25 Years of Baseball

“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)

“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

“Drew, the third U. of South Carolina shortstop taken in the first round in the last five June Drafts, hopes to follow Adam Everett and Brian Roberts to the Majors.  Known to his teammates as “The Franchise,” he set a Gamecocks record with 111 hits in 2002, while leading his team to the final game of the College World Series.  The First Team All-SEC selection was the 10th overall pick of the draft.”

He made 15 plate appearances for the Texas Rangers in 2006, and has played AA or AAA baseball ever since.  He is currently in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization.

2003 Topps Series 2:

1. #450 Pedro Martinez
2. #629 Juan Encarnacion
3. #489 Scott Rolen
4. #667 Drew Meyer (Draft Pick)
5. #570 Jake Peavy
6. #703 Barry Zito (Cy Young Award)
7. #482 Pedro Astacio
8. #642 Houston Astros (Team Card)
9. #651 Philadelphia Phillies (Team Card)
10. #632 Atlanta Braves (Team Card)

Julio Teheran

Starting Pitcher, Gwinnett Braves (AAA Atlanta Braves affiliate)

Signed out of Colombia at the age of 17 in 2007, Julio Teheran has developed quickly in the Atlanta Braves’ minor league system into a potential number one starting pitcher.  He had an impressive full season in the minor leagues at the AAA level last year where he went 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA.  Going into the 2012 season, Teheran is the Braves’ best prospect and we can expect to see him playing at the Major League level this season.  He turns 21 next week.

“Randy says his nickname, “Big Unit,” was coined by Tim Raines when the two were teammates in Montreal.  In 1989, says Johnson, Raines bumped into him, with the bill of Tim’s batting helmet hitting Randy in the chest.  Raines looked up and declared, “Man, you’re a big unit!””

1997 Topps Series 2:

1. #388 Dennis Eckersley
2. #325 Randy Johnson
3. #360 David Cone
4. #442 Mark Lewis
5. #327 Mark Leiter
6. #478 Danny Peoples/Jake Westbrook (Draft Picks) (Rookie Card)
7. #483 Mark Johnson/Mark Kotsay (Draft Picks) (Rookie Card)
8. #468 Jason Conti/Jhensy Sandoval (Rookie Card)
9. #377 Todd Walker
10. #364 Kirt Manwaring
11. #373 Jose Rijo

“Ellis belted 2 Home Runs in 4th inning of Red Sox’ 12-4 win at Cleveland, 8-27-90.  He led off inning with roundtripper and walloped 3-run blast later.”

1991 Topps:

1. #172 Pete Incaviglia
2. #333 Chipper Jones (Draft Pick) (Rookie)
3. #303 Mike Boddicker
4. #753 Paul Marak
5. #286 Ken Oberkfell
6. #135 Jerome Walton
7. #70 Ellis Burks
8. #176 John Orton
9. #782 Jim Deshaies
10. #548 Jaime Navarro
11. #590 Eddie Murray
12. #202 Jim Leyritz
13. #509 Glenallen Hill
14. #479 Bob Patterson
15. #39 Jim Neidlinger

A jumbo pack of 2011 Topps Update Series:

1. #US213 Louis Coleman (Rookie Card)
2. #US96 Ryan Hanigan
3. #US241 Brandon Wood
4. #US156 Humberto Quintero
5. #US76 Nolan Reimold
6. #US219 George Sherrill
7. #US167 Brendan Ryan
8. #US216 Takashi Saito
9. #US26 Jered Weaver (Checklist)
10. #US270 Todd Frazier (Rookie Card)
11. #US36 Josh Judy (Rookie Card)
12. #US83 Brandon Belt (Rookie Debut)
13. #US312 Danny Duffy (Rookie Card)
14. #US169 Ezequiel Cabrera (Rookie Card)
15. #US127 Rickie Weeks (Home Run Derby)
16. #US74 Henry Blanco
17. #US185 Orlando Hudson
18. #US71 Jeff Francis
19. #US148 Alex Presley (Rookie Card)
20. #US200 Vladimir Guerrero
21. #US237 Ryan Roberts
22. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #US173 Charlie Furbush
23. 60 #T60-135 Cy Young
24. Diamond Giveaway #TDG-26 Carl Crawford
25. Gold #US50 Jered Weaver (Serial#1848/2011) (All-Star)
26. Diamond Anniversary #US37 Rick Ankiel
27. Topps Town #TTU-9 Colby Rasmus
28. Kimball Champions #KC-134 Miguel Cabrera
29. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #551 Marcus Thames
30. Cognac Diamond Anniversary #604 Joe Paterson (Rookie Card)
31. All-Star Stitches #AS-22 Asdrubal Cabrera (Jersey Relic)
32. #US95 Lyle Overbay
33. #US77 Freddy Garcia
34. #US29 Mike MacDougal
35. #US184 Tyler Chatwood (Rookie Card)
36. #US181 Jo-Jo Reyes
37. #US128 Mariano Rivera (Checklist)
38. #US60 Heath Bell (All-Star)
39. #US306 Brandon Phillips (All-Star)
40. #US238 Carlos Beltran (All-Star)
41. #US175 Mike Trout (Rookie Card)
42. #US131 Jeff Keppinger
43. #US118 Michael Pineda (All-Star)
44. #US309 Paul Konerko (All-Star)
45. #US258 Andre Ethier (All-Star)
46. #US22 Randall Delgado (Rookie Card)
47. #US174 Jacob Turner (Rookie Card)
48. #US62 Jason Marquis

2008 Topps #625 Greg Maddux

“One look at Albert, and even the casual fan can tell he’s got the powerful body of a big-time home run hitter.  But there has been more to his success than just muscle.  ”He’s as smart as any player I’ve ever managed,” says Cards manager Tony LaRussa.  His intellect has enabled him, at just 23, to make uncanny adjustments.”

2004 Topps Series 1:

1. #311 Kenny Perez (First Year)
2. #32 Brad Radke
3. #143 Omar Vizquel
4. #6 Mike Matheny
5. #1 Jim Thome
6. #112 Octavio Dotel
7. #339 Alex Rodriguez/Frank Thomas/Carlos Delgado (League Leaders)
8. #39 Gil Meche
9. #241 Orlando Hudson
10. #40 Albert Pujols
11. #124 Eric Owens