Random Topps Card of the Day: 1978 Topps #224 Jerry Tabb

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, March 6, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1978 Topps #224.
• Player Name, position, team: Jerry Tabb, first baseman, Oakland A's.
• Major League Debut: September 8, 1976.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1977 stats (San Jose, AAA-Pacific Coast): 84 G, 285 AB, 59 R, 98 H, 23 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 45 RBI, .344 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #1st, June 1973. Contract purchased by the A's 03/15/1977. Bats: left. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 1. This is his first and only Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Jerry hit for the cycle in game for Midland, July 9, 1973. He hit 2 Homers in contest, his 2nd roundtripper gave Midland an 11-inning, 10-9 win."
• Commentary: It's one card wonder day on the humble little blog. What's a one-card wonder? It is a player who toiled in the minors, had a cup or coffee (or two, maybe three) in the majors, and was fortunate enough to get a piece of cardboard immortality. These are the players who in today's Hobby would never see the light of day on a piece of 2½ x 3½ cardboard. Such is the fate of one Jerry Lynn Tabb. Jerry Tabb was the number one draft pick of the Chicago Cubs. For four years, he toiled in the Cubs' minor league system, climbing the ranks year after year until he made his major league debut with the team as a September call up. But in March of 1977, the A's purchased his contract from the Cubs, and brought him to Oakland as a backup first baseman. After three games though, he was sent to San Jose to get some playing time. He returned to the A's towards the end of June, getting into seven games before returning to the AAA affiliate. He returned for good in August, and finished the season with a .222 average, 6 home runs and 19 rbi's. In 1978 though, the A's acquired Dave Revering, and pegged him as their starting first baseman. So Tabb was sent back to the minors. He did come up in May, and appeared in nine games as primarily a pinch hitter. He went 1-9 in his plate appearances, driving in a run, and drawing two walks. He was sent up north to Vancouver, the A's new AAA team at the end of the month. It would be the last time Tabb would be in the major leagues. He ended his playing career at the end of the 1978 season. His final totals include 74 games in three seasons, 195 plate appearances, a .226 average with 6 home runs, 20 rbi's, an OPS of .628, and one Topps card. If you play the "Play Ball" game that appears on most of the 1978 Topps cards, drawing Tabb's card will get you a single.
• Beckett value: $0.10-$0.25.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be 1979 Topps #537. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama