Random Topps Card of the Day: 1974 Topps #487 Ted Martinez

It's Retro Sunday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Sunday, December 1, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1974 Topps #487.
• Player Name, position, team: Ted Martinez, shortstop-second baseman, New York Mets.
• Major League Debut: July 18, 1970.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1973 stats (Mets): 263 AB, 67 H, 11 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .255 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Mets as a Free Agent 10/6/1966. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 9. This is his fourth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Has been Mets' most versatile player, performing at 4 infield and 3 outfield positions. Led Mets in Triples in 1972."
• Commentary: I never noticed that the facsimile signature that normally appears on the front of the card (when part of the design) is actually on the back to the right of the player's name. Unique place for it. I guess since there was so much space, it makes sense. According to the cartoon on the back of Teodoro Noel (Encarnacion) Martinez' card, Ted likes to listen to music. Doesn't specify what kind though. Don't we all like music? I think the cartoon player likes music a bit too much, don't you think? Anyway, 1974 would be another typical season for the uber-utility player for the Mets. In a career high 116 games, Martinez would hit for a .219 average, with two home runs and 43 runs driven in. He would hit for percentages of .247/.323/571 while covering second, short, third and even centerfield for the Metropolitans. It would also be his last season with the Mets as Ted would be traded to the Cardinals for Jack Heidemann and Mike Vail. His stay with St. Louis would be brief as he would soon be traded to Oakland on May 18, 1975. The A's would go on to win the AL West. But while Martinez hit for a low .172, his defense was stellar (.973 fielding percentage - 4 errors in 146 chances) in 86 games were his contributions to the A's run to the postseason. He would be released by the A's the following season and signed as a minor league free agent with the Reds' organization. After a  year in Indianapolis, Martinez signed with the Dodgers, where he played for three seasons as a defensive replacement. Before the 1980 season started, Martinez was released, and while he did play for the Mexican Leagues all the way through the 1983 season, he would not return to the majors. He finished his career with a career .240 average, 7 home runs, 108 rbi's, and an .579 OPS.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.20-$0.50.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 4.

In case you're actually wondering, I don't own this card, but was able to get a crystal clean copy of the image from the from the Baseball Card Cyber Museum. So thank you Joe McAnally and the folks at the BCCM.

Well, it's back to normal on Monday. Tomorrow's card will be: 2004 Topps #110. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Come on back then to see what the Topps Card Randomizer gets us to look at then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama