2020 Chachi #9 Roman Quinn

#24
Roman Tredarian Quinn
Center Field

Bats:  Switch  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  175
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  May 14, 1993, Port St. Joe, FL
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 2nd round of June 2011 amateur player draft
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible in 2022, free agency eligible in 2025
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2016, 2018-

First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Prospects #BP95
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2012 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #24
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #24

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Total #138

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2017, 2019-2020

68 - Quinn baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #63
2016 Chachi Fan Appreciation Day #1
2017 Chachi Almost #23
2018 Chachi #47

2019 Chachi #34
2019 Chachi #60 - Weird Loss HL with Vince Velasquez
2019 Chachi Photo Night #7
2020 Chachi #9

The oft-injured Quinn hopes to stay healthy throughout this shortened 2020 season.  He was on the injured list three times in 2019 and he missed most of 2017 with a left arm injury.  He's always been a favorite in our household, and we're pulling for him at The Phillies Room HQ.

I'm a little surprised at the number of Quinn's baseball cards in my collection, but then again he's been appearing on prospect and minor league cards since 2012.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #6 Jean Segura

#2
Jean Carlos Enrique Segura
Third Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  220
Opening Day Age:  30
Born:  March 17, 1990, San Juan, DR
How Obtained:  Acquired with Juan Nicasio and James Pazos from the Seattle Mariners for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana, December 3, 2018
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Los Angeles Angels 2012; Milwaukee Brewers 2012-2015; Arizona Diamondbacks 2016; Seattle Mariners 2017-2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2018 Topps Now Offseason #OS55
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #2

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Big League #120

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  2013-2020

26 - Segura baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi New Additions #1
2019 Chachi #2
2019 Chachi #50 - 9th Inning Homers HL
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #22
2020 Chachi #6

The team's regular shortstop in 2019, Segura shifted over to third base to start the 2020 season with the arrival of new shortstop Didi Gregorius.

The well-traveled infielder has readily available baseball cards featuring him with each of the five teams he's played with during his career so far.  Even though he only played one game with the Angels, his original team, he appears on a number of Bowman sets in an Angels uniform throughout 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Segura was an All-Star with the Brewers in 2013 and with the Diamondbacks in 2018.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #4 J.T. Realmuto

#10
Jacob Tyler Realmuto
Catcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  212
Opening Day Age:  29
Born:  March 18, 1991, Del City, OK
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Miami Marlins for Jorge Alfaro, Sixto Sanchez, Will Stewart and international bonus pool money, February 7, 2019
Contract Status:  Signed through 2020
Major League Teams:  Miami Marlins 2014-2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2018 Topps Now Offseason #OS67
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #10

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps 1985 Topps Baseball #85TB-35

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  2015-2020

46 - Realmuto baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi New Additions #7
2019 Chachi #5
2019 Chachi #52 - All-Star
2019 Chachi #70 - Gold Glove
2019 Chachi Friendly Encounters #10
2020 Chachi #4

I sincerely hope this isn't the last year Realmuto features in my custom Chachi sets, but the All-Star catcher is a free agent following this season and it sure seems as if he'll test the free agent market.

The best catcher in baseball has had a ton of Phillies cards released in 2019 and so far in 2020.

We met Realmuto last May at Carl's Cards & Collectibles where he signed a few things for us and posed for his Friendly Encounters card with Doug.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #5 Didi Gregorius

#18
Mariekson Julius Gregorius
Shortstop

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  205
Opening Day Age:  30
Born:  February 18, 1990, Amsterdam, Netherlands
How Obtained:  Signed as a free agent, December 13, 2019
Contract Status:  Signed through 2020
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 2012; Arizona Diamondbacks 2013-2014; New York Yankees 2015-2019; Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  2019 Topps Now Offseason #OS-50
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps #519

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  2013-2020

10 - Gregorius baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi New Additions #8
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #18
2020 Chachi #5

Gregorius has appeared in Topps flagship sets dating back to 2013.  His first Phillies baseball card, from the Topps Now Offseason set, came out in late December following his official signing with the club, and he's been photoshopped into a Phillies uniform in several other Topps releases since then.

To date, only his Topps Now Road to Opening Day card features him wearing an actual Phillies uniform, and I'm not counting his Topps Living Set card as that's a painting.

Gregorius is signed to just a one-year deal which means his only Phillies cards may feature him with no fans in the stands.  It also means that sadly he may never appear in a team-issued photo card set.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #30 Ramon Rosso

#60
Ramon Antonio Rosso
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  240
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  June 9, 1996, Santo Domingo Centro, DR
How Obtained:  Signed as a minor league free agent, February 14, 2017
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2018 Choice Lakewood BlueClaws #23
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #19

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

4 - Rosso baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi #30

Rosso was a somewhat surprising addition to the Phillies' Opening Day roster but he impressed manager Joe Girardi enough that he made the team over veteran non-roster righty relievers such as Blake Parker, Robert Stock, Bud Norris or Anthony Swarzak.  Rosso made his big league debut on opening day and had a shaky performance, throwing a pair of wild pitches.

He wore #84 throughout the spring and in Summer Camp but switched to #60 for the regular season.
Rosso's only baseball cards to date can be found in the 2018 BlueClaws team set and in all three team sets issued last year by the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #16 Zack Wheeler

#45
Zachary Harrison Wheeler
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  30
Born:  May 30, 1990, Smyrna, GA
How Obtained:  Signed by the Phillies as a free agent, December 9, 2019
Contract Status:  Signed through 2024
Major League Teams:  New York Mets 2013-2014, 2017-2019; Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  2019 Topps Now Offseason #OS-48
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Big League #183

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  2013-2020

6 - Wheeler baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/24/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist

2020 Chachi New Additions #7
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #45
2020 Chachi #16

Wheeler makes his Topps flagship debut in the 2013 Topps Update set, and he's appeared in each flagship set since.  He'll need to wait for the 2020 Topps Update set for his first flagship Phillies card.

Of the Topps cards of his in my collection currently, only his 2020 Topps Now Road to Opening Day and 2020 Topps Total cards feature him wearing an actual Phillies uniform.  His other Phillies baseball cards feature him in a photoshopped uniform.

His first official Phillies card, from the 2019 Topps Now Offseason set, features him in a Mets uniform and was limited to a print run of only 167.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #13 Phil Gosselin

#8
Phillip David Gosselin
Infield-Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  188
Opening Day Age:  31
Born:  October 3, 1988, West Chester, PA
How Obtained:  Signed by Phillies as minor league free agent, December 18, 2018
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible following 2020 season, free agency eligible following 2023 season
Major League Teams:  Atlanta Braves 2013-2015; Arizona Diamondbacks 2015-2016; Pittsburgh Pirates 2017; Texas Rangers 2017; Cincinnati Reds 2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #9
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #9

Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #9

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  2015

1 - Gosselin baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/28/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi #33
2019 Chachi Photo Cards #9
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #1 (with Jay Bruce)
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #2
2020 Chachi #13

Gosselin, known affectionately by his teammates as "Goose" or "Barrels," has had only a few mainstream baseball card appearances despite playing parts of eight seasons in the majors.  He's had just one Phillies card to date, in the team's second series of team-issued photo cards last season.

Other than his 2015 Topps flagship appearance, Gosselin also has cards in 2011 Topps Pro Debut, 2016 Topps Heritage and 2017 Topps Heritage.

Gosselin returned to the Phillies in 2020 after being outrighted off their 40-man roster on November 4th.  He re-signed with the team on December 20th and was the first of the many non-roster invitees invited to 2020 spring training.  Originally a long-shot to make the team, his extremely hot bat during spring training and Summer Camp won his roster spot and led the team to release Josh Harrison.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #3 Bryce Harper

#3
Bryce Aron Max Harper
Right Field

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  210
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  October 16, 1992, Las Vegas, NV
How Obtained:  Signed by the Phillies as a free agent, March 1, 2019
Contract Status:  Signed through 2031
Major League Teams:  Washington Nationals 2012-2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2019 Topps Bryce Harper Art Card #A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #3

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps 2030 #T2030-14

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9):  2012-2020

130 - Harper baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/24/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi Greatest Moments #1
2019 Chachi New Additions #8a
2019 Chachi New Additions #8b
2019 Chachi #3
2019 Chachi Ballpark Visits #2
2019 Chachi Photo Night #2
2019 Chachi Ballpark Visits #24
2019 Chachi #63a - Walk-Off Grand Slam HL
2019 Chachi #63b - Walk-Off Grand Slam HL
2020 Chachi #3

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 3 - 2020 Topps Road to Opening Day #OD-282 Adam Haseley

Marlins 11, Phillies 6
Game 3 - Sunday Afternoon, July 26th in Philadelphia
Record - 1-2, Tied for 3rd Place, 1 game behind the Braves and Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies lost in ugly fashion to the Marlins, 11-6.

What It Means:  Not great.  Needing to get off to a fast start, dropping the opening series to the Marlins isn't going to help.  The Marlins were even playing without several key players too, as reportedly at least four of their everyday starters are now out with COVID-related issues.  And it won't get easier as the Phillies now face off against the Yankees for their next four games.

What Happened:  Vince Velasquez, who looked great at times throughout spring training/summer camp, looked awful in his first start of 2020.  He departed with a line of 3 innings pitched, 4 runs on 3 hits including a pair of home runs.  Cole Irvin didn't fare much better getting tagged for 4 runs on 5 hits in his inning of work.  Reggie McClain allowed a three-run home run to Brett Anderson and Nick Pivetta gave up a solo home run (a bomb) to former Phillie Corey Dickerson for good measure.

2020 Chachi Almost #9

The Phillies offense managed to leave the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings, going 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  On a positive note, Bryce Harper hit his first home run of the season in the first.

Featured Card:  Another positive note is the four-hit game turned in by Adam Haseley, the first of his career.  In his first start of the season, Haseley led off and went 4 for 6.

Transaction:  Robert Stock, designated for assignment when his roster spot was needed prior to the start of the season, was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.  The Phillies had claimed him off waivers in October and at one point he seemed a lock for the Phillies' bullpen.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #2 Rhys Hoskins

#17
Rhys Dean Hoskins
First Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  245
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  March 17, 1993, Sacramento, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 5th round of June 2014 amateur player draft
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible 2021, free agent 2024
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2017-

First Phillies Card:  2014 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Draft Picks #DP122
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2014 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #14
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue Update #17

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps #687

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2018-2020

173 - Hoskins baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/24/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #53
2017 Chachi In Action #7
2017 Chachi #56 - HL 9 HRs in 16 Games
2017 Chachi #57 - HL Rookie HR Record
2017 Chachi Valley Forge #3
2017 Chachi Christmas #1
2018 Chachi #4
2018 Chachi #44 - HL Home Run Derby
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #6
2019 Chachi Preview #1
2019 Chachi #4
2019 Chachi Phillies Festival #19
2020 Chachi #2

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 2 - 2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #9 Phil Gosselin

Phillies 7, Marlins 1
Game 2 - Saturday Afternoon, July 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 1-1, Tied for 1st Place with every team in the division

One Sentence Summary:  Phil Gosselin continued to swing a hot bat and Zack Wheeler looked fantastic in his Phillies debut as the team downed the Marlins, 7-1.

What It Means:  Easy wins are way more fun than hard wins, and this was an easy win.  The score was tied at 1-1 entering the sixth but it felt as the Phillies were in control the entire time.

What Happened:  Wheeler pitched seven innings, allowing a run on five hits while striking out four. Tommy Hunter and Deolis Guerra pitched the two scoreless innings of relief.  Didi Gregorius got the Phillies on the board with his second home run in as many days in the second inning.  Gosselin hit his first home run in the sixth, giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead and J.T. Realmuto padded that lead with a three-run home run in the seventh.  It's notable that Rhys Hoskins had walked and Bryce Harper had laid down a perfect bunt along the third base line where the Marlins' defensive shift had left third base undefended.  Realmuto then hit his blast with both on base.  Gosselin added a second home run in the eighth for good measure.

Couple of cool notes from this game - Gregorius became the first shortstop in Phillies team history to homer in each of the team's first two games of the season (Meghan Montemurro Tweet) and Gosselin joins Ricky Ledee (June 11, 2004) as the only Phillies DH with two home runs in a game (Matt Gelb Tweet).

Featured Card:  To date, Gosselin has just one Phillies baseball card, available in last season's second team issued photo card set.  He signed it for us at last year's ALS Phillies Phestival.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #1 Andrew McCutchen

#22
Andrew Stefan McCutchen
Center Field

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  33
Born:  October 10, 1986, Fort Meade, FL
How Obtained:  Signed as a free agent, December 12, 2018
Contract Status:  Signed through 2021 with a club option for 2022
Major League Teams:  Pittsburgh Pirates 2009-2017; San Francisco Giants 2018; New York Yankees 2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2018 Topps Now Offseason #OS59
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #22

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps #467

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13):  2005, 2009-2020

26 - McCutchen baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/24/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi New Additions #5a
2019 Chachi New Additions #5b
2019 Chachi #1
2019 Chachi Friendly Encounters #18
2020 Chachi Preview #3
2020 Chachi #1

Once the price calms down a little, I'll be looking to add McCutchen's 2020 Topps photo variation card, showing him sporting the 1979 burgundy throw-backs the Phillies wore last July.

He first appeared in the 2005 Topps Updates & Highlights set as a Pirates' draft pick, before returning for a 12-year (and counting) run in the Topps flagship sets.

His Chachi Friendly Encounters card uses a photo taken with my son Doug at the Philly Baseball Card show held in September 2019.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 1 - Phillies Drop 2020 Opener in Empty Ballpark

Marlins 5, Phillies 2
Game 1 - Friday Night, July 24th in Philadelphia
Record - 0-1, Tied for 3rd Place, 1 game behind the Marlins and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The top of the Phillies line-up went 1 for 14 and the new look bullpen struggled in its debut as the Phillies lost the 2020 season opener to the Marlins, 5-2.

What It Means:  The word unprecedented has been overused the past four-plus months, but it's still the best way to describe this Phillies' home opener.  The stands were empty and attendance was zero due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Prior to the start of the game, the Phillies and Marlins participated in a moment of unity with everyone holding a long black ribbon while lined up along the first and third base foul lines.  Black Lives Matter was stenciled in the dirt behind the pitcher's mound and players wore BLM or United for Change patches on their jerseys.  For me personally, it's refreshing to see Major League Baseball openly addressing these issues instead of ignoring them.  Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going.

McCutchen wrote a statement narrated by actor Morgan Freeman that played in Citizens Bank Park and several other parks throughout the day.

For the game, crowd noise was played over the public address speakers, ballplayers stayed socially
distant in the dugouts and the Phillie Phanatic entertained several empty sections of seats.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola made his third straight opening day start, and he looked pretty good through five innings.  The Marlins scored four in the sixth, chasing Nola and rattling reliever Ramon Rosso in his big league debut.  Rosso allowed an inherited runner to score, plus one run of his own, while uncorking two wild pitches.  Nola's final line was 5 1/3 innings with 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out 7.  Reggie McClain, Austin Davis and Trevor Kelley kept the Marlins off the board over the final three innings.

Didi Gregorius briefly tied the game with his first Phillies home run in the fifth, but the Phillies offense couldn't solve Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara.  In total, the offense had five hits, including a pair from Gregorius.

Featured Card:  To date, Gregorius has appeared on two Phillies baseball cards featuring him in an actual Phillies uniform - this Topps Now Road to Opening Day card and a Topps Total card.

Transaction:  As expected, Phil Gosselin (inf) had his contract selected prior to the game and Arquimedes Gamboa (inf) was designated for assignment to make room for Gosselin on the 40-man roster.

In other news, I've successfully ordered a cutout of our son Ben's stuffed friend to hopefully be included among the "fans" viewing games this season at the ballpark.  We'll be scanning the future television broadcasts in the hope of seeing him cheering the Phils.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

2020 Chachi #10 Aaron Nola

#27
Aaron Michael Nola
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  200
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  June 4, 1993, Baton Rouge, LA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 1st round of June 2014 amateur player draft
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2015-

First Phillies Card:  2014 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Draft Picks #DP4
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2014 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #49
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #27

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps 1985 Topps Baseball #85TB-34

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5):  2016-2020

163 - Nola baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/24/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2014 Chachi Almost #4 Future Stars
2015 Chachi #51
2016 Chachi #15
2016 Chachi Archives #14
2016 Chachi Photo Day #26
2016 Chachi Special Edition #6
2017 Chachi #16
2017 Chachi #64 - Team Leaders (with Cesar Hernandez)
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #20
2017 Chachi Archives #16
2017 Chachi Photo Night #24
2018 Chachi #9
2018 Chachi #45 All-Star
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #17
2019 Chachi #9
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #10
2019 Chachi Friendly Encounters #23
2020 Chachi #10

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Marlins at Phillies: July 24th to July 26th

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #7

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #3

Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  It will be relatively quiet at the ballpark this weekend, with the only fans in the stands in the form of cardboard cutouts.  Located in the Diamond Club behind home plate, cutouts of local doctors, nurses and hospital staff who have been invaluable to our community throughout the pandemic will watch the action.  The Phillies announced on Wednesday season ticket holders could purchase cutouts of themselves for $25 and non-season ticket holders will be able to purchase cutouts for $40.  All proceeds will benefit Phillies Charities.

Marlins 57-105
2019 Record
5th Place in the N.L. East, 40 games behind the Braves

Marlins Probables
2019 Statistics
Sandy Alcantara (6-14, 3.88)
Caleb Smith (10-11, 4.52)
Jose Urena (4-10, 5.21)

Marlins Spring/Summer Leaders
Average:  Jesus Sanchez - .538
Runs:  Monte Harrison - 9
Home Runs:  3 tied with - 3
RBIs:  Chad Wallach - 10
Stolen Bases:  Monte Harrison - 6

Wins:  Jordan Yamamoto - 2
ERA:  Yimi Garcia - 0.00
Strikeouts:  Caleb Smith - 10
Saves:  Dylan Lee and Alex Vesia - 2

Phillies 81-81
2019 Record
4th Place in the N.L. East, 16 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
2019 Statistics
Aaron Nola (12-7, 3.87)
Zack Wheeler (11-8, 3.96)
Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.91)

Phillies Spring/Summer Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .429
Runs:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 7
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 4
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 14
Stolen Bases:  Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  4 tied with - 2
ERA:  Jose Alvarez - 0.00

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler - 13
Saves:  6 tied with - 1

2020 Chachi #31 Joe Girardi MG

#25
Joseph Elliott Girardi
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  55
Born:  October 14, 1964, Peoria, IL
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1989-1992; Colorado Rockies 1994-1995; New York Yankees 1996-1999; Chicago Cubs 2000-2002; St. Louis Cardinals 2003
As a Coach:  New York Yankees 2005
As a Manager:  Florida Marlins 2006; New York Yankees 2008-2017; Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25*
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25

*Still looking for this card.  Girardi signed team issued photo cards at the Reading Fightin Phils' Baseballtown Winter Caravan event held on January 21, 2020.

Newest Card Added:  N/A

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16):  1990-1998, 2000-2003, 2008-2010

0 - Girardi baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/23/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi #69 - New Manager HL
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #25
2020 Chachi #31

Girardi will have to wait a little while for his first mainstream Phillies baseball card, and for now his Chachi custom cards will have to suffice.  The new Phillies manager made his Topps flagship debut in 1990 after his rookie cards had appeared in the 1989 Donruss Rookies, Fleer, Score Rookie & Traded and Upper Deck sets.

His most recent baseball card can be found in the 2020 Topps Throwback Thursday online only set in the style of the 1974 Topps set, where he's paired with Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Phillies Set Opening Day Roster (Less One)

2018 Choice Lakewood
BlueClaws #23

On Thursday afternoon, the Phillies released their 2020 Opening Day roster on their social media accounts, and most people were quick to point out the roster had only 29 names listed.  Phil Gosselin has also apparently made the team, and rightfully so, but another roster move is needed first in order to clear space for him.  There's a lot to digest here, and for the final time in 2020 here's the updated Camp Head Count.  (Until Gosselin is added, but you get the gist.)

Camp Head Count:  39 + 4 - 14 = 29.  First, Austin Davis (lhp), Tommy Hunter (rhp), Scott Kingery (2b) and Hector Neris (rhp) were reinstated from the Injured List.  Non-roster invitees Neil Walker (inf), Trevor Kelley (rhp) and Ramon Rosso (rhp) all made the team, having their contracts selected.  

By my unofficial math, and including Gosselin for now, that means the Phillies had to trim 14 from their active roster.  The following 14 players will presumably report to Lehigh Valley for the team's Taxi Squad:  Garrett Cleavinger (lhp), Edgar Garcia (rhp), Deivy Grullon (c), JoJo Romero (lhp), Nick Williams (of), along with former non-roster invitees Gosselin (inf), Mikie Mahtook (of), Nick Martini (of), Blake Parker (rhp), Damon Jones (lhp), Ronald Torreyes (inf), Connor Brogdon (rhp), Alec Bohm (inf) and Connor Seabold (rhp).

Also, Robert Stock (rhp) was designated for assignment as his spot on the 40-man roster was needed.  If Gosselin is in fact added, another spot on the 40-man roster will need to be opened up.

And finally, I noticed on the Phillies roster page on their website a few players who made the club have opted for lower uniform numbers.  Kyle Garlick (of) switched from #72 to #23, and Reggie McClain (rhp) switched from #60 to #39.

Harrison Released; Roster Takes Shape

2020 Chachi Almost #8

Camp Head Count:  44 - 5 = 39.  In a somewhat surprising move, infielder Josh Harrison requested and was granted his release yesterday.  Harrison seemed a lock for the opening day 30-man roster, so I'm assuming he either has a better shot at more playing time elsewhere or the recent white hot bat of Phil Gosselin made his chances of making the team more tenuous.  In any event, he joins the suddenly growing checklist of the 2020 Chachi Almost insert set.

Also removed from the roster on Tuesday and optioned to the Phillies Alternate Training Site or the Lehigh Valley Satellite Camp, depending on your preference, were Spencer Howard (rhp), Mauricio Llovera (rhp) and Addison Russ (rhp), along with Logan O'Hoppe (c).  Howard will most likely make his big league debut at some point this season but for now he'll train at the IronPigs' ballpark in Allentown with the rest of the Phillies' taxi squad.

Summer Camp Game 3 - Exhibition Season (Finally) Concludes

2020 Topps Now Road to
Opening Day #OD-285

Phillies 2, Yankees 2
Summer Camp Game 3 - Monday Night, July 20th in New York
Record - 15-6-2

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies finally wrapped up their 2020 exhibition play finishing with a 2-2 tie with the Yankees at an empty Yankee Stadium.

What It Means:  There was no fanfare for manager Joe Girardi's first trip back to Yankee Stadium since he left the club following the 2017 season.

What Happened:  Vince Velasquez got into some first inning trouble, but then settled down to pitch five scoreless innings.  The lone run he allowed came on a solo home run from Aaron Judge after three outs had already been recorded in the bottom of the fifth.  Velasquez struck out six.

The Phillies scored both their runs early courtesy of a J.T. Realmuto first inning double, scoring Didi Gregorius who had also doubled, and an RBI single from Roman Quinn.  Pitching the ninth, Mauricio Llovera couldn't lock down the save as he allowed a game-tying solo home run to Mike Ford.

2020 Chachi Almost #7

Featured Card:  It sure seems as if Velasquez has once again input himself into the conversation for a role in the starting pitching rotation.  He finished off the spring/summer strong and he could be in line to start one of the first few games of the 2020 season.

Camp Head Count:  45 - 1 = 44.  Reliever Anthony Swarzak asked for and was granted his release.  While my official head count stands at 44, there are five players currently on the Injured List who have appeared in recent game action - Scott Kingery (2b), Hector Neris (rhp), Austin Davis (lhp), Rafael Marchan (c) and Tommy Hunter (rhp).  If you're keeping score at home, that means the camp head count might actually be 49.  There are also a number of players who were optioned from the 40-man roster who have been active as well, so who knows?

The Phillies will get down to a roster size of 30 for Friday night's opener against the Marlins.  They'll carry 30 players until August 7th when roster sizes are trimmed to 28.  On August 21st, the final cuts will be made and all teams will carry 26 players through the end of the season.

By my tally, only David Robertson (rhp), Seranthony Dominguez (rhp) and Ranger Suarez (rhp) are officially and actually injured or not available as of yet.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Summer Camp Game 2 - 2020 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-272 Andrew McCutchen

Orioles 4, Phillies 1
Summer Camp Game 2 - Sunday Night, July 19th in Philadelphia
Record - 15-6-1

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies unceremoniously returned to an empty Citizens Bank Park and lost 4-1 to the Orioles in Summer Camp action.

What It Means:  The Phillies have one more exhibition game scheduled, tonight at Yankee Stadium, before returning to regular practices for the rest of the week.  They'll open up the abbreviated 60-game regular season on Friday night against the Marlins.

What Happened:  Zack Wheeler started for the Phillies, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing a pair of runs on four hits while striking out four.  Connor Brogdon, Jose Alvarez and Victor Arano pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.  The Phillies offense couldn't figure out Orioles starter and former Phillies prospect Thomas Eshelman.  He held the Phillies scoreless through 4 2/3 innings.

The only run scored for the Phillies came in the seventh when Andrew McCutchen singled home Mikie Mahtook.  Mahtook had reached on a double, the only extra base hit for the team.  Unofficially, the game went 10 innings as both teams agreed to prolong the contest to allow a few pitchers to get some extra work.

Featured Card:  With McCutchen at the plate in the first inning, the game was momentarily delayed when the fake crowd noise began producing high pitched feedback throughout the ballpark.  In the pre-game opening prior to the television broadcast, announcer Tom McCarthy used the word "weird" at least five times to describe the current environment.  I couldn't agree with him more.

Camp Head Count:  45

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Summer Camp Game 1 - 2020 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-271 Bryce Harper

Phillies 7, Nationals 2
Summer Camp Game 1 - Saturday Night, July 18th in Washington
Record - 15-5-1

One Sentence Summary:  In front of no fans at Nationals Park, the Phillies returned to exhibition play with a decisive 7-2 win over the Nationals.

What It Means:  This is the first live game summary post I've had the pleasure to compose since the 20th game of spring training back in mid-March.  Live baseball is back for now.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola started and looked ready for the start of the regular season.  Against a line-up of Nationals regulars, Nola pitched five strong innings allowing a hit while striking out four.  Max Scherzer started for the Nationals and got hit fairly hard in his first Summer Camp outing.  Didi Gregorius, masked up, hit a three-run home run in the first and Bryce Harper followed that up with a three-run home run of his own in the second.

Featured Card:  Harper continues to look locked in and for whatever it's worth, his 1 for 3 performance raised his spring/summer exhibition average to .474.  There have continued to be baseball card releases during the shut-down, including this card from the Topps Now Road to Opening Day set that arrive in my mail box in early May.  According to the Topps website, there were 496 of these sets produced.

Camp Head Count:  49 - 4 = 45.  The Phillies officially removed four players from their roster on Saturday afternoon.  Two of the moves were procedural with right-handed pitcher Victor Arano optioned to "Phillies Alternate Training Site," per the team's website, and catcher Henri Lartigue removed from the Player Pool.

The other two moves were somewhat surprising, as the team announced the release of veterans Francisco Liriano (lhp) and Logan Forsythe (inf).  Both seemed to have a real chance of making the 30-man opening day roster given their spring performances, but manager Joe Girardi has indicated the Phillies could go with a more youthful bullpen and bench.  Related to the Phillies' bench, the team also announced super utility man Neil Walker had made the club and a corresponding roster move will eventually be needed to add him to the 40-man roster.

2020 Chachi Almost #5

2020 Chachi Almost #6

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Catching Up: Remembering Legends, Back to the Future

Leaving 1985 in the past, here's a look at a few things going on in the present for the Phillies.

Sadly, we lost a legend on Thursday morning with the passing of all-time Phillies great Tony Taylor.  A fan favorite and a member of the Phillies family for six decades, Taylor was a 2006 Phillies Wall of Fame inductee and a mainstay at the annual Phillies alumni weekends.  He continued to engage with fans up through last year's alumni weekend, signing as many autographs as he could.  He became a favorite of my son Doug as the two of them had a lengthy conversation during the 2017 alumni weekend, in which Taylor singled out Doug to give him some impromptu life advice.

That was the weekend the Phillies honored three recently departed legends - Jim Bunning, Darren Daulton and Dallas Green - and Taylor was overly emotional when Doug asked him to sign the print featuring the three.  From that night:

Tony Taylor . . . the Phillies great singled out Doug and spent about two minutes talking to him.  He talked about the players on the print, he told Doug to follow his dreams and he told Doug to never give up.  He talked about kindness and helping others and hard work.  He wanted Doug to promise to never throw away the print and to remember everything he had told him.  Finally, he told Doug to pass on everything to his kids and to bring his kids to Phillies games when they were older.  Doug took it all in.  I took it all in.  It was a very cool moment.

Something neither of us will ever forget.  Taylor's card was the first card we purchased when we decided to start collecting the 1965 Topps set late last year.

2010 Phillies Alumni Team Issue

1995 Phillies Team Issue #9

* * *

Long-time player and coach Irish Mike Ryan passed away on July 7th.  A catcher for the Phillies between 1968 and 1973, he made his mark as a long-time and popular Phillies coach following his playing days.   Ryan was a coach for the club between 1980 and 1995, and that tenure is second only in length to his long-time friend and teammate John Vukovich.  Ryan is the only coach in franchise history to coach for the club in three World Series - 1980, 1983 and 1993.

* * *

We've enjoyed watching the intrasquad games the team has thankfully decided to broadcast over the past several nights.  The Blue Phillies (wearing white jerseys) have taken on the Red Phillies (wearing red jerseys) at Citizens Bank Park with nary a fan in the stands, coaches playing defense in the later innings and a few players donning face masks throughout the games.  Batters have batted out of order and have occasionally switched teams mid-game to get additional at-bats.  Innings have had anywhere from two to six outs per inning, and everyone seems to be having fun.  It was a little jarring at first to see the shots of the empty blue seats, but I'm grateful to be watching Phillies baseball again.  The team will play one more intrasquad game tonight and then take on the Nationals, Orioles and Yankees for three straight nights beginning on Saturday in exhibition action.

2020 Chachi Almost #4

Camp Head Count:  52 - 2 - 1 + 2 - 2 = 49.  I don't even really know any more, to be honest.  When Summer Camp opened on July 3rd, by my unofficial tally there were 52 players suited up and eligible to participate.  Since then, there have been a few more roster moves that seem to amount to nothing more than paper being pushed around.  On July 13th, the Phillies optioned right-handed pitchers Enyel De Los Santos and Robert Stock to Lehigh Valley.  Both are still in camp and both have appeared in recent intrasquad games, so their removal from the roster was procedural only.

In a move that was more than just procedural, right-handed pitcher Bud Norris was released on July 16th.  Norris has been out of baseball since 2018 but was brought to spring training back in February as a non-roster invitee.  In 4 spring training games before the pandemic, Norris pitched 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks.

Also on July 16th, left-handed pitcher Austin Davis and catcher Rafael Marchan were added to the Phillies Player Pool, only to be immediately placed on the 10-day injured list with what the team described as medical conditions.  The Phillies will open the abbreviated 2020 season on July 24th with a 30-man roster.

1985 All-Star Game - Virgil Robbed of MVP Honors

1986 Donruss All-Stars #26

1986 Donruss All-Stars #29

National League 6, American League 1
All-Star Game - Tuesday Night, July 16th in Minneapolis

One Sentence Summary:  The National League outhit the American League to win the 1985 All-Star Game, 6-1.

What It Means:  The senior circuit was at the tail-end of its dominance in 1985.  Beginning in 1986, the American League would win (or tie) 20 of the next 25 All-Star Games.  (I originally wrote about this All-Star game in a post from 2010.)


What Happened:  In his first All-Star Game appearance, catcher Ozzie Virgil was one of the stars of the game.  In the top of the fifth, Virgil singled off Bert Blyleven to score Darryl Strawberry and Tim Wallach, giving the National League a 4-1 lead.  The N.L. would go on to win, 6-1.  Virgil entered the game in the bottom of the fourth, replacing starting catcher Terry Kennedy, and he caught Nolan Ryan for three scoreless innings.  Virgil would make the squad again in 1987, this time as a member of the Braves.

Outfielder Glenn Wilson was also named to the National League team, replacing an injured Pedro Guerrero on the roster.  Wilson pinch-hit for Jeff Reardon in the top of the ninth, striking out against Willie Hernandez.  Ironically enough, Hernandez, the 1984 A.L. Cy Young and MVP, had been shipped to the Tigers by the Phillies in the deal that brought Wilson and John Wockenfuss to Philadelphia in March 1984.

From a non-Phillies perspective, LaMarr Hoyt got the win with Jack Morris on the losing side.  Hoyt's performance (3 innings, two hits, 1 unearned run) earned him the game's MVP honors, and looking back the award could have just as easily gone to Virgil or Ryan.  Every starter for the American League, with the exception of second baseman Lou Whitaker, was ultimately elected into the Hall of Fame.  Only Tony Gwynn and Ozzie Smith from the N.L. starting line-up have been elected into the Hall as of this writing.

Harmon Killebrew and Sandy Koufax were named honorary captains of each team, as both had competed at the prior All-Star Game held in Minnesota back in 1965.

Featured Cards:  Virgil and Wilson were included within the 1986 Donruss All-Stars set released almost a year after this game.  By the time I added these cards to my collection, Virgil had been traded to the Braves (in December 1985) with Pete Smith for Steve Bedrosian and Milt Thompson.


1985 Virtual Phillies Wall / 1985 Season Summary Index

Memory Lane

1985 All-Star Game - N.L. 6, A.L. 1 in Minneapolis
From 1996 - Attending the All-Star Game at The Vet
From 2009 - All-Star Game memories
2010 All-Star Game - N.L. 3, A.L. 1 in Anaheim
2011 All-Star Game - N.L. 5, A.L. 1 in Phoenix
2012 All-Star Game - N.L. 8, A.L. 0 in Kansas City
2013 All-Star Game - A.L. 3, N.L. 0 in Flushing
2014 All-Star Game - A.L. 5, N.L. 3 in Minneapolis

2015 All-Star Game - A.L. 6, N.L. 3 in Cincinnati
2016 All-Star Game - A.L. 4, N.L. 2 in San Diego
2017 All-Star Game - A.L. 2, N.L. 1 in Miami
2018 All-Star Game - A.L. 8, N.L. 6 (10) in Washington
2019 All-Star Game - A.L. 4, N.L. 3 in Cleveland
2020 All-Star Game - Cancelled, COVID-19 Pandemic