2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #283 Adam Kennedy
2. #168 Brad Kilby (Rookie)
3. #108 Erick Aybar
4. #65 Nick Swisher
5. The Cards Your Mom Threw Out #CMT-48 Ivan Rodriguez
6. When They Were Young #WTWY-RN Ricky Nolasco
7. Topps Town #TTT10 Tim Lincecum
8. #164 Carlos Carrasco (Rookie)
9. #240 Ricky Romero
10. #185 Hideki Matsui

“Although Rodriguez was an established star, it was in 1999 that he produced by far his biggest season and won the AL MVP Award.  The card notes his new record for most AL Gold Gloves by a catcher, yet “Pudge” would go on to a half-dozen more.”

Can’t wait to see him playing at Nationals Park when the season starts!  I always make it a point to see future Hall of Famers play before they retire.

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #275 C.C. Sabathia (Cy Young Award)
2. #76 Ivan Rodriguez
3. #264 Byung-hyun Kim
4. #195 Todd Helton
5. #198 Shannon Stewart
6. #167 Jason Hirsh
7. Campaign 2008 #C08-BR Bill Richardson
8. #111 Ubaldo Jimenez
9. #95 John Lackey
10. #290 Edgar Renteria

Here’s Democrat Bill Richardson, trying to look as creepy and intimidating as possible.

“Nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize, appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by President Clinton in 1997, and a man with a long resume in the area of international diplomacy, Gov. Richardson appeals to a wide range of citizens.  He was born to immigrant parents in California (his mother is of Mexican descent), and he served as a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Energy before winning election as the popular governor of New Mexico.”

And we got some Pudge:

2009 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH1 Ivan Rodriguez
2. #UH8 Lance Broadway
3. #UH194 Ty Wigginton
4. #UH221 Adrian Gonzalez (Home Run Derby)
5. #UH117 Alex Rios
6. Gold Border #UH319 Ramon Castro (Serial#1000/2009)
7. Legends of the Game #LGU24 Paul Molitor
8. Topps Town Gold #FCTTT62 Russell Martin
9. #UH73 Sean West (Rookie)
10. #UH115 Jeff Weaver

The Ramon Castro gold card is #1000 out of 2009!

And a Legends of the Game card celebrating Paul Molitor’s 225-hit season in 1996:

“Moving back home to the Twin Cities, Molitor put together one last brilliant season for Minnesota in 1996.  He stroked 225 hits — his career high and the third-most in franchise history.  At age 40, Paul also became the oldest player ever to achieve a 200-hit season.  His 211th of the year — a triple against the Kansas City Royals on September 16 — was No. 3,000 for his career.”

And Pudge about to body-slam someone in the crotch with a baseball.  ouch!

John H. contacted me a couple weeks ago about trading some 2009 Topps cards.  We eventually agreed to a trade of inserts, since we are both working on completing the base sets.  He sent me a bunch of cards that will fit nicely in my collection.  Thanks John!

1. 2005 Topps Update Washington Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-BW Brad Wilkerson (2.00)
2. 2005 Topps Update Washington Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-NJ Nick Johnson (2.00)
3. 2008 Topps Year in Review #YR52 Felipe Lopez (0.75)
4. 2008 Topps Update #UH266 Rob Mackowiak (0.30)
5. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG9 Rogers Hornsby (1.25)
6. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG13 Jackie Robinson (2.00)
7. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG17 Ted Williams (5.00)
8. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG22 Thurman Munson (2.00)
9. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG24 Nolan Ryan (6.00)
10. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-FR Frank Robinson (0.75)
11. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-JS John Smoltz (2.00)
12. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-RY Robin Yount (2.00)
13. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH11 Ivan Rodriguez (1.50)
14. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH15 Don Zimmer (1.00)
15. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH17 Gary Sheffield (1.00)
16. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH21 Johnny Podres (1.00)
17. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH23 Mariano Rivera (2.50)
18. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH25 Lou Piniella (1.00)
19. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH29 Francisco Rodriguez (1.00)
20. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH33 Brad Lidge (1.00)
21. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR22 Cliff Lee (1.00)
22. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR23 Garrett Atkins (1.00)
23. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR34 Kelly Johnson (1.00)
24. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR54 Alex Gordon (2.50)
25. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR59 Mel Ott (2.50)
26. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR70 Jon Lester (1.00)
27. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR78 Matt Cain (1.00)
28. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR80 Rogers Hornsby (1.50)
29. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR88 Michael Young (1.00)
30. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR89 Todd Helton (1.00)
31. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR100 Honus Wagner (2.50)
32. 2009 Topps WBC Stars #BCS17 Alex Rios (1.00)
33. 2009 Topps WBC Stars #BCS18 Luke Hughes (1.00)

