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

Three members of the 500-Club:  A-Rod has 613 and counting, Thome has 589 and counting, and Palmeiro ended his career with 569.  That’s 1,771 home runs among the three of them, with more to come!

2002 Topps Series 1:

1. #210 Hideo Nomo
2. #175 Ivan Rodriguez
3. #57 Dante Bichette
4. #121 Jorge Fabregas
5. #339 Alex Rodriguez/Jim Thome/Rafael Palmeiro (League Leaders)
6. #269 Marlon Anderson
7. #116 Ruben Rivera
8. #101 Keith Osik
9. #212 Ricky Gutierrez
10. #136 Omar Olivares

“Upon leaving Texas for NYC in an astonishing 2004 trade, Alex was called by Rangers manager Buck Showalter “a good man with a pure heart.”  Indeed, A-Rod is not only a great player, but one of the game’s classiest emissaries.”

2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #309 Matthew Lindstrom (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #72 Mark DeRosa
3. #118 Mariano Rivera
4. #262 Michael Barrett
5. #285 Art Howe (Manager)
6. #1 Alex Rodriguez
7. #332 Randy Johnson (Season Highlights)
8. #318 Chaz Lytle (First Year) (Rookie)
9. #202 Kyle Lohse
10. #259 Odalis Perez

A-Rod’s 400th homer came on June 8, 2005 in Miller Park against Jorge de la Rosa of the Milwaukee Brewers.  It was a solo homer in the 8th inning.

2007 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH22 Jeff Salazar
2. #UH189 Lee Gronkiewicz (Rookie Card)
3. #UH194 Guillermo Rodriguez (Rookie Card)
4. #UH124 Lenny DiNardo
5. #UH322 David Murphy (Rookie Card)
6. Red Back #UH325 Jason Kendall
7. Red Back #UH124 Lenny DiNardo
8. Alex Rodriguez Road to 500 #ARHR400 Alex Rodriguez
9. #UH213 Trevor Hoffman (Season Highlights)
10. #UH238 Francisco Cordero (All-Star)

PACK 1:

1. #293 Franklin Gutierrez (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #290 Jerry Narron (Manager)
3. #297 Wayne Lydon (First Year) (Rookie)
4. #308 Brendan Harris (First Year) (Rookie)
5. #287 Lou Piniella (Manager)
6. #336 Derek Lowe (Season Highlights)
7. #215 Danny Graves
8. #34 Jeff Nelson
9. #258 Wade Miller
10. #229 Melvin Mora

PACK 2:

1. #135 Chris Reitsma
2. #6 Timo Perez
3. #51 Jose Jimenez
4. #32 Deivi Cruz
5. #124 Tino Martinez
6. #362 Garret Anderson (Sporting News All-Stars)
7. #4 Jermaine Dye
8. #221 Bobby Jones
9. #96 Alex Gonzalez
10. #63 Andy Ashby

PACK 3:

1. #18 Jason LaRue
2. #97 Todd Zeile
3. #182 Pokey Reese
4. #252 Joe Randa
5. Own the Game #OG16 Johnny Damon
6. #341 Pedro Martinez/Derek Lowe/Barry Zito (League Leaders)
7. #197 Kyle Farnsworth
8. #58 Luis Rivas
9. #186 Brent Abernathy
10. #79 Ramon Martinez

PACK 4:

1. #299 Sean Pierce (First Year) (Rookie)
2. #321 Walter Young (First Year) (Rookie)
3. #320 Craig Brazell (First Year) (Rookie)
4. #311 Kevin Youkilis (First Year) (Rookie)
5. #264 Mike Hargrove (Manager)
6. #352 Jim Edmonds/Scott Rolen (Postseason Highlights)
7. #88 Jose Cruz Jr.
8. #242 Robert Person
9. #227 Junior Spivey
10. #67 Bret Boone

PACK 5:

1. #328 Angel Berroa/Alexis Gomez (Future Stars)
2. #324 Hank Blalock/Mark Teixeira (Future Stars)
3. #329 Michael Cuddyer/Michael Restovich (Future Stars)
4. #322 Marlon Byrd/Jorge Padilla (Future Stars)
5. #325 Josh Hamilton/Carl Crawford (Future Stars)
6. #349 Tim Salmon/Darin Erstad (Postseason Highlights)
7. #1 Alex Rodriguez
8. #98 Omar Vizquel
9. #250 Nomar Garciaparra
10. #91 Orlando Cabrera