Random Topps Card of the Day: 2008 Topps #545 Chris Young

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, November 23, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2008 Topps #545.
• Player Name, position, team: Chris Young, outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Major League Debut: August 18, 2006.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2007 stats (Diamondbacks): 148 G, 569 AB, 85 R, 135 H, 29 2B, 3 3B, 32 HR, 68 RBI, 27 SB, 43 BB, 141 SO, .467 SLG, .762 OPS, .237 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox, #16th, June 2001. Traded by the White Sox to the Diamondbacks 12/20/2005. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 7. This is his third Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Chris, landed as a prospect from the White Sox following the 2005 season, may turn out to e one of the Diamondbacks greatest acquisitions.  In '07, the strong, swift center fielder became the first rookie in MLB history to pair 30 homers with 25 steals.  Young hit the sixth-most leadoff bombs (nine) ever and smashed virtually every Arizona rookie record."
• Commentary:  Not to be confused with the current Mets pitcher Christopher Ryan Young, outfielder Christopher Brandon Young has exceeded the expectations that were written about on the back of this card.  You can see that he was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, and the numbers he produced certainly back up his selection.  It's what he has done for the D-Backs since then that have made him one of the games bright stars.  In 2008, he did not experience the dreaded sophomore slump.  Although he hit less home runs than the year before (22), he did drive in 17 more rbi's than in the previous campaign (85).  His average went up to .248 and he hit 42 doubles and 7 triples to help his OBP go up to .315.  Defensively, he only had three errors in 401 chances (.993 fielding %), to go with five outfield assists.  He made his first All-Star team in 2010, and was the "Dean of the Diamondbacks" at the end of the season ahead of fellow All-Star catcher Miguel Montero by only 19 days (Montero's MLB Debut was on 09/06/2006).  However, he was traded to the Athletics on October 20, 2012.  
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 33.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH219. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama