2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #136 Adam Wainwright
2. #64 Drew Stubbs (Rookie)
3. #46 Chad Tracy
4. #72 Milwaukee Brewers (Franchise History)
5. History of the Game #HOTG25 First MLB Game Played in Japan
6. Turkey Red #TR30 Victor Martinez
7. Topps Town #TTT25 Manny Ramirez
8. #17 Dexter Fowler
9. #62 Kevin Millwood
10. #91 Erik Bedard

“Ramirez has embraced the “Manny Being Manny” phrase that is used to describe his style — so much so that he’s had “MBM” stitched into much of his clothing.“

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #54 Victor Martinez
2. #227 Alfredo Amezaga
3. #181 Joe Borowski/Bobby Jenks/J.J. Putz (League Leaders)
4. #82 So Taguchi
5. #296 Paul Konerko
6. #201 Matt Capps
7. Campaign 2008 #C08-FT Fred Thompson
8. #200 Manny Ramirez
9. #241 Ervin Santana
10. #316 Scott Hatteberg

“Thompson, Alabama-born and a Vanderbilt University-educated lawyer, served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1994 to ’03.  Though no stranger to politics, he might be better-known to many Americans as the man who acted in many movies and as a star of the popular TV series, “Law and Order.”  Thompson also has served as a lobbyist and lawyer on several high-profile cases (Watergate among them), and is a popular and charismatic speaker.”

Looks like he really cranked up his acting career since Obama took office.  You can find Fred Thompson in the new movies Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Ironmen, Secretariat, The Genesis Code, and Alleged.  He also made an appearance on the TV show Life on Mars last year.

Manny recently recorded his 2,500th career hit and also recently tied Mike Schmidt with 548 career home runs, putting him at 14th on the all-time list.

1998 Topps Series 1:

1. #258 Randy Winn/Juan Encarnacion/Andrew Vessel (Prospects) (Rookie)
2. #259 Travis Smith/Courney Duncan/Kris Benson (Prospects) (Rookie)
3. #200 Dennis Eckersley
4. #125 Manny Ramirez
5. #201 Bill Mueller
6. #58 Tony Fernandez
7. #237 Chris Widger
8. Minted in Cooperstown #206 Quinton McCracken
9. #196 Luis Sojo
10. #90 Jay Buhner
11. #241 Bobby Ayala

Although they weren’t serial numbered, the Topps Minted in Cooperstown parallel insert set was 1998′s equivalent to the current Gold Border inserts.

“Projected as a utility outfielder/pinch runner when the 1997 season opened, Quinton wound up playing four of every five games in center field for the Rockies.  Speed, intelligence and a professional approach define the game of the former four-year starting cornerback for the Duke University football team.”

And I got a Man-Ram for my player collection:

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #217 Josh Beckett (Postseason Highlights)
2. #99 David Ortiz/Manny Ramirez (Postseason Highlights)
3. #322 Scott Kazmir/Johan Santana/Erik Bedard (League Leaders)
4. #85 Jason Bay
5. #315 David Weathers
6. #172 Chris Ray
7. Gold Foil #245 Dan Haren
8. #83 Mark Reynolds
9. #21 Edwin Encarnacion
10. #38 Preston Wilson

“Though they couldn’t get a win to show for it, the Red Sox made a little history in Game 4 of the ALCS when Youkilis, Ortiz and Ramirez became the second trio to hit back-to-back-to-back postseason homers.  The Yankees did it, also against Cleveland, in 1997.”

…I won’t make the obvious steroid comment here…

When the Yankees hit back-to-back-to-back postseason homers in 1997, it was Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O’Neill.

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH283 Alex Cintron
2. #UH176 Brad Wilkerson
3. #UH38 Carlos Villanueva
4. #UH304 Brad Lidge (All-Star)
5. #UH131 Manny Ramirez (Highlights)
6. #UH229 Adrian Gonzalez (All-Star)
7. #UH181 Runelvys Hernandez
8. #UH258 Arthur Rhodes
9. #UH186 Wes Littleton
10. Ring of Honor World Series Champions #RH-BS Bruce Sutter

“Sutter had a hand in three of the Cardinals four World Series wins over the Brewers in 1982.  He got the “W” in a tight Game 2, and saved Games 3 and 7.  In the latter, he spun two perfect innings.”

And Man-Ram squeezing another home run out of the juicer:

2009 Topps Series 2:

1. #622 Kurt Suzuki
2. #535 Ryan Doumit
3. #529 Fernando Rodney
4. #359 Jason Varitek
5. Topps Town #TTT41 Manny Ramirez
6. #373 Joe Martinez (Rookie)
7. #553 Jeff Karstens
8. #398 Cameron Maybin
9. #432 Wladimir Balentien
10. #509 Lou Montanez

“He’s widely recognized as one of the best righty hitters of all time, but Manny still takes swings on a batting tee every day.  The routine has produced nine Silver Slugger Awards and more than 500 homers.”

Earlier this month, Man-Ram committed to playing the 2010 season with the Dodgers.

1992 Upper Deck, to be integrated into my collection:

1. #3 Brian Jordan (Star Rookie)
2. #6 Jeff Juden (Star Rookie)
3. #9 Chris George (Star Rookie)
4. #10 Rob Maurer (Star Rookie)
5. #11 Donald Harris (Star Rookie)
6. #12 Ted Wood (Star Rookie) *x3
7. #14 Willie Banks (Star Rookie)
8. #15 Roger Salkeld (Star Rookie) *x2
9. #17 Arthur Rhodes (Star Rookie)
10. #19 Andy Ashby (Star Rookie)
11. #20 Tom Goodwin (Star Rookie)
12. #22 Todd Van Poppel (Star Rookie)
13. #26 Derek Bell (Star Rookie)
14. #27 Reggie Sanders (Star Rookie)
15. #28 Dave Winfield (Highlight)
16. #33 Fred McGriff (Team Card) *x3
17. #34 Willie McGee (Team Card)
18. #35 Shawon Dunston (Team Card)
19. #36 Delino DeShields (Team Card)
20. #37 Howard Johnson (Team Card)
21. #47 Mark Lemke
22. #51 Top Prospect Checklist (Checklist)
23. #54 David Zancanaro (Top Prospect)
24. #56 Mark Wohlers (Top Prospect)
25. #58 Dmitri Young (Top Prospect) *x2
26. #63 Manny Ramirez (Top Prospect) (Rookie)
27. #67 Joey Hamilton (Top Prospect)
28. #69 Jon Farrell (Top Prospect)
29. #72 Dan Wilson (Top Prospect)
30. #74 Rico Brogna (Top Prospect) *x2

2001 Topps Series 1:

1. A Look Ahead #LA6 Nomar Garciaparra
2. #356 Scott Heard/David Parrish (Draft Picks) (Rookie)
3. #94 Chris Turner
4. #330 Don Baylor (Manager)
5. #242 Jeff Frye
6. #150 Ivan Rodriguez
7. #233 Mike Lowell
8. A Tradition Continues #TRC26 Manny Ramirez
9. #148 Chris Carpenter
10. #82 Gil Heredia

“Ramirez has transformed himself into a superstar.  His weight room results are obvious, while his gorgeous swing is the product of endless hours of BP.  In the late 1990s, he worked with a psychologist to improve his focus on defense and the bases.  It apparently helped him at the plate, too:  In ’99, he batted .386 with men in scoring position.”

LOL, “His weight room results are obvious”… well the weight room among other things…