Random Topps Card of the Day: 1985 Topps Traded #59T LaMarr Hoyt

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, January 30, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1985 Topps Traded #59T.
• Player Name, position, team: LaMarr Hoyt, pitcher, San Diego Padres.
• Major League Debut: September 14, 1979.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1984 stats (White Sox): 34 G, 235.2 IP, 13-18, 127 R, 117 ER, 126 SO, 43 BB, 34 GS, 11 CG, 1 SHO, 0 SV, 4.47 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Yankees #5th, June 1973. Traded by the White Sox to the Padres 12/06/1984. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 8. This is his sixth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Hit 34 Homers in 20 games as a Little Leaguer."
• Commentary: When LaMarr Hoyt first appeared as a Random Card of the Day subject, I flippantly wrote, "if we want to know how well he did in 1983, we'd have to wait for his 1984 cards to come." Nowadays, I'm actually writing what happened during the year this card came out on these commentaries. I don't know who actually takes the time to read them, but I'd like to think people do. Anyway, to update that mess from two years ago, Hoyt won the Cy Young Award in 1983, on the strength of a 24-10 record, 148 strikeouts, and a 3.66 ERA. It also helps that Hoyt and the 1983 White Sox won the AL West division that year (which is why the 2013 White Sox will be wearing that team's jerseys on home Sundays). The following year, Hoyt did not fare to well. He went 13-18 in his decisions, his ERA went up to 4.47 and the team fell to fifth place. During the offseason, he was traded to the Padres along with minor leaguers Kevin Kristan and Todd Simmons for four players. Coming to the Sox were Luis Salazar, Tim Lollar, Bill Long, and some guy that would become the 1985 Rookie of the Year, eventually become the 2005 AL Manager of the Year, and lightning rod wherever he went, Ozzie Guillen. With the Padres, the change of scenery did him wonders. He went 16-8, a 3.47 ERA, and was named to his first and only All-Star team (he pitched three innings, allowed one run, and was named the game's MVP). The honeymoon didn't last long though because in 1986, he went 8-11 with a 5.15 ERA in 35 games, 25 starts. It would be Hoyt's final year in the majors. He was released by the Padres in 1987 thanks to off-the-field issues, and signed back with the White Sox which gave him a second chance until those off-the-field issues returned (okay, he was arrested four times on drug possession charges), killing any chances of him returning to the majors. He has since rehabilitated and in 2004, the White Sox gave him a job as a roving instructor, a position he has held ever since. Many cards from the 1985 Topps set included a "Baseball Trivia Quiz" question. The back of Hoyt's card asks "Which manager lost the most All-Star Games?: Earl Weaver, Casey Stengel, or Connie Mack. The answer: as of 1985, Casey Stengel.
• Beckett value: $0.05-$0.15.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 16 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be 1984 Topps #60. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama