2013 Topps 1972 Topps Minis #TM-33 Cliff Lee

Phillies 2, Braves 0
Game 3 - Thursday Night, April 4th in Atlanta
Record - 1-2, 4th Place, 2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Cliff Lee started his 2013 season in style, pitching eight shutout innings as the Phillies defeated the Braves, 2-0.

What It Means:  It means the Phillies won't go 0-162 and Lee doesn't have to wait until July this year for his first win.  The team returns to Philly tomorrow for their home opener against the Royals.

What Went Right:  Lee threw 106 pitches in his gem - 78 of which were strikes.  He finished the night having allowed only two hits while striking out eight.  Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth to record his first save of the season.

The offense squandered plenty of chances to score, but the two runs they manufactured in the second were enough for Lee.

Featured Card:  Last year, Topps released a 150-card insert set of mini cards using the design from its 1987 wood-grain bordered base set.  The cards were available in packs of the series one, series two and update releases.  It was a cool little insert set and I didn't mind the fact that the 1987 Topps set and mini cards really have no historical context, other than an unrelated 1987 Topps Mini League Leader set.

Topps must have gathered good feedback on the set last year because they brought it back this year using the funky 1972 Topps design.  Again, there's no reason for a 1972 Topps mini set to exist, but the cards are cool and I'll be sure to add the Phillies in the set to my collection.  Lee was the only Phillie featured in the first 50 cards of this year's set, found in packs of Topps Series One.  To the right is a handy visual comparison of the size of the 2013 mini cards and the 1972 originals.