Phillies at Mets: July 3rd to July 5th

Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Tuesday 7:10, Wednesday 1:10, Thursday 7:10

Phillies 36-45, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 11 games behind the Nationals
Mets 43-37, 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 3 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92), Cliff Lee (0-5, 4.13), Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.08)
Mets Probables:  Jonathon Niese (6-3, 3.55), Chris Young (2-1, 3.30), R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15)

At the Ballpark:  It's fireworks night tonight at Citi Field!  Happy Independence Day!

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .356

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 56

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 16

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 48

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre and Shane Victorino - 19

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 10

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.08

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 111

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 18

1979 Burger King Phillies #12 and
1979 Topps #621

1979 Topps Flashback:  This season is starting to make me a little wacky.  Today's featured players have nothing in common except they are both sporting fantastic examples of late-'70s-style, free-flowing, stone cold groovy beards on their 1979 cards.

Doug Bird appeared in 32 games (all but one in relief) for the 1979 Phillies after being acquired from the Royals for Todd Cruz.  He had been part of a steady Kansas City bullpen that advanced to the A.L.C.S. three years in a row (1976-1978) only to be defeated by the Yankees each time.  The Phils released him at the outset of the 1980 season, and he spent the next four seasons with the Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox before calling it a career.

Pat Zachry wrapped up his 10-year career by appearing in 10 games with the 1985 Phillies.  Acquired in spring training 1985 from the Dodgers for Al Oliver, Zachry put up a respectable 4.26 ERA with the Phils before getting released in June.  Zachry won the N.L. Rookie of the Year Award in 1976 after going 14-7 with a 2.74 ERA for the Big Red Machine.