Random Topps Card of the Day: 1991 Topps #169 Luis Aquino

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, December 11, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1991 Topps #169.
• Player Name, position, team: Luis Aquino, pitcher, Kansas City Royals.
• Major League Debut: August 8, 1986.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1990 stats (Royals): 20 G, 68.1 IP, 4-1, 25 R, 24 ER, 28 SO, 27 BB, 3 GS, 1 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 3.16 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Blue Jays as a Free Agent 06/15/1981. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Royals 07/14/1987. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 8. This is his fourth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Luis was selected Triple-A Pitcher of the Week at Omaha, after hurling a No-Hitter vs. Columbus, June 20, 1988. Faced just 29 batters with 12 strikeouts."
• Commentary: Topps celebrated its 40th anniversary in the baseball card business and were not afraid to flaunt it by putting a large number 40 on the top.  It would be the first time that Topps would incorporate an anniversary within their card design.  I'm sure they could have done it back in 1981, the first year they had competition, but I think it was too late to do so.  Looking back, where would they have put a big "30?" Anyway, Luis was a rather successful middle relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.  He'd be the kind of player that if he played now, he wouldn't be included in any Topps products.  Not because he was a middle relief pitcher, but because he plays for KANSAS CITY!!!  He did a great job for the Royals in 1990, his only loss being a complete game effort against the Red Sox during the second game of a double-header on July 20.  However, that would be the last KC would see of him until October because of injuries sustained soon afterwards.  In 1991, Aquino returned with his best season to date.  He joined the starting rotation after the second half of the season started.  In 38 appearances, Luis started 18 games (one complete game), went 8-4 with a 3.44 ERA, 80 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.268.  He also finished 3 games, saving 3 of them.   After a down year in 1992, he signed on with the Florida Marlins where he continued his role as a relief pitcher who would spot-start when necessary.  He ended his MLB career with the Expos and Giants in 1995.  
• Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 9 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be:  2010 Topps #361. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 2010 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama