“One year after slugging 49 home runs, The Kid cracked his 50th of 1997 on September 7.  In the fourth inning at Minnesota’s Metrodome, he rocketed a two-run shot off the retractable seats behind the right-center field fence.  The ball bounced back onto the field, where Junior retrieved it and took it home, placing it alongside career homer balls Nos. 100, 200 and 250.  ”There are certain things you just don’t give away,” he said.  Griffey finished the year with 56 bombs, then jacked 56 more in ’98.”

2000 Topps Series 2:

1. #305 Brett Tomko
2. #277 Miguel Cairo
3. #450 Ben Christensen/Richard Stahl (Draft Picks) (Rookie Card)
4. #445 Tim Raines Jr./Gary Matthews Jr./Garry Maddox Jr. (Prospects)
5. #385 Robb Nen
6. #475e Ken Griffey Jr. (Magic Moments)
7. #420 Corey Koskie (Topps All-Star Rookie)
8. #400 Ken Griffey Jr.
9. #369 Bill Simas
10. #274 Devon White
11. #337 Bret Boone

Back in 2000, Frank Thomas as 6th all-time in on-base percentage, and first among active players.

2000 Topps Series 2:

1. #381 John Wetteland
2. #275 Tim Hudson
3. #373 Carlos Perez
4. #455 Mike MacDougal/Brad Baker (Draft Picks) (Rookie Card)
5. #379 Jamie Moyer
6. #470 Frank Thomas (20th Century’s Best)
7. #431 Torii Hunter
8. #344 Todd Ritchie
9. #258 Desi Relaford
10. #413 Vernon Wells
11. #291 Kevin Tapani

A hobby pack of 2000 Topps Series 1:

I believe this is first-ballot Hall of Famer Wade Boggs’ last regular issue Topps card, showing his entire career stats (including 3,010 hits) on the back.

1. #72 Brian Jordan
2. #29 Darrin Fletcher
3. #3 Wade Boggs
4. #5 Matt Williams
5. #219 Chris Singleton (Season Highlights)
6. #186 Roy Halladay
7. #119 Greg Norton
8. #136 Brad Ausmus
9. #12 Bret Saberhagen
10. #138 David Cone
11. #233 Rickey Henderson (20th Century’s Best)

“In the 1956 World Series, Yogi’s booming bat was the Yanks chief offensive weapon.  His .360 batting mark for the seven games included 9 hits and 10 runs batted in.  In the crucial final game, Yogi blasted 2 homers to wrap up the World Championship f or New York.  He was voted Most Valuable Player in 1951, 1954 and 1955.”

2001 Topps Series 1:

1. Through the Years Reprints #1 Yogi Berra (Reprint)
2. #355 Phil Dumatrait/Adam Wainwright (Draft Picks) (Rookie)
3. #97 Rob Bell
4. #259 Dan Reichert
5. #286 Gabe Kapler
6. #1 Cal Ripken
7. #293 Jay Payton
8. #75 Randy Johnson
9. #50 Mark McGwire
10. #84 Todd Hundley

“Johnny Bench has long been the standard for defensive excellence behind the plate.  Ivan may yet usurp that title.  Rodriguez’s seven Gold Gloves are the most by any American League catcher in history and are tied with Bob Boone for second overall among big league catchers, trailing Bench’s 10.”

Ivan Rodriguez won his 13th Gold Glove Award in 2007.

2000 Topps Series 1:

1. #101 Preston Wilson (Topps All-Star Rookie)
2. #89 Edgar Martinez
3. #164 Fernando Tatis
4. #33 Eric Karros
5. #108 Kris Benson
6. #59 Mike Sweeney
7. #113 Greg Vaughn
8. #11 Steve Avery
9. #166 Paul Byrd
10. Power Players #P9 Jose Canseco
11. Hands of Gold #HG2 Ivan Rodriguez

Back in 1999, John Franco was the active saves leader with 416.  That made him second all-time after Lee Smith (who had 478).

2000 Topps Series 2:

1. #309 Rondell White
2. #281 Shane Andrews
3. #365 Shane Reynolds
4. #323 Dustin Hermanson
5. #334 Mark Grudzielanek
6. #474 John Franco (20th Century’s Best)
7. #273 Rico Brogna
8. #242 David Wells
9. #408 Eric Milton
10. #293 Todd Zeile
11. #404 Ugueth Urbina

“Larry went on a late April ’99 RBI spree.  His 11 ribbies in two consecutive games was two short of an NL record, but he did set club marks with 15 in three games and 17 in four.”

Walker made his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot this year with 20.3% of the vote.  While that’s far from the 75% required for making it, it’s well above the minimum 5% required to stay on the ballot.  He’ll have another chance next year.

2000 Topps Series 1:

1. #36 Luis Castillo
2. #199 Jason Giambi
3. #193 Jeff Kent
4. #90 Mark Kotsay
5. #150 Larry Walker
6. #152 Jose Offerman
7. #39 Warren Morris (Topps All-Star Rookie)
8. #53 Dante Bichette
9. #137 Chad Kreuter
10. #173 Wally Joyner
11. #231 Lance Johnson (20th Century’s Best)

“One of the greatest sluggers of modern times, Belle again ranked among the heavyweights in 1999.  Heating up come summertime, he finished among the AL’s top 10 in both home runs and RBI.  Moreover, he walked 101 times and compiled a .400 on-base percentage.  In the outfield, he gunned down 17 runners.”

2000 Topps Series 2:

1. #269 Trot Nixon
2. #403 Shawn Estes
3. #414 Ron Belliard
4. #310 Todd Stottlemyre
5. #248 Miguel Batista
6. All-Topps #AT17 Albert Belle
7. #421 Bobby Howry
8. #422 Ricky Ledee
9. #424 Sidney Ponson
10. #433 David Segui
11. #419 Jamey Wright