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.