Random Topps Card of the Day: 1986 Topps #337 Darnell Coles

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, December 26, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1986 Topps #337.
• Player Name, position, team: Darnell Coles, third baseman, Seattle Mariners.
• Major League Debut: September 4, 1983.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2005 stats (Yankees): 9 G, 17 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 3 SO, .294 SLG, .544 OPS, .118 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Athletics #2nd, June 1995. Signed with the Padres as a Free Agent 12/22/2005. Bats: both. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 8. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "In 2004 ALCS (Game 6), Mark hit a shot that was ruled a ground-rule double, but the call was changed to a three-run homer that ended up a game-winner."
• Commentary: After a very brief stint with the Yankees in 2005 (this after helping the Red Sox win the World Series the year before), Mark Christian Bellhorn, a former second round draft pick by the Athletics all the way back in 1995, signed with the San Diego Padres to provide veteran leadership to the young ballclub. Bellhorn, versatile in many positions, would play at the bags (third, first, and second) as well as a game in right field for the Friars. But a low .190 average (.285/.344/.629 percentages), with 8 home runs and 27 rbi's were a far cry from how he contributed to the 2004 champs, and did not sit well with the Padres fans and upper management. He was released at the end of the season and signed on with the Reds to a minor league deal. His 13-game stint with the Reds would be his last action in the majors. He signed minor league deals with both the Dodgers and Rockies (in 2008 and 2009 respectively) before deciding to call it a career. In 731 career games, he finished with a cumulative .230 average, with 69 homers, 246 rbi's, and an OPS of .735. One of the elements Topps brought back with the 2006 set was the cartoon, something that had not been seen on the back of Topps baseball cards since 1980. The player is wearing a crown and cape and the caption reads "Mark set the Cubs record for HR's by a switch-hitter (27 in 2002). He also would become the first player EVER to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in an inning, with the feat occurring on August 29, 2002.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.02-$0.10.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 10.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1988 Topps #493. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama