Random Topps Card of the Day: 2000 Topps Traded and Rookies #T122 Jose Valentin

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, September 28, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2000 Topps Traded and Rookies #T122.
• Player Name, position, team: Jose Valentin, shortstop, Chicago White Sox.
• Major League Debut: September 17, 1992.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1999 stats (Brewers): 89 G, 256 AB, 45 R, 58 H, 9 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 38 RBI, .418 SLG, 48 BB, 52 SO, .227 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Padres as a Free Agent 10/26/1986. Traded by the Brewers to the White Sox 01/12/2000. Bats: both, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Valentin's ninth regular Topps card (totals include regular and traded cards only). At 135 cards, the 2000 Topps Traded and Rookies contained three more cards than traded sets in the past (usually a full sheet of 132). The rookie to veteran breakdown was 90 to 45 (or at a ratio of 2:1). It was nice, though that the rookies appeared first in the set, then the traded/veterans followed. Maybe this set should have been called Rookies and Traded instead of the other way around. Sometimes, a change of scenery will do wonders on a player's career. That can certainly be said for Jose Antonio Valentin (just so we know which Jose Valentin we're talking about). After being the Brewers' primary shortstop throughout the 1990's, a trade between the Brewers and the White Sox sent Valentin down the I-94 to Chicago. His Topps card tells the story rather clearly. "The White Sox were in need of a steady veteran shortstop when they acquired Valentin from the Brewers in a four-player deal." Jose made the best of his new opportunity by helping the Sox win the Central division in 2000. For five seasons with the Pale Hose, Valetin found a power stroke that helped him hit 136 home runs and drive home 379 rbi's. He had a batting average of .247 but a very good OPS of .802. At the end of the 2004 season, Valetin signed with the Dodgers. Rather bad timing as the following year, the White Sox managed to win it all in 2005.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 19 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2005 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH96. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 2005 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama