Random Topps Card of the Day: 2002 Topps Traded and Rookies #T27 Kenny Kelly

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, March 22, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2002 Topps Traded and Rookies #T27.
• Player Name, position, team: Kenny Kelly, outfielder, Seattle Mariners.
• Major League Debut: September 7, 2000.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2001 stats (San Antonio, AA-Texas): 121 G, 478 AB, 72 R, 125 H, 20 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 18 SB, .393 SLG, 45 BB, 111 SO, .262 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Devil Rays #2nd, June 1997. Contract purchased from the Devil Rays by the Mariners 04/04/2001. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 2. This is his second and final Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Kenny, signed as a minor league free agent, could be a diamond in the rough for the Mariners. After hitting .351 and making the all-prospect team in fall ball, he was elevated to Triple-A for 2002."
• Commentary: Of the 110 "Veterans and Managers" that were inadvertently short printed by Topps in their "brilliant" idea of short printing cards back in 2002, the one player that just didn't seem to belong in all of this was Kenny Kelly. Why? Because up until the card was produced, he had only two games of major league experience. And believe it or not, Kelly didn't even spend the 2002 season with the Mariners. Even though the picture was taken during spring training, Kelly spent the 2002 season with the M's Triple-A team in Tacoma. If anything, Kelly should have been lumped with the rookie...I mean "Prospects"...section of the set. But then again, as his first card was in the 2001 Topps set, that may be why he was "promoted" to veteran status. With the Rainiers, Kelly hit for a .248 average with 11 home runs and 53 rbi's. Kelly would not return to the majors until 2005, as he made a combined 24 appearances for the Reds and Nationals. He ended that season in the bigs with a .308 average with 2 rbi's. The 2005 season would be his last in the majors. He remained in the Nationals' organization through 2006, and signed with the White Sox as a minor league free agent in 2007. It would be his last professional season as a professional baseball player.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.75-$2.00.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 2.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1992 Topps #138. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama