25 Years of Baseball

2008 Upper Deck X #100 Lastings Milledge

2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #2 Buster Posey (Rookie)
2. #114 Chris Iannetta
3. #48 Joey Votto
4. #100 Albert Pujols
5. Gold Border #262 Homer Bailey (Serial#0893/2010)
6. Turkey Red #TR1 Ryan Howard
7. Topps Town #TTT5 Evan Longoria
8. #112 Kevin Correia
9. #129 Reid Gorecki (Rookie)
10. #217 Gio Gonzalez

“The incomparable Albert not only led the NL in OPS for the third time in four seasons last year, but he set an MLB record for first basemen with 165 assists and led the Majors in SBs for his position.”

The worst this guy has ever batted in 9 MLB seasons was .314.  He’s a Machine!

2008 Bowman #155 Nick Johnson

2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #283 Adam Kennedy
2. #168 Brad Kilby (Rookie)
3. #108 Erick Aybar
4. #65 Nick Swisher
5. The Cards Your Mom Threw Out #CMT-48 Ivan Rodriguez
6. When They Were Young #WTWY-RN Ricky Nolasco
7. Topps Town #TTT10 Tim Lincecum
8. #164 Carlos Carrasco (Rookie)
9. #240 Ricky Romero
10. #185 Hideki Matsui

“Although Rodriguez was an established star, it was in 1999 that he produced by far his biggest season and won the AL MVP Award.  The card notes his new record for most AL Gold Gloves by a catcher, yet “Pudge” would go on to a half-dozen more.”

Can’t wait to see him playing at Nationals Park when the season starts!  I always make it a point to see future Hall of Famers play before they retire.

2007 Topps Update #UH179 Jesus Flores

2009 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH226 Kevin Hart
2. #UH217 Craig Stammen (Rookie)
3. #UH170 Jason Giambi
4. #UH266 Jonathan Broxton (All-Star)
5. #UH315 Jerry Hairston Jr.
6. Ring of Honor #RH81 Jermaine Dye
7. Topps Town #TTT67 Carl Crawford
8. #UH77 Jeremy Reed
9. #UH304 Nick Swisher/Johnny Damon (Classic Combos)
10. #UH36 Paul Konerko/Jermaine Dye (Season Highlights)

“As the White Sox swept the Astros in 2005 for their first World Series crown in 88 years, Dye claimed MVP honors.  His .438 AVG included a hit to drive in the only run of the clinching victory.”

And one of the rookie starting pitchers on the Nats last season.  He did a decent job for a rookie, going 4-7 in 19 games started.

Dustin Ackley – 2B

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Seattle Mariners)

Dustin was the quickest to return my through-the-mail autograph request, so he has the honor of being my March 2010 Prospect of the Month.

Dustin was the second pick overall in the 2009 MLB draft.  He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of the University of North Carolina, whose baseball team he led to a second College Baseball World Series.  In fact, he holds the record for most Hits in the College Baseball World Series.

While he was a superb outfielder in college, the Mariners are transitioning him into second base.  He will start the 2010 baseball season playing for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

2007 Topps #438 Chad Cordero