Random Topps Card of the Day: 1995 Topps #658 Giants On Deck Dan Carlson & Keith Williams

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, May 19, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1995 Topps #658.
• Player Name, position, team: On Deck: Dan Carlson, pitcher, San Francisco Giants; Keith Williams, outfielder, San Francisco Giants.
• Major League Debut: September 13, 1996 (Carlson); June 7, 1996 (Williams).
• Last Line of Statistics: 1994 stats: Carlson (Phoenix-AAA): 31 G, 151.1 IP, 13-6, 80 R, 78 ER, 117 SO, 55 BB, 22 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 1 SV, 4.64 ERA; Williams (San Jose-A): 128 G, 504 AB, 91 R, 151 H, 30 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 97 RBI, 4 SB, .516 SLG, 60 BB, 102 SO, .300 AVG.
• Any special information about players: Carlson: Drafted by the Giants #33rd, June 1989. Bats: right, Throws: right; Williams: Drafted by the Giants #7th, June 1993. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: This card is the first and only regular Topps card for either Carlson and Williams (total includes regular and traded cards only). At the end of the 1995 Topps Series 2 set were 28 cards, one for each team, featuring two up and coming prospects who, according to Topps, were "on deck" and soon would be ready for the majors. And representing the Giants, were pitcher Dan Carlson and outfielder Keith Williams. The back of the card recognizes the card as the "rookie card" for both players, and has each of their minor league stats, a quick blurb about the player, and the scout that signed them. Carlson: has won 12 or more games each of his last 4 seasons, with a high of 16 in 1992. Signed by scout John Shafer; Williams: ranked 15th in the minors in total bases and led California League outfielders in fielding. Signed by scout Gary Robinson. Both had very strong seasons in the minors, and both wound up playing with the Giants in the 1996 MLB campaign, although not together. Carlson was called up in September of 1996, and saw limited action in two seasons with the Giants. He was drafted by the Devil Rays in the 1997 expansion draft (28th pick...didn't get a card in the 1998 Topps set...WHAT??!), pitched briefly for the D-Rays before signing with the Diamondbacks (coincidentally, the other expansion team) the following season. He continued on in the minors until 2001, playing in the AAA affiliates for both the D-Backs and the Cardinals. Williams, on the other hand, joined the team in June. He was used primarily as a pinch hitter, and then started three games in right field. He saw action in 9 games that month before returning to the minors. He never returned to the majors. Williams spent the rest of his career with the Giants' AAA team, first in Phoenix, then to Fresno before signing on with the Northern League's St. Paul Saints. He finished his professional career in 2002.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.05-$0.15.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: Carlson: 1 card; Williams: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2000 Topps Traded and Rookies #T72. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama