25 Years of Baseball

“Card-collecting buffs can thank Beltran’s father for urging him to concentrate on baseball over volleyball, his once-favorite sport.  Carlos made his first of three straight All-Star Game appearances in 2004, when he played for the Royals and Astros, but his popularity peaked when he joined the Mets in ’05.  A year later, Carlos set career highs in most categories and won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award ®.”

2007 Topps Series 1:

1. #252 John Gibbons (Manager)
2. #266 Joe Maddon (Manager)
3. #272 Jeff Salazar (Rookie Card)
4. #289 Brian Burres (Rookie Card)
5. #141 Rich Aurilia
6. Hobby Masters #HM18 Carlos Beltran
7. Red Back #306 Mike Cameron (Gold Glove)
8. Red Back #258 Mike Hargrove (Manager)
9. #329 Yadier Molina/Albert Pujols (Classic Combo)
10. #108 Wes Helms

“Since his rookie season in 1991, Rodriguez has been a model of consistency behind the mask and in the batter’s box.  During his 12-year career with the Texas Rangers, “Pudge” has always been a fan favorite in Arlington for his clutch hits and stout defense.  The 1999 American League MVP (35-113-.332) shows power to all ends of the field, and his shotgun for an arm can be counted on to throw out roughly half of would-be base stealers.”

2003 Topps Series 1:

1. #84 Rafael Furcal
2. #23 Roberto Hernandez
3. #134 Aaron Rowand
4. #68 Matt Morris
5. Hobby Masters #HM14 Ivan Rodriguez
6. #367 Mike Scioscia (Sporting News All-Stars) (Manager)
7. #259 Adrian Beltre
8. #100 Ichiro
9. #162 Greg Vaughn
10. #261 Kazuhiro Sasaki

“Mike was a rare American find out of the non-drafted roles to play his way into prospect status.  After completing his college career at Texas A&M, he was signed by the Brewers, for whom he has pitched brilliantly in relief, striking out well over a batter per inning in his Minor League career to date.  Over the course of 2002, Adams was promoted twice.  He began ’03 as the closer for Huntsville (AA).”

2003 Topps Traded and Rookies:

1. #T30 Robert Person
2. #T35 Mike Venafro
3. #T51 Lenny Harris
4. #T46 Byung-hyun Kim
5. #T85 Shannon Stewart
6. #T42 Steve Avery
7. #T93 Steve Parris
8. Gold #T264 Mike Adams (Serial#0130/2003) (First Year)
9. Chrome Traded #T75 Troy O’Leary
10. Chrome Traded #T218 Nathan Panther (First Year)

2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #168 Brad Kilby (Rookie Card)
2. #58 Kyle Blanks
3. #161 Denard Span
4. #287 Jhonny Peralta
5. #260 New York Yankees (Franchise History)
6. Gold #263 Placido Polanco (Serial#0378/2010)
7. Topps Town #TTT10 Tim Lincecum
8. #225 David Price
9. #77 Kenshin Kawakami
10. #123 Jeff Samardzija

2003 Topps Series 2:

1. #481 Rick Reed
2. #666 Jeff Francis (Draft Pick)
3. #445 Rodrigo Lopez
4. #476 Jay Payton
5. #712 Scott Rolen (Sporting News All-Stars)
6. Red Backs #LW Larry Walker
7. #596 John Lackey
8. #438 Mike Maroth
9. #475 Einar Diaz
10. #502 Jose Hernandez

Jumbo pack of 2011 Topps Update Series:

