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)

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)