2007 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH89 Doug Mirabelli
2. #UH119 Matt Stairs
3. #UH65 Angel Pagan
4. #UH132 Scot Shields
5. #UH318 Scott Proctor
6. Red Back #UH251 Chris Young (All-Star)
7. Red Back #UH103 Antonio Alfonseca
8. Generation Now #GN528 Curtis Granderson
9. #UH282 Jonathan Papelbon/Jorge Posada (Classic Combo)
10. #UH235 C.C. Sabathia (All-Star)

Curtis Granderson hit 31 doubles in 2006.  He hit his 9th double on May 23, 2006 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri against Elmer Dessens of the Kansas City Royals.  It was the 8th inning and he drove in 2 runs with his double.

Perhaps even more significant is what he did the following season in 2007.  Curtis Granderson hit 23 Triples in 2007, which is the most since Dale Mitchell hit 23 in 1949.  The only players in history to hit more than 23 Triples in a season were Shoeless Joe Jackson, Sam Crawford, and Ty Cobb — all before 1920.

2007 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH64 Cliff Floyd
2. #UH6 Adam LaRoche
3. #UH328 Kenny Lofton
4. #UH153 Mark Reynolds (Rookie)
5. #UH212 Justin Verlander (Season Highlights)
6. #UH201 Alberto Arias (Rookie)
7. Red Back #UH97 Shawn Hill
8. Red Back #UH112 Henry Owens
9. #UH286 Prince Fielder (Home Run Derby)
10. #UH265 Jorge Posada (All-Star)

…and Checklist 1 of 3.

“Ten days after playing for Double-A Mobile, Mark became the first Diamondbacks player since 2005 to post a five-hit game, falling a souble short of a cycle in a 5-for-5 effort against Houston on May 25, 2007.  It was just one highlight of a torrid MLB start for Reynolds, who went 23-for-54 (.426) with four homers and 15 RBI in his first two weeks.“

2007 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH43 Ubaldo Jimenez (Rookie)
2. #UH19 Russell Branyan
3. #UH179 Jesus Flores (Rookie)
4. #UH325 Jason Kendall
5. #UH128 Brad Thompson
6. Red Back #UH156 Matt DeSalvo (Rookie)
7. Red Back #UH16 Francisco Rosario
8. Gold #UH101 Jayson Werth (Serial#1084/2007)
9. #UH276 Alex Rodriguez/Russell Martin (Classic Combo)
10. #UH256 Orlando Hudson (All-Star)

“The Phillies anxiously anticipate the day that Jayson is 100 percent healthy.  “He can hit for power, run, throw.  Tools-wise, he’s loaded,” said general manager Pat Gillick when he acquired the outfielder from the Dodgers after a 2006 season lost to a wrist injury that also hampered him in ‘07.  On May 22, though, he homered twice against the Marlins.”

He’s healthy now, and has already hit 2 home runs and a triple in the postseason.  Catch him in action on Sunday as the Phillies try to regain the lead over the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

2007 Topps Series 2:

1. #627 Andy Cannizaro (Rookie)
2. #497 Fausto Carmona
3. #523 Derrek Lee
4. #375 Miguel Olivo
5. #512 Jason Kubel
6. Red Back #644 Jared Burton (Rookie)
7. Red Back #624 Jeremy Brown
8. #573 Gustavo Chacin
9. #470 Gary Sheffield
10. #449 Francisco Liriano (Topps All-Star Rookie)

“Every time he takes the mound, it’s electric,” says teammate Michael Cuddyer of Francisco, who was third in ‘06 Rookie of the Year voting.  However, his status for ‘07 is uncertain following elbow surgery.“

2007 Topps Series 1:

1. #54 Daniel Cabrera
2. #271 Delwyn Young (Rookie)
3. #199 Ryan Shealy
4. #267 Grady Little (Manager)
5. Hobby Masters #HM16 Todd Helton
6. Red Back #298 Eric Chavez (Gold Glove)
7. Red Back #328 Carlos Delgado/David Wright (Classic Combo)
8. #139 Prince Fielder (Topps All-Star Rookie)
9. #182 Ramon Ortiz
10. #285 Stephen Drew

“Since 1998, his first full season in the Major Leagues, Helton has never failed to hit .300.  Hobbyists were on board early and began scooping up his cards immediately.  Their trust was rewarded in 2000, when he won the National League batting title and also led in on-base average, slugging, hits, doubles and RBI.  Todd has made five All-Star Game appearances and landed three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards®.“

2007 Topps Updates & Highlights includes a box topper in the hobby box.  Let’s see what it is:

Well, that was somewhat disappointing.  It’s a Topps Update Chrome #TRC42 Eulogio de la Cruz serial numbered 070/415.

Here’s the first pack:

1. #UH323 Jorge Cantu
2. #UH23 Tadahito Iguchi
3. #UH311 Josh Phelps
4. #UH17 Jason Ellison
5. #UH108 David Newhan
6. Red Back #UH203 Jamie Vermilyea (Rookie)
7. Red Back #UH170 Jon Coutlangus (Rookie)
8. Generation Now #GN486 Jonathan Papelbon
9. #UH180 Joakim Soria (Rookie)
10. #UH234 Francisco Rodriguez (All-Star)

Commemorating Jonathan Papelbon’s 6th save in 2006…

2007 Topps Gold #136 Jon Rauch (Serial#0060/2007)

2007 Topps series 1:

1. #102 Jeff Kent
2. #216 Chris Duffy
3. #23 Josh Bard
4. #166 Hank Blalock
5. Gold #136 Jon Rauch (Serial#0060/2007)
6. Mantle Home Run History #MHR300 Mickey Mantle
7. Red Back #287 Jose Garcia (Rookie)
8. Red Back #252 John Gibbons (Manager)
9. #168 Mark Teahen
10. #156 Ryan Theriot

“Once a top White Sox prospect as a starter, Jon has reinvented himself as a stellar reliever.  History’s tallest pitcher, he was acquired by the Expos (Nationals) in 2004, but underwent shoulder surgery in ‘05, “I knew the chances of me pitching again were about 50-50,” he says of the experience, which made him less of a power pitcher, but more effective.”

He is now a mediocre relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2007 Topps Red Back #176 Alfonso Soriano/Carlos Beltran (Classic Combo)

2007 Topps series 1:

1. #187 Matt Cain
2. #159 Jason Michaels
3. #59 Brent Clevlen
4. #128 Damian Miller
5. Own the Game #OTG25 Roy Halladay
6. Generation Now #GN74 Chase Utley
7. Red Back #255 Brad Penny
8. Red Back #176 Alfonso Soriano/Carlos Beltran (Classic Combo)
9. #36 Gregg Zaun
10. #81 Ian Kinsler

I don’t really understand how these two make a “classic combo”, but it’s got former Washington National Alfonso Soriano in it.