Random Topps Card of the Day: 2005 Topps #608 Luis A. Gonzalez

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, April 6, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2005 Topps #608.
• Player Name, position, team: Luis A. Gonzalez, second baseman-outfielder, Colorado Rockies.
• Major League Debut: April 6, 2004 .
• Last Line of Statistics: 2004 stats (Rockies): 102 G, 322 AB, 42 R, 94 H, 17 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 1 SB, 15 BB, 67 SO, .469 SLG, .799 OPS, .292 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Indians as a Free Agent 07/05/1996. Drafted by the Rockies in the Rule 5 Draft, 12/15/2003. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Gonzalez' first (and as of now only) regular Topps card. Again, let's be perfectly clear. This is not Luis Gonzalez, All-Star outfielder, World Series hero, and long-time major league veteran with numbers of Topps cards in the catalog. This is Luis Alberto Gonzalez (appropriately named Luis A. Gonzalez on the back of the card to avoid confusion with collectors), rule 5 draft pick (which means that the Rockies HAD to keep him on the roster or risk sending him back to Cleveland), and as stated on the back of the card "a 2004 rookie with a reputation as a versitle, utility player. In one week, he started at SS, RF, 1B, and DH'd in interleague games." But he didn't play 1B in 2004. During the week in question, 06/07/2004-06/11/2004, he started at SS, RF, 3B, and DH. This means that Topps meant to say 3B instead of 1B, which means that this is an ERROR CARD!!! His ML career only lasted three seasons, last playing for the Rockies in 2006. He did wind up playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants in 2007 and 2008 (the Giants of Japan's Central League are the equivalent of the New York Yankees here). He re-signed with the Rockies after the 2008 season to a minor league deal, but did not see any action in 2009.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1977 Topps #423. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1977 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama