Random Topps Card of the Day: 1996 Topps #403 Joey Hamilton

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, November 6, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1996 Topps #403.
• Player Name, position, team: Joey Hamilton, pitcher, San Diego Padres.
• Major League Debut: May 24, 1994.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1995 stats (Padres): 31 G, 204.1 IP, 6-9, 89 R, 70 ER, 123 SO, 56 BB, 30 GS, 2 CG, 2 SHO, 0 SV, 3.08 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Padres #1st, June 1991. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 9. This is his third Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Joey learned control from his grandfather, who would pay hima  dime every tie he threw a ball through a tire. Last July 13, he was himself walked by a great control artist, Greg Maddux - the first pass Maddux had issued in 51 innings.."
• Commentary: After two seasons at a combined 15-15, 3.06 ERA, and 184 strikeouts, Johns Joseph Hamilton had a breakout season in 1996 for the San Diego Padres. He would earn a 15-9 record, strikeout 184 batters, meaning he literally doubled his strikeout total in one year, complete three games, one of them a shutout, and have a WHIP of 1.365 in 211.2 innings of work. This helped get the Padres into the playoffs for the first time since 1984. Although the Padres would lose to the Cardinals in 1996, the foundation was set for the Padres who then made their return to the playoffs and the NL pennant two years later. Hamilton spent five seasons in San Diego, going a combined 55-44 with a 3.83 ERA, 639 strikeouts and a 1.343 WHIP. He was then traded to Toronto before the 1999, who was then worried about Roger Clemens leaving the team (he did take off for the Bronx anyway). He would bounce between Syracuse, the Jays' Triple-A franchise at the time during his three season stay in Canada. Cincinnati came calling soon afterwards, where he spent the last three seasons of his big league career. He finished with a winning record (74-73) in what became a pretty good 12-year career.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 9 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be 1994 Topps #698. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama