MLB The Show 25: Easiest Way to Complete the John Donaldson Collection
This guide breaks down the best ways to collect the necessary cards, where to find affordable options, which sub-collections you might want to skip, and the most efficient grinds to earn rewards and stubs along the way.
Understanding the Collections
Before diving in, it's important to know that many of the smaller or older collections, such as Veteran, Breakout, and Contributor, haven't been updated in a while. That means the cards currently available for these series are likely the final ones for this game cycle. Completing these will depend largely on what's already in your inventory or on the market.
A good starting point is the Multiplayer Program. Check the World Series Rewind Pack and Flawless Rewind Pack, where you can pick up formerly expensive cards at a fraction of their original price. These packs often contain Award, Milestone, and other high-value cards that are crucial for progressing through the John Donaldson Collection.
Hall of Fame and Moonshot Series
The Hall of Fame collection features cards like Paul Molitor, Rod Carew, and Cy Young, all obtainable through Diamond Quest maps. Since these cards can cost 50,000 stubs or more on the market, grinding the maps is the smarter move. Additionally, some players such as Vlad Guerrero Sr. and Mike Piazza are XP bosses, so you can unlock them simply by playing through the XP programs.
For the Moonshot collection, focus on completing the Moonshot 2.0 Program. This mode not only gives access to older Moonshot players but also includes new packs that will lower market prices as more players grind them. You can also earn Moonshot rewards through a dedicated Diamond Quest map and mini-season events. If you're short on a few players, patience pays off, as card prices typically fall once the community floods the market with new supply.
Tackling the All-Star and Awards Collections
The All-Star collection can be one of the trickiest due to the high cost of many cards, including some rare Chase Pack pulls. The good news is that several All-Star cards can be earned from cornerstone packs in the Eighth Inning Program. Still, this may be one of the best series to skip if your collection funds are running low.
The Awards collection, on the other hand, is both challenging and rewarding. You'll need 37 cards, but you can skip three of them. The best approach here is to grind the Weekend Classic League, where you can earn Award cards like Randy Johnson and Jackie Robinson. Prices for these cards have dropped, and they're much easier to obtain through gameplay now. You'll also find key cards like Pedro Martinez (XP boss), Tatis Jr. (World Series reward), and Mark McGwire (Battle Royale Flawless reward) that may drop in value soon, making this collection more affordable in the near future.
Milestone, Spotlight, and Tops Now Series
The Milestone collection is one of the more manageable sets, and the best part is you don't need the ultra-expensive Chipper Jones or Babe Ruth to complete it. Many Milestone cards, like Tom Glavine, Don Sutton, and J.R. Richard, can be earned from Diamond Quest maps, saving you thousands of MLB 25 Stubs.
Meanwhile, the Spotlight and Tops Now collections are all about consistency. Keep grinding Spotlight programs as they drop and buy cards when market prices dip. Avoid overpaying during spikes, it's better to hold your stubs and buy when prices fall. Over time, these cards will naturally stack up through regular play, helping you progress toward Donaldson without spending big.
Which Collection Should You Skip
This largely depends on your personal inventory. Some players will have nearly complete sets in one series and be missing half the cards in another. Generally speaking, the All-Star and Awards collections are the most expensive, though the Award cards are expected to drop in value soon. If you're missing high-priced cards like Jorge Posada (Standout Series) or the Second Half Trey Turner, it may be smarter to skip one of those smaller but costly collections instead.
Best Grind: Run It Back Mini Season
If you want to earn MLB 25 Stubs fast while building toward John Donaldson, the Run It Back Mini Season is the best grind in MLB The Show 25. This mode allows you to unlock Player Rewind Choice Packs containing previous mini-season rewards, cards that can't be purchased on the marketplace. That makes it the ideal way to fill in missing pieces for the Legends and Flashback collection.
You can replay home games on custom stadiums like "Lrasa 2.0" for the quickest games. With double PXP active, you'll complete missions faster and can earn Deluxe or Ultra Choice Packs, which have a chance at pulling extremely valuable cards. Winning the championship even grants rare packs that can skyrocket your progress.
Each completed mini-season not only earns valuable packs but also provides thousands of stubs and XP, making it one of the most efficient and rewarding activities in the entire game. Many MLB The Show 25 players are using this method to build their collections faster and fund their purchases of expensive legends.
Final Thoughts
Completing the John Donaldson Collection is a marathon, not a sprint. It's expensive and time-consuming, but by focusing on grindable programs, replayable maps, and efficient stub management, you can unlock Donaldson without breaking your bank of MLB 25 Stubs.
Be patient, grind smart, and prioritize the modes that offer the best rewards. With persistence, you'll have John Donaldson dominating your roster, and you'll join the growing number of dedicated MLB The Show 25 Players who've conquered the game's toughest collection.