Here We Go: New Uniform Numbers Galore

2020 Chachi Photo Cards #18

2020 Chachi Photo Cards #25

2020 Chachi Photo Cards #45

On Monday afternoon, the Phillies' roster page on their website updated with new uniform numbers for the 40-man roster, coaching staff and non-roster invitees.  With 69 players in camp, 7 officially retired numbers, 3 unofficially retired numbers, 13 members of the coaching staff and 3 numbers on hold for potentially returning players, there are only 4 numbers between 1 and 99 currently available.  Without keeping everyone in suspense, those numbers are:  93, 97, 98 and 99.  That's crazy.

Here's a look at new uniform numbers, number swaps and numbers currently on hold.

New Players (Non-Prospect Division)
There's a bunch here, so rather than go into any kind of detailed analysis, I'll list the number, the player and the person to have worn that number for the Phillies in 2019:

• #7 Josh Harrison (inf) - Maikel Franco
• #12 Neil Walker (inf) - Juan Nicasio
• #13 Logan Forsythe (inf) - Sean Rodriguez
• #16 Mikie Mahtook (of) - Cesar Hernandez
• #18 Didi Gregorius (ss) - Drew Smyly
• #23 Matt Szczur (of) - Jay Bruce (see below)
• #28 Bud Norris (rhp) - Mike Morin
• #29 Drew Storen (rhp) - Nick Vincent
• #31 Nick Martini (of) - Corey Dickerson
• #39 Anthony Swarzak (rhp) - Coach Bobby Dickerson
• #44 Christian Bethancourt (c) - Jason Vargas
• #45 Zack Wheeler (rhp) - Coach Chris Young
• #48 Francisco Liriano (lhp) - Jerad Eickhoff
• #57 Deolis Guerra (rhp) - Coach David Lundquist (see below)
• #60 Reggie McClain (rhp) - Coach Pedro Guerrero (see below)
• #61 Cristopher Sanchez (lhp) - Edubray Ramos
• #89 Robert Stock (rhp) - Never worn before

New Manager/Coaches
It looks as if the coaches mostly decided to take or were assigned numbers in the 90s, given the shortage of available numbers.  Along with new coaches Castro and Meacham, two other coaches swapped out to new numbers as listed below.

• #19 Bryan Price (pitching coach) - Manager Gabe Kapler
• #25 Joe Girardi (manager) - Jared Hughes
• #33 Joe Dillon (hitting coach) - Brad Miller
• #81 Greg Brodzinski (catching coach) - Coach Craig Driver
• #91 Juan Castro (infield coach) - Never worn before
• #92 Bobby Meacham (coaching assistant) - Never worn before

Number Swaps
Jay Bruce switches from #23 to #9, with Phil Gosselin switching from #9 to #8.  Edgar Garcia had worn #41 last season until Charlie Manuel was hired as the hitting coach, and then Garcia switched to #66.  He'll take back #41 for 2020.

• #8 Phil Gosselin (inf) - Logan Morrison
• #9 Jay Bruce (of) - Phil Gosselin
• #41 Edgar Garcia (rhp) - Coach Charlie Manuel
• #94 David Lundquist (assistant pitching coach) - Dalier Hinojosa in 2016
• #95 Pedro Guerrero (assistant hitting coach) - Player information coordinator Sam Fuld

Numbers on Hold

• #37 Odubel Herrera (of) - In minor league camp
• #65 JD Hammer (rhp) - Designated for assignment last week
• #96 Tommy Hunter (rhp) - Reportedly signed to a minor or major league deal

Other than the 4 numbers mentioned at the top (93, 97, 98 and 99) the Phillies have unofficially retired #6, #11 and #26 for Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, respectively.

Memory Lane

2012 New Numbers

2013 New Numbers
2014 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2015 New Numbers
2016 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2017 New Numbers
2018 New Numbers
2019 New Numbers - Part One, Part Two and Part Three
2020 New Numbers

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #34 Paul Hoover

#24
Paul Chester Hoover
Catcher

Paul Hoover is the rare player who appeared in parts of two different seasons with the Phillies, but still never appeared on a Phillies baseball card.  His first Phillies stint came as a September call-up in 2009, appearing in three games but with his only start coming on September 25th.  On October 4th, in the final game of the regular season, Hoover delivered a 10th inning RBI single to score John Mayberry, Jr. and deliver a 3-2 walk-off win for the Phillies.

He returned to the Phillies twice in 2010.  First, he was recalled on May 9th when back-up catcher Brian Schneider landed on the disabled list with a left Achilles strain.  Hoover appeared in six games, starting three games in a row in mid-May to spell the banged up Carlos Ruiz.  He returned to Lehigh Valley when Schneider was activated on May 24th, but he came back up in September for the second year in a row.

In total, Hoover played in parts of seven big league seasons but never appeared in more than 13 games in any of those seasons.  He had brief tenures with the Devil Rays (8 games in 2001 and 2002), Marlins (20 games in 2006, 2007 and 2008) and Phillies (12 games in 2009 and 2010).

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  210
Born:  April 14, 1976, Columbus, OH
Drafted:  Drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 23rd round of the 1997 amateur draft, June 3, 1997
Major League Teams:  Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2001-2002; Florida Marlins 2006-2008; Phillies 2009-2010

Phillies Career

12 games, .308 (8 for 26), 3 RBIs
Acquired:  January 7, 2009 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Florida Marlins organization.
Debut:  September 25, 2009 - Started behind the plate, catching Cliff Lee, and went 2 for 3 with a strikeout against the Brewers.
Final Game:  September 29, 2010 - As the starting catcher for Joe Blanton, went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts against the Nationals.
Departed:  October 28, 2010 - Granted free agency and signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox, February 1, 2011

3 Hoover Baseball Cards in My Collection
2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10
2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #9
2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #11

Complete Chachi Checklist
2009 Chachi #56
2010 Chachi #36

1999 Bowman #158

1999 Topps Traded & Rookies #T19

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH149

2009 Chachi #56

2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #11

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1999 Bowman #158
First Topps Base Card:  1999 Topps Traded & Rookies #T19
Last Mainstream Card:  2008 Topps Update & Highlights #UH149
Other Notable Cards:  2006 Topps 52 #212, 2006 Upper Deck #1077

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
Gallery - Cards 1 to 34

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #33 Steven Register

#21
Steven Craig Register
Relief Pitcher

When Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco arrived in Philadelphia on July 29th in a blockbuster trade with the Indians, John Mayberry, Jr. and Steven Register were optioned back to the IronPigs to clear two roster spots.  Register had been recalled on July 25th, appearing in that night's game for a pair of innings, and his demotion four days later ended his big league career.

Register's promotion to the Phillies was necessitated by a rash of bullpen injuries in mid-2009 that saw Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero all on the disabled list.  His two-inning Phillies career came during an eventual 14-6 blowout win over the Cardinals with Register pitching the final two frames after relieving Chan Ho Park who in turn had relieved Rodrigo Lopez.  I'm fairly certain the photo used for this Missing Links card is a photo I took of my television screen from one of those innings as photos of Register in a Phillies uniform are fairly scarce.

Prior to his short Phillies career, Register pitched in the Rockies system and appeared with them for 10 games in 2008.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  180
Born:  May 16, 1983, Columbus, GA
Drafted:  Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd round of the 2004 amateur draft, June 7, 2004
Major League Teams:  Colorado Rockies 2008; Phillies 2009

Phillies Career

1 game, 2 innings, 1 run on 3 hits, 11 batters faced
Acquired:  May 20, 2009 - Selected off waivers from the Colorado Rockies
Debut:  July 25, 2009 - Relieved Chan Ho Park in the eighth inning of a 14-5 game against the Cardinals.  Allowed one run and recorded one strikeout against former Phillie Joe Thurston.
Final Game:  July 25, 2009
Departed:  October 5, 2009 - Granted free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays' organization, January 19, 2010

