2017 Phillies Team Issue

Number of Cards:  40
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The Phillies introduced a bold new design for their first team issued photo card set of 2017.  Player names appear at the top right in a red script font against a blue border.  The Phillies script logo, the player's position and uniform number also appear at the top.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed:  The set has been available for sale at Citizens Bank Park since their home opener on April 7th.  Sets can be found at Phillies Newstands and at souvenir locations throughout the ballpark for $5.

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

4 - Andres Blanco 5 - Michael Saunders 7 - Maikel Franco 8 - Juan Samuel CO 9 - John McLaren CO 10 - Larry Bowa CO 12 - Mickey Morandini CO 13 - Freddy Galvis 16 - Cesar Hernandez 17 - Pat Neshek 19 - Tommy Joseph 21 - Clay Buchholz 22 - Bob McClure CO 23 - Aaron Altherr 24 - Roman Quinn 25 - Daniel Nava 27 - Aaron Nola 28 - Vince Velasquez 29 - Cameron Rupp 31 - Michael Mariot

33 - Rick Kranitz CO 37 - Odubel Herrera 39 - Adam Morgan 40 - Matt Stairs CO 41 - Brock Stassi 45 - Pete Mackanin MG 46 - Jeanmar Gomez 47 - Howie Kendrick 48 - Jerad Eickhoff 50 - Hector Neris 52 - Pat Venditte 53 - Joaquin Benoit 57 - Luis Garcia 58 - Jeremy Hellickson 61 - Edubray Ramos 63 - Joely Rodriguez 64 - Andrew Knapp 76 - Jesmuel Valentin Phillie Phanatic Broadcasters

One and Done (3):  Mariot, Rodriguez, Venditte
First Appearances (10):  Benoit, Buchholz, Kendrick, Knapp, Nava, Neshek, Quinn, Saunders, Stassi, Valentin
Returning Players (17):  Altherr, Blanco, Eickhoff, Franco, Galvis, Garcia, Gomez, Hellickson, Hernandez, Herrera, Joseph, Morgan, Neris, Nola, Ramos, Rupp, Velasquez

As of now, there's no one in the One and Done category as everyone in the set is still currently within the Phillies system.  This could change of course as the season progresses.  As of this writing, the following players in the set have yet to suit up for the Phillies in 2017:  Mariot, Quinn, Valentin and Venditte.  Venditte's position is listed as "SHP" for switch-handed pitcher, which is something I've never seen before on a baseball card.

(Update 4/14/18 - I've updated the One and Done category for Mariot, Rodriguez and Venditte as this set features their one and only Phillies baseball cards.)

The checklist creators did a fantastic job as the set includes ever player on the team's opening day roster.  Strangely enough, both Stassi and Knapp were assigned lower numbers a few days before the season started (#78 to #41 and #64 to #34, respectively) and Stassi's card reflects his new number while Knapp's does not.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set. These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Mackanin
Coaches (7):  Bowa, Kranitz, McClure, McLaren, Morandini, Samuel, Stairs
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (1):  Featuring Andersen, Davis, Franzke, Jackson, Kruk, McCarthy, Murphy, Schmidt
Other Cards (0)

New broadcaster Kruk makes his first appearance in a team-issued photo card set since he appeared on a broadcaster card within the 2003 set.  Stairs appeared on the broadcaster cards in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 sets and this is his first card as a coach.

Phillies Phestival Rarities:  The Phillies Phestival was held on May 11th and the Phillies created three new photo cards for the event in the style of this set. Zach Eflin's card is an actual action shot while cards of Mark Leiter, Jr. and Nick Pivetta are portraits.  All three cards are blank backed.

• 43 Nick Pivetta (portrait)
• 56 Zach Eflin (pitching)
• 59 Mark Leiter, Jr. (portrait)

Additional Card:  In November 2017, I added a blank-backed Nick Williams card to my collection after winning* an autographed Williams bat at an ALS event.  The card came with the bat.  (*My wife would like to point out that she won the auction and the card is on loan from her.)

• 5 Nick Williams (throwing in outfield)

Resources:  Thanks again to fellow collectors Rick and Steve for information on the three rare cards available only from the Phillies Phestival.