Thanks for playing the 2005 Topps Total Baseball Card Game. There have been two new features added for 2005: The addition of Total Domination Parallel Game Cards, as well as Strategy Cards. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed bringing them to you!

Total Domination Parallel Cards:
Insert your favorite player's Total Domination Parallel Card into the lineup for improved statistics and increased chances for success!

The Total Domination Parallel looks exactly like the regular version, except the card front has been printed on a special mirror stock for an extreme look and feel. The back of the card, however, is where the domination really comes into play, as the game chart has increased odds of success.

Each Total Domination card has one orange tab added to the game chart. Orange beats Red, Yellow and Green (In the unlikely event of an Orange vs. Orange tie, look at the pitcher's chart for the winning play).

Strategy Cards:
Create a "Strategy Deck" made up of extra dual player cards with Offensive and Defensive Strategies on the back. The Strategy Deck should contain 40 cards. Your Strategy Deck can be made up of as many offensive and defensive cards as you would like, but you cannot have more than 4 of each card title in your deck (i.e., You cannot have more than 4 "Double Plays" in your deck). Remember that cards used in your lineup or in your Action Pile cannot be used as Strategy Cards and vice-versa.

How to Play Using Strategy Cards:
After you have decided who bats first, draw 5 Strategy Cards into your hand from your 40-card Strategy Deck. Do not let the opposing player see your Strategy Cards.

You may play a Strategy Card face up on the table before or after each and every at-bat.

Your opponent may then play a Strategy Card to counter yours, or simply play one on its own.

Some Strategy Cards tell you exactly when to play them (i.e., Before your next batter…)

Read the strategy text and apply the results to the play.

Both Players draw one Strategy Card after each player finishes his at-bat. You must discard any extra cards after drawing if you have more than 5 in your hand.

Remember, some Strategy Cards have prerequisites that your pitcher or batter must meet before playing the card (i.e., pitcher must have 150 strikeouts in 2004).

Some cards can be played in combination with other cards to really get things going.

If your deck is depleted, shuffle the discarded strategy cards and restart your deck.

Example of Play using Strategy Cards:
Man on first, 1 out.
Next Batter comes up.
No one plays a Strategy Card.
Resuming normal play, the result is a Ground Out.
Defensive team then plays "Double Play" strategy card from their hand.
Text reads: "on any ground out result with a runner on first, flip a card from the Action Pile. A Random Number or 4 or more results in a Double Play."
Defensive team pulls card from their Action Pile. The Random Number is a 6.
Double Play, Inning over.

Advanced Play (Series or Tournament Play).
Each player drafts a team of 25 players using 175 points to draft with. A player's Rating is his cost in points. Each time you draft a player, you will deduct his rating from your total points.

Each roster must consist of:

5 Starting Pitchers
3 Relievers
1 Closer
16 Position players.

Make a Pitching Rotation and announce it.

Make a Starting Lineup.
Put the rest of your players on the bench and in the bullpen.
Make an Action Pile using 40 extra player cards.
Make a Strategy Deck using 40 extra dual player cards. Your Strategy Deck cannot contain more than 4 cards with the same strategy title.

If you have used a particular Starting Pitcher in either of your last 2 games (as a starter or reliever) he is not eligible for this game.

Starting Pitchers can only go 7 innings before they lose a "tie" play to the batter (unless the "Workhorse" Strategy Card is played to keep them in the game for the 8th and 9th innings, and still win all ties).