I big jumbo pack of 2012 Topps Series 1:

1. #63 Nate Schierholtz
2. #76 Ian Kennedy
3. #293 Eric Thames
4. #305 Chipper Jones
5. #46 Peter Bourjos
6. #102 Chase d’Arnaud
7. #142 Travis Wood
8. #21 Chris Iannetta
9. #72 Rex Brothers
10. #330 Matt Kemp
11. #280 Ryan Howard
12. #6 Nick Hagadone
13. #28 Placido Polanco
14. #4 Jeremy Guthrie
15. #177 Josh Thole
16. #53 St. Louis Cardinals (World Series)
17. #91 Alex Rodriguez/Jim Thome/Jason Giambi (Active Leaders)
18. #29 Livan Hernandez/Roy Oswalt/Randy Wolf (Active Leaders)
19. #90 Adron Chambers (Rookie Card)
20. #292 Ben Revere (Topps All-Star Rookie)
21. #308 Mike Leake
22. #238 Emilio Bonifacio
23. #60 Hanley Ramirez
24. Gold Sparkle #212 Tim Wakefield/CC Sabathia/Mark Buehrle (Active Leaders)
25. Classic Walk-offs #CW-5 Jay Bruce
26. Golden Moments #GM-50 Roy Halladay
27. Golden Greats #GG-14 Willie Mays
28. Gold Standard #GS-23 Tom Seaver
29. Gold Futures #GF-1 Michael Pineda
30. 1987 Topps Minis #TM-48 Paul Konerko
31. Golden Giveaway #GGC-2 Troy Tulowitzki
32. Timeless Talents #TT-23 Edgar Martinez/David Ortiz
33. #163 Justin Turner
34. #307 Vance Worley
35. #203 Jeff Niemann
36. #140 Troy Tulowitzki
37. #316 Nick Blackburn
38. #100 Jose Bautista
39. #9 Jesus Montero (Rookie Card)
40. #150 Roy Halladay
41. #169 Brett Myers
42. #71 Jeff Karstens
43. #193 Kelly Shoppach
44. #158 Josh Reddick
45. #82 Rick Porcello
46. #198 Matt Dominguez (Rookie Card)
47. #81 Liam Hendriks (Rookie Card)
48. #252 Dellin Betances (Rookie Card)
49. #219 Jordan Pacheco (Rookie Card)
50. #41 Devin Mesoraco (Rookie Card)

Here’s what I got in the Golden Giveaway:

2009 Topps Series 2:

“If Alex Rodriguez maintains his pattern of reaching a major home run milestone in odd-numbered years, 2009 will see him become the youngest player to hit 600.  He starts the season at age 33, needing 47 longballs.  After being the youngest to 300 in ’03 and to 400 in ’05, he popped No. 500 on August 4, 2007 (eight days after his 32nd birthday), beating Jimmie Foxx by 330 days.”

Looks like the pattern is broken, as Alex hit number 600 in 2010, and he will not reach 700 in 2012 unless he cranks up his steroid regimen again and hits 71 homers.  He has not hit more than 30 home runs in a season since 2008.

1. #565 Jose Lopez
2. #641 Jesse Litsch
3. #545 Matt Garza
4. Ring of Honor #RH54 Darryl Strawberry
5. Legends of the Game #LG-AR Alex Rodriguez
6. Topps Town #TTT47 Carlos Beltran
7. #658 Rick Porcello (Rookie Card)
8. #486 J.J. Putz
9. #362 Luke Montz (Rookie Card)
10. #580 Scott Kazmir

1999 Topps Series 2:

1. #285 Kevin Brown
2. #391 Bobby Smith (Topps All-Star Rookie)
3. #452 Alex Rodriguez/Nomar Garciaparra/Derek Jeter (All-Topps Shortstops)
4. #289 Darryl Hamilton
5. #268 Matt Franco
6. #371 Wilson Alvarez
7. #255 Dustin Hermanson
8. #388 Pete Harnisch
9. #287 Al Martin
10. #329 John Smoltz
11. #339 Royce Clayton

His power numbers are slipping… is it because of age or coming off steroids?

2009 Topps Series 1:

1. #47 Jose Valverde
2. #239 Brandon League
3. #235 Chad Billingsley
4. #246 B.J. Upton/Carl Crawford/Evan Longoria (Postseason Highlights)
5. Gold #1 Alex Rodriguez (Serial#1183/2009)
6. Topps Town #TTT14 CC Sabathia
7. #248 Scott Lewis
8. #232 Gabe Kapler
9. #32 Daric Barton
10. #219 Shin-soo Choo

Game 2:

“The Yankees, authors of so many improbable comebacks, pulled another in Game 2 of the ALDS against Minnesota.  On the ropes after dropping the opener, New York was on the verge of a second loss, down 6-5 in the 12th.  However, the big guns were locked and loaded.  Alex Rodriguez doubled in the tying run with one out, and Hideki Matsui followed with the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Derek Jeter.”

Game 4:

“Trailing 5-1 in the eighth inning of Game 4, the Yankees staged a mighty rally that clinched the 2004 ALDS.  In the top of the eight at the Metrodome, Ruben Sierra belted a three-run homer to tie the score.  In the 11th, Alex Rodriguez doubled, stole third and raced home on a wild pitch.  Reliever Mariano Rivera held on and notched the win, sending New York to the ALCS for the seventh time in nine years.”

2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #183 Cliff Lee
2. #32 Joe Randa
3. #195 Jason Kendall
4. #193 Mark Mulder
5. #108 Paul Wilson
6. #232 Jose Valverde
7. #349 Alex Rodriguez/Ruben Sierra (Postseason Highlights)
8. #43 Miguel Batista
9. #228 Jason Marquis
10. #229 Scott Spiezio

A jumbo pack of 2011 Topps Series 2:

1. #366 Joe Nathan
2. #363 Aaron Rowand
3. #405 Ian Kinsler
4. #361 Florida Marlins (Team Card)
5. #398 Pittsburgh Pirates (Team Card)
6. #447 Toronto Blue Jays (Team Card)
7. #384 Nick Hundley
8. #660 Ryan Zimmerman
9. #452 David Freese
10. #382 Travis Snider
11. #353 Cliff Pennington
12. #541 John Jaso
13. #500 Kevin Youkilis
14. #409 Vin Mazzaro
15. #372 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
16. #575 Rod Barajas
17. #558 Carlos Zambrano
18. #336 Chris Heisey
19. Kimball Champions #KC-85 Willie McCovey
20. Diamond Stars #DS-14 Miguel Cabrera
21. Before There Was Topps #BTT4 Exhibit Supply Company
22. 60 Years of Topps #60YOT-112 Alex Rodriguez/Derek Jeter
23. 60 #T60-66 Paul Molitor
24. Diamond Duos Series 2 #DD-26 Alex Rodriguez/Evan Longoria
25. Diamond Anniversary #441 Rafael Furcal
26. Diamond Giveaway #TDG-14 Jason Heyward
27. Topps Town Series 2 #TT2-16 Adam Wainwright
28. Gold #560 Chris Iannetta (Serial#0238/2011)
29. #532 Erik Bedard
30. #654 Chris Getz
31. #524 Michael Martinez (Rookie Card)
32. #595 Michael Pineda (Rookie Card)
33. #461 Eric Sogard (Rookie Card)
34. #521 Joaquin Benoit
35. #602 Ivan DeJesus (Rookie Card)
36. #468 Chone Figgins
37. #340 Evan Longoria
38. #525 Vernon Wells
39. #426 Travis Buck
40. #634 Mitch Moreland
41. #649 Joba Chamberlain
42. #584 Jason Bartlett
43. #502 Jeff Baker
44. #619 Jonny Venters
45. #470 Billy Butler
46. #480 Dustin Pedroia
47. #527 Kila Ka’aihue
48. #610 Josh Beckett
49. #485 Delmon Young
50. #562 Gordon Beckham

“Alex, a big fan of Cal Ripken Jr., has the look of the Orioles star — a big, slick-fielding shortstop who can power the ball.  In 1993, Rodriguez was drafted first overall after earning national Player of the Year honors at Westminster Christian HS in Miami.  Alex is scheduled to make his much-anticipated pro debut in spring ’94.”

2005 Topps Series 2:

1. #646 Cleveland Indians (Team Card)
2. #642 Boston Red Sox (Team Card)
3. #660 Pittsburgh Pirates (Team Card)
4. #645 Cincinnati Reds (Team Card)
5. #710 Jim Edmonds (Gold Glove)
6. A-Rod Spokesman #AR11 Alex Rodriguez (Reprint)
7. #655 Montreal Expos (Team Card)
8. #651 Kansas City Royals (Team Card)
9. #469 Josh Phelps
10. #496 Ramon Ortiz

“In 2002, Rodriguez smashed the MLB record for homers by a shortstop (which he set only a year earlier) by belting 57.  A-Rod topped The Show in four-baggers as well as RBI (142) and total bases (389).  This 27-year-old, who powered five homers in successive August games, finished the season with 298.”

Since then, A-Rod has hit 315 more homers, to bring his total up to 613.

2003 Topps Series 1:

1. #49 Jason Simontacchi
2. #101 Steve Cox
3. #77 Miguel Tejada
4. #127 Jason Isringhausen
5. #39 Sidney Ponson
6. #358 Alex Rodriguez (Sporting News All-Stars)
7. #64 Mike Williams
8. #116 Mark Mulder
9. #53 Luis Castillo
10. #211 Mike Lowell