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Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Then & Now: From rookies to vets

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Page 2 staff

Ah, youth ...

We can't actually remember ours, mind you. Too many brain cells lost along the way to our current elevated state of maturity. But we have pictures. And when we pull them out of our dusty photo albums, we can't help but notice that we were ... well, different back then.

We've been eating our spinach. That's why we're bigger now. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.

We know we don't have a lot in common with Major League Baseball players and other so-called celebrities. But apparently, we do share the same growth charts. Here's a look at what some of top sluggers, singers and other glitterati looked like on their rookie cards, next to where they are now at their elevated states of maturity.

Think it's the spinach for them, too? We make no judgments; we just present the photographic evidence.

Bonus quiz: Can you find the one person who has grown smaller?

Then: 1991 Topps		Now: First baseman, Yankees

Then: 1987 Topps		Now: Left Fielder, Giants

Then: 1989 Fleer		Now: Right Fielder, Yankees

Then: 1988 Topps		Now: Pitcher, Padres

Then: 1983 Fleer		Now: Coach, San Diego State

Then: 1961 Topps		Now: Baseball Lifer

Then: 1992 Topps		Now: Center, Lakers

Then: 1984 Upper Deck		Now: Shoe Salesman

Then: 1994 Fleer		Now: Big Mouth, NFL

Then: 1998 Topps		Now: Marriage Counselor

Then: 2000 Upper Deck		Now: Dental Hygienest

Then: 2002 Topps		Now: Biological engineer

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