#212 Rick Reed

About the Front: Rick Reed is giving the batter his best "disapproving parent" face. At least that's what it looks like to me.

About the Back: As you can see, Rick appeared in the majors with the Pirates every year from 1988 through 1991, totaling 31 games, yet Topps didn't get around to him until 1993. Kind of odd, especially since Donruss, Fleer, Leaf, and Score all featured him in their 1990 base sets.

Triple Play:

1. Reed was in camp with the Reds as a replacement player in the spring of 1995 during the MLBPA strike, and would have been the team's Opening Day starter if the work stoppage had not been settled.

2. He finally broke through with the Mets in 1997, going 13-9 with a 2.89 ERA. He made the National League All-Star Team in 1998 (16-11, 3.48) and again in 2001 (12-12, 4.05).

3. After retiring, he settled in Huntington, WV with his wife Dee to raise their daughter Madison and son Mason.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I just found out in a couple mouse clicks that Reed is the sixth-winningest pitcher born in West Virginia. Younger me would have killed to have a resource like Baseball Reference.

Bill James Said: "A 29-year-old minor league veteran, has a distinguished minor league record (67-37, 2.94 ERA), but has had difficulty getting major league opportunities because he doesn't throw hard."

On This Date in 1993: May 9. Mark Grace becomes the 14th player in Cubs' history to hit for the cycle, going 4-for-5 with three RBI in a 5-4 Chicago loss to the Padres.