Random Topps Card of the Day: 2013 Topps Update Series #US326 Jake Peavy

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, December 13, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2013 Topps Update Series #US326.
• Player Name, position, team: Jake Peavy, pitcher, Boston Red Sox
• Major League Debut: June 22, 2002.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2012 stats (White Sox): 32 G, 11-12, 219 IP, 191 H, 88 R, 82 ER, 49 BB, 194 SO, 4 CG, 1 SHO, 0 SV, 1.10 WHIP , 3.37 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Padres #15th, June 1999. Traded by the White Sox to the Red Sox 07/30/2013. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 16. This is his sixteenth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: n/a
• Commentary: With the 2013 White Sox heading for the AL Central cellar, and Jacob Edward Peavy heading for free agency after the season ended, it only made sense for the White Sox - now in rebuilding mode - to try and trade their veteran starter for prospects. Peavy came to the White Sox in a deal that was hoped to push them to the playoffs in 2009. And for what it's worth, Peavy, when healthy, made very positive contributions as a member of the Pale Hose. In his five season run with the White Sox, Jake appeared in 84 games (83 starts), was a positive 36-29, with an ERA of 4.00, struck out 476 batters, earned a WHIP of 1.155, completed seven games, and was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2012. With the Red Sox looking for more arms for their starting rotation, the White Sox sent the former Cy Young winner (with the Padres in 2007) to Boston as part of a three-team deal (with the Tigers as the third team in the transaction). When the dust settled, Peavy would change Sox while the White Sox would get the Tigers' best prospect (Avasail Garcia) and three Red Sox' minor leaguers. On for the pennant push, and with a renewed sense of purpose, Peavy pitched effectively in his 10 games for Beantown. He would go 4-1 with an ERA of 4.04, strike out 45 batters, and earn a 1.160 WHIP in 64.2 innings of work. He would start one game in each playoff series (the ALDS, ALCS, and World Series), with a loss to the Tigers in the ALCS his only blemish. During his two other postseason appearances, he would hold opponents to three earned runs in 9.2 innings of work while the Red Sox offense took care of the rest. Peavy and the Red Sox would go on to win the World Series, earning Jake his elusive World Series ring and a bit of payback. His Padres were eliminated in the postseason by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 and 2006 NLDS. The Red Sox's opponents in the 2013 World Series? The Cardinals.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 67.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1984 Topps #546. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama