Royals at Phillies: April 5th to April 7th

Friday 4:05, Saturday 7:05 and Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Royals 1-2, Tied for 4th Place in A.L. Central, 1 game behind the Indians, White Sox and Twins
Phillies 1-2, 4th Place in N.L. East, 2 games behind the Nationals

Royals Probables:  Wade Davis (0-0, 0.00), Luis Mendoza (0-0, 0.00), James Shields (0-1, 1.50)
Phillies Probables:  Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 0.00), John Lannan (0-0, 0.00), Cole Hamels (0-1, 9.00)

At the Ballpark:  The Phillies are going all out for their home opener, with pre-game festivities, rally towels for all fans and 1980 World Series foes Mike Schmidt and George Brett throwing out the ceremonial first pitches.  Tomorrow night is Kids Opening Night with all kids getting a Jimmy Rollins Replica Gold Glove Trophy.  And on Sunday, all kids will receive a Ryan Howard Wiffle Ball Set.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Chase Utley - .455

Runs:  Three tied with - 2

Home Runs:  Chase Utley - 1

RBIs:  Chase Utley - 6

Stolen Bases:  Ben Revere and Jimmy Rollins - 2

Wins:  Cliff Lee - 1

ERA:  Cliff Lee - 0.00

Strikeouts:  Roy Halladay - 9

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 1

1973 Topps #188 and #166

1973 Topps Flashback:  Today's flashback features two teammates from the 1969 Phillies squad.  Cookie Rojas came to the Phillies in a trade with the Reds in November 1962 for pitcher Jim Owens.  He spent the next seven seasons patrolling the infield (and the outfield in the early years) of Connie Mack Stadium.  His best season with the club was perhaps 1965 when he made the All-Star team and hit .303 while playing every position except third base and pitcher.

Rojas was shipped to the Cardinals in October 1969 as part of the trade in which Curt Flood refused to report to the Phillies, eventually opening the door to the free agency era.  After a few months in St. Louis, Rojas was traded again to the Royals, where he'd spend the better part of the 1970s.  Strangely enough, Rojas played in exactly 880 games with both the Phillies and the Royals.

Terry Harmon spent his entire 10-year career in Phillies pinstripes.  Never a regular, Harmon played all three infield positions and hit .233 in 547 career games.  Looking through my Harmon cards for this post, I never realized that he appeared in every Topps set from 1969 to 1978 and every single card features him in a posed shot.