Random Topps Card of the Day: 1979 Topps #687 Rennie Stennett

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, January 8, 2011:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1979 Topps #687.
• Player Name, position, team: Rennie Stennett, second baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Major League Debut: July 10, 1971.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1978 stats (Pirates): 106 G, 333 AB, 30 R, 81 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 35 RBI, .243 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Pirates as a Free Agent 02/12/1969. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his eighth card.
• Blurb on the back: "Set modern record by going 7 for 7 in 9-inning game, 09/16/1975. also tied mark with 2 hits in each of 2 innings in same game. Had 12 hits in 3 games."
• Commentary: In my opinion, Topps designs in the 1970's came roaring in like a lion and out like a lamb. Classic designs from 1970, 1971, and 1972 (the gray border, black border, and psychedelic banners respectively) to start the decade, and pretty generic designs to end it (unless you're really good, you couldn't recognize which set was 1977, or 1979, or even 1978). As the years go on, these designs have become classics, and are now seen as appropriate for the era. This was also the first time Topps utilized their logo on the front of the card. Rennie Stennett was the Buc's second baseman throughout the 1970's. Though never an All-Star, the Panamanian native was an MVP Candidate in 1974 and 1977. In 1979, the "We are Family" Pirates won the World Series. Looking at Stennett's picture on the card, you have to wonder why the Pirates don't use the yellow uniforms anymore. They had a ton of success wearing them. Maybe the color was to blinding to the opposition. I don't know. But if the Blue Jays can bring back the 80's powder blue jerseys, why not the yellow and black 70's jerseys for the Pirates. Who wouldn't want to see Andrew McCutchen turning into a yellow blur in the outfield???
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.10-$0.25.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: 8 cards.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1963 Topps #181. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama