Random Topps Card of the Day: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T108 Homer Bush

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, August 6, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T108.
• Player Name, position, team: Homer Bush, second baseman, Toronto Blue Jays.
• Major League Debut: August 16, 1997.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1998 stats (Yankees): 45 G, 71 AB, 17 R, 27 H, 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 SB, .465 SLG, 5 BB, 19 SO, .380 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Padres #7th, June 1991. Traded by the Yankees to the Blue Jays 02/20/1999. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Bush's second regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). As covered before, the 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies set was Topps' first update set since 1995, and was only sold in factory set form. Each factory set included one autographed rookie card (mine was Jeff Winchester of the Rockies, but that's for another time). What I like about the 1999 Topps design was that the picture took precedence of the design, even more so than the gold borders. Even how they incorporated the player's name and team name in the picture doesn't detract from the image on the card. Homer Bush's first card was a multi-player prospects card from the 1997 Topps set which included Jed Hansen and Felipe Crispo, so this is his first solo card. Bush is mostly known for being part of the trade that sent Roger Clemens to the Yankees during spring training in 1999. It even says on the back of Bush's card that "Toronto insisted that Bush be part of the Clemens deal." Which is a wonder, considering that that Yankees were already sending David Wells for the "Rocket." But then again, why not? He was a pretty good hitter in the minors, and the Blue Jays, knowing what they were giving up, did not want to come up empty handed. Besides, they may have wanted him to live up to his first name (yes, Homer is not his nick name. His given name is Homer Giles Bush). He actually had a great season with the Jays as their second baseman. Unfortunately, injuries kept him from playing more than 78 games the following two seasons. Let go by the Jays in the middle of the 2002 season, he latched on with the Marlins a few days later, only to be released when rosters expanded. Taking a year off to recover from his injuries, he returned to the Yankees organization in 2004, playing for both the AAA and big league club. His injuries took a toll in spring training the following year, and Bush opted to retire.
• Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 5 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #176. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama