Random Topps Card of the Day: 2006 Topps #630 Ronny Paulino

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

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2006 Topps #630.
• Player Name, position, team: Ronny Paulino, catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Major League Debut: September 25, 2005.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2005 stats (Combined Altoona-AA Eastern; Indianapolis-AAA International) 120 G, 441 AB, 73 R, 135 H, 24 2B, 2 3B, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 6 SB, 41 BB, 78 SO, .499 SLG, .863 OPS, .306 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Pirates as a Free Agent 12/29/1997. Returned to the Pirates by the Royals after the 2002 Rule 5 Draft 03/13/2003. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 7. This is his first Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Ronny has been considered by many the best defensive catcher in the Pirates system in recent seasons. He registered Minor League career highs in several offensive categories in 2005: a .306 AVG with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 62 RBI. That merited his first opportunity in the Big Leagues, and he made his debut on September 25 in Los Angeles."
• Commentary: When longtime catcher Jason Kendall was allowed to leave via free agency, they pegged Ronny Leonel Paulino as their new everyday catcher. He certainly didn't disappoint. During his rookie season, Paulino hit .310 with 6 home runs and 55 rbi's in 129 games. In 2007, although his average dropped, his power numbers went up, hitting 11 dingers in 133 games. However, with Ryan Doumit seeing more playing time in 2008, Paulino wound up demoted, sent back to Indianapolis to get in some playing time. But the pitching staff still enjoyed throwing to Paulino, with their ERA's noticeably lower with him behind the plate. It would be a busy off-season for Paulino as he wound up being traded from the Pirates to the Phillies in December, then before the end of spring training, he would be traded off to San Francisco, and finally two hours later, he was traded again to the Marlins. It's been an up-and-down ride for Paulino since then. He would see himself playing for Marlins for two seasons (during which time he was suspended for 50 games), then the Mets in 2011 and Orioles the following season. In 2013, he signed a minor league deal with the Orioles, playing sparingly for the O's squads in Bowie and Norfolk before having his contract bought by the Tigers (who then promptly sent him to Toledo). He is hoping to make a return to the majors in 2014.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.20-$0.50.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 10 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be 1987 Topps #233. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama