Random Topps Card of the Day: 1979 Topps #218 Dennis Leonard

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, September 1, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1979 Topps #218.
• Player Name, position, team: Dennis Leonard, pitcher, Kansas City Royals.
• Major League Debut: September 4, 1974.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1978 stats (Royals): 40 G, 295 IP, 21-17, 125 R, 109 ER, 183 SO, 78 BB, 3.33 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Royals #2nd June, 1972. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Leonard's fifth regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). Compared to the colorful designs were the norm during the first part of the decade (see 1972, 1975, and 1976 Topps), the next few years' efforts seem so plain. They almost look the same in terms of appearance. Of course the designs were all different, but unless one really could distinguish the differences, they could easily be confused. What would Dennis Leonard have to do to make it to an All-Star team??? Between 1974 and 1975, the guy went 41 and 29, with 412 strikeouts and was a Cy Young candidate both years? I can assure you that if I had made up teams going back to 1974 and 1975, this guy would have made it onto the squad both times. Leonard was the ace of the Royals staff, and with a record going into the 1979 season of 73-50, he certainly was their man. The back of his card features a number of Leonard's major and minor league exploits: his California League leading 15 wins and 16 complete games in 1973; his 20 wins sharing the league lead in 1977; and pitching two no-hitters during his minor league career (doesn't specify dates). Along the side of many of the 1979 Topps cards, there is a feature called "Baseball Dates" In Leonard's case, the question is "What Happened on September 15, 1901??? The answer: The Chicago White Sox hit five triples in one inning.
• Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 12 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: Thursday: 1986 Topps #184. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama