The basics: The first of Derek Bell's two cards in the 1993 Upper Deck set. He was traded to the Padres on March 30, 1993 for outfielder Darrin Jackson. His second card shows him with San Diego.
Card thoughts: Bell, all 6-foot-2 of him, is taking off for second base on a stolen base attempt or hit-and-run. He's wearing a protective cast on his left hand after breaking his wrist the second game of the season in 1992, which limited him to 61 games.
Backs are important in '93 UD: Bell appeared in four games in the 1992 postseason for the World Champion Blue Jays, with two of those games during the World Series. His walk in Game 2 was his lone on-base appearance.
Bell would become a full-time starter for the Padres in 1993 and remain a regular in the outfield for San Diego, Houston and the Mets before his career ended in 2001. His career was plagued by several on-and off-the-field controversies, culminating in "Operation Shutdown".
More from '93: On this date in 1993, Alan Kulwicki, the 1992 NASCAR Cup champion, died in a plane crash in Tennessee.
On the back he seems to be channeling 1977 Topps Darrell Chaney.
ReplyDeleteDon't remember Operation Shutdown, but that was a pretty interesting read. Guess he decided to shut it down and the Pirates went with Wilson.
ReplyDeleteIronically for April 1st, Bell was the victim of a well known prank where Joe Carter "gave away" Bell's truck!
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