1989 Tastykake Phillies

I updated this post here in June 2023 and this original post is now outdated.

Number of Cards:  46
Card Size:  4 1/8" x 6"
Description:  The Phillies came up with this card design . . . and then took the next six years off.  The 1989 to 1995 team issued sets are all identical in design, containing 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.  This set is notable as it's the last set (to date) to be sponsored by Tastykake.

How Distributed:  A 32-card set was given away to all fans on May 13, 1989 at Veterans Stadium and a 37-card set was available for sale at the ballpark throughout the season.  Both sets contain identical photos, but the 32-card giveaway set cards feature a darker tint and are not as vibrant as their 37-card counterparts.  The 32-card sets can be found in uncut sheets and thanks to fellow collector Rick, I recently added these cards to my collection via an eBay auction.  As (I believe) the 37-card set is more prevalent, I've listed the stadium giveaway 32-card set (and its variations) under the Variations/Rarities section below.

Given the ton of roster moves made by the club in the first half of the season, a nine-card update set was issued and available for purchase at souvenir stands throughout the Vet.  This was the second year in a row that a nine-card update set was released.

Complete Standard Checklist (37):  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.

Header/Sponsor Card 2 - Larry Bowa CO 3 - Darold Knowles CO 4 - Denis Menke CO 5 - Mike Ryan CO 6 - Dwayne Murphy 7 - John Vukovich CO 8 - Juan Samuel 9 - Von Hayes 10 - Darren Daulton 12 - Tony Taylor CO 15 - Floyd Youmans 16 - Nick Leyva MG 17 - Ricky Jordan 19 - Tom Nieto 20 - Mike Schmidt 21 - Dickie Thon 22 - Bob Dernier 24 - Curt Ford

25 - Steve Lake 26 - Chris James 26 - Ron Jones 27 - Randy O'Neal 28 - Tom Herr 30 - Steve Jeltz 31 - Mark Ryal 33 - Greg Harris 34 - Alex Madrid 40 - Steve Bedrosian 41 - Steve Ontiveros 42 - Don Carman 43 - Ken Howell 44 - Mike Maddux 46 - Larry McWilliams 47 - Bruce Ruffin 49 - Jeff Parrett 52 - Todd Frohwirth

Complete Update Checklist (9):

4 - Lenny Dykstra 8 - Charlie Hayes 11 - John Kruk 13 - Roger McDowell 18 - Jim Adduci

23 - Randy Ready 35 - Eric Bullock 39 - Dennis Cook 45 - Terry Mulholland

One and Done (5): Adduci, Bullock, Nieto, O'Neal, Ryal
First Appearances (18):  Cook, Dykstra, Ford, C. Hayes, Herr, Howell, Kruk, Lake, Madrid, McDowell, McWilliams, Mulholland, Murphy, Ontiveros, Parrett, Ready, Thon, Youmans
Returning Players (15):  Bedrosian, Carman, Daulton, Dernier, Frohwirth, Harris, V. Hayes, James, Jeltz, Jones, Jordan, Maddux, Ruffin, Samuel, Schmidt

This is the only set featuring Phillies baseball cards of the five players listed in the One and Done category.  The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared on a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Leyva
Coaches (6):  Bowa, Knowles, Menke, Ryan, Taylor, Vukovich
Phillie Phanatic (0)
Broadcasters (0)
Commemorative Cards (0)
Other Cards (1):  Header/sponsor card

Variations/Rarities:  The 32-card stadium giveaway set omitted the following five cards - Header/sponsor card, Nieto, Jones, O'Neal and Madrid.  In addition to these omissions, this set contains the following name placement variations:

• 5 - Mike Ryan CO, name is top center (instead of top left)
• 15 - Floyd Youmans, name is bottom right (instead of bottom left)
• 41 - Steve Ontiveros, name is top center (instead of top right)
• 42 - Don Carman, name is bottom center (instead of bottom left)
• 43 - Ken Howell, name is bottom center (instead of bottom left)
• 47 - Bruce Ruffin, name is top center (instead of bottom left)

Unless you're a Phillies team issued set or Bruce Ruffin super collector (and why wouldn't you be?) there's really no need to add these cards to your collection.

Also See:  1989 Phillies - The Missing Links, 1989 Topps Phillies
Trivia:  Beckett's online database omits the header card.  The Beckett database also lists the James card as an uncorrected error card, given that James wore #18 in 1989, but the back of his card lists #26.  James had switched from #26 mid-way through the 1988 season.  Kudos to Beckett for even noticing this in the first place.
Resources:  14,000 Phillies; Phillies SGA; Beckett.com; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils)