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

“Andy was a savior in New York’s drive to the post-season, compiling a 5-1 record during the crucial month of September.  He led all AL rookies with 12 wins, a total that was most by a Yankee rookie starter since Stan Bahnsen won 17 in 1968.”

That was 15 years ago when he was a rookie… Pettitte is on the mound for the Yankees again tonight, this time as a 38-year-old veteran and still looking sharp.

1996 Topps Series 2:

1. #317 John Jaha
2. #341 Donne Wall (Now Appearing) (Rookie Card)
3. #378 Andy Pettitte
4. #403 Joey Hamilton
5. #245 Brian Buchanan (Draft Pick) (Rookie Card)
6. #424 Steve Cox/Jesse Ibarra/Derrek Lee/Ron Wright (Prospects) (Rookie Card)
7. #299 Will Clark
8. #290 Ruben Sierra
9. #299 Will Clark
10. #260 Kirt Manwaring
11. #421 Denny Neagle
12. #256 Bernard Gilkey

“Tim’s remarkable renaissance in 1995 included a 10-game winning streak and 2 “near no-hitters” into the 8th inning.”

Tim had another remarkable renaissance in 2002 when he went 11-5 with a 2.81 ERA.  He has become known for his longevity as a pitcher, this season being his 16th season in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #66 Jim Eisenreich
2. #19 Ryan Jaroncyk (Draft Pick)
3. #103 Chris Pritchett/Trenidad Hubbard (AAA Stars)
4. #138 Tim Wakefield
5. #42 Sean Bergman
6. #28 Rich Becker
7. #110 Checklist 1-110 (Checklist)
8. #34 Manny Alexander
9. #160 Derek Bell
10. #117 Dan Wilson
11. #109 Tony Castillo
12. #163 Brad Radke