“Willie inherited a New York Mets team that was 20 games under .500 in 2004 and, in his first year as a Major League manager, steered it to a winning record.  Over the last two seasons, the former star Yankees second baseman has skippered the Mets to more wins than any other National League team.  His ’06 club won the NL East crown as Randolph finished second in the Manager of the Year balloting”

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #27 Bob Melvin (Manager)
2. #328 Nyjer Morgan (Rookie Card)
3. #323 Jose Valverde/Francisco Cordero/Trevor Hoffman (League Leaders)
4. #85 Jason Bay
5. #315 David Weathers
6. #172 Chris Ray
7. Black #280 Willie Randolph (Serial#44/57) (Manager)
8. Trading Card History #TCH9 Albert Pujols
9. #176 Troy Patton (Rookie Card)
10. #230 Roy Halladay

“Mark provided instant gratification for the Braves in 2007.  In his first month with them, he was the NL Player of the Month for August (.315-10-32).”

1. #626 Mike Redmond
2. #409 Jason Giambi
3. #468 Gregor Blanco (Rookie Card)
4. #658 Kerry Wood
5. 2008 Red Hot Rookie #11
6. Gold Foil #350 Mark Teixeira
7. Year in Review #YR79 Chone Figgins
8. #349 Mike Mussina
9. #478 Geovany Soto
10. #588 Tony Gwynn

“Kelly seemingly came from nowhere to become one of the Majors most productive second basemen in 2007.  He was one of only four with 50 XBHs and 70 BBs.”

Kelly had 67 XBHs and 79 BBs in 2010.  He’s struggling a bit this year though, so far hitting only .191.

2008 Topps Series 2:

1. #345 Carl Crawford
2. #633 Adam LaRoche
3. #620 Gary Sheffield
4. #594 Mike Morse
5. #431 Delwyn Young
6. Gold Border #612 Kelly Johnson (Serial#1656/2008)
7. Gold Foil #405 Travis Hafner
8. #387 Sean Marshall
9. #647 Randy Winn
10. #511 Jeff Francis

While Ryan Howard is only hitting .247 this season, he still leads the league in RBI with 35.

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #76 Ivan Rodriguez
2. #71 Jarrod Washburn
3. #97 Clint Sammons (Rookie Card)
4. #203 Jason Tyner
5. #133 Mike Bacsik
6. Own the Game #OTG14 Ryan Howard
7. Gold Foil #263 Nook Logan
8. #320 Ichiro
9. #136 Robinson Cano
10. #42 Corey Hart

“Ryan, part of a five-pitcher haul taken high in the 2005 draft by Florida, developed a slider to go with a mid-90s fastball and change-up in ’07.  That helped him strike out six and allow just two hits over five innings to pick up his first MLB win on June 8, 2008.  ”We welcome another bulldog,” Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said.  ”I love toughness.””

This former 1st round draft pick is currently working in the Texas Rangers bullpen.

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH235 Eddie Guardado
2. #UH260 Emil Brown
3. #UH193 Jeremy Affeldt
4. #UH309 John Bowker (Rookie Card)
5. #UH81 J.C. Romero
6. #UH225 Ryan Tucker (Rookie Card)
7. #UH204 Franquelis Osoria
8. #UH12 Trot Nixon
9. #UH318 Kyle Farnsworth
10. First Couples #FC-15 Abraham Lincoln/Mary Lincoln

PACK 1

1. #295 Tim Wakefield
2. #54 Victor Martinez
3. #287 Justin Morneau/Johan Santana/Joe Mauer (Classic Combos)
4. #259 Emilio Bonifacio (Rookie Card)
5. #166 Andy Sonnanstine
6. #124 Bob Geren (Manager)
7. Gold Border #325 Jim Leyland (Serial#1774/2008) (Manager)
8. #83 Mark Reynolds
9. #21 Edwin Encarnacion
10. #38 Preston Wilson

PACK 2

1. #107 Shawn Green
2. #209 Andy Phillips
3. #161 Matt Garza
4. #155 Carlos Zambrano
5. #272 Anthony Reyes
6. Year in Review #YR56 Jeremy Accardo
7. Gold Foil #245 Dan Haren
8. #81 Ray Durham
9. #39 Yovani Gallardo
10. #325 Jim Leyland (Manager)

PACK 3

1. #28 Kyle Kendrick
2. #117 Boof Bonser
3. #45 Dontrelle Willis
4. #8 Stephen Drew
5. #64 Mike Lowell
6. Year in Review #YR53 Oliver Perez
7. Gold Foil #281 Carlos Ruiz (Topps All-Star Rookie)
8. #248 Jose Contreras
9. #278 Xavier Nady
10. #57 Wladimir Balentien (Rookie Card)

