Random Topps Card of the Day: 1994 Topps #200 Cal Ripken

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, January 5, 2011:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1994 Topps #200.
• Player Name, position, team: Cal Ripken, shortstop, Baltimore Orioles.
  Major League Debut: August 10, 1981.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1993 stats (Orioles): 162 G, 641 AB, 87 R, 165 H, 26 2B, 3 3B, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 1 SB, .420 SLG, 65 BB, 58 SO, .257 AVG.
• Any special information about players: Drafted by the Orioles, #2nd, June 1978. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 21. This is his second card.
• Blurb on the back: "Cal needs 5 HR's to break Ernie Banks' record for HR's by a SS."
• Commentary: Just to be clear: regular Topps Cards means the number of regular cards the player appears in that doesn't include any subsets like Record Breakers, All-Stars, Super Veterans, or any other card that is not that player's regular base card during his playing career (so short printed variation cards in 2009 do not count into the total). Exceptions would be if the player appeared in a multiple-player rookie or prospect card. Cal Ripken, Jr., appeared in 21 different Topps sets (1982-2001 Topps, 1982 Topps Traded), hence 21 regular Topps cards. If you were to count all of his appearances in Topps eponymous sets, during his playing career, you'd have 47 cards (which includes the five separate cards from 2000 Milestones). Still playing shortstop for the O's, and only a couple of years away before becoming MLB's Iron Man. Cal put up incredible numbers and had received so many accolades up to this point in his career that even without the "streak," the man was destined for the Hall of Fame. He broke the mold of what a traditional shortstop (slick fielding, but not to heavy on the power) and set the standard for those who would come after him (specifically, guys who would become household names in the 90's and deep into the 2000's). The picture used for his 1994 card is perfect for the horizontal orientation. Look at his follow through and you can imagine what his wingspan would be like (if he had wings of course). The only drawback would probably be the home plate shaped frame that separates the picture from the name plate (the angle seems a bit off where at the bottom tip of home plate). But still, with the orange and gray color scheme used in the design elements, it is a beautiful card. Regarding the blurb, I'm pretty sure he broke that record in 1994.
• Beckett value: $0.60-$1.50.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 117 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1997 Topps #360. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama