1986 Tastykake Phillies

I updated this post here in November 2020 and this original post is now outdated.

  Number of Cards:  49
Card Size:  3 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Description:  With the exception of the copyright date on the bottom right, these cards are identical in design to the set issued in 1985.  Fronts feature a full color picture and the backs include brief biographical notes on each player, coach or manager.  The multi-player Future Phillies cards return for a second year in a row and each of the four National League pennant winning teams from the franchise's past get their own team cards.  I'm not sure why the set's designer felt the need to commemorate each of these four teams in 1986, but the cards are cool nevertheless.

How Distributed:  The set's entry in the 2001 Standard Catalog Baseball Cards notes that the "cards were given away at the Phillies' annual baseball card promotion."  Looking over at Phillies SGA and double checking a promotional schedule found within a 1986 copy of Phillies Today - The Official Scorecard Magazine, there's no mention of a baseball card giveaway day.  My best guess is that these sets were available for sale at Veterans Stadium throughout the season.

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.

2 - Jim Davenport CO 3 - Claude Osteen CO 4 - Lee Elia CO 5 - Mike Ryan CO 6 - John Russell 7 - John Felske MG 8 - Juan Samuel 9 - Von Hayes 10 - Darren Daulton 11 - Tom Foley 12 - Glenn Wilson 14 - Jeff Stone 15 - Rick Schu 16 - Luis Aguayo 20 - Mike Schmidt 21 - Greg Gross 22 - Gary Redus 23 - Joe Lefebvre 24 - Milt Thompson 25 - Del Unser CO 26 - Chris James 27 - Kent Tekulve 28 - Shane Rawley 29 - Ronn Reynolds 30 - Steve Jeltz

31 - Garry Maddox 32 - Steve Carlton 33 - David Shipanoff 35 - Randy Lerch 36 - Robin Roberts HOF 39 - Dave Rucker 40 - Steve Bedrosian 41 - Tom Hume 42 - Don Carman 43 - Fred Toliver 46 - Kevin Gross 47 - Larry Andersen 48 - Dave Stewart 49 - Charles Hudson 50 - Rocky Childress Ramon Carabello/Joe Cipolloni Arturo Gonzalez/Mike Maddux Francisco Melendez/Ricky Jordan Kevin Ward/Randy Day 1915 Phillies Team 1950 Phillies Team 1980 Phillies Team 1983 Phillies Team June 11, 1985 - A Night to Remember

One and Done (0)
First Appearances (11):  Bedrosian, Foley, Hume, Redus, Reynolds, Rucker, Shipanoff, Stewart, Tekulve, Thompson, Toliver
Returning Players (22):  Aguayo, Andersen, Carman, Carlton, Childress, Daulton, G. Gross, K. Gross, Hayes, Hudson, James, Jeltz, Lefebvre, Lerch, Maddox, Rawley, Russell, Samuel, Schmidt, Schu, Stone, Wilson

Manager (1):  Felske
Coaches (5):  Davenport, Elia, Osteen, Ryan, Unser
Phillie Phanatic (0)
Broadcasters (0)
Commemorative Cards (1):  Roberts
Future Phillies (4):  Carabello/Cipolloni, Gonzalez/Maddux, Melendez/Jordan, Ward/Day
Other Cards (5):  Four pennant winning team cards; June 11, 1985 commemorative card

Robin Roberts was presumably a guest instructor during spring training 1986, hence his inclusion in the set.  I always think it's odd seeing former Phillies wear current uniforms that they themselves didn't wear during their playing days.  Seeing Roberts in maroon pinstripes is just strange.

The "night to remember" featured on the final card commemorates the night the Phillies defeated the Mets 26-7, thanks in part to two first inning home runs from Hayes.  Hayes, Wilson, Samuel, Schmidt, Maddox and Wilson are all featured on the card in a Dick Perez painting.

Variations/Rarities:  There are no known variations or rarities to be found for this set.  Once you have the original 49-card set, you're done.

Also See:  Scrapbook Sunday: February 21, 1986
Trivia:  Long-time Phillies employee Kenny Bush is featured on the 1950, 1980 and 1983 team photo cards.  Bush was the batboy for the 1950 Whiz Kids and the clubhouse manager in 1980 and 1983.
Resources:  Phillies SGA 1986; Beckett.com