0 Register Baseball Cards in My Collection

Complete Chachi Checklist
2009 Chachi #51

2003 Upper Deck Finite Stars and Stripes #USA-3

2004 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects #BDP45

2008 Bowman Signs of the Future #SOF-SR

2009 Chachi #51

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2004 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects #BDP45
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  2008 Bowman Signs of the Future #SOF-SR
Other Notable Cards:  2003 Upper Deck Finite Stars and Stripes #USA-3, 2009 Multi-Ad Colorado Springs Sky Sox #28

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
Gallery - Cards 1 to 34

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #32 Rodrigo Lopez

#31
Rodrigo Lopez
Starting Pitcher

When rookie starting pitcher Antonio Bastardo landed on the disabled list on June 30, 2009 with a left shoulder injury, the Phillies needed to reach down to the minor leagues to fill Bastardo's rotation spot.  Both Carlos Carrasco and Kyle Kendrick were in the mix for the job, but the Phillies ended up selecting the contract of veteran Rodrigo Lopez from the IronPigs.  At the time, Lopez had appeared in parts of seven seasons with the Padres, Orioles and Rockies and he had won at least 14 games three different years.  He made five starts for the Phillies in July, with the team going 4-1 in those games and Lopez turning in a respectable month.

However, the Phillies acquired Cliff Lee from the Indians on July 29th and Lopez was moved to the bullpen for a few weeks to make room for the newly acquired ace.  He was optioned back to the IronPigs on August 10th when Chad Durbin was activated from the disabled list and he wouldn't return to the club again.

2013 Chachi Almost #1

In total, Lopez compiled a lifetime record of 81-89 with a 4.82 ERA over 257 games.  He best season came in 2004 when he went 14-9 for the Orioles.  As a postscript, the Phillies signed Lopez to a minor league deal in January 2013 with an invitation to spring training.  He didn't make the team and was released in late March, ending his big league career.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  185
Born:  December 14, 1975, Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Acquired:  Purchased by the San Diego Padres from Veracruz (Mexico), March 17, 1995.
Major League Teams:  San Diego Padres 2000; Baltimore Orioles 2002-2006; Colorado Rockies 2007; Phillies 2009; Arizona Diamondbacks 2010; Chicago Cubs 2011-2012

Phillies Career

7 games (5 starts), 3-1, 5.70 ERA over 30 innings, 11 walks, 19 strikeouts
Acquired:  March 5, 2009 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves organization.
Debut:  July 3, 2009 - Started and won against the Mets, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four.
Final Game:  August 9, 2009 - In his worst outing with the Phillies, allowed six runs on three hits and three walks against the Diamondbacks in 2/3 of an inning.  He entered the game in the seventh, relieving Tyler Walker.
Departed:  September 8, 2009 - Released and signed as a free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks, December 16, 2009.

1 Lopez Baseball Card in My Collection
2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #14

Complete Chachi Checklist
2009 Chachi #43
2013 Chachi Almost #1

2000 Fleer Tradition Update #U90

2003 Topps #445

2006 Topps Heritage #352

2007 Topps #348

2009 Chachi #43

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2000 Fleer Tradition Update #U90
First Topps Base Card:  2003 Topps #445
Last Mainstream Card:  2007 Topps #348
Other Notable Cards:  1996 Idaho Falls Braves #14, 2002 Topps 206 #369, 2004 Topps #81, 2005 Topps #73, 2006 Topps #232

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
Gallery - Cards 1 to 34

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #31 Tyler Walker

#52
Tyler Lanier Walker
Relief Pitcher

Following their World Series victory in 2008, the Phillies were trying to make it back to the postseason for the third year in a row in 2009.  In mid-June, the Phillies had a modest lead in the division over the Mets, but they had recently placed both Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre on the disabled list and they were searching for some stability in their bullpen.  Sergio Escalona had already been recalled and optioned twice over the first few months of the season and when he was optioned for the third time on June 14th, Tyler Walker was recalled.  Walker had gone to spring training with the Mariners but had been released on March 29th.  Ten days later on April 9th, the Phillies signed him and sent him to the IronPigs until his services were needed in mid-June.

Walker proved to be a somewhat reliable reliever for the Phillies in the second half of 2009, and he was used on several occasions for two-inning stints.  He'd appear in 32 games for the Phillies, making his inclusion on this Missing Links list somewhat surprising.  In 35 1/3 innings, Walker had an impressive ERA of 3.06 and a 2-1 record.  In fact, his ERA had been under 3 for most of his time with the club until two late season appearances in which he didn't retire a batter but allowed four runs.  Walker didn't appear in any postseason games for the Phillies and he was released on November 10th.

I was pleasantly surprised to see him in attendance this past August at the 10-year reunion of the 2009 N.L. pennant winning team.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  260
Born:  May 15, 1976, San Francisco, CA
Drafted:  Drafted by the New York Mets in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft, June 3, 1997.
Major League Teams:  New York Mets 2002; San Francisco Giants 2004-2006; Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2006; San Francisco Giants 2007-2008; Phillies 2009; Washington Nationals 2010

Phillies Career

32 games, 2-1, 3.06 ERA over 35 1/3 innings
Acquired:  April 9, 2009 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Seattle Mariners organization.
Debut:  June 16, 2009 - Relieved Clay Condrey in the 10th inning of a game the Blue Jays would go on to win, 8-3.  Condrey departed having allowed a pair of runs and with the bases still loaded.  Walker allowed all inherited runners to score before inducing a groundout to end the inning.
Final Game:  October 3, 2009 - Pitched two scoreless innings after relieving Cole Hamels in the fourth.
Departed:  November 10, 2009 - Granted free agency and signed as a free agent by the Washington Nationals, January 25, 2010.

0 Walker Baseball Cards in My Collection

Complete Chachi Checklist
2009 Chachi #42
2010 Chachi Transactions #10
2019 Chachi Alumni Weekend #9 (with Paul Bako)

2001 Upper Deck #289

2003 Fleer Tradition #348

2006 Topps Heritage #185

2007 Upper Deck #217

2009 Chachi #42

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2001 Upper Deck #289
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  2007 Upper Deck #150
Other Notable Cards:  1998 Multi-Ad South Atlantic League Top Prospects #24, 2002 Fleer #529, 2003 Fleer Tradition #348, 2003 Topps Total #294, 2006 Topps Heritage #185

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
Gallery - Cards 1 to 34

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

After 79 Years, Larry File Gets a Phillies Baseball Card

Fellow collector Alan was kind enough to e-mail me a few weeks ago to let me know he had 1970 Grant Jackson Phillies Photocard I needed from my want list.  He graciously told me he'd send me the Jackson card along with a "small care package," including a couple of odds and ends.

In the package along with the Jackson photo card were signed photo cards of Jerry Martin, Larry Christenson and Juan Samuel and a signed Manny Trillo card from the 1981 Topps 5 x 7 set.  There were five other non-Phillies photo card autographs, shown here, of former Phillies pitchers Curt Simmons, Jack Sanford and Ron Reed.  The Reed photo is interesting to me as it appears to be the same photo used for his 1982 Topps card.  These are all welcome additions to my Phillies collection.

The final autographed photo really caught my attention, as I had never heard of Larry File and the inscription under his autograph said, "Phillie 1940."  I came up empty when Googling Larry File, but thanks to Baseball Reference and a quick review of the 1940 Phillies roster, I found a Sam File.  Sam File's full name is Samuel Lawrence File, so I had my match.

Unfortunately, I didn't learn much more about File than what's on his Baseball Reference page.  At 18 years old, he was the youngest player in the National League in 1940, making his debut on September 6th.  He appeared in seven games for the Phillies, collecting a hit in 13 at-bats (.077).  He split his 33 innings in the field between shortstop (28 innings) and third base (5 innings) committing three errors in 20 total chances.  He remained in the Phillies minor league system in 1941 (77 games), 1942 (113 games) and then again in 1946 (20 games), playing his final year of professional baseball that season at the age of 24.  His three season interruption was due to his military service with the Coast Guard during World War II.

