Random Topps Card of the Day: 1991 Topps #259 Hensley Meulens

(Before I begin today's Random Card of the Day post, I would like to wish my wife, Zebeda, a very Happy Birthday. I Love You, Always, Forever.)

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, November 4, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1991 Topps #259.
• Player Name, position, team: Hensley Meulens, third baseman-outfielder, New York Yankees.
• Major League Debut: August 23, 1989.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1990 stats (Yankees): 23 G, 83 AB, 12 R, 20 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .434 SLG, 9 BB, 25 SO, .241 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 10/31/1985. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Hensley was signed as a Free Agent for the New York Yanhkees, October 31, 1985, by Scout Fred Ferreira."
• Commentary: Hensley Filemon Acasio Meulens was one of the guys the Yankees were hoping would bring them back to the promised land (that would be the playoffs). It was so bad at one point that yes, boys and girls, the Yankees not only were not a perennial contender for postseason glory, but they would even (gasp) land in last place. Which is just as well because they used their draft picks wisely...and you know the rest of the story. But "Bam Bam" as he was so nicknamed did not live up to his moniker. In 1991, Meulens played in a MLB career high 96 games, hit for a low .222, 6 home runs, and 29 rbi's. Five seasons in pinstripes amounted to a .221, 12 total home runs, and 46 rbi's. Released by the Yankees after the 1993 season, Meulens went to the Land of the Rising Sun and joined Chiba Lotte Marines. It was in Japan that the man called "Bam Bam" finally began living up to his nickname. In three seasons with the Marines, and then the Yakult Swallows, Hensley hit .246 with 77 home runs, 216 rbi's, and percentages of .322/.466/.788. In fact, Meulens was one of the key reasons why the Swallows won the Japan Series Championship. He returned to the majors in 1997 with the Expos and played for the Diamondbacks in their inaugural season. But after not finding a team to sign him in 1999, Meulens took to the independent leagues and the Newark Bears. Between 2000 and 2002, the Bam Bam World Tour would take Meulens to South Korea and Mexico, before calling it a career for good in 2002. Although done with playing professionally, he would still compete internationally, representing the Netherlands in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. He was named the coach of the Netherlands team in the 2013 WBC. He has also coached in the minors and climbed up the ranks, becoming the San Francisco Giants' hitting coach in 2010.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.01-$0.05.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 6 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1982 Topps Traded #108T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama