Random Topps Card of the Day: 1987 Topps #749 Ozzie Smith

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, October 26, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1987 Topps #749.
• Player Name, position, team: Ozzie Smith, shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals.
• Major League Debut: April 07, 1978.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1986 stats (Cardinals): 153 G, 514 AB, 67 R, 144 H, 19 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 54 RBI, 31 SB, .333 SLG, 79 BB, 27 S0, .280 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Padres, #4th, June 1977. Traded by the Padres to the Cardinals 12/10/1981.  Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 18. This is his ninth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Ozzie has been recognized as one of the ten best casually dressed men of America.  He and hs wife have a son, Osborne Earl, Jr. (04/28/1982)."
• Commentary: When all is said and done, regardless of how many cards were produced for the 1987 Topps set, this will be one of the iconic sets of all-time.  How many of us collectors either started with this set (I'm raising my hand) or can picture EVERY card from this set in their head as soon as they either hear a name or card number (okay, I'm not that good, but...).  The set was used for the mini retro insert set in the 2012 Topps set, and those who still read this blog (there are people out there who read this blog...right???) know I wished that Topps used the wood borders for the 2012 base set.  Topps' experts believe that 1987 was the Wizard's best season.  They reprinted this card in their 2002 Topps Archives:  The Best Years set, they used this for the 2001 Topps Through the Years reprint set, and even the 2011 Topps 60 Years of Topps set.  What did he do exactly?  In 1987, Ozzie was an All-Star, finished second in the MVP voting, won his eighth Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, hit career highs in batting average (.303), rbi's (75), OPS (.775), runs scored (104), hits (182)...need I continue???  He even led the Cardinals to the NL pennant and a trip to the World Series.  For those of you who decry his HOF selection because of his lack of hitting numbers (.262, 28 HR, 793 RBI's), keep in mind that they man played defense like nobody before him or since.  Look at his defensive numbers:  4249 putouts, 8375 assists, 1590 double plays, in 12905 chances, which helped him win 13 straight Gold Gloves. For those who believe in WAR (wins against replacement), he may be 187th in offensive WAR (44.5), but he is number one in defensive WAR (43.4).
• Beckett value: $0.15-$0.40.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 95 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1994 Topps #271. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama