Happy New Year!

2018 Chachi #57

And that's a wrap on 2018 for The Phillies Room.  May your 2019 be hopeful and peaceful, and may all your checklists be unmarked.

We're going to stay quiet for a little while longer but we'll ease into some long toss and side bullpen sessions before you know it.  Pitchers and catchers and bloggers report for spring training soon . . .

1953 Bowman Color Phillies

Having recently completed the 11-card 1953 Bowman Color Phillies team set, I wanted to show off these gorgeous cards here.  If I were to ever win the lottery and decide to collect another set from the 1950s, it would come down to choosing between this set and the 1955 Bowman set.

#10 Richie Ashburn

#28 "Smoky" Burgess

#60 Granny Hamner

#64 Curt Simmons

#65 Robin Roberts

#67 Mel Clark

#103 Del Ennis

#113 Karl Drews

#131 Connie Ryan

#133 Willie Jones

#158 Howard Fox

The Best Lists are Checked Lists - Crossing Off Vintage Phillies Cards (#SBWTMABCTJ)

1949 Bowman #161

1949 Bowman #177

1951 Berk Ross #4-8

This is a post I look forward to writing all year.

My Mom has taken it upon herself to single-handedly wipe out my Ten Most Wanted - Vintage list every year with a highly anticipated Christmas present.  She made me work for it this year, hiding the box with the ten individually wrapped cards that I could only find using a series of clues she had hidden.  With the help of two sons and two nieces, and following each clue, I was eventually able to locate the box in the back seat of my Mom's car.  Before we dive into the summary, here's a look at what the list looked like before Christmas:

These cards are all off my want lists now due to the 2018 installment of Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim (#SBWTMABCTJ).  Thank you Santa (aka Mom)!

1949 Bowman #161 Jocko Thompson
1949 Bowman #177 Stan Lopata
I'm getting closer to this tough Phillies team set with the addition of these two cards.  I'm now down to needing the rather expensive Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts rookie cards, and the high-numbered cards of Schoolboy Rowe and Jackie Mayo.

This is Lopata's rookie card, and he'd go on to play 13 years in the Majors, 11 of those years with the Phillies.

1951 Berk Ross #4-8 Robin Roberts
I'm now one card away to completing this 14-card Phillies team set, needing just the Curt Simmons card at this point.  I had to break Roberts out of his PSA slab to let him breathe and take his place in the 1950s Phillies binder along with his counterparts.

1953 Bowman Black & White #14 Bill Nicholson
1953 Bowman Color #158 Howard Fox
Thanks to this Howard Fox card, I'm now the proud owner of a complete 1953 Bowman Color Phillies team set.  I'm going to show off the entire team set in a separate gallery.  Bill Nicholson's card got me a card closer to also finishing off the 1953 Bowman Black & White Phillies team set.  Both of these cards are beautiful.

1953 Bowman Black & White #14

1956 Topps #220

1953 Bowman Color #158

1956 Topps #220 Del Ennis
Having already completed the entire 1956 Topps set*, I'm now trying to add a second Phillies team set to my 1950s Phillies binder.  This Del Ennis card is actually nicer than the version of the card I have in my complete set.

*My 1956 Topps blog has been dormant since February 2017, which truly bothers me.  I'd love to find some time in 2019 to dust this off and add a few more cards to this blog.  I think I originally stalled out due to the daunting task of writing about card #30, Jackie Robinson, and I haven't been able to pick it back up . . . yet.

1957 Topps #265 Harvey Haddix
1957 Topps #335 Granny Hamner
A complete 1957 Topps Phillies team set is now within reach as I'm just a handful of cards short of wrapping this one up too.

1957 Topps #265

1957 Topps #335

1960 Topps #518

1961 Topps #530

1960 Topps #518 Tony Gonzalez
1961 Topps #530 Bobby Malkmus
The Tony Gonzalez card was the last card I needed to finish off my version of the 1960 Topps Phillies team set.  Gonzalez was dealt to the Phillies from the Reds in June, playing the bulk of the 1960 season in Philadelphia.  By my logic, his 1960 Topps card belongs with the rest of the 1960 Topps Phillies team set.

The addition of the 1961 Topps Bobby Malkmus card means I need just one more card for a complete 1961 Topps Phillies team set.

Finally, the print below is a new addition to the actual Phillies Room, courtesy (again) of my Mom.  The print features the classic broadcast team of By Saam, Richie Ashburn and Bill Campbell, who worked in the booth together between 1963 and 1970.

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

2015 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Seven Phillies Cards from the 1950s Crossed Off the List

2016 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Part 1 - 10 vintage Phillies cards added to the collection
Part 2 - 2 modern oddball Phillies cards find a new home

2017 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
Vintage cards crossed off the list, 1959 Topps Phillies team set completed!

2018 Santa Brings Way Too Many Awesome Baseball Cards to Jim
8th annual haul completes 1953 Bowman Color Phillies team set

Merry Christmas!

2018 Chachi #56

Merry Christmas from our team to your team!  Have a wonderful holiday and here's to a fantastic, parade-filled 2019!

Phillies Announce First Round of Non-Roster Invitees

2013 Topps Gypsy Queen #33

2017 Topps Heritage #135

2018 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #16

2015 Topps Heritage #667

2014 Topps #483

On Friday, the Phillies announced their first 7 non-roster invitees who will suit up with numbers in the 60s and 70s in February.  Here's a list of the newest Phillies with a look at their latest mainstream baseball card appearances.

Player (position) - 2018 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Jeremy Bleich (lhp) - Athletics - 2010 Topps Pro Debut #35 (Yankees)
2.  Rob Brantly (c) - Braves/Indians - 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen #33 (Marlins)
3.  Phil Gosselin (inf) - Reds/Braves - 2017 Topps Heritage #135 (Diamondbacks)
4.  Josh Martin (rhp) - Indians - 2012 Bowman Draft Picks #BDPP160 (Indians)
5.  Matt McBride (c-1b) - Phillies - 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #MM (Indians)
6.  Gregorio Petit (inf) - Twins - 2015 Topps Heritage #667 (Yankees)
7.  Shane Robinson (of) - Yankees - 2014 Topps #483 (Cardinals)

As I've done the past several years, I also wanted to look back at the crop of 2018 non-roster invitees and show the success ratio the group had in joining the team's major league roster.  Of the 23 players invited to camp last year without a guaranteed roster spot, only 5 actually made the leap to the big club during the season.  I've noted those players below with a "**" next to their names.

Player (position) - 2017 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Pedro Beato (rhp) - Phillies - 2011 Topps Chrome #199 (Mets)
**2.  Pedro Florimon (inf) - Phillies - 2014 Topps #568 (Twins)
3.  Matt McBride (c-1b) - Athletics - 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #MM (Indians)
4.  Heiker Meneses (inf) - Red Sox - N/A
5.  Will Middlebrooks (inf) - Rangers - 2017 Topps #46 (Brewers)
6.  Logan Moore (c) - Phillies - 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects #BDPP44 (Phillies)
7.  Danny Ortiz (of) - Pirates - 2017 Topps Update #US30 (Pirates)
**8.  Mitch Walding (inf) - Phillies - N/A
9.  Edgar Cabral (c) - Phillies - N/A
**10.  Enyel De Los Santos (rhp) - Padres - 2016 Topps Heritage Minors League #60 (Padres)
11.  Tom Eshelman (rhp) - Phillies - 2017 Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniform #PN-50N (Phillies)
12.  J.D. Hammer (rhp) - Rockies/Phillies - N/A
13.  Cole Irvin (lhp) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft #BD-4 (Phillies)
**14.  Scott Kingery (inf) - Phillies - 2017 Bowman Draft #BD-114 (Phillies)
15.  Brandon Leibrandt (lhp) - Phillies - N/A
16.  Andrew Pullin (of) - Phillies - 2012 Bowman Draft Picks #BDPP59 (Phillies)
17.  Francisco Rodriguez (rhp) - Tigers/Nationals - 2017 Topps Gypsy Queen #185 (Tigers)
18.  Adam Rosales (inf) - Athletics/Diamondbacks - 2017 Topps #377 (Athletics)
19.  Ryan Flaherty (2b) - Orioles - 2017 Topps #314 (Orioles)
20.  Collin Cowgill (of) - Padres - 2015 Topps Update #US385 (Angels)
21.  Nick Rickles (c) - Nationals/Phillies - N/A
**22.  Drew Hutchison (rhp) - Pirates - 2016 Topps #343 (Blue Jays)
23.  Fernando Abad (lhp) - Red Sox - 2016 Topps Heritage #613 (Twins)

Phillies Sign McCutchen

2019 Chachi New Additions #5

The annual Winter Meetings came to a close on Friday, and the biggest move made by the Phillies was signing free agent Andrew McCutchen to a 3-year deal.  The $50 million contract could keep McCutchen in Philadelphia through the 2021 season, and there's a $15 million club option for 2022 with a $3 million buyout.  The former National League MVP is expected to inherit a corner outfield position, with left field being his likely landing spot.

A 10-year veteran, McCutchen split 2018 between the Giants and Yankees, his first season away from Pittsburgh.  With the Pirates, he was a five-time All-Star and the 2013 N.L. MVP.  His baseball cards are readily available and he started appearing on mainstream releases in 2005.  His first official Phillies card is already available in the Topps Now Offseason set.

I've always been a fan of McCutchen's and seeing him in red pinstripes in 2019 should be exciting.  He also seems energized about coming to Philly as evidenced by his Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

I am so pumped for this opportunity with the @phillies! Can’t wait to rock that Philly uni and go to battle with my teammates! S/O to @genies for this vid!🔥 Let’s Gooo! 🏃🏾‍♂️💨

A post shared by Andrew McCutchen (@cutchtwenty2) on Dec 13, 2018 at 5:11am PST

As of this writing, the Phillies remain in the hunt for the biggest free agents available - Bryce Harper and Manny Machado - and they continue to court more reliable relief pitching in the form of Andrew Miller or Zach Britton.

Moving On - 2018-2019 Offseason

• Trevor Plouffe - inf (10/4/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jose Bautista - of (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Asdrubal Cabrera - inf (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Aaron Loup - lhp (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Wilson Ramos - c (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Beato - rhp (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jesmuel Valentin - inf (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Florimon - inf/of (11/3/18) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves.
• Luis Avilan - lhp (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Justin Bour - 1b (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Carlos Santana - 1b and J.P. Crawford - ss (12/3/18) - Traded to the Seattle Mariners for James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Jean Segura.
• Luis Garcia - rhp (12/6/18) - Traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Jose Alvarez.

New Arrivals - 2018-2019 Offseason

• James Pazos - lhp, Juan Nicasio - rhp and Jean Segura - ss (12/3/18) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana.
• Jose Alvarez - lhp (12/6/18) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for Luis Garcia.
• Andrew McCutchen - of (12/12/18) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Yankees.

You can find the updated Virtual Phillies Wall here, showing the team's updated 40-man roster.

Happy Birthday Doug!

And just like that, he's 12!  Happy birthday to one of the coolest kids I know.  I'm proud of everything you do.

Memory Lane
2006 to 2008 - Pre-The Phillies Room years
2009 - Doug turns 3
2010 - Took the year off . . . bad father!
2011 - A Shane Victorino card for Doug
2012 - Doug with the Phanatic, turns 6
2013 - Doug on the Braves, turns 7
2014 - Doug on the Marlins, turns 8
2015 - Doug on the Diamondbacks, turns 9
2016 - Doug and Pete Mackanin
2017 - Warming up with the Braves
2018 - On the mound for the Phillies

Garcia Swapped to Angels for Alvarez

2019 Chachi New Additions #4

2019 Chachi Departures #3

Late Thursday night, the Phillies traded long-time reliever Luis Garcia to the Angels for lefty Jose Alvarez.  Alvarez becomes the third newest member of the suddenly rebuilt Phillies bullpen, joining Juan Nicasio and James Pazos who were acquired from the Mariners on Monday.  The team is still in the hunt for a closer.

Alvarez is a six-year veteran, with all but his first season spent with the Angels.  He made his debut with the Tigers in 2013 and since then he's appeared in 284 games and pitched to a respectable 3.69 ERA.  As in the case with most middle relievers, Alvarez's baseball card appearances have been scarce.  According to the Beckett database, he's had cards in three mainstream sets to date - 2010 Topps Pro Debut, 2013 Topps Update and 2015 Topps Update.

Prior to the trade, Garcia had been the second longest tenured Phillies player behind Cesar Hernandez as both made their debuts with the club in 2013.  In parts of six seasons with the Phillies, Garcia was the very definition of hit or miss, appearing in 251 games and owning an ERA of 4.12.  One of the team's more reliable relievers in 2017, he was at times infuriating to watch last season as evidenced by his 2018 ERA of 6.07.  I have 15 Garcia baseball cards in my Phillies collection, 7 of which come from the team-issued photo card sets.

Garcia Complete Chachi Checklist
2013 Chachi #49
2014 Chachi #37
2015 Chachi #21
2016 Chachi #38
2016 Chachi Fan Appreciation Day #2
2017 Chachi #35
2017 Chachi Photo Night #12
2018 Chachi #24
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #4 (with Victor Arano and Austin Davis)
2019 Chachi Departures #3

Moving On - 2018-2019 Offseason

• Trevor Plouffe - inf (10/4/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jose Bautista - of (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Asdrubal Cabrera - inf (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Aaron Loup - lhp (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Wilson Ramos - c (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Beato - rhp (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jesmuel Valentin - inf (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Florimon - inf/of (11/3/18) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Luis Avilan - lhp (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Justin Bour - 1b (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Carlos Santana - 1b and J.P. Crawford - ss (12/3/18) - Traded to the Seattle Mariners for James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Jean Segura.
• Luis Garcia - rhp (12/6/18) - Traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Jose Alvarez.

New Arrivals - 2018-2019 Offseason

• James Pazos - lhp, Juan Nicasio - rhp and Jean Segura - ss (12/3/18) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana.
• Jose Alvarez - lhp (12/6/18) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for Luis Garcia.

You can find the updated Virtual Phillies Wall here, showing the team's updated 40-man roster.

Segura Joins Phillies in 5-Player Deal with Mariners

2019 Chachi New Additions #1

2019 Chachi New Additions #2

2019 Chachi New Additions #3

On Monday morning, I noticed a flurry of Tweets reporting the Phillies were close to acquiring All-Star shortstop Jean Segura from the Mariners in exchange for Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford.  I had to fly to Atlanta for work, but when I landed that afternoon the deal was all but official.  Finally, word came as I was en route to my hotel that the Phillies had traded Santana and Crawford to the Mariners for Segura and relievers Juan Nicasio and James Pazos.  I've been anxious to get home so that I could (1) see my family and (2) create Chachi cards for the new additions.

The move remakes half the Phillies infield for 2019 (for now) as Segura will take over at shortstop and Rhys Hoskins will move back to first base.  Righty Nicasio and lefty Pazos will join a suddenly crowded bullpen, with both relievers expected to see action in later innings next season.  Their presence alone immediately makes the Phillies bullpen better.

2019 Chachi Departures #1

2019 Chachi Departures #2

In just one season with the Phillies, Santana appeared in 161 games and hit .229 with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs.  He leaves behind a fair amount of Phillies baseball cards and his complete Chachi checklist can be found below.  I'm a little bummed to see Crawford go, but I understand the move.  The team's first round pick in 2013, Crawford has seemingly been one of their top tier prospects for the past five years.  He was all but invisible during the Phillies complete collapse towards the end of last season.  I have a whopping 95 Crawford cards in my Phillies collection, which is an obscene tally for a player who hit .214 for the club over 72 games.

You can find great, in depth analysis of this trade elsewhere but I'm particularly interested in the baseball cards of the new Phillies trio.  Segura started appearing in Bowman products in 2010 with the Angels, and his first Topps flagship card appeared in 2013 when he was with the Brewers.  It appears as if he's in just about every major 2018 baseball card release.

Nicasio, who earned a 2017 Chachi card for his 2-game appearance with the Phillies that season, hasn't appeared on a mainstream baseball card since his 2015 Topps Update appearance with the Dodgers.  Finally, the only Pazos baseball cards out there are in the 2016 Topps, 2016 Topps Heritage and 2017 Topps Update sets.

Crawford Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #60
2018 Chachi #6
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #7
2019 Chachi Departures #1

Santana Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi New Additions #4
2018 Chachi #2
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #5
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #3
2019 Chachi Departures #2

Moving On - 2018-2019 Offseason

• Trevor Plouffe - inf (10/4/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jose Bautista - of (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Asdrubal Cabrera - inf (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Aaron Loup - lhp (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Wilson Ramos - c (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Beato - rhp (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Jesmuel Valentin - inf (11/2/18) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Florimon - inf/of (11/3/18) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Luis Avilan - lhp (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Justin Bour - 1b (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent.
• Carlos Santana - 1b and J.P. Crawford - ss (12/3/18) - Traded to the Seattle Mariners for James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Jean Segura.

New Arrivals - 2018-2019 Offseason

• James Pazos - lhp, Juan Nicasio - rhp and Jean Segura - ss (12/3/18) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana.

You can find the updated Virtual Phillies Wall here, showing the team's updated 40-man roster.

Philly Baseball Card Show Report - Hamels, Stairs, Phillies Oddballs

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #19

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #20

Doug and I managed to go a full year without attending a baseball card show, so we were excited to make the hour drive to The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA on Saturday.  Doug decided to try something different this time, foregoing any lists and opting instead for a day of free-style picking as he liked to call it.  He tends to favor Phillies certified autograph and memorabilia baseball cards and a picture of the latest additions to his collection is found below.

My goal was to add autographs of Matt Stairs and Cole Hamels (two of the guest autograph signers), get closer to completing my 1971 Topps set and add to my vintage Phillies baseball card collection.  All goals were accomplished.

• Stairs and Hamels were both very pleasant and Doug was extremely excited to meet both of them.  The two former Phillies earn the honor of having the final two 2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters insert cards.
• I picked up a reasonably priced 1960 Phillies Yearbook as well as Phillies Media Guides from 1973 and 1974.
• I hunted down some rarely seen oddball Phillies cards from the 1960s including the two Phillies cards in the 1962 Bazooka set (Johnny Callison and Art Mahaffey) and 3 of the 13 cards from the 1967 Phillies Safe Driving set.
• I crossed another 12 cards off my 1971 Topps list, including the semi-pricey cards of Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell.
• I got a nice discount on a 1956 Topps Richie Ashburn card for my 1950s Phillies binder.
• And my splurge was a terrific condition 1911 T205 Gold Border card of John Bates.

Memory Lane

Valley Forge 1 - September 2010 - Thinking of my Dad
Valley Forge 2 - October 2012 - Doug's first baseball card show
Valley Forge 3 - September 2014 - Meeting Darren Daulton
Oaks 1 - October 2015 - Meeting Pete Rose and Steve Carlton
Valley Forge 4 - September 2016 - Phillies acquisitions and 4 Phillies Legends
Valley Forge 5 - December 2016 - Meeting Don Money
Valley Forge 6 - September 2017 - Doug's big day
Valley Forge 7 - December 2017 - Ben's first baseball card show with Mike Schmidt and Rhys Hoskins!
Oaks 2 - December 2018 - Meeting Matt Stairs and Cole Hamels

Doug's haul for the day