Born in Chester, PA in 1922, File passed away in 2008 at the age of 86.

2019 Chachi Phillies Missing Links of the 1940s #1

Not surprisingly, File never appeared on any baseball cards, making him a member of a club near and dear to me - the Phillies Missing Links.  I thought I'd remedy this with the first card from the Phillies Missing Links from the 1940s insert set, something I may continue at a (much) later date.  Since he signed his name "Larry" and the Phillies Media Guide lists him as "File, Larry (Sam)," I went with Larry instead of Sam for his card.

Thanks again Alan for the great package!

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #30 Andy Tracy

#33
Andrew Michael Tracy
First Base

When the Phillies invited Andy Tracy to spring training in 2008 as a non-roster invitee, he had 12 professional seasons under his belt including stints with the Expos (2000-2001) and Rockies (2004).  He spent most of the 2008 season with the IronPigs before getting the call from the Phillies on August 23rd when Geoff Jenkins landed on the disabled list.  A week later he was back with the IronPigs when manager Charlie Manuel decided to use his roster spot for an extra bullpen arm.  When rosters expanded on September 1st, he returned to the Phillies again and in his 4 appearances that season he was used exclusively as a pinch-hitter, going 0 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.

His story followed the same script in 2009 - non-roster invitee to spring training, full season with the IronPigs, September call-up.  His sole start came on the final day of the 2009 season when he entered the playing field for the first time as the Phillies starting first baseman.  In the other 11 games in which he appeared during 2009 he was again used as a pinch-hitter, going 4 for 8 with an RBI.  Tracy returned to the IronPigs for the entire 2010 season, but he wouldn't get the call that September.  In his 3 full seasons with the IronPigs, Tracy hit .272 with 69 home runs and 261 RBIs, averaging 23 home runs and 87 RBIs per season.  His home run and RBI career totals are the franchise records for the IronPigs.

Tracy has been with the Phillies organization since 2012 serving in some capacity as a minor league manager, coach or roving instructor.  He's the team's minor league hitting/assistant field coordinator this season.

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  220
Born:  December 11, 1973, Bowling Green, OH
Drafted:  Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 16th round of the 1996 amateur draft, June 4, 1996.
Major League Teams:  Montreal Expos 2000-2001; Colorado Rockies 2004; Phillies 2008-2009
Professional Affiliations:  Montreal Expos 1996-2001; New York Mets 2002; Colorado Rockies 2003-2005; Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Japan) 2005; Baltimore Orioles 2006; New York Mets 2007; Phillies 2008-2010; Arizona Diamondbacks 2011

Phillies Career

13 games, 5 for 14 (.357), triple, 1 RBI
Acquired:  November 20, 2007 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the New York Mets organization.
Debut:  August 24, 2008 - In a game against the Dodgers that the Phillies would eventually win on a Pedro Feliz walk-off home run in the 11th, Tracy pinch-hit for Carlos Ruiz in the 9th, drawing a walk.  Kyle Kendrick then pinch-ran for Tracy.
Final Game:  October 4, 2009 - Started at first base, going 1 for 4 with a triple off the Marlins' Josh Johnson.
Departed:  November 6, 2010 - Granted free agency and signed as a minor league free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks, December 15, 2010.

5 Tracy Baseball Card in My Collection
2008 Multi-Ad Lehigh Valley IronPigs #23
2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #23
2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #19
2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #21
2012 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #30

Complete Chachi Checklist
2008 Chachi #47
2009 Chachi #57

2000 Topps Traded #T2

2008 Chachi #47

2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #23

2010 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #21

2012 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #30

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2000 Bowman #396
First Topps Base Card:  2000 Topps Traded #T2
Last Mainstream Card:  2001 Fleer Triple Crown #287
Other Notable Cards:  1996 Best Vermont Expos #28, 2000 Fleer Tradition Update #U14, 2001 Pacific #261

