2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #56 Seth Smith (Rookie)
2. #233 Jimmy Rollins (MVP)
3. #326 Matt Holliday/Chipper Jones/Hanley Ramirez (League Leaders)
4. #146 Aaron Hill
5. #79 Omar Vizquel
6. #165 Tim Lincecum
7. 50th Anniversary All Rookie Team #AR36 Austin Kearns
8. Trading Card History #TCH22 Pedro Martinez
9. #92 Ross Detwiler (Rookie)
10. #29 Anibal Sanchez

“Pedro is a veteran of four teams over his 16 seasons, but he reached iconic status as a Red Sox ace from 1998-2004, when he won two of his three Cy Young Awards, four of his five ERA crowns and a trio of strikeout titles.  Shoulder surgery abbreviated his last two campaigns, but “Petey” made an encouraging late return for the Mets in ‘07, during which he became the 15th member of the 3,000-whiff club.”

“”There’s a chance he might be called up (as soon as) September.”  So said Nationals GM Jim Bowden after signing Ross, the 2007 sixth overall draft pick, to his contract.  If the lanky lefty felt the urgency, it didn’t show.  Detwiler zoomed through two Minor League levels and worked his first MLB inning — a scoreless frame against the Braves — on September 7.”

Ross started 14 games for the Nationals in 2009 and went 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA.

2009 Topps series 1:

1. #193 Zack Greinke
2. #37 Erick Aybar
3. #36 Kevin Slowey
4. #28 Mike Lowell
5. Ring of Honor #RH19 Pedro Martinez
6. Topps Town #TTT23 Josh Hamilton
7. #93 James Parr (Rookie)
8. #272 Chan Ho Park
9. #90 Justin Morneau
10. #304 Jason Kubel

“Martinez’s first and last World Series championship appearance came in 2004 for the Red Sox, with whom he won 16 games.  He was never more clutch than in his final start:  seven shut-out innings in St. Louis to win Game 3.”

Topps was a little too quick to assume that Pedro will not be returning to the World Series.  That’s understandable, since Pedro was a 37-year-old unsigned free agent through most of 2009.  Although lightning strikes are rare, they do happen.

I look forward to seeing Pedro Martinez pitch in this year’s World Series.  He is one of the greatest power pitchers in the history of baseball.

It’s always sad to see baseball’s greatest players be forced to retire because no team wants them, even though they still want to play.  That’s why I was excited to see that Pedro Martinez got another chance today with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he did quite well too.

Although Pedro’s nowhere near as un-hittable as he was 10 years ago, he pitched 5 solid innings and struck out 5.  The game’s not over yet, but with the Phillies leading the Cubs 12-3, I think this one’s in the bag.

Keeping baseball’s greatest players out of retirement might not win ball games, but it goes a long way in rebuilding the interest in baseball that was lost when greed and steroids got in the way.  I’m glad players like Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and now Pedro Martinez are still being allowed to play, and I hope they can continue playing as long as they have a passion for playing the game.

UPDATE: Pedro got the win, bringing his career record up to an impressive 215-99

2000 Topps Combos #TC7 Randy Johnson/Pedro Martinez

2000 Topps series 2:

1. #363 Omar Vizquel
2. #457 Cal Ripken (Season Highlights)
3. #402 Joey Hamilton
4. #388 Mike Remlinger
5. #426 Jose Guillen
6. #469 Mark McGwire (20th Century’s Best)
7. Combos #TC7 Randy Johnson/Pedro Martinez
8. #307 Eric Owens
9. #304 Michael Tucker
10. #397 Royce Clayton
11. #377 Travis Lee

“Not only are Johnson and Martinez their league’s strikeout kings, but they rule with iron fists.  Johnson, baseball’s K-per-game career leader at 10.8, notched 364 in 1999 — beating the NL runner-up by 143.  Martinez, who whiffed 305 men in 1997, punched out 313 more in ‘99 — 113 ahead of the AL’s No. 2 guy.  Besides red-hot fastballs, each owns a secret-weapon:  Randy’s hard-breaking slider is the best in the business, while Pedro’s circle-change is as hard to hit as an acorn in a hurricane.”

While Pedro Martinez is still unsigned, Randy Johnson just won his 298th game yesterday against the Nats, striking out 9 in 5 innings.