roberts Records 200th Win
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Strike out 6 batters
• Mantle Dominates 2nd Half
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 2 hits
  • Hit 1 home run
• Bench Plates 1,000th RBI
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 1 RBI
• Johnny Always Thinks Extra Bases
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 2 XBH
• Keith Takes Home MVP Honors
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 4 total bases
• Iron Man Leads O’s To Victory
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 2 XBH
• Can’t Get Cal Out
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 3 hits
• Baines Bashes 2,000th Hit
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 1 hit
• Pedro Is Filthy
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Pitch 1 inning
  • Do not give up 1 run
  • Strike out 1 batter
• Martinez Reaches 300 K Mark
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Strike out 4 batters
• Percival Lights That Baby Up
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Pitch 1 inning
  • Do not give up 1 hit
  • Do not hit 1 batter
  • Strike out 3 batters
  • Do not walk 1 batter
• Simmons Is Silky Smooth With The Glove
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 1 XBH

Legend & Flashback Missions

• Tally 300 PxP with Milestone Harold Baines (2,500 XP)
• Tally 300 PxP with Awards Keith Hernandez (2,500 XP)
• Tally 500 PxP with Finest Troy Percival (2,500 XP)
• Tally 500 PxP with Milestone Robin Roberts (2,500 XP)
• Tally 300 PxP with Finest Andrelton Simmons (2,500 XP)
• Tally 300 PxP with 2nd Half Heroes Mickey Mantle (2,500 XP)
• Tally 3,000 PxP with Orioles (5,000 XP)
• Tally 3,000 PxP with Nationals (5,000 XP)
• Tally 3,000 PxP with Reds (5,000 XP)

Exchanges

Each exchange is worth 5,000 XP

• Exchange AL East players
• Exchange AL Central players
• Exchange AL West players
• Exchange NL East players
• Exchange NL Central players
• Exchange NL West players

Dynasty Conquest

This map is worth 30,000 XP. You have to steal 3M fans on or before the 3rd turn. There are no other special missions you need to complete. The map has an Always Intense 2 choice pack, a Big Dog Set 2 choice pack, and a bunch of The Show packs (plus some secrets).

Rewards

• 5,000 XP – Diamond legend icons choice pack, 250 stubs
• 7,500 XP – Diamond universal profile banner, 250 stubs
• 10,000 XP – The Show pack
• 12,500 XP – Diamond universal profile icon, 250 stubs
• 15,000 XP – Legend bat skin choice pack, 250 stubs
• 17,500 XP – Diamond universal profile icon, 500 stubs
• 20,000 XP – Baltimore Orioles Road 1988 uniform, 1,000 stubs
• 22,500 XP – Diamond universal profile icon, 500 stubs
• 25,000 XP – Diamond flashbacks and legends choice pack
• 27,500 XP – Diamond bat skin, 1,000 stubs
• 30,000 XP – Washington Nationals Road 1981 uniform, 1,000 stubs
• 35,000 XP – Classic stadium choice pack
• 40,000 XP – Cincinnati Reds Home 1934 uniform, 1,000 stubs
• 45,000 XP – The Show pack (x2)
• 50,000 XP – Diamond flashbacks and legends choice pack
• 60,000 XP – 2,500 stubs
• 70,000 XP – Headliners Set 39 pack
• 80,000 XP – Diamond flashbacks and legends choice pack
• 90,000 XP – The Show pack
• 100,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack
• 110,000 XP – 2,500 stubs
• 120,000 XP – Headliners Set 38 pack
• 130,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
• 140,000 XP – Always Intense 1 choice pack
• 150,000 XP – 2nd Half Heroes Mickey Mantle
• 160,000 XP – Always Intense 2 choice pack
• 170,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack (x2)
• 180,000 XP – The Show pack
• 190,000 XP – 3,000 stubs
• 200,000 XP – Dog Days of Summer Boss choice pack
• 210,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise NL West choice pack
• 220,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
• 230,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise AL West choice pack
• 240,000 XP –  Ballin’ Is A Habit pack
• 250,000 XP – Tool Box choice pack
• 260,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise AL Central choice pack
• 270,000 XP – Headliners Set 36 pack
• 280,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise NL Central choice pack
• 290,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack
• 300,000 XP – All-Star Game choice pack
• 310,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise NL East choice pack
• 320,000 XP – Home Run Derby choice pack
• 330,000 XP – Faces of the Franchise AL East choice pack
• 340,000 XP – The Show pack (x10)
• 360,000 XP – Headliners Set 35 pack (x3)
• 380,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack (x3)
• 400,000 XP – Ballin’ Out Of Control pack
• 425,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
• 450,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
• 475,000 XP – The Show pack (x10)
• 500,000 XP – Ballin’ Out Of Control pack (x2)