Random Topps Card of the Day: 1983 Topps #279 Greg Gross

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, November 22, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1983 Topps #279.
• Player Name, position, team: Greg Gross, outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies.
• Major League Debut: September 5, 1973.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1982 stats (Phillies): 119 G, 134 AB, 14 R, 40 H, 4 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 4 SB, .328 SLG, 19 BB, 8 SO, .299 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Astros, #4th, June 1970. Traded by the Cubs to the Phillies 02/23/1979. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 15. This is his eighth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Greg drilled Double with RBI and scored Run in helping Phillies defeat Cardinals at St. Louis, 06/23/1982."
• Commentary: Doesn't he look happy in his portrait card at the bottom left of the card?  Greg Gross started his career in Houston (he was a member of the 1974 Topps All-Star Rookie Team, finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting), and then had two good years with the Cubs (a career high 5 home runs in 1977). But he will always be associated with the Philadelphia Phillies.  Although he didn't get to start many games, he was more known for his pinch-hitting and defense.  He was a member of the 1980 World Series winning team, and a mainstay in Philadelphia throughout the 80's.  In 1983, Gross had a good year at the plate, hitting .302 with 29 rbi's and .761 OPS.  Able to play all  three outfield positions, and a bit at first, Gross' contributions in September (.333 average, 26-78) as a starter helped the team win it's second NL East title in the decade.  When his playing days were over, he became a color commentator for the Phillies and worked as a coach in the Rockies organization.  He returned to the Phils as their bench coach in 2001, and worked as a hitting coach or instructor for the organization's minor league system.  He came back in 2010 as the team's hitting coach in 2010, a position he held through 2012.
• Beckett value: $0.05-$0.15.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 15 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2008 Topps #545. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama