The Manship Sets Sail

2015 Chachi Departures #6

Why not wrap up my posting for the year with a recap of the Phillies offseason moves (so far) and a card showing former Phillies pitcher Jeff Manship with his new club.  Manship signed a minor league deal with the Indians on Christmas Eve and his sole Phillies card appeared in the 2014 second series of the team issued set.

It's a pretty short list below of new additions so far, although there are 16 non-roster invitees making plans to travel to Clearwater in February.  Here's hoping Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro, Jr. have a plan, any plan, for 2015.  Trying to stay positive here . . .

Moving On
Reid Brignac (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Miami Marlins organization 11/19/14)
Jeremy Horst (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.
Jeff Manship (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Cleveland Indians organization 12/24/14)
Tony Gwynn, Jr. (10/10/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.
Mike Adams (10/30/14) - Team option declined, making him a free agent.
Kyle Kendrick (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.
Wil Nieves (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.
A.J. Burnett (11/3/14) - Declined option for 2015, elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates 11/14/14)
Brad Lincoln (11/4/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization 11/18/14)
Antonio Bastardo (12/10/14) - Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joely Rodriguez.
Jimmy Rollins (12/19/14) - Traded with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tom Windle and Zach Eflin.

Coming Back
Andres Blanco (11/13/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Koyie Hill (11/20/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Sean O'Sullivan (12/16/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.

New Additions
Elvis Araujo (11/13/14) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians organization.
Odubel Herrera (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Texas Rangers.
Andy Oliver (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I've Waited 15 Years for this Pat Burrell Card

1999 Fleer Mystique #134

In the summer of 1999, the hottest Phillies baseball card, and perhaps the hottest card in the hobby for a short while, was the Fleer Mystique Pat Burrell rookie card.  I tried in vain to track down a copy of this card at a reasonable price, settling instead for the less scarce but equally desirable Burrell rookie cards from Upper Deck Encore, E-X Century, and Fleer Brilliants just to name a few now defunct sets.

The Fleer Mystique Burrell card was numbered to just 2,999 and it wasn't unusual to see baseball card dealers selling the card for no less than $50.  I distinctly remember overpaying for the Marlon Anderson card from the set.

Up until this Christmas, the Fleer Mystique Burrell card was on my Ten Most Wanted - Modern want list along with a seemingly impossible to find 1995 Collector's Choice Update card of Charlie Hayes.  My Mom added both cards to my collection as the final two cards to appear as part of this year's Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim.

1995 Collector's Choice #567

I didn't even realize the Hayes card existed until I took the time about a decade ago to update all my Phillies checklists.  It's a common card to be sure, but I've never been able to find it on eBay, on COMC.com or at any of the baseball cards I've attended.

It should be noted that along with the ten fantastic baseball cards added to my collection, my Mom gave both my son and me three baseball card binders and a 100-count box of nine-pocket pages.  She also took a chunk out of Doug's 2014 Topps Opening Day and 2013 Topps Archives want lists.  Doug has been taking breaks from Lego building to sort cards and slide them into pages in his new binders.

Which is pretty much what I would have been doing at his age (and I'm still doing now), thanks in part to my Mom.

2011 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim

Part 1 - Continuing a Tradition

Part 2 - 1971 Topps Set - 13 More Down

Part 3 - 1952 Topps Phillies

Part 4 - 1951 Bowman Phillies

Part 5 - Curt Simmons - Two New Bowman Cards

Part 6 - 1955 Bowman and Topps Phillies

2012 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1941 Double Play Litwhiler & May
Part 2 - 1963 Topps John Herrnstein rookie card (featuring Willie Stargell)
Part 3 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 1
Part 4 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 2
Part 5 - 1950 Bowman Del Ennis

2013 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1998 Upper Deck Scott Rolen
Part 2 - 1968 Topps Phillies Team Card
Part 3 - 1966 Topps Bob Uecker
Part 4 - 1955 Bowman Robin Roberts
Part 5 - 1965 Topps Johnny Callison
Part 6 - 1954 Bowman Richie Ashburn

2014 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1952 Bowman and 1953 Bowman Color Richie Ashburn
Part 2 - 1950 Bowman Roberts, 1951 Topps Blue Backs Jones, 1955 Bowman Wyrostek
Part 3 - 1995 Collector's Choice Hayes and 1999 Fleer Mystique Burrell

Cards from the 1960s from the Annual SBWTABCTJ

1966 Topps #254

One of my collecting goals is to eventually own a full run of Phillies baseball cards from all the Topps base sets beginning in 1951.  With these three cards obtained in the annual Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim, courtesy of my Mom, I'm a little bit closer to wrapping up a complete run of Phillies Topps cards from the 1960s.

Ferguson Jenkins appeared in eight games with the 1965 and 1966 Phillies before the horrendous trade in April 1966 that sent him to the Cubs.  This is Jenkins' rookie card and his sole vintage Phillies card.  There would be few reprints of this card - without Bill Sorrell - in sets from the early 2000s, and Jenkins also received a Phillies card in the 2004 Topps Retired Signature set.  As an aside, the first time I ever realized that this future Hall of Famer had pitched with the Phillies is when I pulled his 1983 Topps Super Veteran card from a pack back in the day.

Jenkins' rookie card was one of a handful of older Phillies Topps cards I deemed to be unobtainable when I first started collecting many years ago.  Thanks to my Mom, it's now in my collection.

For what it's worth, this is Sorrell's only appearance on a Phillies card.  He appeared in 10 games with the 1965 Phillies, hitting .385 (5 for 13) as a September call-up.  He spent all of 1966 playing in San Diego for the Phillies Triple A team and then was selected by the Giants in November 1966 in the annual Rule 5 draft.  He earned a Giants Rookie Stars card (with Dick Dietz) in the 1967 Topps set and he reappeared in the 1971 Topps set with the Royals.

1965 Topps #446

This Art Mahaffey card from my favorite Topps set from the 1960s gets me to just six cards away from having a complete 1965 Topps Phillies team set.  I'm down to needing the Johnny Callison league league card and five high numbers.  This would be Mahaffey's final Phillies Topps card, as he was traded to the Cardinals following the 1965 season.

1967 Topps #309

Finally, this is my favorite card from the 1967 Topps set, featuring two of the best Phillies players from that era on the same card.  Two of my favorite cards growing up were the multi-player Phillies cards of Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa in the 1981 Fleer set and the Schmidt and Rose card in the 1982 Donruss set.  The first time I saw either of those cards, I thought I had hit the Phillies baseball card gold mine.  I imagine collectors finding this Richie Allen and Callison card in packs of their 1967 Topps felt the same way.

If you're keeping track at home, my Mom found eight of the ten cards that had been on my Ten Most Wanted - Vintage list and gave them to me for Christmas.  And no, you can't have her.

2014 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1952 Bowman and 1953 Bowman Color Richie Ashburn
Part 2 - 1950 Bowman Roberts, 1951 Topps Blue Backs Jones, 1955 Bowman Wyrostek

More Cards from the 1950s from the Annual SBWTMABCTJ

1950 Bowman #32

I wrote my last post while coming down from a Christmas cookie high, so perhaps I was a bit premature in declaring that the two Richie Ashburn Bowman cards were my favorite cards obtained in this year's Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim haul.  (The SBWTMABCTOJ if you will.)

Sure the 1950 Bowman Robin Roberts card is small by today's standards, but it's a beautiful baseball card nevertheless.  Featuring a somewhat unusual for this set horizontal orientation, this Roberts card is the Hall of Famers' second Bowman card, coming a year after the appearance of his 1949 rookie card.  This now marks the oldest (and most valuable) Roberts card in my collection, and it gets me one card closer to finishing the tough 1950 Bowman Phillies team set.

1951 Topps Blue Backs #43

Also added from the haul was this 1951 Topps Blue Backs card of Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones.  Not too long ago, I didn't have any 1951 Topps cards in my Phillies collection, and now I'm just a Richie Ashburn and an Eddie Waitkus card away from a complete team set.  Willie looks upset on this card about the Balk call with which his card has been designated.

1955 Bowman #237

Finally, but certainly not least, Johnny Wyrostek's 1955 Bowman card gets me just two cards away from a complete 1955 Bowman Phillies team set.  I've already decided that once I finish off this team set, I'm going to put up a gallery of all the cards, similar to what I did with the very special 1951 Bowman Phillies team set.

2014 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1952 Bowman and 1953 Bowman Color Richie Ashburn

Feel the Excitement! Three More Non-Roster Invitees!

2012 Topps Update #US94

A few days before Christmas, the Phillies added three more names to the rogue's gallery of players who will be competing for a roster spot on the rebuilding 2015 club.  The tally of non-roster invitees now stands at 16.  (This total will increase to 17 once pitcher Wandy Rodriguez's deal becomes official.)

Sean O'Sullivan joins Andres Blanco and Koyie Hill as (potentially) returning Phillies players while Kevin Slowey joins the list of pitchers who could possibly be a fifth starter candidate.  I don't know much about first baseman Chris McGuiness at this point, although I imagine we could see him in an IronPigs uniform this year.

Player (position) - 2014 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Andres Blanco (inf) - Phillies - 2007 Topps #659 (Royals)
2.  Brian Bogusevic (of) - Marlins - 2014 Topps #524 (Marlins)
3.  Russ Canzler (inf) - Yankees/Phillies - N/A
4.  Chase d'Arnaud (inf) - Pirates - 2012 Topps Heritage #323 (Pirates)
5.  Jeff Francoeur (of) - Padres - 2014 Topps Update #US-167 (Padres)
6.  John Hester (c) - Angels - 2010 Upper Deck #31 (Diamondbacks)
7.  Darin Mastroianni (of) - Twins/Blue Jays - 2013 Topps #528 (Twins)
8.  Xavier Paul (of) - Orioles/Diamondbacks - 2013 Topps Update #US-194 (Reds)
9.  Paul Clemens (rhp) - Astros - 2013 Panini Prizm #213 (Astros)
10.  Rene Garcia (c) - Astros - 2009 Bowman Prospects #BP81 (Astros)
11.  Koyie Hill (c) - Phillies - 2011 Topps Update #US13 (Cubs)
12.  Chris Nelson (inf) - Reds/Padres - 2014 Topps #101 (Angels)
13.  Cord Phelps (inf) - Orioles - N/A
14.  Chris McGuiness (1b) - Pirates - 2010 Topps Pro Debut #411 (Rangers)
15.  Sean O'Sullivan (rhp) - Phillies - 2011 Topps Update #US89 (Royals)
16.  Kevin Slowey (rhp) - Marlins - 2012 Topps Update #US94 (Indians)

The "Last Major Baseball Card Appearance" is fairly subjective.  In any instance where someone had multiple cards released, I'll list the base card that's the most obtainable in my estimation.

Richie Ashburn's 1952 Bowman & 1953 Bowman Color Cards

1953 Bowman Color #10

For the fourth year in a row, my Mom alone continued the tradition began by my Dad and her many, many moons ago.  I've dubbed this tradition, Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim, and the prior years' bounties are recapped in posts I've linked below.  Mom individually wraps each baseball card and I've annually looked forward to unwrapping each of the new treasures to be added to my Phillies collection.

I've decided to break the unveiling of this year's cards into several posts.  Mom took care of eight of the ten cards on my Ten Most Wanted - Vintage list and two of the ten cards from my Ten Most Wanted - Modern list.  She was bound and determined this year to cross all ten cards off my Ten Most Wanted - Vintage list and she came impressively close.

I'm going to start things off by showing my two favorite cards from the haul.

1952 Bowman #53

With the addition of these two Richie Ashburn Bowman cards, I'm now one card away from a full run of Whitey's Bowman cards from 1949 to 1955.  I'm missing his 1949 Bowman rookie card, although I'm confident I'll track that down one day.  The 1952 Bowman set was the last to be issued with the smaller size of 2 1/16" x 3 1/8" and the last Bowman set to use painted portraits rather than actual color photos.  Ashburn's 1952 Bowman card shows him in his road grays with a strange-looking geometric formation in the background against a few white, fluffy clouds.

The 1953 Bowman Color set is absolutely gorgeous in its simplicity, with full color photos on the first ever large format Bowman card.  Ashburn is again in his road grays, and he's just selected his bat from the dugout's bat rack.  I showed my eight-year-old son Doug the card shown here, and he first guessed that it was Robin Roberts.  I told him he was close and his second guess was Ashburn.  Not too shabby for a kid who wasn't yet alive the last time the Phillies stunk.

In a bit of a fortuitous accident (at least for me and Doug) my Mom purchased two of these 1953 Bowman Color Ashburn cards - both in amazing condition.  I could have added the second card to my trade bait pile, but I've opted instead to add the card to Doug's collection.  It's now the oldest card in his growing collection, and he has his grandmother, his Mimi, to thank for it. 

This list will need to be updated . . .

2011 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim

Part 1 - Continuing a Tradition

Part 2 - 1971 Topps Set - 13 More Down

Part 3 - 1952 Topps Phillies

Part 4 - 1951 Bowman Phillies

Part 5 - Curt Simmons - Two New Bowman Cards

Part 6 - 1955 Bowman and Topps Phillies

2012 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1941 Double Play Litwhiler & May
Part 2 - 1963 Topps John Herrnstein rookie card (featuring Willie Stargell)
Part 3 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 1
Part 4 - 1940 Play Ball Phillies - Part 2
Part 5 - 1950 Bowman Del Ennis

2013 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 1998 Upper Deck Scott Rolen
Part 2 - 1968 Topps Phillies Team Card
Part 3 - 1966 Topps Bob Uecker
Part 4 - 1955 Bowman Robin Roberts
Part 5 - 1965 Topps Johnny Callison
Part 6 - 1954 Bowman Richie Ashburn

Merry Christmas!

2015 Chachi Departures #5 Jimmy Rollins

We were walking around Epcot in the late afternoon of December 10th when I first found out that Jimmy Rollins had been traded to the Dodgers.  It was a surreal experience.

I was checking my phone while we were taking a break, figuring out what country to visit next when I started reading the first Tweets.  The rumored trade quickly escalated from a rumor to a report to a done deal, and just like that the face of the franchise for the past decade was gone and I was trying to mentally picture him in Dodger blue with a red number 11 on the front of his jersey.  I broke the news first to my wife and then to my eight-year-old son Doug, who is still in denial about the deal.  I was "that guy" walking around Epcot, face down towards my phone, reading the new reports coming in and ignoring my surroundings.  I managed to put down the phone and enjoy the rest of the afternoon/evening with my family.

Back at our hotel room, I caught back up and began the process of coming to terms with the fact that Jimmy Rollins would be a Los Angeles Dodger in 2015.

The logic side of my brain completely gets the move.  The Phillies are not going to compete in 2015 and perhaps for several years after that.  Rollins wants to play for a contending team in his twilight years and he's originally from California, so he approved the deal waiving his 10 and 5 rights.  The Phillies were able to get two potential future arms for their rebuilding pitching staff.  So I get it.

The emotional side of my brain is upset at the move, to say the least.  I know that Rollins moving on was inevitable, but I wasn't ready for it yet.  Almost two weeks later, I'm starting to come to terms with the change and I find myself in the strange position of wanting to root for the Dodgers next season.  So I'm slowly coming to terms with the trade . . . although I don't think he'll ever look right in blue.

* * *

2014 Topps Pro Debut #184

2014 Topps Heritage Minors #147

The Rollins deal netted the Phillies two new pitching prospects - Zach Eflin and Tom Windle.  Both are expected to start the season at Double-A Reading.  Eflin has readily available baseball cards in both the 2013 Bowman Chrome Prospects set and the 2014 Topps Pro Debut set.  Windle has appeared on more cards at this stage in his career, and recent cards of his can be found in the 2014 Topps Heritage Minors and 2014 Topps Pro Debut sets.

What I've Learned While Posting on the Phillies Team Issued Sets

1989 Tastykake Phillies Update #18

If you'll been following along on this blog over the past few months, I've been methodically working my way through a review and checklist post of each and every Phillies team issued set of cards since the early 1950s.  I started this exercise because I finally wanted to take the plunge and start collecting the relatively rare Phillies photocards from the 1970s and early 1980s, and I wanted to chronicle the known rarities and variations available from the sets of the 2000s and 2010s.

I'm nearing the end of this series of posts, so I thought I'd look back and reflect upon what I've learned and why I've undertaken this particular task.

2004 Phillies Team Issue #53
(white auto variation)

1.  I have no idea what constitutes a full and complete checklist for these sets.

I like to think of myself as a fairly knowledgeable Phillies baseball card collector, and until I began these posts I was confident in the knowledge that I knew exactly which Phillies photocards/team issued cards I needed in order to have a "complete" set.  I was so wrong.

Through comments and e-mails sent primarily from fellow collectors Rick and Steve, I've learned that there are a ton of late season additions, one time giveaways and blank backed or facsimile autograph cards that I had no idea existed.

I've also become more familiar with the photocards from the 1970s and I've added a couple dozen of these cards to my collection through eBay searches for "Phillies postcard," or "Phillies photo card," or even just "Phillies photo."

2.  The experts and the usual resources may not know what constitutes a full and complete checklist for these sets.

Despite the valuable resources The Trading Card Database and even Beckett have proven to be, these online checklists aren't complete.  As Rick points out in one of his comments, some of these cards were never meant for the public and he's obtained them either by luck or by knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.

As an example, catcher Brian Schneider was scheduled to appear at an autograph signing at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Citizens Bank Park following his acquisition as a free agent in the 2009/2010 offseason.  Cards were made up for Schneider in the style of the 2009 Phillies Team Issue set, but the appearance had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.  Rick managed to snag a few of the unused and unissued Schneider cards and the rest of the cards were either recycled or presumably stored away in a box somewhere deep in the confines of the ballpark.

As many Phillies events that Rick attends, I can't imagine he's attended every single autograph signing or random alumni appearance over the past two decades so there are undoubtedly other one-off cards or card variations that have missed even his watchful eye.

1973 Phillies Photocards

3.  This is fun.

I'm a natural checklist maker.  I like taking a group of information that's seemingly disconnected and unorganized and putting it together into a meaningful, useful resource.  Anyone stumbling across my blog is now going to be able to click on the "Phillies Team Issued Sets" page link at the top and come to a gallery of linked profiles for each set.  It's been fun putting together these posts and interacting with fellow collectors.

4.  That guy had a Phillies baseball card?

Cy Acosta, Dane Iorg, Scott Munninghoff, Felipe Crespo, Lou Collier and dozens of other short-time Phillies players have appeared on these team issued cards and I had no idea of the existence of these cards until recently.  There's something irrationally wrong about a grown, married man with children getting excited when discovering for the first time that Lou Collier does in fact have a Phillies baseball card.  But that's who I am, and so be it.

As a direct result of this project, I now know that . . .

5.  My Missing Links posts, detailing those Phillies players with no or only a few baseball cards, are wrong and outdated.

This is a project for another day.  I have players listed as having only one Phillies baseball card and I now know that they actually had several Phillies baseball cards sprinkled throughout these team issued sets.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this project and thanks for following along.

Jimmy Rollins Topps Gallery - #ThanksJRoll

There has been a deal.  After much consternation and hand-wringing, the Phillies have officially traded long-time shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitching prospects Zach Eflin and Tom Windle.  The deal had to wait until the Dodgers completed their Matt Kemp trade with the Padres, in which one of the players received from San Diego was Eflin.

I'm still processing all of this, and trying to figure out exactly how I want to pay tribute to Rollins and his time in Philadelphia.

Back in the 1980s, when the Phillies were paying tribute to a retired star, they'd issue a poster or a print of that star framed by his Topps baseball cards throughout his career.  They did this for Tug McGraw, Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn.  I'd like to see them do something similar for Rollins when the day comes for him to announce his retirement.  In the meantime, here's a gallery of Rollins' base Topps cards as my small tribute to the franchise's all-time hits leader and the greatest shortstop in team history.

2001 Topps Traded #T66

2002 Topps #164

2003 Topps #3

2004 Topps #76

2005 Topps #76

2006 Topps #205

2007 Topps #265

2008 Topps #30

2009 Topps #525

2010 Topps #403

2011 Topps #199

2012 Topps #617

2013 Topps #206

2014 Topps #312

1977 Phillies Photocards

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

 

Number of Cards:  38
Card Size:  3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Description:  As was the case with all Phillies photocards issued throughout the 1970s, these cards feature a black and white photo with the players' name below.  The backs of the cards are blank and there's no indication on the cards themselves that they're from 1977.  Some of the cards contain blue facsimile autographs, as noted on the checklist below.  Also, some of the cards featuring portrait photos of the players are cropped so that there's a larger than usual white space on the bottom border.  The Hutton card below is an example of this.

How Distributed:  The cards were handed out to fans individually and supplied to the players in order to reply to fan mail or honor autograph requests.  I could be wrong, but I don't believe the cards were ever available in complete set form.

Complete Standard Checklist:

Fred Andrews (auto) Carroll Beringer CO Tim Blackwell (auto) Bob Boone (auto) Larry Bowa (auto) Ollie Brown (auto) Warren Brusstar (auto) Steve Carlton (auto) Larry Christenson Billy DeMars CO Barry Foote Gene Garber Terry Harmon (auto) Richie Hebner (auto) Tommy Hutton Dane Iorg Dave Johnson Jay Johnstone (auto) Jim Kaat (auto)

Randy Lerch Jim Lonborg Greg Luzinski (auto) Garry Maddox Jerry Martin Bake McBride Tim McCarver Tug McGraw (auto) Danny Ozark MG Ron Reed (auto) Ray Rippelmeyer CO Mike Schmidt (swinging) Mike Schmidt (portrait) Ted Sizemore Tony Taylor CO (auto) Bobby Tolan (auto) Wayne Twitchell (auto) Tommy Underwood (auto) Bobby Wine CO (auto)

One and Done (3):  Andrews, Blackwell, Iorg
First Appearances (7):  Brusstar, Foote, Hebner, Johnson, Lerch, McBride, Sizemore
Returning Players (22):  Boone, Bowa, Brown, Carlton, Christenson, Garber, Harmon, Hutton, Johnstone, Kaat, Lonborg, Luzinski, Maddox, Martin, McCarver, McGraw, Reed, Schmidt (two versions), Tolan, Twitchell, Underwood

Your only chance of owning Phillies cards for Andrews, Blackwell and Iorg comes with this set.  The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Ozark
Coaches (5):  Beringer, DeMars, Ripplemeyer, Taylor, Wine
Phillie Phanatic (0)
Broadcasters (0)
Commemorative Cards (0)

Variations/Rarities:  I'm not aware of any variations to be found within this set.  But that doesn't mean there aren't any . . .

Trivia:  I found the cards featured here through eBay.  It was only through the awesome photos provided at The Trading Card Database for this set that I was able to identify these cards as being from 1977.  Collector Dave Sosidka uploaded the checklist and scans of all cards to the database back in 2011.  The Beckett.com database has no record of this set.

Thanks to Rick's comments, I've added three more cards to the checklist above not included on the checklist at The Trading Card Database - Foote, McBride and a Schmidt variation featuring a portrait shot.  The Foote and McBride cards would have been mid-season additions, as both were acquired in separate trades on June 15th.

Resources:  The Trading Card Database; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils)

2010 Phillies Team Issue - 2nd Edition

Number of Cards:  38
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The card fronts feature a red and blue tie-dyeish border around full color photos in what has to be one of the more unique designs ever for these team issued sets.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.
How Distributed:  For the first time ever, the Phillies completely changed up the design of its team issued set mid-season.  They've done this every year since through the 2014 season.  The 38-card set was available for sale at Citizens Bank Park beginning at some point in August, following the acquisition of Roy Oswalt from the Astros.

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

2 - Sam Perlozzo CO 3 - Ross Gload 6 - Ryan Howard 7 - Juan Castro 8 - Shane Victorino 9 - Domonic Brown 10 - Ben Francisco 11 - Jimmy Rollins 15 - Davey Lopes CO 16 - J.C. Romero 17 - Mick Billmeyer CO 19 - Greg Dobbs 21 - Wilson Valdez 22 - Pete Mackanin CO 23 - Brian Schneider 25 - Milt Thompson CO 26 - Chase Utley 27 - Placido Polanco 28 - Jayson Werth

29 - Raul Ibanez 30 - Rich Dubee CO 34 - Roy Halladay 35 - Cole Hamels 37 - Chad Durbin 38 - Kyle Kendrick 41 - Charlie Manuel MG 43 - J.A. Happ 44 - Roy Oswalt 46 - Ryan Madson 50 - Jamie Moyer 51 - Carlos Ruiz 52 - Jose Contreras 54 - Brad Lidge 55 - Danys Baez 56 - Joe Blanton 57 - David Herndon 58 - Antonio Bastardo Phillie Phanatic

One and Done (0)
First Appearances (3):  Brown, Oswalt, Valdez
Returning Players (27):  Baez, Bastardo, Blanton, Castro, Contreras, Dobbs, Durbin, Francisco, Gload, Halladay, Hamels, Happ, Herndon, Howard, Ibanez, Kendrick, Lidge, Madson, Moyer, Polanco, Rollins, Romero, Ruiz, Schneider, Utley, Victorino, Werth

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Manuel
Coaches (6):  Billmeyer, Dubee, Lopes, Mackanin, Perlozzo, Thompson
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (0)
Commemorative Cards (0)

Variations/Rarities:  As pointed out in a comment to an earlier post, Phillies collector Steve has noted the existence of late/off season cards for pitcher Scott Mathieson.  I recently added the Mathieson card to my collection and it has the Phillies logo on the back and a 2011 copyright date.

There was a similar card issued for bullpen catcher Jesus Tiamo and Rick points out in his comment below that Juan Samuel (who joined the coaching staff prior to the 2011 season) also has a blank backed card.

• 12 - Juan Samuel CO
• 18 - Greg Gross
• 47 - Scott Mathieson
• 81 - Jesus Tiamo CO

Steve also notes the existence of a blank-backed Victorino card.

In March 2017, Steve added a Greg Gross card to his collection in the style of this set also featuring a Phillies logo on the back.

Also See:  Here's the set summary for the first edition set, and here's my original post from August 27, 2010, covering the release of this second edition set.
Trivia:  The Phillies dropped the broadcasters' card found in the first edition and added cards for Brown, Oswalt and Valdez to the second edition.  Other than those moves, the checklists for the two editions are identical.  Strangely enough, Happ is still in the set even though he was one of the players traded to the Astros in the Oswalt deal.  Castro is also in the set again, despite having been released in July a few weeks prior to Brown's promotion and the acquisition of Oswalt.
Resources:  The Trading Card Database

2010 Phillies Team Issue - 1st Edition

Number of Cards:  36
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The card fronts feature full color photos from spring training with the players' names, position and number on the bottom in gray metallic-looking letters over a red band.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.
How Distributed:  The original 36-card set was available at Citizens Bank Park throughout the first half of season.  In an unprecedented move, the Phillies released a completely different set, with a completely different design, in the second half of the season.

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

2 - Sam Perlozzo CO 3 - Ross Gload 6 - Ryan Howard 7 - Juan Castro 8 - Shane Victorino 10 - Ben Francisco 11 - Jimmy Rollins 15 - Davey Lopes CO 16 - J.C. Romero 17 - Mick Billmeyer CO 19 - Greg Dobbs 22 - Pete Mackanin CO 23 - Brian Schneider 25 - Milt Thompson CO 26 - Chase Utley 27 - Placido Polanco 28 - Jayson Werth 29 - Raul Ibanez

30 - Rich Dubee CO 34 - Roy Halladay 35 - Cole Hamels 37 - Chad Durbin 38 - Kyle Kendrick 41 - Charlie Manuel MG 43 - J.A. Happ 46 - Ryan Madson 50 - Jamie Moyer 51 - Carlos Ruiz 52 - Jose Contreras 54 - Brad Lidge 55 - Danys Baez 56 - Joe Blanton 57 - David Herndon 58 - Antonio Bastardo Phillie Phanatic Phillies Broadcasters

One and Done (0)
First Appearances (8):  Baez, Bastardo, Castro, Contreras, Gload, Halladay, Herndon, Schneider
Returning Players (19):  Blanton, Dobbs, Durbin, Francisco, Hamels, Happ, Howard, Ibanez, Kendrick, Lidge,  Madson, Moyer, Polanco, Rollins, Romero, Ruiz, Utley, Victorino, Werth

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.  (I'm not including the relatively rare late 2009/early 2010 cards available for Halladay or Schneider as their first appearances.)

Manager (1):  Manuel
Coaches (6):  Billmeyer, Dubee, Lopes, Mackanin, Perlozzo, Thompson
Phillie Phanatic (1):  Keeping with the theme of the rest of the set, the Phanatic is also shown in a photo from spring training in Clearwater.
Broadcasters (1):  Jim Jackson joined the broadcasters' crew in 2010, and he's joined on this card by Gary Matthews, Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke, Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler.
Commemorative Cards (0)

Variations/Rarities:  Thanks to fellow collector Rick, I now know there are two versions of the Mackanin card available with the apparently rarer version showing Mackanin crossing his arms.  Bullpen catcher Jesus Tiamo also received a card, presumably in order for Tiamo to honor autograph requests.

• 22 - Pete Mackanin CO (arms crossed)
• 81 - Jesus Tiamo CO

Also See:  I'll eventually link to the second edition set here.
Trivia:  Beckett.com does not include this set or the second edition set in its online database.  The second edition set can be found at The Trading Card Database.

Official Phillies Arrivals and a Departure

2014 Chachi Departures #4

2014 Chachi New Additions #3

2014 Chachi New Additions #4

As I'm writing this, Jimmy Rollins is officially still a member of the Phillies . . .

Before the inevitable happens and that deal becomes official, I wanted to take a quick look at the other guys who came and went last week.  I have to admit, none of these moves are overly exciting to me but I'm hoping that the Phillies powers that be have an inkling of what they're doing and that these moves are the first steps to getting the team back to its winning ways.

Bastardo Traded to the Pirates

On Wednesday, at right around the same time the Rollins deal was going down, the Phillies traded left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates for left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez.  Bastardo had earned the ire of Phillies fans over the past few years with his inconsistent pitching and ability to come into a crucial relief situation and douse the flames with gasoline.

I only have 18 of Bastardo's cards in my collection, which is odd considering he's been bouncing around with the Phillies since 2009.  Such is the fate of a non-closing relief pitcher in today's baseball card world.

Rodriguez is 23 years old and has pitched in the Pirates system since 2009.  He pitched for Double-A Altoona last year, going 6-11 with a 4.84 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched.  It doesn't appear as if he's had any mainstream baseball cards to date.

Phillies Select Two in Rule 5 Draft

The Phillies have always been active in the annual Rule 5 draft, and this year's draft was no exception.  They first claimed infielder/outfielder Odubel Herrera from the Texas Rangers and shortly after selected pitcher Andy Oliver from the Pirates.  Both need to remain on the active roster all season, or be offered back to their former teams.

Herrera is already being mentioned as the team's starting center fielder in 2015, hopefully providing a little more offensive punch than Ben Revere did in 2014.  Based on my limited research, Herrera doesn't have any mainstream baseball cards yet.

Oliver has actually seen time in the Majors with the Tigers in 2010 and 2011 and he was traded to the Pirates in late 2012.  With Triple-A Indianapolis last season, Oliver pitched 64 innings over 48 games with a 2.53 ERA.  He had several Topps baseball cards in 2010, including appearances in Bowman Chrome and Topps Update.