2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #76 Jimmy Rollins
2. #31 Craig Biggio
3. #135 Casey Blake
4. #267 Mike Scioscia (Manager)
5. #151 Alex Cintron
6. #132 Kyle Farnsworth
7. #363 Ivan Rodriguez (Sporting News All-Stars)
8. #246 Stephen Randolph
9. #125 Vernon Wells
10. #238 Eric Gagne

“Playing for the Tigers, Rodriguez moved back to the American League in 2004 while again setting the standard for catching excellence.  Even as his veteran savvy helped mentor an improving Detroit pitching staff, he led all backstops with a torrid .334 batting average.  He also was the only catcher to rank in the top four at the position in RBI, runs, hits, doubles, home runs and stolen bases.”

Fast-forward 6 years and we have pretty much the same thing happening again…

Playing for the Nationals, Rodriguez moved back to the National League in 2010 while again setting the standard for catching excellence.  Even as his veteran savvy helped mentor an improving Washington pitching staff, he led all backstops with a torrid .334 batting average…

Well, maybe he doesn’t quite have a .334 batting average anymore since he’s fallen into a slump recently, but Pudge was hot at the beginning of the season and I’m glad he decided to come to DC.  Our treasured Stephen Strasburg is in good hands.

2009 Topps Series 1:

1. #160 Evan Longoria
2. #305 Ivan Rodriguez
3. Legends of the Game Nickname Letter Patch #LGCP-MM Mickey Mantle (Serial#33/50) (Manufactured Patch)
4. Topps Town #TTT23 Josh Hamilton
5. #55 J.J. Hardy
6. #294 Brandon Boggs

I guess I share the same sentiment about these manufactured patch cards as I’ve read in other blogs.  I don’t like how they’re basically “fake relics”, but it’s pretty cool to actually have one and see it in person.  I actually kind of prefer a manufactured patch over a real relic card of a player I don’t give a damn about.

This card goes into my display case as my most prized card, right next to the Gordon Beckham Red Hot Rookie Auto that I have for sale on eBay right now.

And I got another I-Rod to go into my Future Hall of Famers binder:

He’s on a tear right now, leading the league with a .449 Batting Average!

2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #94 Ivan Rodriguez
2. #30 Victor Martinez
3. #261 Matt Carson (Rookie)
4. #300 Chase Utley
5. #102 Minnesota Twins (Team Card)
6. History of the Game #HOTG19 Johnny Bench
7. Turkey Red #TR37 Chase Utley
8. Topps Town #FCTTT4 Adrian Gonzalez
9. #16 Johnny Cueto
10. #45 David Hernandez

“Since winning the Phillies second base job in 2005, Chase has proven to be one of the best-hitting middle infielders in the Majors, as well as one of the most respected leaders.  He has made MLB All-Star Game trips in each year since then, and is a regular winner of the NL Silver Slugger Award at second base.  Utley paced the circuit in runs in 2006, when he hit .300 for the first time.  He lifted his average to .332 in 2007 (third in the NL), and in 2008, he helped the Phillies claim a World Series championship with his fourth consecutive 100-RBI season.  Last year, he topped 30 homers for the third time.”

Chase Utley is batting .368 with 6 home runs so far this season.  At that pace he’d hit close to 100 home runs this season!  Of course he’s not going to keep that pace, but it’s a sign that it might be a monster home run season for him.

For my Future Hall of Famers binder, Ivan Rodriguez still in his former team’s colors:

He’s hitting .407 as a part-time catcher for the Nats.  Not bad for a 38-year-old.

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.