August 4, 1955, Yankee Stadium.  Mickey Mantle’s 108th home run came as a solo shot in the ninth inning off of Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Narleski.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH106 Chris Woodward
2. #UH94 Damon Hollins
3. #UH114 Josh Paul
4. #UH86 Bengie Molina
5. #UH142 Anibal Sanchez (Rookie Card)
6. #UH166 Kendry Morales (Rookie Card)
7. #UH248 Magglio Ordonez (All-Star)
8. Mantle Home Run History #MHR108 Mickey Mantle
9. #UH190 Tom Glavine (Postseason Highlights)
10. #UH318 Jered Weaver/Vladimir Guerrero (Team Leaders)
11. #UH202 David Ortiz/Jermaine Dye/Travis Hafner (League Leaders)
12. #UH328 Johan Santana/Francisco Liriano (Classic Duos)

“Despite unimpressive statistics as a Rangers rookie in 2005, C.J. considers the year a major success.  He not only returned from Tommy John surgery (which cost him all of the ’04 season), but he had to overcome nerve damage during recovery and a bacterial infection early in ’05.  Wilson impressed the Rangers with his cool demeanor, aggressiveness and ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes.”

2006 Topps Series 1:

1. #133 J.D. Closser
2. #316 Craig Breslow (Rookie Card)
3. #159 Brandon Claussen
4. #321 C.J. Wilson (Rookie Card)
5. #266 Bob Melvin (Manager)
6. #144 Esteban Loaiza
7. Barry Bonds Home Run History #BB706 Barry Bonds
8. #177 Jose Reyes
9. #206 Edgardo Alfonzo
10. #276 Jack McKeon (Manager)

“Sure, he owned impeccable control, but how would Shaun’s average stuff (by Major League standards) translate to the bigs?  Marcum held his own during his debut season with the Blue Jays, holding five teams scoreless in eight total innings of work.  Even in the two most intimidating settings in the AL, Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, he excelled, tossing a combined four innings of shut-out ball.”

2006 Topps Series 1:

1. #109 Jayson Werth
2. #156 Dan Wheeler
3. #314 Shaun Marcum (Rookie Card)
4. #224 Bartolo Colon
5. #193 Chris Ray
6. #325 Paul McAnulty (Rookie Card)
7. #260 Bartolo Colon (Cy Young Award)
8. #65 Nomar Garciaparra
9. #178 Barry Zito
10. #150 Pedro Martinez

2006 Topps Series 2:

On July 15th, 1952, Mickey Mantle hit the 25th homer of his career.  It was a solo shot in the 9th inning off of Early Wynn of the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.

1. #369 Mike Hampton
2. #420 Gary Sheffield
3. #545 Kelvim Escobar
4. #428 Nick Green
5. #451 Curt Schilling
6. Mantle Home Run History #MHR25 Mickey Mantle
7. #619 Joey Devine (Rookie Card)
8. #437 Juan Rivera
9. #459 Mark Hendrickson
10. #610 Cincinnati Reds (Team Card)

A hobby pack of 2006 Topps Series 1:

“Ivan shares the nickname Pudge with Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk”

1. #135 Josh Beckett
2. #166 Dave Roberts
3. #175 Ivan Rodriguez
4. #217 Jeff Weaver
5. #47 Felipe Lopez
6. #232 Rodrigo Lopez
7. Mantle Home Run History #MHR1 Mickey Mantle
8. #29 Aaron Harang
9. #146 Matt Clement
10. #67 Brian Jordan

“In 2004, Justin homered once every 14.7 ABs.”

Justin still appears a bit rusty after missing the second half of the last season due to a concussion.  He’s batting only .230 and homering only once every 82 ABs.

2006 Topps Series 1:

1. #291 Tony LaRussa (Manager)
2. #42 Reed Johnson
3. #218 Doug Mientkiewicz
4. #126 John Buck
5. #33 Mike Lieberthal
6. #274 Clint Hurdle (Manager)
7. Mantle Home Run History #MHR1 Mickey Mantle
8. #229 Cristian Guzman
9. #122 Justin Morneau
10. #215 Garret Anderson

George Read was a powerful figure in Delaware politics in the late 18th century.

2006 Topps Series 2:

1. #540 Gustavo Chacin (Topps All-Star Rookie)
2. #570 Todd Helton
3. #538 Mark Mulder
4. #559 Jerry Hairston Jr.
5. United States Constitution #SC-GR George Read
6. #366 Matt Treanor
7. #424 Tony Womack
8. #504 Phil Nevin
9. #526 Ryan Wagner
10. #653 Prince Fielder/Rickie Weeks (Brew Crew)

“When the pitch left Byung-Hyun Kim’s hand at 2.14 p.m. on May 28, 2006, it was a fastball.  When Barry Bonds turned on it a fraction of a second later, it was history — literally and figuratively.  Barry’s 445-foot blast into right-center was the 715th dinger of his career, moving him past Babe Ruth on the all-time list and putting him an even forty homers behind all-time champ Henry Aaron.  The sell-out crowd at AT&T Park erupted, and Bonds took two curtain calls.”

Bonds ended his career with 762 home runs.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH53 Denny Bautista
2. #UH73 Cory Lidle (In Memoriam)
3. #UH45 Scott Williamson
4. #UH101 Roberto Hernandez
5. #UH117 Scott Proctor
6. #UH170 John Maine (Rookie Card)
7. #UH244 Nomar Garciaparra (All-Star)
8. Barry Bonds 715 #715-BB Barry Bonds
9. #UH213 Jose Reyes/Juan Pierre/Hanley Ramirez (League Leaders)
10. #UH298 Lance Berkman/Roy Oswalt (Team Leaders)
11. #UH282 Carlos Zambrano (All-Star)
12. #UH299 Chris Capuano/Prince Fielder (Team Leaders)