Thursday, September 18, 2014

2013 Topps Chrome Autographs #16 Darin Ruf

Phillies 5, Padres 2
Game 152 - Late Wednesday Night, September 17th in San Diego
Record - 70-82, 5th Place, 17 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Darin Ruf and Cole Hamels halted the team's three-game losing streak, as the Phillies finally overcame the Padres, 5-2.

What It Means:  Hamels now joins Kyle Kendrick for the team lead in victories with nine.

What Happened:  Ruf had two hits and scored twice in what was only his 15th start in the last 49 games.  Freddy Galvis and Ben Revere both drove in a pair of runs in the four run fifth inning.

Hamels pitched seven innings, allowing a run on seven hits while striking out nine.  He's 10 1/3 innings away from reaching the 200 innings pitched plateau for the fifth year in a row.

Featured Card:  Ruf's hand had to have been sore after signing who knows how many stickers and cards for inclusion within various Topps and Pinnacle products over the past few years.  I know I don't have all of his certified autograph cards, but it seems as if every autograph card in my 2013 and 2014 Phillies binder belongs to either Ruf or Ethan Martin.

This is his autographed card from last year's Topps Chrome set, and it features a photograph also found on his 2013 Bowman Platinum and 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen cards.  Ruf had about a half dozen Topps base cards released in 2013, all featuring the same three photos from the same batting sequence.

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