Random Topps Card of the Day: 1988 Topps #735 Kevin McReynolds

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, June 18, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1988 Topps #735.
• Player Name, position, team: Kevin McReynolds, outfielder, New York Mets.
• Major League Debut: June 2, 1983.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1987 stats (Mets): 151 G, 590 AB, 86 R, 163 H, 32 2B, 5 3B, 29 HR, 95 RBI, 14 SB, .495 SLG, 39 BB, 70 SO, .276 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Padres #1st, June 1981. Traded by the Padres to the Mets 12/11/1986. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: McReynolds' second regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). What was it that made Kevin McReynolds so mad at Topps that he didn't sign a contract to appear on their cards until he arrived in NY??? He had cards with Donruss and Fleer (only because of the blanket deal both had with the player's association), but as you all know, Topps signs the players individually. Did something happen similar to Jason Varitek? There had to be something. Anyway, McReynolds was traded to the Mets in an eight player deal that also saw Kevin Mitchell and four others go to the Padres, only two months after their World Series win in 1986. As the Mets left fielder in 1987, he was among the team leaders in home runs and rbi's. The blurb on the back of the card highlights two dates in McReynold's career: his first MLB home run on 06/02/1983 (his MLB debut) and his MLB pinch hit home run on 08/08/1984. One last statistic shows that Kevin hit 7 game winning rbi's in 1987. Why they no longer keep track of that statistic is beyond me. Just like why we never saw a Topps card of McReynolds in a Padres uniform.
• Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 17 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1989 Topps #289. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama