Random Topps Card of the Day: 1978 Topps #670 Jim Rice

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, December 5, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1978 Topps #670.
• Player Name, position, team: Jim Rice, outfielder, Boston Red Sox.
• Major League Debut: August 19, 1974.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1977 stats (Red Sox): 160 G, 644 AB, 104 R, 206 H, 29 2B, 15 3B, 39 HR, 114 RBI, .320 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Red Sox #1st, June 1971. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 16. This is his fourth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Jim's powerful bat and quick wrists led him to A.L. Homer title in 1977. Enjoyed an outstanding game vs. A's on national television, August 29th, as he belted 3 Homers in contest. He played in the 1977 All-Star Game."
• Commentary: Most of what I wrote about James Edward Rice (or Jim Ed to Red Sox fans everywhere) can be found when I added him to the 2011 Topps Archives Project a few years ago. Eventually, I'll really try and commit to bringing this back. In 1978, Rice experienced his best season to date (and history would dictate that it would be the best season in his career statistically). Rice led the American League in hits (213), triples (15), home runs (46), rbi's (139), slugging percentage (.600), and OPS (.970) as well as hit .315 in 163 games played (that infamous one-game play-in with the Yankees counts as a regular season game). All these numbers helped earn Rice the MVP Award in 1978. Rice's story is one of many that can be found thanks to the SABR's BioProject. 
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.50-$1.25.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 58.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1976 Topps #635. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama