Another really nice 2009 Topps Series 2 pack.  I did get short-changed by a card again though.  This better not happen on all of the packs in the box, or I’ll have to complain to Topps.

#586 Nelson Cruz

2009 has featured more imaginative photography from Topps.  Here’s Nelson Cruz eating dirt.  Is he safe?

#626 Scott Hairston

Career Best Legends #LGCB-WJ Walter Johnson

Walter “The Big Train” Johnson was, according to my analysis, the most dominant pitcher in the history of baseball.  He finished his 21-year career in 1927 with a 417-279 record, 2.17 ERA, 3,508 Strikeouts, and an all-time record 110 Shutouts.

Six of the “Career Best” stats on the back of the card came from his 1913 season where he pitched 11 Shutouts, compiled a 1.14 ERA, went 36-7, averaged only one walk per 9 innings, had a 0.78 WHIP, and had a SO/BB ratio of 6.39.  He led the league in all of these stats in 1913, resulting in his first of two AL MVP awards.

Legends of the Game #LG-GM Greg Maddux

Legends of the Game inserts return in Series 2, but this time it features living legends and an arcane card lettering system instead of a logical and easy-to-understand numbering system.

“Greg Maddux went into 1993 having compiled a fine composite ERA of 3.24 in his previous four seasons, but no league leaderships.  From that point, however, he dominated the category.  His 2.36 mark started a run of three NL titles, two runner-up finishes and then a fourth crown.  In those six campaigns, Maddux’s ERA of 2.15 was a yawning 0.80 lower than any other pitcher’s.”

Topps Town #TTT34 Dustin Pedroia

Blue?  I guess that’s a refreshing change.

“Already the owner of an AL MVP Award, Dustin added some fresh hardware during Spring Trianing in 2009: The Golden Paddle, a ping-pong trophy he earned by winning a televised match against teammate Jed Lowrie.”

#604 Gregg Zaun

#442 Cliff Pennington

#533 Darin Erstad

#560 Adrian Beltre

2008 Topps #625 Greg Maddux

2008 Topps archives, to be integrated into my collection:

1. #470 Tom Gorzelanny
2. #483 Mike Jacobs
3. #484 Todd Jones
4. #497 Cla Meredith
5. #505 B.J. Upton
6. #508 John Danks
7. #522 Nate McLouth
8. #527 Marlon Byrd
9. #528 Paul LoDuca
10. #531 Hiroki Kuroda (Rookie)
11. #532 Tim Lahey (Rookie)
12. #534 Matt Tupman (Rookie)
13. #549 Gregg Zaun
14. #556 John Gibbons (Manager)
15. #575 Ty Wigginton
16. #576 Dave Bush
17. #579 Jesse Litsch
18. #591 Rico Washington (Rookie)
19. #598 Bruce Bochy (Manager)
20. #622 Jorge de la Rosa
21. #625 Greg Maddux
22. #637 Jose Castillo
23. #642 Mark Kotsay
24. #644 Reggie Willits
25. #651 Martin Prado
26. #653 Endy Chavez

2009 Topps #287 Greg Maddux

2009 Topps series 1:

1. #316 Brian Stokes
2. #68 Kyle Lohse
3. #124 Reed Johnson
4. #307 A.J. Burnett/Ervin Santana/Roy Halladay (League Leaders)
5. #105 Francisco Liriano
6. Topps Town #TTT12 Justin Morneau
7. #224 Max Scherzer
8. #287 Greg Maddux
9. #325 Dustin McGowan
10. #322 John Buck

With his recent retirement and pitching record of 355-227, we’ll see Maddux in the Hall of Fame in 5 years when he becomes eligible.

1994 Topps #392 Greg Maddux/Jack McDowell (Topps All Stars)

1994 Topps archives… I think my brother and I each bought a couple packs of these in 1994 before leaving the hobby for good.  I left one of my packs unopened and finally opened it last year when I figured it was just as worthless being unopened.  Here they are, being integrated into my main collection:

1. #3 Kevin Rogers
2. #23 Mark Lemke
3. #44 Jeff King *x2
4. #52 Otis Nixon
5. #53 Billy Ashley (Future Star)
6. #70 Andy Benes
7. #77 Jerald Clark
8. #92 Jose Bautista
9. #95 Tim Pugh
10. #112 Frank Rodriguez (Future Star)
11. #123 Billy Brewer (Future Star)
12. #129 Denny Neagle
13. #132 Bret Barberie
14. #134 Greg Colbrunn
15. #141 Rene Gonzales
16. #156 David McCarty
17. #190 Cecil Fielder
18. #195 Edgar Martinez
19. #225 Greg Vaughn
20. #239 Paul Assenmacher *x2
21. #245 Bret Saberhagen
22. #261 Rafael Belliard
23. #289 Damon Berryhill
24. #303 Greg Cadaret
25. #307 Melvin Nieves
26. #313 Justin Thompson (Future Star)
27. #321 John Dopson
28. #346 Greg Olson
29. #351 Gary DiSarcina
30. #352 Ben Rivera
31. #362 Kevin Bass
32. #387 Jeff Blauser/Cal Ripken (Topps All Stars)
33. #389 David Justice/Juan Gonzalez (Topps All Stars)
34. #392 Greg Maddux/Jack McDowell (Topps All Stars)