Series Preview - Phillies at Marlins: August 23rd to August 25th

2019 Chachi 1971 Topps Missing Links #13

2019 Chachi Fan Favorites #17

Friday 7:10, Saturday 6:10 and Sunday 1:10
Marlins Park - Miami, FL

Phillies 66-60, 4th place in the N.L. East, 9 1/2 games behind the Braves
Marlins 45-81, 5th place in the N.L. East, 30 1/2 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables:  Vince Velasquez (5-7, 4.35), Zach Eflin (7-11, 4.57), Aaron Nola (12-3, 3.51)
Marlins Probables:  Hector Noesi (0-3, 9.39), Jordan Yamamoto (4-4, 4.31), Elieser Hernandez (2-5, 5.18)

At the Ballpark:  This is the third annual Players' Weekend and all teams will inexplicably be wearing either all white or all black monochrome uniforms, as decided by the home team for each series.  The Marlins opted to wear all white, meaning the Phillies will be wearing all black.  Players' weekend was an idea that was cool the first year, somewhat unneeded the second year and now ridiculous the third year.

On Saturday, the first 10,000 fans will receive a Billy the Marlin Belly Bobble and on Sunday the first 5,000 kids will receive a Marlins arm sleeve.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .284
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 77
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 27
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 92
Stolen Bases:  Scott Kingery - 10

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 12
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 3.51

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 180
Saves:  Hector Neris - 23

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Miguel Rojas - .289
Runs:  Brian Anderson - 56
Home Runs:  Brian Anderson - 20
RBIs:  Brian Anderson - 65
Stolen Bases:  Miguel Rojas - 6

Wins:  Caleb Smith - 8
ERA:  Sandy Alcantara - 4.15
Strikeouts:  Caleb Smith - 138
Saves:  Sergio Romo - 17

1971 Topps #728

1971 Topps Missing Links:  Technically, this doesn't meet my definition of a true Missing Links card as Wayne Redmond never played a game for the Phillies.  Signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent prior to the 1965 season, he made his big league debut on September 7, 1965 and would appear in four games.  He wouldn't make it back to the Majors with the Tigers until 1969, appearing in five more games.  In went 0 for 7 with a walk and three strikeouts in the only action he'd see in parts of two seasons, four years apart.

On October 23, 1970, the Tigers sent Redmond to the Phillies as "part of a conditional deal," per Baseball Reference.  He'd go to spring training with the Phillies in 1971, appearing in the team photo that appeared in their 1971 Yearbook, but then on April 5th the Phillies returned him to the Tigers.  Topps most have been optimistic about his chances, as they included him on a multi-player 1971 Rookie Stars card along with Keith Lampard and Bernie Williams in their high series.  So while Redmond was never officially a Phillie, I still thought he deserved a standalone Phillies baseball card to mark his 5 1/2 months with the club.