In 2005, Jake Peavy was second behind Johan Santana in Strikeouts with 216.  Johan had 238.

2006 Topps Series 1:

1. #6 Armando Benitez
2. #141 Randy Wolf
3. #76 Tony Graffanino
4. #54 Mike Matheny
5. #108 Mike Lamb
6. #188 Gary Matthews
7. Own the Game #OG25 Jake Peavy
8. #121 Jason Giambi
9. #35 Brad Wilkerson
10. #30 Jon Garland

“After being carried by their pitching and some lesser-known hitters in the NLCS, the Cardinals turned to the heart of their order to dispatch Detroit in the World Series opener.  Their Nos. 3-4-5 men — Pujols, Edmonds and Rolen — combined to go 5-for-11 with 4 RBI in a 7-2 win.  Pujols and Rolen homered.”

Jim Edmonds just officially announced his retirement last month.  He played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues, winning 8 Gold Gloves for his exceptional fielding abilities.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH91 Oscar Villarreal
2. #UH103 Aaron Sele
3. #UH47 Elmer Dessens
4. #UH75 Wilson Betemit
5. #UH55 Julio Lugo
6. #UH227 Alfonso Soriano (All-Star)
7. #UH250 Carlos Lee (All-Star)
8. Gold #UH328 Johan Santana/Francisco Liriano (Serial#0278/2006) (Classic Duos)
9. #UH197 Albert Pujols/Jim Edmonds/Scott Rolen (Postseason Highlights)
10. #UH264 Mariano Rivera (All-Star)
11. #UH317 Frank Thomas/Barry Zito (Team Leaders)
12. #UH263 Dan Uggla (All-Star)

Of these three hitters, Freddy Sanchez was the one who declined the most since winning the batting title in 2006, hitting only .290 since 2007.  Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols hit .316 and .330, respectively, since 2007.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH20 Jeff Conine
2. #US32 David Riske
3. #UH12 Brett Tomko
4. #UH40 Jeremy Accardo
5. #UH24 Eddie Guardado
6. #UH226 Kenny Rogers (All-Star)
7. #UH175 Trevor Hoffman (Season Highlights)
8. Rookie Debut #RD-2 Ian Kinsler
9. #UH185 Frank Thomas (Postseason Highlights)
10. #UH268 Bobby Jenks (All-Star)
11. #UH211 Freddy Sanchez/Miguel Cabrera/Albert Pujols (League Leaders)
12. #UH266 Tom Gordon (All-Star)

Mickey Mantle hit his 114th Home Run on August 16, 1955 at Fenway Park.  It was the 3rd inning with one man on and Frank Sullivan pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH66 Xavier Nady
2. #UH74 David Bell
3. #UH54 Josh Bard
4. #UH46 Joe Borchard
5. #UH102 Gary Bennett
6. #UH235 Brad Penny (All-Star)
7. #UH254 Lance Berkman (All-Star)
8. Mantle Home Run History #MHR114 Mickey Mantle
9. #UH188 Carlos Delgado (Postseason Highlights)
10. #UH260 Chris Carpenter (All-Star)
11. #UH203 Joe Mauer/Derek Jeter/Robinson Cano (League Leaders)
12. #UH308 Curt Schilling/David Ortiz (Team Leaders)

“NEW YORK, NY — Nearly 250 players have reached the 2,000-hit level, but Derek Jeter’s milestone — a tapper in front of the plate that he beat out — was more significant than most.  Of the eight on the list to get them all for the Yankees, he was (at 31 years, 334 days) the youngest to join, beating Lou Gehrig by 11 days.  The hit came in the fourth inning with the crowd chanting his name.”

Jeter needs only 74 more hits to reach “3 GRAND”

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH26 Ryan Wagner
2. #UH14 David Wells
3. #UH34 Robinson Tejeda
4. #UH6 Toby Hall
5. #UH78 Kevin Mench
6. #UH177 Derek Jeter (Season Highlights)
7. #UH224 Vernon Wells (All-Star)
8. Mantle Home Run History #MHR191 Mickey Mantle
9. #UH293 Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis (Team Leaders)
10. #UH205 Carl Crawford/Chone Figgins/Ichiro (League Leaders)
11. #UH300 Freddy Sanchez/Jason Bay (Team Leaders)
12. #UH262 Jim Thome (All-Star)

“A-Rod’s selection made him only the third player to start at least four All-Star Games at two positions (3B and SS), joining Rod Carew (1B, 2B) and Stan Musial (1B, OF).  At the break, the Yankees star was cranking along with a .282 batting average, 19 home runs, 65 RBI and 61 runs scored.  On July 2, his 450th home run was also his 2,000th career hit.”

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH107 Kevin Jarvis
2. #UH83 Hector Luna
3. #UH99 Francisco Cordero
4. #UH111 Pete Orr
5. #UH119 Jose Bautista
6. #UH30 Jae Seo
7. #UH220 Alex Rodriguez (All-Star)
8. Gold #UH187 Magglio Ordonez (Postseason Highlights) (Serial#1123/2006)
9. #UH295 Alfonso Soriano (Team Leaders)
10. #UH287 Jermaine Dye (Home Run Derby)
11. #UH259 Jose Lopez (All-Star)
12. #UH327 David Wright/Cliff Floyd (Classic Duos)

Thomas Mifflin was a merchant before the American Revolution, a general during the American Revolution, and a politician after the American Revolution.

2006 Topps Series 2:

1. #596 Buddy Bell (Manager)
2. #583 Craig Counsell
3. #566 Paul Byrd
4. #581 Brian Fuentes
5. #350 Joe Nathan
6. United States Constitution #SC-TM Thomas Mifflin
7. #533 Scott Hatteberg
8. #631 Dan Uggla (Rookie Card)
9. #633 Josh Barfield (Rookie Card)
10. #653 Prince Fielder/Rickie Weeks (Brew Crew)

2006 Topps Series 1:

1. #320 Rick Short (Rookie Card)
2. #112 Ryan Vogelsong
3. #165 Larry Walker
4. #181 Chone Figgins
5. #185 Johnny Damon
6. #309 Francisco Liriano (Rookie Card)
7. Hobby Masters #HM13 Curt Schilling
8. #57 Randy Winn
9. #152 Jack Wilson
10. #73 Steve Finley

“For more than a decade, Schilling has earned a reputation as a clutch performer and a class act.  He has earned the Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Roberto Clemente Awards, and he’s been named MVP of the NLCS and World Series.  From 2001 through ’04, he ranked second in Cy Young balloting three times.  Curt’s value among collectors will soar in ’05 should he surpass the 200-win and 3,000-strikeout barriers.”

The back of this card was probably written in 2004, even though it’s a 2006 card.  That’s because Schilling spent most of the 2005 season on the Disabled List and returned as a closer as he recovered.  He didn’t reach the 200-win/3,000-strikeout barrier until 2006.