2002 Topps, Dave Veres

#497 Dave Veres

Here is a card that was sent to me from Paul around Christmas-time last year. It features the former ten-year Major League veteran, Dave Veres.

Dave pitched for the Astros, Expos, Rockies, Cardinals, and Cubs during his career. He never started a game, but he finished 284 of them. In 1999, he recorded a career high of 31 saves for the Rockies. The amazing part about that is that he did that while posting a career worst ERA of 5.14.

Following that season, Dave was packaged together with Darryl Kile and sent to the Cardinals. He saved 29 games during his first season in St. Louis, but he lost his closer role over the next two years and only recorded 19 saves in that span. He spent three seasons with the Cardinals and he appeared in 71 games each season. I wonder if Tony LaRussa did that on purpose.

He signed with the Cubs in 2003 and ended up splitting the season between Chicago and Des Moines. He then spent all of 2004 playing for the Giants AAA team. He seems to have retired after that for two seasons. He then re-appeared for five games with the Rockies AAA team in 2007 and 2008 was spent with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League. He did not play at all last year and his career is likely over. He career numbers are 36-35 with a 3.44 ERA and 95 saves. Not too shabby.

Dave has a stylish and unique signature. I like it.