The 1988 Topps baseball card #663 features Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jay Bell. Jay Charles Bell played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1999, spending the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1988 to 1992. Some key details about Bell and this baseball card:

Bell was born on December 8, 1963 in San Diego, California. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 4th round of the 1984 MLB Draft out of Mount Carmel High School. Bell made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1986 at just 22 years old. His rookie card was issued by Topps as part of their 1987 set.

By 1988, Bell had established himself as the Pirates starting third baseman. The previous season, 1987, was Bell’s first full season in the big leagues. He hit .258 with 9 home runs and 50 RBI in 143 games, showing promising power and versatility at the hot corner despite committing 23 errors on defense. Bell’s defensive skills would continue improving over the years.

The 1988 Topps card captures Bell in his baseball batting stance, standing at home plate with his bat raised. He is shown wearing the Pirates home uniform with black and gold colors. The photo was likely taken during spring training or early in the 1988 regular season. Topps used action shots rather than portraits for most of their baseball cards during this era.

Stats on the back of the card list Bell’s 1987 season performance as referenced above. It also provides biographical details like his birthdate, height, weight, batting and throwing hands. Bell is listed at 6’0″ tall and 175 pounds, batting and throwing right-handed. The “Did You Know?” blurb mentions that Bell was drafted out of high school by the Pirates.

In 1988, Bell’s breakout season, he hit .257 with career-highs of 25 home runs and 89 RBI in 150 games played. His power surge that year established him as one of the top young third basemen in baseball. Bell made his first and only All-Star appearance in 1988 as well.

The Pirates finished second in the NL East in 1988 with a record of 96-66, seven games behind the New York Mets. Bell contributed greatly to the team’s success that season and emerged as one of their offensive cornerstones. It was a coming of age season for the 25-year-old.

More context about Topps 1988 set – it featured cards of all players from the 1987 season in Major League Baseball. Some notable rookies included Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Eddie Murray’s rookie season was also recognized despite coming a decade earlier in 1977 due to an omission. The design featured a photo on the front with white borders and team logo in the bottom left. Player stats and details were on the reverse in black text on a white background. The set totaled 792 cards as was typical for Topps baseball releases in the late 1980s.

During his tenure in Pittsburgh from 1988-1992, Bell established himself as an all-around star player. He averaged over 25 home runs and 80 RBI per season while displaying Gold Glove caliber defense at third base. Bell was also known for his leadership qualities in the clubhouse. The Pirates remained competitive throughout this period, making the postseason twice.

Following the 1992 season Bell was surprisingly traded to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a multi-player deal. This sent shockwaves through Pittsburgh sports circles at the time. Bell continued his success immediately upon joining the Blue Jays, helping them win the 1993 World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies. He remained with Toronto through 1995 before later playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Indians before retiring after the 1999 campaign.

The 1988 Topps Jay Bell card captures the breakout season that established him as an All-Star caliber player in his prime with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bell went on to enjoy a very productive 14-year MLB career while becoming a fan favorite in both Pittsburgh and Toronto. The card serves as an excellent reminder of Bell’s contributions to the late 1980s Pirates teams that competed for division titles. It remains a highly collectible and memorable piece from the 1988 Topps baseball card set.