Random Topps Card of the Day: 2002 Topps #114 Derek Bell

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, August 5, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2002 Topps #114.
• Player Name, position, team: Derek Bell, outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Major League Debut: June 28, 1991.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2001 stats (Pirates): 48 G, 156 AB, 14 R, 27 H, 3 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .288 SLG, 25 BB, 38 SO, .173 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Blue Jays #2nd June, 1987. Signed with the Pirates as a Free Agent 12/10/2000. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Bell's sixteenth and final regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only, does not include his 1991 MLB '90 Debut card). As 2001 was his final year in the majors, the stats on the back of his card are complete. Despite my opinion of the 2002 Topps set (the inconsistency of the shade of orange on the cards, the fact that orange was even considered a color choice on the border, I could go on), many of the picture choices used by Topps for the cards were excellent for the design element. The card above is a great example of what I mean. Nice clear action shot of Bell here as he is watching to see if he's launched one into the seats, or at least hit the ball out of the reach of an infielder for a base hit. And by the look of the fans blurred in the background, they're watching for the same thing. Bell had an incredible career in the 1990's, with his best years with the Astros. In 1994, he finished the season with a .334 average, 8 home runs, 87 rbi's,and 27 stolen bases. He and the rest of the Astros' Killer B's (Bagwell, Biggio, eventually Berkman...what is it with this team and B-named stars...) kept the Astros dominant in the mid 1990's, and a fun team to watch (unless they were playing the Cubs, then it was brutal!!!) So much so did Bell like playing for Houston that in 1998 and 1999, he financed the construction of new baseball fields for the city's YMCA.
• Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 19 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T108. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama