Random Topps Card of the Day: 1996 Topps #409 Todd Hundley

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, June 12, 2014:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1996 Topps #409.
• Player Name, position, team: Todd Hundley, catcher, New York Mets.
• Major League Debut: May 18, 1990.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1995 stats (Mets): 90 G, 275 AB, 39 R, 77 H, 11 2B, 0 3B, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 1 SB. .484 SLG, 42 BB, 64 20, .280 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Mets #2nd, June 1987. Bats: both, Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 17. This is his seventh Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "With 31 HR's and 93 RBI in 566 AB's over the last two years, Todd has forged into the upper strata of catchers. He slugged two grand slams in the first eight days of the '95 season. The first was on Opening Day, and will go in the books as the initial slam at Coors Field. The second beat the Expos in the 10th inning."
• Commentary: As an esteemed graduate of Palatine High School (1994), I should, by nature, hate Todd Hundley. Not because he's a bad guy or anything, Not because he didn't produce during his time with the Cubs. Those aren't the reasons. I should hate the guy because he is an alumni of my rival high school. I remember how much they made a big deal out of him making it to the majors (the first player from that high school to make it to the show...on an unrelated note, three players from my HS were drafted, including one of my classmates, but either he never reported, or decided to take a pass). I don't know if Todd Randolph Hundley still makes his home in Palatine, IL (as it says on the back of his 1996 card), but I'm sure it was nice to be "home" during his two year stint with the Cubbies. Hundley's best years came during the 1996-1997 seasons. Sure he was already earning a reputation of being a power-hitting catcher, but in 1996, he made the first of two All-Star Teams. In 1996, which statistically was his best season, he hit .259 with a career high 41 home runs, drove in 112 rbi's, also a career high, and had percentages of .356/.550/.906. Behind the plate, he threw out 32 base-stealers and had a fielding percentage of .992. Todd would be traded to the Dodgers after the 1998 season, filling the void left when the LA traded their superstar catcher Mike Piazza to the Marlins (who after eight games, was traded to...the Mets). He would sign with the Cubs as a Free Agent after the 2000 season. After two decent years with the Cubs, he was traded back to LA for the right side of the Dodgers' infield (Mark Grudzielanek and Erik Karros). 
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 23.

Tomorrow's card will be: 2007 Topps #500. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama