“In 2002, Rodriguez smashed the MLB record for homers by a shortstop (which he set only a year earlier) by belting 57.  A-Rod topped The Show in four-baggers as well as RBI (142) and total bases (389).  This 27-year-old, who powered five homers in successive August games, finished the season with 298.”

Since then, A-Rod has hit 315 more homers, to bring his total up to 613.

2003 Topps Series 1:

1. #49 Jason Simontacchi
2. #101 Steve Cox
3. #77 Miguel Tejada
4. #127 Jason Isringhausen
5. #39 Sidney Ponson
6. #358 Alex Rodriguez (Sporting News All-Stars)
7. #64 Mike Williams
8. #116 Mark Mulder
9. #53 Luis Castillo
10. #211 Mike Lowell

“When the Rangers dealt closer Ugueth Urbina to the Marlins in July ’03, they brought back a potential big-league Gold Glover at first base in Adrian.  The No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft, Gonzalez also rifles shots all over the yard, as evidenced by his combined 34 homers, 71 doubles and 199 RBI over the ’01 and ’02 seasons.  He was batting .307 with Carolina (AA) at the time of the trade.”

Adrian Gonzalez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in December for 2008 1st round draft pick Casey Kelly, 21-year-old first base prospect Anthony Rizzo, 2009 1st round draft pick Reymond Fuentes, and veteran outfielder Eric Patterson.

2003 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T99 Fred McGriff
2. #T64 Mark Bellhorn
3. #T23 Ramon Martinez
4. #T52 David Ortiz
5. #T44 Rey Ordonez
6. #T69 Jose Cruz Jr.
7. #T27 Ivan Rodriguez
8. #T75 Troy O’Leary
9. Chrome Traded #T99 Fred McGriff
10. Chrome Traded #T122 Adrian Gonzalez (Prospect)

This autograph would have been an amazing hit back in 2004 when Borchard was a 25-year-old former 1st round draft pick showing some massive power.  He is best known for hitting the longest home run ever at U.S. Cellular Field.  However, he has been languishing in the minor leagues since 2007 because of his inability to hit consistently.

2003 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T39 Paul Bako
2. #T82 Keith Osik
3. #T55 Jose Hernandez
4. #T20 Tony Clark
5. #T1 Juan Pierre
6. #T16 Jaret Wright
7. #T25 Johnny Estrada
8. Signature Moves Autographs #SMA-JB Joe Borchard (Autograph)
9. Chrome Traded #T48 Elmer Dessens
10. Chrome Traded #T169 Brandon Webb (First Year) (Rookie)

“Chien-Ming so dominated NY-Penn League (A) league hitters in 2002, that he made the ultra-rare leap from short-season ball to Double-A in ’03.  On May 5, he showed he belonged, shutting out New Britain on a four-hitter.  For Staten Island in ’02, Wang was second in the circuit in ERA, and never allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 13 starts.  The Yanks consider him a future No. 1 or 2.”

2003 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T266 Eric Reed (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #T262 Jay Sitzman (First Year) (Rookie)
3. #T237 Clay Hensley (First Year) (Rookie)
4. #T256 Prentice Redman (First Year) (Rookie)
5. #T271 Michael Garciaparra (First Year) (Rookie)
6. #T226 Kade Johnson (First Year) (Rookie)
7. #T251 Tyson Graham (First Year) (Rookie)
8. #T269 Nick Trzesniak (First Year) (Rookie)
9. Gold #T13 Ray King (Serial#0802/2003)
10. Chrome Traded #T133 Wilson Betemit (Prospect)
11. Chrome Traded #T245 Chien-Ming Wang (First Year) (Rookie)

This is one Topps card that actually predicted correctly.  It’s the future, and Josh Hamilton and Carl Crawford are both stars.

2003 Topps Series 1:

1. #82 Shannon Stewart
2. #164 Vernon Wells
3. #211 Mike Lowell
4. #53 Luis Castillo
5. #361 Bernie Williams (Sporting News All-Stars)
6. #325 Josh Hamilton/Carl Crawford (Future Stars)
7. #322 Marlon Byrd/Jorge Padilla (Future Stars)
8. #329 Michael Cuddyer/Michael Restovich (Future Stars)
9. #324 Hank Blalock/Mark Teixeira (Future Stars)
10. #328 Angel Berroa/Alexis Gomez (Future Stars)

“In 1983, Raines turned Olympic Stadium games into track meets.  The 5-8 speedster hit .298 with 97 walks and 90 stolen bases.  With sluggers Andre Dawson and Al Oliver hitting behind him, Tim raced around to score 133 times — one of the few Expos records that Vladimir Guererro hasn’t broken.”

2003 Topps Series 2:

1. #432 Damion Easley
2. #582 Dmitri Young
3. #549 Billy Koch
4. #409 Julio Franco
5. #388 Mark Ellis (Topps All-Star Rookie)
6. Record Breakers #RB-TR Tim Raines
7. #457 Bobby Abreu
8. #631 Arizona Diamondbacks (Team Card)
9. #569 Reggie Sanders
10. #684 Aaron Heilman/Jose Reyes (Prospects)

“In his second go-around at Myrtle Beach (A), Adam smashed .336-9-53 in 69 games in 2002 — amazing numbers considering the Pelicans’ cavernous park.  In one game, he went 5-for-5 with seven RBI.  LaRoche’s performance earned him a call-up to Greenville (AA), where he raked a respectable .289.  A 29th-round pick in ’00, Adam surprised scouts that summer with a .308 campaign in rookie ball.”

Welcome to the The Nation’s Capital, Adam

2003 Topps Series 1:

1. #298 Daryl Clark (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #294 Adam LaRoche (First Year)
3. #303 Bernie Castro (First Year) (Rookie)
4. #269 Joel Skinner (Manager)
5. #313 C.J. Wilson (First Year) (Rookie)
6. #270 Clint Hurdle (Manager)
7. #348 Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling/Kerry Wood (League Leaders)
8. #225 Kelvim Escobar
9. #148 Corey Koskie
10. #224 Ryan Rupe
11. #159 Edgar Martinez

“Traded from Boston on May 29, 2003, Hillenbrand quickly impressed Arizona manager Bob Brenly.  On June 4, he hit two doubles and a homer.  ”This is a guy whose swing is so quick and he can wait so long on the ball,” said Brenly, “any part of the ballpark is open to him.  He proved that tonight.””

Hillenbrand’s last appearance in professional baseball was in 2008 for the independent York Revolution.

2003 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T126 Miguel Cabrera (Prospect)
2. #T119 Jack McKeon (Manager)
3. #T154 Ryan Ludwick (Prospect)
4. #T161 Jonny Gomes (Prospect)
5. #T159 Adam Wainwright (Prospect)
6. #T117 Felipe Alou (Manager)
7. #T140 Boof Bonser (Prospect)
8. Gold #T84 Shea Hillenbrand (Serial#0473/2003)
9. Chrome Traded #T88 Orlando Palmeiro
10. Chrome Traded #T136 Adam LaRoche (Prospect)