Phillies at Twins - July 22nd to July 24th

1984 Topps Traded #22T

2019 Topps 1984 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary Rookies #84R-JC

Monday and Tuesday 7:40, Wednesday 1:10
Target Field - Minneapolis, MN

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is St. Paul Saints night at the ballpark, with holders of a special theme ticket receiving a co-branded Saints/Twins jersey.  On Tuesday, on your way out of the ballpark, all fans will receive a Twins LED nightlight.

Philadelphia Phillies 63-36
1st Place in the N.L. East, 8 1/2 games ahead of the Braves

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (10-4, 2.76)
Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.70)
Aaron Nola (11-4, 3.54)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .297
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 66
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 22
RBIs:  Alec Bohm - 71
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 22

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 11
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.70
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 126
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

Minnesota Twins 54-44
Tied for 2nd Place in the A.L. Central, 5 games behind the Guardians

Twins Probables
Bailey Ober (8-5, 4.14)
Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1, 3.51)
TBD

Twins Leaders
Average:  Carlos Correa - .308
Runs:  Willi Castro - 56
Home Runs:  Ryan Jeffers and Carlos Santana - 14
RBIs:  Carlos Correa and Ryan Jeffers - 47
Stolen Bases:  Willi Castro - 10

Wins:  Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober - 8
ERA:  Joe Ryan - 3.65

Strikeouts:  Joe Ryan - 130
Saves:  Jhoan Duran - 15

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

1985 Game 22 - 1985 Donruss #503 Luis Aguayo

Phillies 7, Astros 5 (13 Innings)
Game 22 - Saturday Night, May 4th in Philadelphia
Record - 10-12, Tied for 4th Place, 4 1/2 games behind the Cubs and Expos

One Sentence Summary:  Luis Aguayo, an unlikely hero, had a four-hit game and hit a two-run home run in the 13th to give the Phillies a 7-5 walk-off win.

What It Means:  This was the high-water mark for the 1985 Phillies.  They would get to within two games of .500 just one more time in the season, at the beginning of September, but by then they were 18 games out of first place.  On this night, featuring a dramatic win, the Phillies still had hope.

What Happened:  John Denny pitched into the ninth inning for the Phillies, allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits while striking out six.  Manager John Felske probably should have lifted Denny after eight innings - see below.  Dave Rucker made his Phillies debut pitching a perfect 12th and 13th innings, and earning the win.

Ozzie Virgil continued to swing a hot bat, hitting a three-run home run in the fourth that put the Phillies ahead 4-2.  Aguayo's first home run of the game in the sixth made it 5-2.  That was the score when Denny allowed a ninth inning, three-run home run to pinch-hitter Harry Spilman to tie the game up.  A costly Juan Samuel error at the start of the inning prolonged the game and led to Spilman's big hit.

Aguayo's walk-off blast came off Astros reliever Bill Dawley with one out and Virgil on first base.

Featured Card:  Aguayo was starting at third base to give the struggling Mike Schmidt a night off, and his big night led to a second start at third the following night.  Through the first 21 games of the season, Schmidt was hitting only .211.  He did get into this game in the ninth, delivering a pinch-hit single but then promptly getting lifted for pinch-runner Kiko Garcia.

This was to be the only four-hit game of Aguayo's career.

Transaction:  Prior to the game, Jerry Koosman landed on the disabled list with an inflamed left knee and Rucker was recalled from Portland.  Rucker had been acquired on April 6th, right before the start of the season, from the Cardinals for reliever Bill Campbell and shortstop Ivan DeJesus.  DeJesus had lost his starting shortstop job to Steve Jeltz and was expendable.

1985 Donruss #260

1985 Donruss #204

1985 Donruss #163

Series Preview - Phillies at Red Sox: June 12th to June 13th

Monday and Tuesday 7:10
Fenway Park - Boston, MA

Phillies 21-40, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 16 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Red Sox 34-28, 2nd Place in the A.L. East, 4 games behind the Yankees

Phillies Probables:  Jerad Eickhoff (0-7, 5.15), Ben Lively (1-1, 2.57)
Red Sox Probables:  Rick Porcello (3-8, 4.46), David Price (1-1, 5.29)

At the Ballpark:  The Red Sox have a really cool promotion called Autograph Alley that features a former Red Sox player signing autographs at Yawkey Way an hour before first pitch.  Tonight, Skip Lockwood will be signing and Lenny DiNardo will be signing Tuesday night.  The first 12,000 fans through the turnstiles tonight will also receive a Chris Sale bobblehead.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Aaron Altherr - .289
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 40
Home Runs:  Tommy Joseph - 10
RBIs:  Aaron Altherr - 32
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 5
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.50
Strikeouts:  Jerad Eickhoff - 57
Saves:  Hector Neris - 5

Red Sox Leaders
Average:  Xander Bogaerts - .325
Runs:  Xander Bogaerts - 40
Home Runs:  Mookie Betts - 9
RBIs:  Mitch Moreland - 35
Stolen Bases:  Mookie Betts - 10

Wins:  Chris Sale - 8
ERA:  Chris Sale - 2.97
Strikeouts:  Chris Sale - 126
Saves:  Craig Kimbrel - 18

1982 Topps #255

1982 Topps #619

1982 Topps Appreciation:  These are the only two players featured within a 1982 Topps Red Sox team set with connections to the Phillies.

Perez joined the Phillies in 1983 as part of the Wheeze Kids that would capture the N.L. pennant.  He spent three seasons in Boston hitting .266 in 304 games.  Those three years were the only time the Hall of Famer spent in the American League during his 23-year career.

Before Bill Campbell joined the Phillies bullpen for 57 games in 1984, he was an All-Star for the Red Sox.  As one of Boston's most reliable relievers between 1977 and 1981, Campbell recorded 51 saves while appearing in 192 games.

Red Sox at Phillies: April 6th to April 9th

Monday 3:05, Wednesday and Thursday 7:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

2014 Season
Red Sox 71-91, 5th Place in the A.L. East, 25 games behind the Orioles
Phillies 73-89, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 23 games behind the Nationals

2014 Statistics
Red Sox Probables:  Clay Buchholz (8-11, 5.34), Porcello (15-13, 3.43), Justin Masterson (7-9, 5.88)
Phillies Probables:  Cole Hamels (9-9, 2.46), Aaron Harang (12-12, 3.57), David Buchanan (6-8, 3.75)

At the Ballpark:  It's opening day today!  All fans will receive a 2015 schedule & car magnet.  Wednesday is opening night with all fans 15 and over receiving a McDonald's opening night t-shirt.  On Thursday night, the first 500 fans to purchase a ticket specifically for the 1915 Phillies - 100th Anniversary Salute night will receive a special 1915 National League Champions Pennant.  The Phillies will also wear special 1915 throwback hats.

Phillies Spring Training Leaders

Average:  Odubel Herrera - .343

Runs:  Odubel Herrera - 12

Home Runs:  Chase Utley - 4

RBIs:  Cody Asche and Chase Utley - 11

Stolen Bases:  Odubel Herrera - 7

Wins:  David Buchanan - 3

ERA:  David Buchanan - 1.29

Strikeouts:  Andy Oliver - 22

Saves:  Luis Garcia - 4

1985 Topps #686

1985 Topps #209

1985 Topps Appreciation:  I'll be looking back at Phillies-related cards from the 1985 Topps set throughout the season in these game summary posts.  First up are two players that didn't spend much time at all with the Phillies.

Mike Easler spent two seasons in Boston in 1984 and 1985 as the team's primary designated hitter.  He came to the Phillies in December 1986 in the deal that sent Charles Hudson to the Bronx.  Almost exactly six months later, Easler was shipped back to the Yankees where he'd finish up the year and his career.

The best years of Bill Campbell's career were spent in Boston between 1977 and 1981.  An All-Star in 1977, Campbell was the American League's leading fireman with 31 saves.  He spent the 1984 season with the Phillies (6-5, 3.43 ERA) and was traded to the Cardinals in April 1985.  He'd go on to appear in three games in the 1985 World Series with the Cardinals.  I took a look a Campbell's 1979 Topps card three years ago in this series preview post.

Red Sox at Phillies: May 18th to May 20th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Friday 7:05, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:35

Red Sox 18-20, 5th Place in the A.L. East, 6 1/2 games behind the Orioles
Phillies 20-19, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 4 games behind the Braves

Red Sox Probables:  Daniel Bard (3-4, 4.30), Jon Lester (2-3, 3.71), Josh Beckett (3-4, 4.97)
Phillies Probables:  Cole Hamels (5-1, 2.28), Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96), Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.95)

At the Ballpark:  Pat Burrell will return to Philadelphia, sign a one-day contract and ceremoniously retire on Saturday.  He'll throw out the first pitch before Saturday night's game.  On Sunday, all kids receive a W.B. Mason collectible Phillies truck.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .363

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 24

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 9 

RBIs:  Hunter Pence and Carlos Ruiz - 27

Stolen Bases:  Shane Victorino - 12

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 5

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 2.28

Strikeouts:  Roy Halladay - 50

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 11

1979 Topps #375 and #446

1979 Topps Flashback:  Both the Sox and the Phillies of the mid to late 1970s fielded some very good teams, but they always seemed to finish just one step behind another hot team in their respective leagues.  

Bill Campbell spent five season in Boston between 1977 and 1981.  During that time, he compiled a very respectable record of 28-19 with a 3.57 ERA and 51 saves.  He led the American League in saves in 1977 with 31.  Campbell came to the Phillies in March 1984 in a deal that to this day is still painful for me.  The Phils traded away my favorite player, Bob Dernier, along with Porfi Altamirano and Gary Matthews to the Cubs for Campbell and Mike Diaz.  Campbell was with the Phillies for only the 1984 season, going 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 57 games.

Jim Lonborg enjoyed a 15-year career, pitching the first seven seasons in Boston (1965-1971) and his last seven seasons in Philly (1973-1979).  In between, he had a brief one-year interlude (1972) in Milwaukee. Lonborg started three games of the 1967 World Series for the Sox, in a series they would eventually lose to Steve Carlton and the Cardinals.  Another big '70s trade brought Lonborg to the Phils following the 1972 season.  The Brewers shipped Lonborg, Ken Brett, Ken Sanders and Earl Stephenson to the Phillies for Billy Champion, Don Money and John Vukovich.

Lonborg anchored the team's pitching staff for seven seasons, winning 17 games in 1974 and 18 games in 1976.  The Phillies released him n June 1979 after he had put together a record of 75-60 in maroon pinstripes.  He first appeared in the 1965 Topps set, and the card featured here was his last baseball card issued during his active playing career.