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #180 Jose Valverde
2. #94 Bud Black (Manager)
3. #98 Ryan Howard/Chase Utley (Classic Combos)
4. #259 Emilio Bonifacio (Rookie)
5. #166 Andy Sonnanstine
6. Year in Review #YR16 Ivan Rodriguez
7. Gold Foil #57 Wladimir Balentien (Rookie)
8. #317 Cliff Lee
9. #96 Sam Fuld (Rookie)
10. #221 Ian Snell

“When 2B Orlando Hudson got hurt late in 2007, Arizona charged to the NL West title with Emilio proving a fine replacement.  He came up from Double-A (where his 41 SBs were second-most at that classficiation) and made quite an impression.  “I like watching the kid play,” says Hudson.  “Great young man, a great young player.  He’s going to do some damage in this game.”"

And another Ivan Rodriguez card… this time with the Detroit Tigers.

2008 Topps Updates and Highlights:

1. #UH224 Angel Pagan
2. #UH206 Russell Branyan
3. #UH320 Heath Bell
4. #UH268 Alfonso Soriano (All-Star)
5. #UH286 Aaron Cook (All-Star)
6. #UH137 Evan Longoria (Highlights)
7. #UH282 Carlos Marmol (All-Star)
8. #UH312 Ivan Rodriguez
9. #UH138 T.J. Beam
10. Gold Foil #UH91 Billy Buckner

“Evan hit his first Major League walk-off home run with one out in the ninth inning, breaking a scoreless tie and giving starting pitcher James Shields a 2-0 win over the visiting Angels.  After making two sterling plays at third base in the top of the inning, the rookie hit a 1-1 Justin Speier sinker over the 370-foot sign in left-center field.”

And current Washington National Pudge Rodriguez:

1992 Leaf, to be integrated into my collection:

1. #144 Jaime Navarro *x2
2. #146 Greg Gagne
3. #147 Jeff Blauser *x2
4. #148 Carney Lansford *x2
5. #149 Ozzie Guillen *x2
6. #150 Milt Thompson *x3
7. #151 Jeff Reardon
8. #152 Scott Sanderson *x2
9. #154 Greg Harris *x2
10. #156 Roberto Kelly
11. #157 Bryn Smith *x4
12. #158 Chuck McElroy
13. #159 Tom Henke
14. #162 Shawn Boskie
15. #163 Mark Davis
16. #164 Mike Moore
17. #167 Todd Stottlemyre
18. #168 Alvin Davis
19. #172 Alan Trammell
20. #173 Kenny Rogers
21. #177 Von Hayes *x2
22. #178 Chris Hammond
23. #180 Dickie Thon
24. #182 Scott Cooper
25. #186 Brett Butler
26. #188 Cory Snyder *x2
27. #189 John Habyan
28. #193 Rob Deer *x3
29. #194 Ivan Rodriguez

2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH11 Ivan Rodriguez

2009 Topps series 1:

1. #53 Jonathan Sanchez
2. #130 Vladimir Guerrero
3. #311 Kelly Shoppach
4. #157 Brandon Webb/Dan Haren (Classic Combos)
5. #176 Josh Hamilton/Justin Morneau/Miguel Cabrera (League Leaders)
6. Ring of Honor #RH11 Ivan Rodriguez
7. Topps Town #TTT3 Grady Sizemore
8. #276 Geovany Soto (Rookie of the Year)
9. #297 Bud Black (Manager)
10. #19 Edgar Gonzalez

October 18-25, 2003, Florida Marlins beat New York Yankees 4 games to 2

“Rodriguez has been a World Series champion once in his 18 seasons, in 2003 — his lone year with the Marlins.  En route, he won NLCS MVP honors, delivering a walk-off hit in Game 3 and finishing with a record 10 RBI.”

I-Rod has established himself as one of the greatest catchers in history.  A couple weeks ago he hit his 300th home run.  He is 7th all-time among catchers in home runs.