1996 Topps Series 2:

“Before being drafted in the second round by Toronto, Craig was selected by Baseball America as the second-best pure hitter available among high school players (behind Marlins’ 1st-rounder Jaime Jones).  He validated that opinion with a superb pro debut, averaging one HR every seven games for Medicine Hat (R).”

1. #326 Charles Nagy
2. #381 Jaime Navarro
3. #378 Andy Pettitte
4. #233 Craig Wilson (Draft Pick) (Rookie Card)
5. #228 Mike Mussina (Star Power)
6. #238 Shane Monahan (Draft Pick) (Rookie Card)
7. #389 Fred McGriff
8. #431 Jaime Bluma/David Coggin/Steve Montgomery/Brandon Reed (Prospects) (Rookie Card)
9. #412 Todd Worrell
10. #319 Tim Salmon
11. #372 Jim Abbott
12. #334 Cliff Floyd

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #76 Jim Dougherty
2. #23 Jarrod Washburn (Draft Pick)
3. #199 Tony Phillips
4. Mantle #10 Mickey Mantle
5. #156 Jay Bell
6. #191 Chris Hoiles
7. #85 Darren Daulton
8. #161 Ricky Bottalico
9. #125 Eddie Murray
10. #51 Darren Holmes
11. #166 Mark McLemore
12. #166 Mark McLemore

Tony Gwynn smacked 46 hits in September 1995 for a .407 batting average.

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #1 Tony Gwynn (Star Power)
2. #217 Karim Garcia (Future Star)
3. #119 Lyle Mouton
4. #59 J.T. Snow
5. #70 Ron Gant
6. #112 Pete Schourek
7. #148 Pat Hentgen
8. #99 Edgardo Alfonzo
9. #41 Tripp Cromer
10. #135 Mike Stanley
11. #209 Devon White
12. #209 Devon White

“Greg’s unprecedented fourth straight Cy Young season was accented by some amazing numbers: a 10-game winning streak, the second-best SO/BB ratio (7.87) in history and a 51-inning, walk-free spree.”

1996 Topps Series 2:

1. #263 Vince Coleman
2. #318 Greg Maddux
3. #389 Fred McGriff
4. #378 Andy Pettitte
5. #427 Tim Harkrider/Rey Ordonez/Neifi Perez/Enrique Wilson (Prospects) (Rookie Card)
6. #345 Chris Snopek (Now Appearing) (Rookie Card)
7. #412 Todd Worrell
8. #325 Juan Gonzalez
9. #403 Joey Hamilton
10. #412 Todd Worrell
11. #322 Dan Miceli
12. #370 Mickey Morandini

1996 Topps Series 2:

1. #329 Bobby Bonilla
2. #320 Ben McDonald
3. #223 Albert Belle (Star Power)
4. #225 Wade Boggs (Star Power)
5. #374 Chris Hammond
6. #439 Trey Beamon/Yamil Benitez/Jermaine Dye/Angel Echevarria (Prospects) (Rookie)
7. #375 Lance Johnson
8. #256 Bernard Gilkey
9. #270 Jay Buhner
10. #227 Ivan Rodriguez (Star Power)
11. #282 Jeff Cirillo
12. #401 Bill Swift

“Don’s final-game HR helped him reach the post-season for the 1st time.”

It was also the only time Don ever made it to the post-season, because he retired before the start of the 1996 season.

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #19 Ryan Jaroncyk (Draft Pick) (Rookie)
2. #10 Barry Bonds (Star Power)
3. #185 Don Mattingly
4. #183 Doug Jones
5. #45 Albert Belle
6. #132 Garret Anderson (Topps All-Star Rookie)
7. #71 Felipe Lira
8. #73 John Mabry (Topps All-Star Rookie)
9. #65 Mike Mussina
10. #106 Tomas Perez
11. #174 Carlos Perez (Topps All-Star Rookie)
12. #174 Carlos Perez (Topps All-Star Rookie)

“9-6-95: Cal’s 2,131st straight game!”

I think I still have the front page of the newspaper from September 7, 1995 sitting in a box somewhere.  I’ll scan it and post it next time I see it.

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #154 Geronimo Berroa
2. #21 Jim Scharrer (Draft Pick) (Rookie)
3. #165 Steve Avery
4. #200 Cal Ripken
5. #56 Greg Gagne
6. #157 Mark Gubicza
7. #194 Alex Fernandez
8. #168 Tino Martinez
9. #121 Curtis Goodwin
10. #141 Quilvio Veras
11. #176 Steve Ontiveros
12. #176 Steve Ontiveros

This Mickey Mantle Finest card was short-printed by 20%.

1996 Topps Series 2:

1. #413 Wil Cordero
2. #422 Jeff Conine
3. Profiles #AL-11 Jay Buhner
4. #418 Tyler Green
5. #354 Jimmy Haynes (Now Appearing) (Rookie Card)
6. #230 Ken Griffey Jr. (Star Power)
7. #336 Jason Bates
8. #263 Vince Coleman
9. #289 Roberto Alomar
10. Mantle Finest #16 Mickey Mantle (Reprint) (Short Print)
11. #285 Pat Meares
12. #288 Bip Roberts