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
1 Kirk Bullinger
2 Chris Pritchett
3 Bryan Ward
4 Mark Holzemer
5 Turner Ward
6 P.J. Forbes
7 Matt Walbeck
8 Kelly Stinnett
9 Valerio de los Santos
10 Josh Hancock
11 Brian Powell
12 Paul Abbott
13 Todd Jones
14 A.J. Hinch
15 Ramon Martinez
16 Matt Kata
17 Aquilino Lopez
18 Adam Bernero
19 Jose Hernandez
20 Randall Simon
21 Anderson Garcia
22 Russell Branyan
23 John Ennis
24 Kane Davis
25 Pete LaForest
26 T.J. Bohn
27 R.J. Swindle
28 Mike Cervenak
29 Les Walrond
30 Andy Tracy

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #29 Les Walrond

#44
Leslie Dale Walrond
Relief Pitcher

Les Walrond had already been playing professional baseball for 10 seasons, including very brief parts of two seasons with the Royals and Cubs, when the Phillies purchased his contract from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs on August 2nd.  Reliever Rudy Seanez had landed on the disabled list and the Phillies went with the lefty Walrond to fill his spot.  He got knocked around a little in four appearances and was sent back down when Seanez returned.  Walrond was then one a slew of September call-ups for the club but he'd appear in just two more games that season.

Walrond was a 13th round draft pick of the Cardinals and his 15 year odyssey saw him spend time with the Cardinals, Royals, Marlins and Cubs before his six games with the Phillies.  He pitched for two seasons in Japan and Korea in 2009 and 2010 before coming back to the Phillies organization and appearing in 33 games for the Reading Phillies and IronPigs in 2011.

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  205
Born:  November 7, 1976, Muskogee, OK
Drafted:  Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1998 amateur draft, June 2, 1998.
Major League Teams:  Royals 2003; Cubs 2006; Phillies 2008
Professional Affiliations:  St. Louis Cardinals 1998-2003; Kansas City Royals 2003-2004; Florida Marlins 2005; Chicago Cubs 2006-2008; Phillies 2008; Yokohama Bay Stars (Japan) 2009; Doosan Bears (Korea) 2010; Phillies 2011; Lancaster Barnstormers (Independent) 2011-2012; Toronto Blue Jays 2012

Phillies Career

6 games, 10 1/3 innings, 1-1, 6.10 ERA, 13 hits, 9 walks, 12 strikeouts
Acquired:  May 3, 2008 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Chicago Cubs organization.
Debut:  August 5, 2008 - Relieved Clay Condrey in the 7th inning of a game against the Marlins.  Faced 5 batters, recording a strikeout and then allowing a walk, a wild pitch, another walk and a single to Alfredo Amezaga before he was pulled in favor of Ryan Madson.
Final Game:  September 28, 2008 - Was the winning pitcher the day after the Phillies had clinched the division, relieving Kyle Kendrick in the 5th and pitching 2 scoreless innings.
Departed:  November 4, 2008 - Selected off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.

2 Walrond Baseball Card in My Collection
2008 Multi-Ad Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24
2011 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #27

Complete Chachi Checklist
2008 Chachi #44
2009 Chachi Transactions #3

2001 Donruss Class of 2001 #127

2006 Topps 52 #28

2008 Multi-Ad Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24

2008 Chachi #44

2011 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #27

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2001 Donruss Class of 2001 #127
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  2006 Topps 52 #28
Other Notable Cards:  2002 Ultra #272, 2002 Upper Deck 40-Man #599, 2006 Upper Deck #1042

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
1 Kirk Bullinger
2 Chris Pritchett
3 Bryan Ward
4 Mark Holzemer
5 Turner Ward
6 P.J. Forbes
7 Matt Walbeck
8 Kelly Stinnett
9 Valerio de los Santos
10 Josh Hancock
11 Brian Powell
12 Paul Abbott
13 Todd Jones
14 A.J. Hinch
15 Ramon Martinez
16 Matt Kata
17 Aquilino Lopez
18 Adam Bernero
19 Jose Hernandez
20 Randall Simon
21 Anderson Garcia
22 Russell Branyan
23 John Ennis
24 Kane Davis
25 Pete LaForest
26 T.J. Bohn
27 R.J. Swindle
28 Mike Cervenak
29 Les Walrond

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #28 Mike Cervenak

#24
Michael Christopher Cervenak
Third Base

In December 2007, the Phillies signed Mike Cervenak to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.  Playing for the Orioles' Triple-A team in Norfolk in 2006, Cervenak had led the International League in hits (157), at-bats (554) and games (140).  An All-Star with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he got his first brief taste of big league action when the Phillies recalled him on July 10th, but he'd earn just one pinch-hitting appearance before being sent back down on July 20th.  A little over a week later, Pedro Feliz landed on the disabled list with a bad back and Cervenak got the call again.

He was used sparingly in August and even less in September once rosters expanded, and his sole start came the day after the Phillies had clinched the N.L. East.  He spent the entire 2009 season back in Lehigh Valley, and another call-up to the Phillies eluded him despite a .305 average.  Cut loose by the Phillies following the 2009 season, Cervenak played professionally for three more years.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Born:  August 17, 1976, Trenton, MI
Signed:  Purchased by the New York Yankees from the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League, July 17, 2000.
Major League Teams:  Phillies 2008
Professional Affiliations:  Chillicothe Paints (Independent) 1999; New York Yankees 2000-2002; San Francisco Giants 2003-2006; Kia Tigers (Korea) 2006; Baltimore Orioles 2007; Phillies 2008-2009; New York Mets 2010, Florida/Miami Marlins 2011-2012; Detroit Tigers 2013

Phillies Career

10 games, 2 for 13 (.154) with 1 RBI and 5 strikeouts
Acquired:  December 7, 2007 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles organization.
Debut:  July 11, 2008 - In an eventual 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks in 12 innings, pinch-hit for J.C. Romero in the 11th and flew out to deep left field off Connor Robertson.
Final Game:  September 28, 2008 - Started at third base and batted 6th.  Went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Departed:  November 9, 2009 - Granted free agency and signed with the New York Mets' organization November 30, 2009.

2 Cervenak Baseball Card in My Collection
2008 Multi-Ad Lehigh Valley IronPigs #5
2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #6

I'm not counting it for purposes of this exercise, but I do actually have a Cervenak Phillies "card" in my collection.  Following the team's World Series win in 2008, the hobby market was flooded with Phillies collectibles and merchandise and the Danbury Mint got in on the act.  My Dad subscribed me in the Danbury Mint's 2008 World Series Champions 22kt gold baseball card series, featuring the players and coaches from the team.

Needing to fill a 38-card checklist, there were some questionable additions to the set, including Cervenak.  The cards aren't that attractive, and the card backs are almost impossible to read, but it's a cool oddball item in my Phillies collection, made all the more meaningful since it came from my Dad.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2008 Chachi #39
2009 Chachi Almost #3

2008 Multi-Ad Lehigh Valley IronPigs #5

2008 Chachi #39

2009 Chachi Almost #3

2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #6

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  N/A
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  N/A
Other Notable Cards:  2001 Grandstand Norwich Navigators #18, 2007 Choice Norfolk Tides #10, 2010 Choice Buffalo Bisons #4

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
1 Kirk Bullinger
2 Chris Pritchett
3 Bryan Ward
4 Mark Holzemer
5 Turner Ward
6 P.J. Forbes
7 Matt Walbeck
8 Kelly Stinnett
9 Valerio de los Santos
10 Josh Hancock
11 Brian Powell
12 Paul Abbott
13 Todd Jones
14 A.J. Hinch
15 Ramon Martinez
16 Matt Kata
17 Aquilino Lopez
18 Adam Bernero
19 Jose Hernandez
20 Randall Simon
21 Anderson Garcia
22 Russell Branyan
23 John Ennis
24 Kane Davis
25 Pete LaForest
26 T.J. Bohn
27 R.J. Swindle
28 Mike Cervenak

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.