Random Topps Card of the Day: 1992 Topps #138 Monty Fariss

(Before I begin, I'd like to with my sister, Patricia, a Happy Birthday!!!)

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, March 23, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1992 Topps #138.
• Player Name, position, team: Monty Fariss, shortstop, Texas Rangers.
• Major League Debut: September 6, 1991.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1991 stats (Rangers): 19 G, 31 AB, 6 R, 8 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .387 SLG, 7 BB, 11 SO, .258 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Rangers #1st, June 1988. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Monty was signed for Rangers by Scout Doug Gassaway."
• Commentary: Monty Fariss and Robin Ventura have a lot in common. Both were on the Oklahoma State University baseball team, Fariss at shortstop, Ventura at third base. Both were selected in the first round of the 1988 free agent draft in June, Fariss (6th) to the Texas Rangers and Ventura (10th) to the Chicago White Sox. But while Ventura went on to a long and productive career in the majors, and is now a major league manager, Fariss' career lasted parts of three seasons from 1991 through 1993 with the Rangers and the expansion Florida Marlins. Monty Ted Fariss racked up the frequent flyer miles between Arlington and Oklahoma City. While with Texas, Fariss appeared in 67 games, hit .217 with 3 home runs and 21 rbi's. Monty was selected by the Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft (69th pick overall, 35th pick by Florida). He appeared for the Marlins in 18 games, mostly as a pinch hitter. In 34 plate appearances, Fariss went 3 for 29 (.172 average) with 2 rbi's before being sent "down" to Edmonton in June. It would be the last he appeared in the big leagues. Monty stayed on with the Marlins organization for another year, the signed on with the Cubs as a minor league free agent. But after 10 games at Iowa, he left for the Mexican League. When the 1995 season ended, so did Fariss' career. On the back of Fariss' card is a panoramic shot of Arlington Stadium. It would be Topps' first attempt at using a colored picture on the back of their baseball cards.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 6.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1953 Topps #239. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama