1992 Medford Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards:  46
Card Size:  4 1/8" x 6"

Description:  For the fourth year in a row, the card fronts feature a photo with the player's, coach's or manager's name in a red band with white text.  The card backs feature biographical information along with complete career statistics.  Medford Food Company sponsored the set for the second year in a row. 

In the spring of 1992, the new Phillies uniform were kept top secret and they didn't make their public debut until opening day.  The cards in this set feature portraits of all players, coaches and the manager in their new uniforms, and (in my opinion) this is one of the nicer team-issued photo card sets released by the Phillies.

How Distributed:  The original 36-card base set was available for sale at Veterans Stadium throughout the 1992 season.  The ten card update set was available for sale at some point beginning in late June or early July.  Pat Combs is the "newest" Phillie in the update set, having joined the team on June 18th.

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with uniform number and position from the front of cards): 

1. Kyle Abbott (#47 - LHP) 2. Ruben Amaro (#33 - OF) 3. Andy Ashby (#40 - RHP) 4. Wally Backman (#6 - INF) 5. Kim Batiste (#5 - INF) 6. Larry Bowa (#2 - CO) 7. Cliff Brantley (#51 - LHP) 8. Wes Chamberlain (#44 - OF)            9. Danny Cox (#34 - RHP) 10. Darren Daulton (#10 - C) 11. Mariano Duncan (#7 - INF) 12. Lenny Dykstra (#4 - OF)

13. Jim Fregosi (#11 - MG) 14. Tommy Greene (#49 - RHP) 15. Dave Hollins (#15 - INF) 16. Barry Jones (#50 - RHP) 17. John Kruk (#29 - INF) 18. Steve Lake (#30 - C) 19. Jim Lindeman (#19 - OF) 20. Denis Menke (#14 - CO) 21. Mickey Morandini (#12 - INF) 22. Terry Mulholland (Close up photo - #45 - LHP)     23. Dale Murphy (#3 - OF) 24. Johnny Podres (#46 - CO)

25. Wally Ritchie (#39 - LHP) 26. Mel Roberts (#26 - CO) 27. Mike Ryan (#25 - CO) 28. Curt Schilling (#38 - RHP)        29. Steve Searcy (#24 - LHP) 30. Dale Sveum (#8 - INF) 31. John Vukovich (#18 - CO) 32. Mitch Williams (#28 - LHP)     33. Phillie Phanatic 34. Phillies Team 35. Veterans Stadium 36. Uniforms Through the Years

Complete Update Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with uniform number and position from the front of cards):

1. Bob Ayrault (#55 - RHP) 2. Brad Brink (#23 - RHP) 3. Pat Combs (#21 - LHP)        4. Jeff Grotewold (#48 - C)

5. Mike Hartley (#42 - RHP) 6. Ricky Jordan (#17 - INF/OF)        7. Tom Marsh (#9 - OF)

8. Terry Mulholland (Shoulders visible - #45 - LHP) 9. Ben Rivera (#34 - RHP) 10. Don Robinson (#35 - RHP)

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1):  Robinson

First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (13):  Abbott, Amaro, Ayrault, Batiste, Brantley, Duncan, Grotewold, Hartley, Jones, Marsh, Rivera, Schilling, Sveum
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (21):  Ashby, Backman, Brink, Chamberlain, Combs, Cox, Daulton, Dykstra, Greene, Hollins, Jordan, Kruk, Lake, Lindeman, Morandini, Mulholland (two versions), Murphy, Ritchie, Searcy, Williams

Don Robinson's eight game stint with the Phillies to wrap up his 15-year career is commemorated with his sole Phillies baseball card in the update set.

Managers (1):  Fregosi
Coaches (6):  Bowa, Menke, Podres, Roberts, Ryan, Vukovich

Phillie Phanatic (1):  Like everyone else in the set, the Phanatic is posed in a studio setting, wearing his new uniform.

Broadcasters (0)
Commemorative Cards (1):  Uniforms Through the Years
Other Cards (2):  Phillies Team, Veterans Stadium

The Uniform Through the Years card is perhaps one of the coolest cards ever produced by the Phillies for its team-issued photo card sets.  It was originally given out on Opening Day as a poster.  Veterans Stadium gets its first card since the 1984 Tastykake Phillies set.

Set Composition:  The 25 players in the base set represent the entire opening day roster, which is a fairly impressive feat.  The nine new players in the update set feature players who made their season debut with the team between mid-April (Grotewold) and mid-June (Combs).  For some reason, Mulholland receives another card in the update set, with a different posed photo than the original base set.  

Omissions:  Those who could have had cards in the update set but were omitted are Julio Peguero, Darrin Chapin and Steve Scarsone.  Peguero was called up on the second day of the season after Dykstra suffered a broken hand on opening day.  Chapin was on the active roster for six games in late April/early May, and Scarsone was on the active roster for 18 games in May into early June.

Variations/Rarities:  In the original post for this set, fellow collectors Rick and Steve helped me piece together a checklist of photo cards available at the annual ALS Autograph Party.  The checklist below features four players who were on the active roster, but had not appeared on officially released photo cards by the time of the annual fund raising event, held on August 10th.  Mike Williams received a card, and must have been at the event, although the team's transaction log shows him being optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 29th.  Only Greg Mathews was omitted here, which is odd, as the pitcher had been recalled from Triple-A on July 17th and stayed with the team for the remainder of the season.

Along with these five "update" cards for recently added players, 12 more cards were produced for either returning Phillies alumni or other, non-alumni former players.

ALS Autograph Party 1. Dick Allen 2. Jay Baller (#56 - RHP)           3. Steve Bedrosian 4. Dave Cash 5. Joe Coleman, Jr.

6. Joe Coleman, Sr. 7. Stan Javier (#22 - OF) 8. Sparky Lyle       9. Garry Maddox 10. Tug McGraw 11. Joe Millette (#27 - INF)

12. Dickie Noles 13. Todd Pratt (#23 - C) 14. Bobby Shantz 15. Joe Torre 16. Elmer Valo 17. Mike Williams (#41 - RHP)

Also See:  Scrapbook Sunday: April 7, 1992; Uniforms Through the Years

Resources:  Beckett.com; Phillies collectors Rick (@rickphils) and Steve F.

This set was originally featured in a post back in November 2014, and I'm going through these older team-issued set posts to update them with new information learned (if any) over the past six years.

1991 Medford Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards / 1993 Medford Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

1980-1999 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page

Just One Card - 1990s Phillies Edition (Part One - 1990 to 1995)

Having wrapped up my Phillies Missing Links custom card sets from the 1980s and 1990s, I wanted to look back at those players who just barely missed inclusion.  These are the players who have been featured on one and only one Phillies baseball card.

There were 23 Phillies players from the 1990s with no Phillies baseball card appearances, and there were 26 Phillies players from the decade with only one Phillies baseball card appearance.  Here's part one of the list, with part two to follow in a separate post.

1989 Tastykake Phillies #19

1992 Medford Phillies Update #35

1994 Phillies Team Issue Update #50

1992 Donruss Rookies #108

1992 Fleer Ultra #547

1993 Bowman #272

1993 Fleer #495

1994 Topps #328

1990
Tom Nieto - 1989 Tastykake Phillies #19

1992
Greg Mathews - 1993 Fleer #495
Julio Peguero - 1992 Fleer Ultra #547
Don Robinson - 1992 Medford Phillies Update #35
Steve Scarsone - 1992 Donruss Rookies #108

1993
Paul Fletcher - 1993 Bowman #272
Donn Pall - 1994 Topps #328

1994
Andy Carter - 1994 Phillies Team Issue Update #50

1995
Kevin Flora - 1996 Score #238
Steve Frey - 1996 Phillies Team Issue #37
Ryan Karp - 1994 Bowman #552
Gary Varsho - 1995 Phillies Team Issue #5

1995 Phillies Team Issue #5

1994 Bowman #552

1996 Score #238

1996 Phillies Team Issue #37

Series Preview - Phillies at Pirates: May 19th to May 21st

Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:35
PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA

Phillies 14-24, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 10 games behind the Nationals
Pirates 18-23, 5th Place in the N.L. Central, 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers

Phillies Probables:  Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.71), Vince Velasquez (2-3, 5.63), Aaron Nola (2-0, 4.50)
Pirates Probables:  Trevor Williams (2-2, 6.41), Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.48), Chad Kuhl (1-4, 6.69)

At the Ballpark:  The Pirates are throwing out some fairly strong promotions for this weekend series.  There will be fireworks after the game tonight and on Sunday all kids will receive a Pirates baseball glove.

On Saturday afternoon, the first 20,000 fans will receive what's being called a "Bob Walk Chair-Tip Bobblechair."  My assumption is that this is the typical broadcasting positioning of former Phillies pitcher and current Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk.  Very cool item.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .299
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 30
Home Runs:  Aaron Altherr - 8
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 28
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 3.71
Strikeouts:  Jerad Eickhoff - 43
Saves:  Hector Neris - 4

Pirates Leaders
Average:  Josh Harrison - .286
Runs:  Andrew McCutchen - 19
Home Runs:  Josh Bell - 9
RBIs:  Andrew McCutchen - 19
Stolen Bases:  Gregory Polanco - 6

Wins:  Ivan Nova - 3
ERA:  Ivan Nova - 2.48
Strikeouts:  Gerrit Cole - 50
Saves:  Tony Watson - 8

1982 Topps #235

1982 Topps #332

1982 Topps #458

1982 Topps #485

1982 Topps Appreciation:  If you had told me in 1982 that Mike Easler, Don Robinson and Kent Tekulve, all major stars for the Pirates in my mind, would be playing for the Phillies in the coming decade I would have been ecstatic.  Tekulve had a successful run with the Phillies as one of their most reliable relief pitchers in the late 1980s.  Easler and Robinson had less successful, and much shorter, stints with the Phillies.

Willie Montanez, the Phillies' regular center fielder in 1971 and 1972 and their starting first baseman in 1974, came back to the organization on August 10, 1982, having been released by the Pirates. Montanez appeared in the final 18 games of his 14-year career with the Phillies, hitting just .063 (1 for 16) primarily as a late-inning defensive replacement for Pete Rose at first base.

Giants at Phillies: July 21st to July 24th

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05, Thursday 1:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Giants 54-44, Tied for 1st Place in the N.L. West, 11 games ahead of the Padres
Phillies 43-55, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 11 games behind the Braves and Nationals

Giants Probables:  Ryan Vogelsong (5-7, 3.86), Matt Cain (2-7, 4.18), Madison Bumgarner (11-7, 3.38), Tim Hudson (8-6, 2.78)
Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (4-4, 3.18), Roberto Hernandez (4-8, 4.22), A.J. Burnett (6-9, 4.08), Cole Hamels (4-5, 2.83)

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is Italian Heritage night at the ballpark and kids get to run the bases following Thursday afternoon's game.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Ben Revere - .293

Runs:  Chase Utley - 52

Home Runs:  Marlon Byrd - 19

RBIs:  Ryan Howard - 58

Stolen Bases:  Ben Revere - 26

Wins:  A.J. Burnett - 6

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 2.83

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 115

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 23

1988 Topps #52 and #494

1988 Topps Appreciation:  If you're trying to figure out the connection between Don Robinson and Wally Ritchie, I'd be extremely impressed if you realized that both pitchers were teammates on the 1992 Phillies squad.  There's that and I needed somewhere to feature Ritchie's card since we're now more than half way through the season and I'm running out of series preview posts quickly.

Robinson ended his 15-year career pitching eight forgettable game with the 1992 Phillies.  He went 1-4 with a 6.18 ERA before earning his release in mid-July.  For Phillies fans, Robinson is probably best remembered as the pitcher who allowed Mike Schmidt's memorable 500th career home run back on April 18, 1987.

Ritchie spent parts of four seasons with the Phillies, first appearing with the club in 1987.  He'd appear in just 19 games with the 1988 club before being exiled to Triple-A for the entire 1989 and 1990 seasons.  He was one of the team's more reliable relievers in 1991 and 1992, appearing in 79 games and pitching to a 2.72 ERA.  The Phillies and Ritchie parted ways following the 1992 season and he bounced around with the Tigers and Reds organizations as well as a few independent league teams before hanging up his spikes in 1998.

Pirates at Phillies: June 25th to June 28th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05, Thursday 1:05

At the Ballpark:  Monday and Tuesday nights are fireworks nights at the ballpark.  I've only ever attended one Phillies fireworks show, and it was absolutely spectacular.

1979 Topps Flashback:  This is the final meeting of 2012 between these two teams, so I'm featuring the final three Pirates cards from the 1979 Topps featuring players with Phillies connections.

Bill Robinson spent three season (1972-1974) patrolling the Phillies outfield before being traded to Pittsburgh and helping the 1979 Pirates win their fifth and most recent World Championship.  Robinson's eight years with the Pirates were by far the most successful of his 16-year career.  In June 1982, Robinson was shipped back to the Phillies where he finished out his career as a spare outfielder and right-handed bat off the bench.  The Phils released him in June 1983.

1979 Topps #637, #117 and #264

Grant Jackson began his 18-year career with six seasons with the Phillies.  Initially a relief pitcher, Jackson developed into a semi-reliable starting pitcher for the Phils in the late 1960s.  Between 1965 and 1970, he went 23-43 with a 3.99 ERA.  Jackson was traded to the Orioles following the 1970 season in the deal that brought Roger Freed to Philly.  Not counting his 1 game appearance in 1982, Jackson spent five full seasons with the Pirates between 1977 and 1981.  He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles in the 1979 World Series.

Don Robinson is perhaps best remembered by Phillies fans as the pitcher who surrendered Mike Schmidt's 500th career home run on April 18, 1987.  Robinson faced off against the Phillies quite a bit during his nine-plus seasons with the Pirates (1978-1987) and his four and a half seasons with the Giants (1987-1991).  The Phillies picked up Robinson during their awful 1992 season.  He compiled a 1-4 record and a 6.18 ERA in eight starts before the Phillies released him, ending his Major League career.

1992 Phillies - The True Missing Links

1992 Donruss Rookies #108, 1993 Donruss #332, #356 and 1993 Fleer #495

A few comments from 14,000 Phillies on my 1992 Topps Phillies post made me curious enough to check in on the Phillies cards available for each of the 48 players who appeared in a game with the 1992 Phillies.  Amazingly enough, according to my very scientific calcualtions, only two members of the 1992 Phillies sqaud never appeared on an actual Phillies baseball card.

I actually find this to be fairly stunning.  In today's day and age, there are a number of relievers, utility players and minor league fill-ins who get completely shut out from having a baseball card in any one of the dozen or so mainstream sets produced.  In recent years, if not for the Phillies team-issued postcard sets, these players would never appear on a Phillies baseball card at all.

So while I'd argue there were too many sets and too many cards to collect in the early '90s, at least the card manufacturers afforded us the opportunity to own Phillies cards of Greg Mathews, Julio Peguero and Jay Baller.  And that's a good thing.  (Right?)

1992 Medford Phillies
Update #35

3 Cards or More
40 Players

2 Cards
Keith Shepherd (12 games) - 1993 Donruss #332 and 1993 Fleer #109

1 Card
Greg Mathews (14 games) - 1993 Fleer #495
Julio Peguero (14 games) - 1992 Ultra #547
Don Robinson (10 games) - 1992 Medford Phillies Update #35
Jay Baller (8 games) - 1993 Donruss #356
Steve Scarsone (7 games) - 1992 Donruss Rookies #108

0 Cards
Darrin Chapin (1 game)
Mickey Weston (1 game)

Chapin was the player the Phillies acquired from the Yankees in exchange for Charlie Hayes prior to the start of the '92 season.  He spent the majority of the season with the team's Triple-A affiliate, but he made it into one game for the Phils on April 27th.  I have three cards of Chapin with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, but he never received a proper Phillies baseball card.

Weston signed with the Phillies as a minor league free agent in December 1991.  He was a teammate with Chapin in Scranton for much of the 1992 season, but he found himself with the big club for one game in June making a spot start against the Expos.  He didn't make it out of the fourth inning after allowing five runs, and his Phillies career was over.  I have a couple of cards of Weston with the Red Barons, but again, no Phillies cards.

1992 Donruss #745, 1992 SkyBox AAA #219,
1992 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Team Issue #24 and 1992 ProCards #2447