Random Topps Card of the Day: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T75 Carl Crawford

We reset the Topps Card Randomizer to come up with seven new cards to present for this week. Introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, October 11, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies #T75.
• Player Name, position, team: Carl Crawford, outfielder, Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
• Major League Debut: July 20, 2002.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1999 stats (Houston High School): Statistics Not Available.
• Any special information about players: Drafted by the Devil Rays #2nd, June 199. Bats: left, Throws: left.
• Any special information about this specific card: Crawford's first regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). Lost in the popularity of the Josh Hamilton card within the 1999 Topps Traded and Rookies set is the tenth card in the draft picks segment of the set. It was the last "rookie card" before the set was taken over by the traded veterans. Yes, Carl Crawford's rookie card lies within this set as well. The autographed version books for $75.00-$150.00. But his base card is today's topic. Putting Crawford in this set was a great move by Topps. A second round draft pick, Carl was already being touted as a star "reminiscent of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders." He was a three-sport prodigy at Houston High. He was an option quarterback and a point guard as well as an outfielder. Topps writes in his bio (one of the few I've seen that doesn't even have stats), "Carl is the stellar package of strength, speed and athletic grace. He has awesome raw power and a physique comparable to Ken Griffey Jr..." What a comparison. And what's even great about it is that he actually is living up to all the hype. He's already a four-time all-star, (even won an MVP award), a threat on the basepaths, and is at this moment, the Dean of the Rays. After years of playing out the string of last place finishes, Crawford has helped take the Rays to the promised land of first place (twice in the last three years) as well as an appearance in the 2008 World Series. But that's all in the future. A young Crawford smiles for the camera in this card in the original Devil Rays jersey, full of potential, full of promise, and a great future would await him.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $1.50-$4.00.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: 38 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2009 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH60. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. See you then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama