Random Topps Card of the Day: 2004 Topps #484 Jeremy Bonderman

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, January 7, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2004 Topps #484.
• Player Name, position, team: Prospects Jeremy Bonderman, pitcher, Detroit Tigers.
• Major League Debut: April 02, 2003.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2003 stats: Bonderman (Tigers): 33 G, 16 IP, 6-19, 118 R, 100ER, 108 SO, 58 BB, 28 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.55 WHIP, 5.56 ERA.
• Any special information about players: Drafted by the Athletics, #1st, June 2001. Traded by the Athletic to the Tigers 08/22/2002.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 9. This is his second card.
• Blurb on the back: "Thrust into an impossible situation - asked to join the rotation for a team that would score the fewest runs and make the most errors in the American League - Jeremy came directly out of A-ball and handled it with amazing composure in 2003. His memorable first ML win came on April 23 in Oakland when he defeated Barry Zito, 4-1, who had been 22-1 in his previous 31 home starts.
• Commentary: The 2004 set was one of my favorite sets in the 2000's in terms of its design and unique silhouette on the lower left corner. Easy to sort by teams thanks to the large team name above the picture in large silver foil letters, the 2004 Topps set for me to build/acquire. The insert sets were classy too. But back to the player. There was a time in the early 2000's when the Tigers were circled on everyone's schedule, just because many teams knew they were guaranteed a win...or two...or three...against them. I don't know of a tougher way to break a player into the big leagues than to have him pitch for a team as the 2003 Tigers (43-119, ranked 14th in almost all hitting categories and at or near the bottom in the pitching statistics). But alas, Bonderman persevered and was able to stick around for the renaissance that took place a few years later when the Tigers found their way to an AL pennant and perennial contenders status afterwards. Bonderman went 61-58 the rest of the way during his tenure with the Tigers and was granted free agency after the 2010 season. He did not pitch in he majors in 2011.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: 25.

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: 1960 Topps #354. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama