“Extreme speed defines Lastings’ game, but the 12th pick of the draft also has juice in his bat and marvelous skills in center field.  He models his game after one of the best, saying he aspires to show the skills and instincts of Rickey Henderson.”

2004 Topps Series 2:

1. #610 Austin Kearns
2. #390 Chipper Jones
3. #623 David Ortiz
4. #378 Scott Podsednik
5. #723 Albert Pujols (Sporting News All-Stars)
6. Presidential Pastime #PP20 James Garfield
7. #680 Lastings Milledge (Draft Pick) (First Year)
8. #670 Carlos Quentin (Draft Pick) (First Year)
9. #595 Odalis Perez
10. #418 Livan Hernandez

“One look at Albert, and even the casual fan can tell he’s got the powerful body of a big-time home run hitter.  But there has been more to his success than just muscle.  ”He’s as smart as any player I’ve ever managed,” says Cards manager Tony LaRussa.  His intellect has enabled him, at just 23, to make uncanny adjustments.”

2004 Topps Series 1:

1. #311 Kenny Perez (First Year)
2. #32 Brad Radke
3. #143 Omar Vizquel
4. #6 Mike Matheny
5. #1 Jim Thome
6. #112 Octavio Dotel
7. #339 Alex Rodriguez/Frank Thomas/Carlos Delgado (League Leaders)
8. #39 Gil Meche
9. #241 Orlando Hudson
10. #40 Albert Pujols
11. #124 Eric Owens

“Tim, the first player to be a back-to-back Atlantic-10 Pitcher of the Year, held foes to a .212 AVG for Richmond in 2003.  ”Realistically at some point maybe late (in 2004) he could be with our Major League club,” says scouting boss Chief Gayton.”

2004 Topps Series 2:

1. #524 Jamie Moyer
2. #674 Tim Stauffer (Draft Pick) (First Year)
3. #399 Gabe Kapler
4. #434 Doug Glanville
5. #437 Alex Sanchez
6. #709 Scott Rolen (Gold Glove)
7. #480 Todd Walker
8. #514 Todd Hollandsworth
9. #381 Tike Redman
10. #425 Sterling Hitchcock

“Howie, a Third Team Junior College All-American, caught the Angels immediate attention by smacking .318 in his Arizona League (R) debut in 2002.  The next season, he compiled a 10-game run-scoring streak and, in ’04, he was a starter in the Midwest League (A) All-Star Game.  The move of Albert Callaspo, another top prospect, off second base, may clear the way for the quick-handed Kendrick to Anaheim.”

2004 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T154 Howie Kendrick (First Year)
2. #T83 Chris Nelson (First Year)
3. #T181 Benji DeQuin (First Year)
4. #T105 Edwin Encarnacion (Prospects)
5. Chrome Traded #T162 Wardell Starling (First Year)
6. Chrome Traded #T199 David Wallace (First Year)
7. #T108 Laynce Nix (Prospects)
8. #T96 Dustin McGowan (Prospects)
9. #T127 Jon Connolly (First Year)
10. #T187 Rob Tejeda (First Year)

A pack of 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies:

“After hitting better than .300 for Albuquerque (AAA) well into 2004, Chris is on the cusp of realizing his big-league dream after nearly 3,000 at-bats encompassing eight years in the Marlins organization.  Playing for Carolina (AA), he claimed the Southern League batting title in ’03 with a .320 mark.  He even has started a baseball camp in his native Reno, NV, to help youngsters realize their dreams.”

Aguila did end up playing parts of three seasons for the Florida Marlins, part of one season for the New York Mets, and a season in Japan.  He played the entire 2011 in the Marlins’ AAA system, coming full circle from where he was in 2004.

1. #T214 Greg Thissen (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #T72 Homer Bailey (Draft Pick) (First Year) (Rookie)
3. #T19 Reggie Sanders
4. #T165 Brooks Conrad (First Year) (Rookie)
5. Chrome Traded #T126 Ryan Meaux (First Year) (Rookie)
6. Chrome Traded #T9 Fernando Vina
7. Gold #T192 Chris Aguila (Serial#0472/2004) (First Year) (Rookie)
8. #T86 Huston Street (Draft Pick) (First Year) (Rookie)
9. #T91 Chad Tracy (Prospects)
10. #T25 Richie Sexson

2004 Topps Series 2:

1. #609 Josh Bard
2. #530 Troy Percival
3. #492 Scott Hatteberg
4. #386 Trevor Hoffman
5. #688 Jeremy Guthrie/Grady Sizemore (Prospects)
6. #713 Jim Edmonds (Gold Glove)
7. #488 Eric Milton
8. #476 Eli Marrero
9. #718 Dontrelle Willis (Rookie of the Year)
10. #373 Derrek Lee

2004 Topps Series 1:

1. #58 Paul Lo Duca
2. #266 Orlando Cabrera
3. #276 Clint Hurdle (Manager)
4. #36 Craig Wilson
5. #325 Zach Duke (First Year) (Rookie)
6. #342 Esteban Loaiza/Pedro Martinez/Roy Halladay (League Leaders)
7. #193 Luis Matos
8. #225 Rich Aurilia
9. #214 Moises Alou
10. #153 Jason Kendall

2004 Topps Series 2:

1. #527 Mark Teixeira (Topps All-Star Rookie)
2. #410 Mike Sweeney
3. #588 Melvin Mora
4. #447 Jason Schmidt
5. #705 Mike Hampton (Gold Glove)
6. Presidential Pastime #PP16 Abraham Lincoln
7. #645 Cincinnati Reds (Team Card)
8. #505 Adam Kennedy
9. #648 Detroit Tigers (Team Card)
10. #552 Oliver Perez