1. #US79 Chris Dickerson
2. #US145 Bartolo Colon
3. #US201 Hisanori Takahashi
4. #US27 Joey Devine
5. #US198 Kevin Jepsen
6. #US196 Philip Humber
7. #US122 Alfredo Aceves
8. #US194 Jason Kipnis (Rookie Card)
9. #US223 Arthur Rhodes
10. #US267 Sam Fuld
11. #US64 J.C. Romero
12. #US9 Jose Iglesias (Rookie Card)
13. #US150 Adrian Beltre
14. #US282 Brad Hand (Rookie Card)
15. #US66 Andy Dirks (Rookie Card)
16. #US151 Cory Gearrin (Rookie Card)
17. #US179 Michael Pineda (Rookie Debut)
18. #US228 Zach Britton (Rookie Debut)
19. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #US14 Alex Avila (All-Star)
20. 60 #T60-106 Jimmie Foxx
21. Diamond Giveaway #TDG-23 Cal Ripken
22. Gold #US273 Miguel Montero (Serial#0956/2011) (All-Star)
23. Diamond Anniversary #US21 Prince Fielder
24. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #250b Mel Ott (Short Print)
25. Kimball Champions #KC-119 Matt Holliday
26. #US50b Nolan Ryan (Short Print)
27. Diamond Duos #DD-28 Brandon Phillips/Howie Kendrick
28. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #458 Javier Vazquez
29. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #552 San Francisco Giants (Team Card)
30. #US271 Eric O’Flaherty
31. #US115 Kerry Wood
32. #US129 Brooks Conrad
33. #US46 Angel Sanchez
34. #US157 Reed Johnson
35. #US161 Conor Jackson
36. #US89 Sean O’Sullivan
37. #US319 Corey Patterson
38. #US58 Tim Lincecum (All-Star)
39. #US229 Asdrubal Cabrera (All-Star)
40. #US4 Brian McCann (All-Star)
41. #US82 Mark Ellis
42. #US304 Hunter Pence (All-Star)
43. #US321 Gaby Sanchez (All-Star)
44. #US68 Tyler Clippard (All-Star)
45. #US316 Justin Upton (All-Star)
46. #US20 Adrian Gonzalez (All-Star)
47. #US18 Robinson Cano (All-Star)
48. #US259 Andre Ethier (Checklist)
49. #US147 C.J. Wilson (All-Star)
50. #US144 Kevin Youkilis (All-Star)

1980 Topps #148 Manny Sanguillen

Gotta love a good gap-toothed smile

John Smiley was a two-time All-Star pitcher who played for the Pirates, Twins, Reds, and Indians 1986-1997.  At the peak of his career in 1991, he went 20-8 with a 3.08 ERA, while finishing third in Cy Young Award voting.  His career ended abruptly when he broke his throwing arm while warming up for a start in the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen on September 20, 1997.

Unfortunately for this post, John Smiley was one of those players who pretty much disappeared from the public spotlight after his career ended.  More than two years after his broke his arm, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training for a possible comeback, but things never panned out.  John Smiley never pitched another professional baseball game.

1988 Topps:

1. #768 Dickie Noles
2. #25 Andres Galarraga
3. #181 Dave Cone
4. #393 Matt Nokes (All-Star)
5. #195 Dan Quisenberry
6. #102 Barry Larkin
7. #215 Von Hayes
8. #552 Mark Thurmond
9. #114 Jeff Russell
10. #141 Kansas City Royals (Team Leaders)
11. #790 Dave Righetti
12. #423 John Smiley
13. #625 Frank Viola
14. #542 Paul Noce
15. #547 Felix Fermin

“Clemente was born in Puerto Rico, one of six siblings in a poor but hard-working family.  Throughout his career, he used his position to help those in similar circumstances.  On 12-31-72, he was killed when his plane, bound for earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua with humanitarian aid, crashed.  In his honor, Puerto Rico declared an official three-day mourning period.”

“CLEMENTE IN FACT: Roberto was aboard the plane because he had heard supplies were being stolen and he wanted to deliver the goods himself.”

1998 Topps Series 1:

1. #89 Edgardo Alfonzo
2. #225 Mark Loretta
3. #149 Alex Fernandez
4. Clemente Tribute #RC1 Roberto Clemente
5. #94 Mike Lieberthal
6. #236 Jason McDonald
7. #6 Kevin Brown
8. #79 Kevin Polcovich (Rookie Card)
9. #145 Joe Carter
10. #255 Ben Grieve/Dermal Brown/Brian Buchanan (Prospects)
11. #254 Aaron Boone/Adrian Beltre/Ryan Minor (Prospects)