Friday, September 6, 2013

Braves at Phillies: September 6th to September 8th

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

Braves 85-54, 1st Place in the N.L. East, 14 games ahead of the Nationals
Phillies 63-77, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 22 1/2 games behind the Braves

Braves Probables:  Mike Minor (13-5, 3.08), Alex Wood (3-3, 3.15), Paul Maholm (10-10, 4.41)
Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (11-6, 3.09), Kyle Kendrick (10-12, 4.51), Cole Hamels (6-13, 3.50)

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is Cabrini College Knit Hat night, with all fans 15 and older receiving the stylish, yet practical, headgear.  On Sunday afternoon, all kids will receive a Ben Revere growth chart.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Domonic Brown and Chase Utley - .274
Runs:  Chase Utley - 62
Home Runs:  Domonic Brown - 27
RBIs:  Domonic Brown - 81
Stolen Bases:  Ben Revere - 22

Wins:  Cliff Lee - 11
ERA:  Cliff Lee - 3.09
Strikeouts:  Cliff Lee - 174
Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 24

*Michael Young, now with the Dodgers, has the overall team lead (.276) among players with enough qualifying plate appearances.

1973 Topps #590
1973 Topps Flashback:  On December 3, 1968, the Atlanta Braves sold struggling first baseman Deron Johnson to the Phillies.  Johnson had enjoyed very productive years with the Reds, with his best season coming in 1965 when he hit 32 home runs and 130 RBIs.  But in his one season with the Braves, Johnson managed just eight home runs and 33 RBIs while hitting a lowly .208.  So the Braves sent him packing.

Over the next four seasons, Johnson found his swing and was the team's first big slugger upon their move into the brand new Veterans Stadium.  In 563 games with the Phillies, between 1969 and 1973,  Johnson hit 88 home runs and drove in 304 runs.

Most likely by the time this 1973 Topps card was released, Johnson was already a member of the Oakland Athletics.  Slowed down by injuries, the Phillies traded him to the A's on May 2, 1973 for a minor league outfielder.  He would play in parts of four more seasons before his release by the Red Sox in June 1976.  Johnson came back home to the Vet from 1982 to 1984 when he served as the Phillies hitting coach.

1 comment:

Jim from Downingtown said...

Johnson was the reason the Phillies moved 1st base prospect Greg Luzinski to the outfield.