Random Topps Card of the Day: 2007 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH325 Jason Kendall

(Due to the flooding that occurred in my neighborhood on Thursday, I was not able to get this post out at the scheduled time.)

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, April 18, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2007 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH325.
• Player Name, position, team: Jason Kendall, catcher, Chicago Cubs.
• Major League Debut: April 1, 1996.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2006 stats (Athletics): 143 G, 552 AB, 76 R, 163 H, 23 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 50 RBI, 11 SB, 53 BB, 54 SO, .342 SLG, .709 OPS, .295 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Pirates #1st, June 1992. Traded by the Athletics to the Cubs 07/16/2007. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 20. This is his sixteenth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: n/a.
• Commentary: The long time All-Star catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jason Daniel Kendall stopped being known as "Fred's son" after besting his father, who was a veteran catcher for 12 MLB seasons, in many hitting categories. He batted leadoff, which was highly unusual for a catcher, except he stole 140 bases in his nine seasons in the Steel City. With the Pirates, Jason hit a three-time All-Star, hit .306 with 67 home runs and 471 rbi's in 1252 games (he is the team's all time leader in games caught with 1205.. But after another losing season in Pittsburgh, with Jason looking towards free agency, the Pirates traded him to the Athletics where he spent more than two seasons. In 2006, the Athletics won the AL West Division title, and Jason would finally be playing in the postseason for the first time in his career. In seven postseason games, Kendall would hit a combined 8 for 31 (.258) with an rbi and a double. But in 2007, with the Athletics looking to retool and the Cubs looking for bats as they were in contention in the NL Central, both teams struck a deal that would send the veteran catcher to Chicago. Back in the NL Central, Kendall appeared in 57 games, hitting .270 with 1 home run and 19 rbi's as the northsiders won the division. After the season, with the Cubs planning on using rookie Geovany Soto in 2008, Kendall signed with the rival Brewers in November, ensuring that he would be the starting catcher for two solid seasons. After one final stint with the young Royals, and an injury riddled, 2011, Kendall retired from baseball after two minor league games. Overall, the catcher hit a productive .288 with 75 home runs, 744 rbi's, stole 189 bases (for a catcher), 254 times being hit by pitch, and a cumulative OPS of .805.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 45.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1983 Topps #193. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama