Random Topps Card of the Day: 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies #T113 Jim Crowell

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, December 27, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies #T113.
• Player Name, position, team: Jim Crowell, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies.
• Major League Debut: September 12, 1997.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2003 stats (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre - AAA-International): 54 G, 54.2 IP, 0-8, 31 R, 25 ER, 42 SO, 23 BB, 0 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 1.57 WHIP, 4.12 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Signed by the Indians as a Free Agent 06/17/1995. Signed by the Phillies as a Free Agent 08/18/2002.  Bats: right. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 1. This is his first and only Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Philadelphia is the fifth organization for Jim, who found his way into the system after a stint under ex-Phillies closer Mitch Williams with the independent Atlantic City Surf in '02. After good relief work with Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA) in '03, Crowell made four appearances in the Majors in Ma of '04. It was the 30-year-old's first big league action since he pitched briefly for Cincinnati in 1997."
• Commentary: The 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies set was split into three distinct sections:  the veterans, draft picks/prospects, and first-year player cards (not counting #221, Barry Bonds).  All would feature the now famous silhouette with the player number next to it.  Suffice it to say, if you played under number 75, you stay in the majors was not going to be long.  I think the blurb on the back pretty much sums up Jim Crowell's major league career.  He pitched in a total of ten major league games in his career, a career 0-1 with a 11.37 ERA.  He spent most of his professional years in the minor league organizations of seven different franchises (Indians, Reds, Cardinals, Padres, Phillies, Marlins, and Blue Jays), in effect a journeyman minor leaguer.  In the minors, he managed a 59-59 record with a 4.20 ERA, 726 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.475 in 413 games.  With the Phillies in 2004, Crowell appeared in four games, three innings of work, struck out one batter, and allowed one earned run (two runs total).  In SWB, he had more success, with a 7-3 record, a 2.40 ERA, and 44 k's in 63.2 innings of work.  After the 2004 season, he signed on with the Marlins, and appeared in four games for them in 2005.  He allowed 8 earned runs in 3.1 innings of work, resulting in an ERA of 21.60.  It would be his last opportunity in the majors.  He continued to play in the minor leagues until 2007, when he finally called it a career.  
• Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2007 Topps #67. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama