2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #102 Oscar Villarreal
2. #217 Jose Acevedo
3. #4 Lyle Overbay
4. #196 Terrence Long
5. #324 Kole Strayhorn (First Year)
6. #120 Akinori Otsuka
7. #348 Randy Johnson/Ben Sheets/Jason Schmidt (League Leaders)
8. #55 Chad Fox
9. #316 Darren Fenster (First Year)
10. #92 Jerome Williams

2005 Topps Updates & Highlights:

July 12, 2001:  Barry Bonds hits home run number 534, tying Jimmie Fox for 10th on the all-time list.

1. #UH82 Javier Vazquez
2. #UH230 D.J. Houlton (First Year)
3. #UH288 Scott Mitchinson (First Year)
4. #UH56 Alex Sanchez
5. #UH234 Russ Martin (First Year)
6. #UH278 Jake Postlewait (First Year)
7. Barry Bonds Home Run History #BB534 Barry Bonds
8. #UH208 Miguel Montero (Futures Game All-Star) (First Year)
9. #UH201 Mark Teixeira (Home Run Derby)
10. #UH114 Alex Rodriguez (Season Highlights)

2005 Topps Series 1:

“Kyle is a self-described “country boy” from Georgia who throws a country fastball that always approaches and sometimes hits 100 mph.  His omnipresent white necklace (which he kisses before he pitches), however, looks a little bit city.  ”I’m superstitious,” Farnsworth admits.  ”[Wearing a necklace] started in the Minor Leagues.  My mom gave me one.”

1. #327 John Maine/Val Majewski (Future Stars)
2. #145 Juan Rivera
3. #292 Bob Melvin (Manager)
4. #329 Gabe Gross/Guillermo Quiroz (Future Stars)
5. #284 Frank Robinson (Manager)
6. #322 Jake Dittler (First Year)
7. Gold #132 Kyle Farnsworth (Serial#1221/2005)
8. #67 Ryan Franklin
9. #230 Miguel Tejada
10. #81 Billy Traber

“There was no adjustment period for Miguel, who went directly from Double-A to renown for a world championship team in 2003, then was named an All-Star in ’04.  Teammate Brad Penny was in awe.  ”He’s going to be a superstar,” predicted the pitcher.  ”I’m going to be watching TV one day and say, ‘I played with that guy.’””

2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #240 Miguel Cabrera
2. #206 Gil Meche
3. #87 Chris Reitsma
4. #286 Joe Torre (Manager)
5. #199 So Taguchi
6. #174 Paul Konerko
7. #342 Johan Santana/Pedro Martinez/Curt Schilling (League Leaders)
8. #320 Matt Rogelstad (First Year)
9. #235 Joe Crede
10. #112 Brian Lawrence

Game 2:

“The Yankees, authors of so many improbable comebacks, pulled another in Game 2 of the ALDS against Minnesota.  On the ropes after dropping the opener, New York was on the verge of a second loss, down 6-5 in the 12th.  However, the big guns were locked and loaded.  Alex Rodriguez doubled in the tying run with one out, and Hideki Matsui followed with the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Derek Jeter.”

Game 4:

“Trailing 5-1 in the eighth inning of Game 4, the Yankees staged a mighty rally that clinched the 2004 ALDS.  In the top of the eight at the Metrodome, Ruben Sierra belted a three-run homer to tie the score.  In the 11th, Alex Rodriguez doubled, stole third and raced home on a wild pitch.  Reliever Mariano Rivera held on and notched the win, sending New York to the ALCS for the seventh time in nine years.”

2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #183 Cliff Lee
2. #32 Joe Randa
3. #195 Jason Kendall
4. #193 Mark Mulder
5. #108 Paul Wilson
6. #232 Jose Valverde
7. #349 Alex Rodriguez/Ruben Sierra (Postseason Highlights)
8. #43 Miguel Batista
9. #228 Jason Marquis
10. #229 Scott Spiezio

The question now is whether or not we can label him “organic”.

2005 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH313 Ryan Braun (Draft Pick) (First Year)
2. #UH102 Carlos Quentin (Prospect)
3. #UH252 Ben Harrison (First Year)
4. #UH110 Felix Hernandez (Prospect)
5. #UH88 Willie Randolph (Manager)
6. #UH57 Livan Hernandez
7. Washington Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-CG Cristian Guzman
8. #UH14 Anthony Reyes
9. #UH131 Joe Crede/Bobby Jenks (Postseason Highlights)
10. #UH162 Ken Griffey Jr. (Sporting News All-Stars)

“Scarcely more than three years after taking swings against college pitchers, Mark carted off a Silver Slugger Award as the AL’s best-hitting first baseman of 2004.  It was a remarkable achievement against such stiff, veteran competition as Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Konerko and Carlos Delgado.  In July, Teixeira tied a club record with home runs in five straight games, and in August, he hit for the cycle.”

2005 Topps Series 2:

1. #461 Alexis Rios
2. #634 Mark Teixeira
3. #603 Edwin Jackson
4. #425 Jose Reyes
5. #536 Jake Westbrook
6. #699 Eric Chavez (Gold Glove)
7. #722 Scott Rolen (Sporting News All-Stars)
8. #724 Jim Edmonds (Sporting News All-Stars)
9. #723 J.D. Drew (Sporting News All-Stars)
10. #692 Chad Billingsley/Joel Guzman (Prospects)

After the 2004 season, Juan Gonzalez was 7th among active players in career home runs with 434, behind Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro, Griffey, Bagwell, and Thomas.  Unfortunately for him, he began his 2005 season with a career-ending injury on his first plate appearance.

2005 Topps Series 2:

1. #647 Colorado Rockies (Team Card)
2. #661 San Diego Padres (Team Card)
3. #650 Houston Astros (Team Card)
4. #669 Wes Swackhamer (Draft Pick)
5. #718 Jason Bay (Rookie of the Year)
6. Hit Parade #HR7 Juan Gonzalez
7. #502 Wily Mo Pena
8. #380 Juan Pierre
9. #488 Reed Johnson
10. #568 Rafael Betancourt