PACK 4

1. #227 Alfredo Amezaga
2. #35 Cole Hamels
3. #218 Clint Hurdle (Manager)
4. #306 Scott Olsen
5. #262 Brett Myers
6. Own the Game #OTG1 Alex Rodriguez
7. Gold Foil #138 Dan Wheeler
8. #121 Mike Cameron
9. #308 Felipe Lopez
10. #169 Adam Lind

PACK 5

1. #251 Dan Johnson
2. #12 Jason Bartlett
3. #276 Brad Ausmus
4. #127 Steve Pearce (Rookie Card)
5. #197 Melky Cabrera
6. #48 Zach Duke
7. Gold Border #42 Corey Hart (Serial#1688/2008)
8. #78 Radhames Liz (Rookie Card)
9. #168 Phil Hughes
10. #174 Julian Tavarez

“A home run in his first plate appearance of the season was a good omen (for a change) for Casey in 2007.  After a few frustrating years, he stayed healthy and got back on the road to stardom.  His .296 AVG was the highest among American League first basemen, and (over multiple seasons) he closed out a streak of 115 consecutive games without an error.”

Kotchman was brought up from the minor leagues to play for the Tampa Bay Rays after Manny Ramirez retired.

2008 Topps Series 2:

1. #567 David Eckstein
2. #379 Hideki Okajima (Topps All-Star Rookie)
3. #521 Jayson Werth
4. #601 Felipe Paulino (Rookie Card)
5. #492 Harvey Garcia (Rookie Card)
6. #333 Jayson Nix (Rookie Card)
7. Gold Border #373 Casey Kotchman (Serial#1417/2008)
8. Stars #TS24 Pedro Martinez
9. #643 Matt Murton
10. #525 Gary Matthews

PACK 1:

1. #UH90 Dan Haren
2. #UH325 Clay Hensley
3. #UH211 Brett Tomko
4. #UH297 Cory Wade (Rookie Card)
5. #UH100 Jay Bruce (Rookie Card)
6. #UH105 Dan Giese (Rookie Card)
7. #UH222 Dave Borkowski
8. #UH306 Casey Kotchman
9. #UH96 Vladimir Nunez
10. Gold Foil #UH208 Kerry Wood (All-Star)

PACK 2

1. #UH308 Shelley Duncan
2. #UH314 Wilson Betemit
3. #UH283 Alex Cintron
4. #UH229 Adrian Gonzalez (All-Star)
5. #UH173 Randy Johnson (Highlights)
6. #UH191 Ian Kinsler (All-Star)
7. #UH83 George Sherrill (All-Star)
8. #UH197 Michael Young (All-Star)
9. Gold Foil #UH43 Jason Bartlett
10. #UH131 Manny Ramirez (Highlights)

PACK 3

1. #UH250 Pedro Feliz
2. #UH43 Jason Bartlett
3. #UH60 Jim Edmonds
4. #UH262 Brian Wilson (All-Star)
5. #UH232 Geovany Soto (All-Star)
6. #UH167 Justin Morneau (Home Run Derby)
7. #UH89 Joakim Soria (All-Star)
8. #UH59 Cliff Lee (All-Star)
9. #UH263 Eric Patterson
10. Gold Foil #UH104 Omar Infante

PACK 4

1. #UH176 Brad Wilkerson
2. #UH38 Carlos Villanueva
3. #UH242 Raul Chavez
4. #UH285 Kosuke Fukudome (All-Star)
5. #UH16 Paul Janish (Rookie Card)
6. #UH166 Ryan Braun (Home Run Derby)
7. #UH107 Jason Varitek (All-Star)
8. #UH68 Jonathan Papelbon (All-Star)
9. #UH35 Hanley Ramirez (All-Star)
10. Year in Review #YR144 Carlos Guillen

PACK 5

Mark Worrell’s claim to fame had nothing to do with his pitching.  He hit a three-run homer on his first major league at-bat in 2008.

1. #UH274 Albert Pujols (All-Star)
2. #UH4 Brent Lillibridge (Rookie Card)
3. #UH172 Evan Longoria (Home Run Derby)
4. #UH262 Brian Wilson (All-Star)
5. #UH125 John Smoltz (Highlights)
6. #UH232 Geovany Soto (All-Star)
7. #UH167 Justin Morneau (Home Run Derby)
8. #UH18 Andy Phillips
9. Highlights Autographs #HA-MW Mark Worrell (Autograph)
10. Gold Border #UH310 Kyle Lohse (Serial#0491/2008)
11. Gold Foil #UH281 Chris Aguila