2013 Topps David DeJesus

As I've done previously, I'm taking a closer look at the 2013 Topps Cubs team set card by card.

As the title says, today's topic is David DeJesus, card #209.

2013 Topps David DeJesus #209

I've seen several of them erroneously listed on ebay as one of the Out of Bounds short prints. I haven't looked at any completed listings but hopefully people aren't falling for it. It's a great looking card though.

Nice action shot? Check

Iconic Wrigley Field ivy? Check

Actually made the play? Check

Here's the original photo from Getty Images:

Photo by Brian Kersey, courtesy of Getty Images

Photographer Brian Kersey had great timing with this photo. And I'm guessing a pretty powerful camera. Based on the angle of this photo and knowing that DeJesus plays centerfield, Kersey was probably somewhere near the third base dugout or even home plate. You can really see the effort put forth (and maybe even feel some of those ivy branches poking you in the back). No offense to the Bleacher Bums or Kersey, but I think Topps also did a great job cropping this photo for the card.

The caption on the Getty images website says this is from the June 29, 2012 game against the Houston Astros. And unlike the Jeff Samardzija card from last week, this caption gives even more detail, noting the fly ball was off the bat Brian Bixler in the sixth inning.

Further investigation of the boxscore on Baseball-Reference shows the play was even more exciting than just a deep fly ball caught at the wall. The play-by-play has it unfolding as follows:

Flyball: CF (Deep CF); Norris to 3B/Adv on E6 (throw)

E6 would be an error on shortstop Starlin Castro. But what exactly happened to send a runner to 3rd? I found a recap of the game from AP Sports Writer Eric Gano that was published on Yahoo that featured the following blurb:

Bixler hit a long drive to center in the sixth, but David DeJesus leaped into the ivy to pull it down. The Cubs nearly doubled off Norris, who had walked, but Castro's relay throw was wild past first, allowing Norris to move to third.

So, you know, typical 2012 Cubs play. They did hold on to win though with a final score of 4-0.

On to the back:

The Career Chase stat listed on the card says that DeJesus is only 251 triples away from Sam Crawford's career record of 309. Crawford led the league in triples 6 times and only had single digit seasons his first and last years in the Majors, both of which were partial seasons. At his current average of just over 6 per season, DeJesus will approach the record in about 41 years. Good luck, David!

I also picked up one of the black bordered parallels of this card from a seller that I bought multiple items from to save on shipping.

2013 Topps Black Border Parallel 02/62

Only a bajillion more parallels to go!