2007 Topps Updates & Highlights:

1. #UH53 Randy Messenger
2. #UH24 Brad Hennessey
3. #UH47 Scott Hairston
4. #UH317 Chris Schroder
5. #UH120 Jason Phillips
6. Red Back #UH290 Ryan Howard (Home Run Derby)
7. Red Back #UH140 Ryan Spilborghs
8. Generation Now #GN477 Kenji Johjima
9. #UH314 Craig Monroe
10. #UH216 David Ortiz (All-Star)

“With 79 four-baggers between the start of 2006 and the 2007 All-Star Game – 11 more than any other Major Leaguer — Howard was a natural choice for a spot in the State Home Run Derby.  In addition, he was the defending champion, having emerged victorious in ’06 in Pittsburgh.  However, Ryan could not find his stroke and did not survive the first round.”

I think they meant the “State Farm Home Run Derby”.  How dare they get a sponsor’s name wrong!

The home runs haven’t been coming as easily for Howard this season.  I guess that coaching from Barry Bonds didn’t help as much he had hoped.  So far he is hitting .277 and is on pace to hit around 34 home runs this season.

2007 Topps Series 1:

1. #63 Scott Proctor
2. #186 Grady Sizemore
3. #65 Dan Uggla (Topps All-Star Rookie)
4. Own the Game #OTG1 Ryan Howard
5. Generation Now #GN26 Ryan Howard
6. Red Back #112 Jeff Conine
7. Red Back #31 Jay Payton
8. #307 Torii Hunter (Gold Glove)
9. #143 Vicente Padilla
10. #86 Shannon Stewart

In 2006, Ryan Howard led the National League with 58 home runs.

This season, he’s leading the National League with 81 RBI’s.  However, he might be headed to the Disabled List soon for hurting his ankle on Sunday while running the basepaths.

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #100 Ryan Howard
2. #295 Tim Wakefield
3. #61 Alex Rodriguez/Carlos Pena/David Ortiz (League Leaders)
4. #32 Howie Kendrick
5. #164 Nate Schierholtz
6. #238 Shane Victorino
7. Year in Review #YR18 Mark Buehrle
8. Gold Foil #151 Adam Loewen
9. #147 Marlon Anderson
10. #189 Esteban German

“When Ryan was just three years old, he reached up and pulled a soap dish out of the wall in a bathroom in his home.  Later, hitting baseballs indoors, he put holes in his living room wall.  These days, Howard has used his strength to power balls over, instead of through, walls to amass 16 more home runs than anyone in the game the past two seasons.”

Ryan Howard has hit at least 45 homers in each of the past four seasons.  So far this season, his power numbers are down but his batting average is up with fewer strikeouts, perhaps thanks to some hitting tips from Barry Bonds.

2008 Topps Series 2:

1. #419 Bengie Molina
2. #462 Freddy Sanchez
3. #612 Kelly Johnson
4. #404 Cecil Cooper (Manager)
5. #591 Rico Washington (Rookie)
6. #653 Endy Chavez
7. Stars #TS5 David Wright
8. #384 Carlos Quentin
9. #557 John McDonald
10. #648 Ryan Freel

“Wright’s third full season as the Mets third baseman was his greatest as he was honored with both the 2007 Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards while finishing fourth in NL MVP balloting.  A complete player who also gets high marks for his demeanor, David set a Mets record with a 26-game hitting streak that spanned ’06 and ’07.”

The most interesting card in this pack was actually the Home Run Derby Contest game card.  I don’t know why, but it’s actually serial numbered 846/999.  It’s even lower numbered than Topps Gold cards!  The contest ended back in December 2008, but I couldn’t have won anyways.  Ryan Howard didn’t even participate in the 2008 Home Run Derby!

2010 Topps Series 1:

1. #188 Joe Blanton
2. #87 Darin Erstad
3. #49 Jorge de la Rosa
4. #42 Prince Fielder/Ryan Howard/Albert Pujols (League Leaders)
5. The Cards Your Mom Threw Out #CMT-7 Orlando Cepeda
6. Peak Performance #PP-6 Steve Carlton
7. Topps Town #TTT15 Miguel Cabrera
8. #178 Kerry Wood
9. #83 Mark Teahen
10. #223 Ryan Church

“Carlton Cruises to First NL™ Cy Young Award”

“In what is viewed as one of the most sensational pitching seasons in history because it came for a last-place team, Carlton won his first of four NL Cy Young Awards in 1972.  He collected all 24 first-place votes after topping the circuit in wins (27), ERA (1.97) and CGs (30). Steve struck out a career-high 310 — 61 more than anyone else in the League.”

I wasn’t aware that the letters “NL” were trademarked by Major League Baseball.

I also picked up a bunch of heavy hitters in this pack:

2009 Topps series 2:

1. #656 Delmon Young
2. #610 Michael Young
3. #554 Adam LaRoche
4. #487 Travis Hafner
5. #431 Ramon Hernandez
6. #430 Francisco Rodriguez
7. #338 Daniel Cabrera
8. #542 Chris Ray
9. Topps Town #TTT29 Derek Jeter
10. #532 Garrett Anderson
11. #612 Joel Pineiro
12. #500 Ryan Howard

Can you believe it?  12 cards in this 10-card pack!

“Howard was not merely the NL RBI champ in 2008 — he literally ran away with the race.  His 146 were 22 more than runner-up David Wright of the Mets.  The was the widest margin in the Senior Circuit since 1957, when Hank Aaron bettered Del Ennis’ total by 26 (132 to 105).  Howard’s total included a Phillies-record 84 before the MLB All-Star Game break.“

2007 Topps Generation Now archives, to be integrated into my collection:

2007 Topps Generation Now #GN19 Ryan Howard

1. #GN19 Ryan Howard
2. #GN27 Ryan Howard
3. #GN233 Ryan Zimmerman
4. #GN257 Ryan Zimmerman
5. #GN272 Delmon Young
6. #GN358 Nick Markakis
7. #GN362 Nick Swisher

2007 Topps Generation Now #GN12 Ryan Howard

2007 Topps series 1:

1. #92 Joe Crede
2. #237 Cincinnati Reds (Team Card)
3. #1 John Lackey
4. #326 Justin Verlander (Rookie of the Year)
5. #202 Mark Ellis
6. Gibson Home Run History #JG57 Josh Gibson
7. Generation Now #GN12 Ryan Howard
8. Red Back #294 Mike Rabelo (Rookie)
9. Red Back #309 Mark Teixeira (Gold Glove)
10. #51 Carlos Lee

In 2006, Ryan Howard hit 58 home runs.  This card commemorates his 12th of those 58.

May 14, 2006 – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

Opponent: Cincinnati Reds

Pitcher: Chris Hammond

Inning: 12th

RBI: 1

Men on Base: 0