Mets at Phillies: April 13th to April 15th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:35

Mets 4-2, 2nd Place in N.L. East, 1/2 game behind the Nationals
Phillies 3-3, 3rd Place in N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Mets Probables:  R.A. Dickey (1-0, 3.00), Jon Niese (1-0, 4.50), Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 4.76)
Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (0-0, 1.50), Vance Worley (0-0, 1.50), Cole Hamels (0-1, 5.06)

At the Ballpark:  Saturday is Kids Opening Day and all fans 14 and under will receive a Charlie Manuel Commemorative Baseball.  Sunday is the annual Jackie Robinson Day and all fans receive a schedule magnet.



Phillies Leaders

Average:  Hunter Pence - .391

Runs:  Shane Victorino - 5

Home Runs:  Four tied with - 1

RBIs:  Freddy Galvis and Hunter Pence - 4

Stolen Bases:  Shane Victorino - 4

Wins:  Roy Halladay - 2

ERA:  Roy Halladay - 0.60

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 9

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 2

1979 Topps #566 and 1979 Burger King Phillies #11

1979 Topps Flashback:  As mentioned in the Pirates series preview post, pitcher Nino Espinosa was acquired from the Mets at the end of Spring Training 1979 for first baseman Richie Hebner.  Presented here are both of Espinosa's 1979 Topps cards from 1979 - the original version from the nationally available flagship set and the "updated" version from the regionally available Phillies Burger King set.

With the exception of one lone inning pitched with the Blue Jays in 1981, Espinosa spent his entire eight-year career with the Mets and Phillies.  1979 was probably his best season, as the righty went 14-12 with a 3.65 ERA in 33 games.  Injuries slowed him down in 1980 and 1981, as he pitched in just 26 games with the Phils during those seasons, and he was left off the team's 1980 Postseason roster.  After attempting to make a comeback with the Blue Jays in 1981 and the Pirates in 1983, Espinosa retired from baseball at the age of 29 and returned to the Dominican Republic.  Sadly, he passed away in 1987 at the age of 34 of a heart attack.

I have five Phillies baseball cards for Espinosa in my collection - his 1979 and 1980 Burger King Phillies cards, his 1980 and 1981 Topps cards, and his 1981 Fleer card.  He also appeared in the team's 1979 and 1980 postcards sets.