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Saturday, October 31, 2015

Phillies Missing Links of the 1980s - #13 Bill Scherrer

#34
William Joseph Scherrer
Relief Pitcher

Lanky, lefty reliever Bill Scherrer was with the Phillies organization in 1988 for a little over a month. Brought into the organization on June 25th, he had a rough go of it out of the bullpen for eight games before being released on August 1st.

When the Phillies signed Scherrer, I remembered him as one of the relievers on the 1984 Tigers team that defeated the Padres in the World Series.  But perhaps his best season was the year before when he went 2-3 with a 2.74 ERA over 73 games with the 1983 Reds.

Scherrer's short-time within the Phillies organization means I haven't been able to find any photographic proof of his time with the club.  I'm not thrilled with the card I've created for him, and I'd welcome the chance to give him a better Phillies card if and when a better Phillies picture ever presents itself.  I made an even clumsier attempt at a Scherrer Phillies card a few years back, using his photo from his 1985 Topps card.

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  170
Born:  January 20, 1958, Tonawanda, NY
Drafted:  Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round of the 1977 amateur draft, January 11, 1977.
Major League Teams:  Cincinnati Reds 1982-1984, Detroit Tigers 1984-1986, Cincinnati Reds 1987, Baltimore Orioles 1988, Phillies 1988
Professional Affiliations:  Cincinnati Reds 1977-1984, Detroit Tigers 1984-1986, Cincinnati Reds 1987, Baltimore Orioles 1988, Phillies 1988, Chicago Cubs 1988, San Francisco Giants 1988, New York Mets 1989, Texas Rangers 1989

Phillies Career
8 games, 0-0, 5.40 ERA in 6 2/3 innings
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles, June 25, 1988.
Debut:  July 5, 1988 - Pitched an inning against the Braves in a 10-5 blow-out loss.
Final Game:  July 28, 1988
Departed:  Released on August 1, 1988, and signed with the Chicago Cubs organization on August 8, 1988.

1984 Donruss #203
1984 Topps #373
1987 Topps #98
0 Scherrer Baseball Cards in My Collection
First Card:  N/A
Last Card:  N/A

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1984 Donruss #203
First Topps Base Card:  1984 Topps #373
Last Mainstream Card:  1987 Topps #98
Other Notable Cards:  1985 Topps #586, 1986 Topps #217, 1988 CMC Rochester Red Wings #9

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  I will make my way through the decade of the 1980s first and then work my way forward.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

Friday, October 30, 2015

2015 Topps Bunt Phillies


Thanks to a tip and a series of e-mails from fellow collector Burnell, I was made aware of several 2015 Topps Phillies variations to be found within the Topps Bunt App.  I have no idea how this App actually works, but I do know that it seems to be very popular.  From the official description from the Topps website:
Topps BUNT is the only real-time, real world Major League Baseball digital trading card game where the cards you own and collect earn points based on how your players perform on the field each day. Download BUNT for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on the App Store.
Burnell sent me the scans shown in this post, and based on these cards I may have to give the App a try in 2016.  The design is the same as the 2015 flagship design with the exception of the Phillies "P" replacing the primary logo on the front and some dots appearing along the right borders.  Several Phillies players who were inexplicably omitted from the 2015 Topps Update set have cards available through the App, and I'll probably eventually print these to be added to my 2015 Phillies binder.

Interestingly enough, the images for Luis Garcia and Severino Gonzalez are swapped.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

2015 Topps Phillies

2015 Topps #687
2015 Topps #309
2015 Topps #51
2015 Topps Update #US204
Almost five years ago, I started the process of composing a series of posts on the Phillies cards found within each of the Topps flagship sets dating back to 1951.  With this post on the 2015 Topps Phillies cards, I'm finally current and I'll continue this series as long as this here blog is still chugging along.

The Set
2015 Topps #420 (Back)
Number of cards in the set:  Topps super-sized its set in 2015, with 350 cards each in Series 1 and Series 2 and an all-time high 400 cards in the Update Series.  That's 1,100 base cards and easily two binders worth of nine-pocket pages if you're ambitious enough to go that route.
My very brief thoughts on the set:  I really like it.  It's so different from anything Topps has put out as its flagship set over the past decade and I appreciate the foil-less text on the fronts of the cards.  If I were to over-analyze the design . . . there's quite a lot going on here.  We've got color gradients, random line swiggles, some small white circles under the team name, the bottom border fading and bleeding into the bottom of the player's photo and a semi-transparent target around the team logo.  If I were to not over-analyze the design . . . it's pretty cool.

The backs are also easy to read and they have some personality to them, unlike the card back designs from the prior four years.

2015 Topps #481
2015 Topps #420
2015 Topps #233
2015 Topps #662
2015 Phillies
Record and finish:  The Phillies hit rock bottom in 2015, and their record of 63-99 was their worst mark since the 1969 season.  Finishing 27 games behind the Mets in the division, their record assured them the #1 pick in the June 2016 amateur player draft.
Key players:  Odubel Herrera, a Rule 5 pick from the Rangers who had never played above Double-A before this season, led the Phillies with a .297 average.  Ryan Howard led the team with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs, but hit a lowly .229.  Maikel Franco established himself at third base hitting 14 home runs in 80 games before a broken hand shortened his season.  Cesar Hernandez, Freddy Galvis, Jeff Francoeur and Andres Blanco were all pleasant surprises offensively.

On the mound, and after Cole Hamels was traded to the Rangers, the most reliable starters were rookies Adam Morgan (5-7, 4.48 in 15 starts), Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.59 in 13 starts) and Jerad Eickhoff (3-3, 2.65 in 8 starts).  Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.86) satisfied his role as an innings-eater.  Ken Giles was fantastic out of the bullpen with 15 saves and a 1.80 ERA over 69 games.

Key events:  The Phillies were sellers following the All-Star break, trading away Jonathan Papelbon (to the Nationals), Hamels and Jake Diekman (to the Rangers), Ben Revere (to the Blue Jays), and most painfully Chase Utley (to the Dodgers) for a boatload of prospects.  In his final start with the Phillies, Hamels threw a no-hitter against the Cubs on July 25th.  Manager Ryne Sandberg quit the team on June 26th, unable to put up with the losing any longer.  Third base coach Pete Mackanin took over on an interim basis, and was named the permanent manager late in the season.

2015 Phillies in 2015 Topps
Who's in:  The expanded set size led to only 31 Phillies cards, up two from last year's 29 and up one from 2013's 30 cards.  There's a great short-printed, photo variation card available for Utley featuring him on the dugout steps of Citi Field during a more peaceful time.  There's also a short-printed Phillies card in the updated series featuring Rally Squirrel II, the second squirrel to interrupt a Phillies-Cardinals game.  (This incident took place back on June 19th.)
  • Cards of the eight starting position players - 7 cards
#233 Carlos Ruiz (c), #51 Ryan Howard (1b), #481 Freddy Galvis (ss), #309 Maikel Franco (3b), #420 Cody Asche (lf), #687 Odubel Herrera (cf), #US204 Jeff Francoeur (rf)

Hernandez, who had a great season filling in all over the infield, was inexplicably omitted from the Update Series.
2015 Topps Update #US146
2015 Topps #10
2015 Topps #560
2015 Topps Pro Debut #166
  • Cards of the starting pitching rotation - 4 cards
#US146 Aaron Harang, #10 Cole Hamels, #560 Jerome Williams, #218 David Buchanan

I'm not sure how either Morgan or Nola could have been omitted from the Update Series, but they both were.  Nola at least has a card in the 2015 Topps Pro Debut set, but that features him with the High-A Clearwater Threshers.
  • Base cards of players who played with the Phillies in 2015 - 13 Cards
#118 Domonic Brown, #123 Ben Revere, #143 Jonathan Papelbon, #163 Chase Utley, #553 Grady Sizemore, #561 Ken Giles, #662 Darin Ruf, #663 Jake Diekman, #US84 Sean O'Sullivan, #US95 Elvis Araujo, #US166 Severino Gonzalez, #US205 Andres Blanco, #US318 Phillippe Aumont
  • Base cards of players who did not play with the Phillies in 2015 - 4 Cards
  • Team card - 1 Card, #441
  • 2014 Baseball Highlights cards - 1 Card, #659 Jimmy Rollins and Mike Schmidt
  • 2015 National League All-Star cards - 1 Card, #US240 Jonathan Papelbon
The team card features a post-game handshake line from 2014 with Byrd and Brown front and center.

2015 Topps #561
2015 Topps Update #US205
2015 Topps #118
2015 Topps Update #US95
Who's out:  See my commentary above.  Catcher Cameron Rupp, who received the bulk of the playing time in the second half behind the plate, was left out.  Rookie Aaron Altherr was also omitted.
Phillies on other teams:  Not counting the players who left the Phillies during the season, there are no 2015 Phillies on other teams.
What's he doing here:  Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, who pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Phillies in 2014 and missed the entire 2015 season due to injury, has no business receiving a card in this set.

For the first time in several years, I have to take issue with Topps' Phillies player selection.  With so many rookies making their debuts in 2015, there was quite a crop of Phillies prospects Topps could have featured in the Update Series.  Instead, we received Phillies cards of O'Sullivan (1-6, 6.08 ERA in 13 starts) and Aumont.  The Aumont card is especially annoying since he was released in June by the Phillies, signed by the Blue Jays organization and then released by them prior to the end of the season.

Cards that never were candidates:  And there's a lot . . . Nola, Morgan, Hernandez, Rupp, relievers Justin De Fratus, Jeanmar Gomez and Luis Garcia for starters.  Prospects acquired in trades who could have feasibly had cards in the Update Series include Eickhoff and Darnell Sweeney.

I recently received an e-mail from reader/Phillies fan Burnell who informed me there were several variations of 2015 Topps Phillies cards to be found within the Topps Bunt app.  I have yet to venture into Topps Bunt world, but after seeing some of the scans that Burnell e-mailed to me, I might have to give it a try.  Courtesy of Burnell, I'm going to have another post up soon showing some of the 2015 Topps Phillies variations to be found within Topps Bunt.

Favorite Phillies card:  I love the Rollins/Schmidt card just because it features two franchise icons celebrating Rollins ascension to the franchise's all-time hit king.  If I had to pick a favorite player card, it would be a tie between Hamels and Utley since these are last Topps Phillies cards as active players.

2015 Topps #163
2015 Topps Phillies #PHI-1
2015 Topps Chrome #100
2015 Topps #163B
Other Stuff
Variations:  Utley is the winner here, with three different photos used across three different sets. The photo of him in a throwback uniform was also used on his Topps Opening Day Franchise Flashback insert card.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Doug's 2015 Topps Update Want List

2015 Topps Update #US84
COMPLETED!

Doug finished this set on October 31, 2015 at the Fanatics Authentic Sports Spectacular in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

Doug's 2014 Topps Update Want List

2014 Topps Update #US-181
"US" prefix in front of all card numbers.

Completed in November 2016, thanks to Doug's grandmother.  Cards needed were received at Doug's 10th birthday party.

Thanks to Section 36 and Dan from The Other World for taking a chunk out of this list!

Doug's 2015 Topps Archives Want List

2015 Topps Archives #283
1957 Topps - 1 Kershaw, 9 Carter, 11 Jackson, 12 Holt, 13 Mauer, 32 Yount, 35 Murray, 45 Howard, 90 Kinsler, 94 Betances, 95 Sandoval, 96 Cain

1976 Topps - 115 Larkin, 117 Fernandez, 120 Hernandez, 125 Ruth, 134 Snider, 137 McCann, 169 Lester, 172 Dickerson, 173 Zimmerman, 175 Tanaka, 185 Greinke, 188 Cespedes, 189 Clemente, 195 Beltre

1983 Topps - 202 Bench, 212 Brentz, 213 Robinson, 225 Harper, 228 Weaver, 235 Stanton, 242 Machado, 244 Hamels, 272 Gonzalez, 273 Hernandez, 291 Bautista, 294 Archer

Short Prints - HAVE 308 Sheffield

Thanks to Section 36 for taking a chunk out of this list!  And thanks to reader Burnell for sending along a few cards as well!

Klentak Named New GM

2015 Chachi #70
2015 Chachi #68
Yesterday, the Phillies introduced Matt Klentak as their new general manager, succeeding Ruben Amaro, Jr. who was dismissed in September.  Klentak comes to the Phillies after serving four years as the Angels assistant GM (2012-2015) and four years as director of baseball operation for the Orioles (2008-2011).  Current team president Any MacPhail worked with Klentak while both were with the Orioles.

I'm excited about this move and at the very least the Phillies seem to be embracing the analytical side of the game that has been previously embraced by so many teams.  I'll admit though, it was weird making a custom baseball card for a dude who is (a) younger than me, (b) in a suit and (c) looks as if he could be working a few doors down from me in my office.  For some reason, making fake baseball cards for actual players in their twenties and thirties is fine, but making a fake baseball card for Klentak felt weird.

I thought I should also post the Highlight card I made for manager Pete Mackanin upon the removal of his interim title.  No one knows what the 2016 season has in store, but the two guys at the top of this post - Klentak and Mackanin - will be front and center.

* * *

In a strange but true move, Amaro, Jr. has been hired by the Boston Red Sox as their new first base coach.  I guess he just wanted to be closer to Section 36?

Monday, October 26, 2015

Phillies Missing Links of the 1980s - #12 Bill Dawley

#43
William Chester Dawley
Relief Pitcher

Bill Dawley peaked early with the Astros, making the All-Star team during his 1983 rookie season and winning 11 games in 1984.  He went on to be a solid reliever with the White  Sox in 1986 and the Cardinals in 1987.  Signed by the Phillies prior to the 1988 season, Dawley got the call in the second week of the season when Mike Maddux landed on the disabled list.  He struggled in his few appearances before landing on the disabled list himself with elbow issues.

Dawley was sidelined for most of the 1988 season but was activated once rosters expanded in September.  He was immediately released following the season, ending his one-year Phillies career.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'5"  Weight:  235
Born:  February 6, 1958, Norwich, CT
Drafted:  Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 7th round of the 1976 amateur draft
Major League Teams:  Houston Astros 1983-1985, Chicago White Sox 1986, St. Louis Cardinals 1987, Phillies 1988, Oakland Athletics 1989
Professional Affiliations:  Cincinnati Reds 1976-1982, Houston Astros 1983-1985, Chicago White Sox 1986, St. Louis Cardinals 1987, Phillies 1988, Oakland Athletics 1989, Milwaukee Brewers 1989

Phillies Career
8 games, 0-2, 18.50 ERA in 8 2/3 innings
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the St. Louis Cardinals, February 10, 1988
Debut:  April 17, 1988 - Relieved David Palmer in a game against the Expos, pitching 1 1/3 innings and allowing two runs.
Final Game:  September 13, 1988
Departed:  Released by the Phillies on October 7, 1988, and signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics in January 1989.

1984 Donruss #328
1984 Topps #248
1988 Donruss #331
1988 Topps #509
4 Dawley Baseball Card in My Collection
First Card:  1988 Donruss #331
Last Card:  1988 Topps #509

I made a card for Dawley in the style of the 1988 Topps set, which can be found here.

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1984 Donruss #328
First Topps Base Card:  1984 Topps #248
Last Mainstream Card:  1988 Topps #509
Other Notable Cards:  1986 Topps #376, 1987 Topps #54, 1988 Fleer #29, 1988 Score #328

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  I will make my way through the decade of the 1980s first and then work my way forward.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.