Random Topps Card of the Day: 1997 Topps #191 Terry Adams

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, August 25, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1997 Topps #191.
• Player Name, position, team: Terry Adams, pitcher, Chicago Cubs.
• Major League Debut: August 10, 1995.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1996 stats (Cubs): 69 G, 101 IP, 3-6, 36 R, 33 ER, 78 SO, 49 BB, 0 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 4 SV, 2.94 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #4th June, 1991. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Adams' first regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). What was Topps to do. Certainly, they were going to continue making horizontally formatted cards, and looking at it this way, the way the name is set up so that it faces the picture makes sense aesthetically. But when putting it in a sheet with other cards, most of the vertically oriented variety, the name is upside down. Adams was a starter in the minor leagues, and upon was converted to a relief pitcher upon reaching the majors. And what a job he did. Deemed the closer of the future, Adams had a very successful run as one of the Cubs key setup men in 1996. And who can argue with a 2.94 ERA to go with 78 strikeouts? According to the blurb in the back (which for some reason is written in rather small text, which makes it even harder to read in the green background of the card back), "...Terry had a promising rookie year in a set-up role...despite some apprehension when first converted...'I thought it was like a punishment,' he recalls." At the end of the 1999 season, he was traded to the Dodgers, and thus began his journeyman career. From LA, he signed on with the Phillies for a couple of seasons, then the Blue Jays, traded to the Red Sox (in time to win a World Series ring), re-signed with the Phillies, and ended his career within the Pirates organization.
• Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 5 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: Thursday: 2000 Topps Traded and Rookies #T36. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama