Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #20 Randall Simon

#12
Randall Carlito Simon
Pinch Hitter

Three years after the "Sausage race incident," Randall Simon found himself with the Phillies, contending for the N.L. Wild Card and serving in a pure pinch-hitting role.  The experiment didn't really work as Simon went just 5 for 21 (.238) with no extra base hits and only two RBIs.  In 2007, the Phillies invited him to spring training as a non-roster invitee, but he didn't make the team and his Major League baseball career ended.

Simon's best season came in 2002 with the Tigers when he hit .301 with 19 home runs and 82 RBIs.  His production dropped every year afterwards as he bounced from the Pirates to the Cubs, back to the Pirates, briefly with the Devil Rays and Rangers and then finishing with the Phillies.  Only 31 in 2006, Simon played in parts of four more seasons (through 2010) in Mexico and with various independent teams.

The photo I had to use for his 2016 Chachi card features Simon playing for the Netherlands in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  180
Born:  May 25, 1975, Willemstad, Curacao
Signed:  Signed by the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent, July 17, 1992
Major League Teams:  Atlanta Braves 1997-1999; Detroit Tigers 2001-2002; Pittsburgh Pirates 2003; Chicago Cubs 2004; Pittsburgh Pirates 2004; Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2004; Phillies 2006
Professional Affiliations:  Atlanta Braves 1993-1999; New York Yankees 2000; Florida Marlins 2000; Detroit Tigers 2001-2002; Pittsburgh Pirates 2003; Chicago Cubs 2004; Pittsburgh Pirates 2004; Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2004; Texas Rangers 2006; Phillies 2006; Potros de Tijuana (Mexico) 2007; Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz (Mexico) 2007; Newark Bears (Independent) 2008; Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (Independent) 2009; Gary SouthShore RailCats (Independent) 2010; Rockford RiverHawks (Independent) 2010

Phillies Career
23 games, .238 (5 for 21) with 2 RBIs and 2 walks
Acquired:  September 1, 2006 - Purchased from the Texas Rangers.
Debut:  September 2, 2006 - Pinch-hit for Jon Lieber in the 8th inning against the Braves, singling off Tyler Yates.  Simon was replaced with pinch-runner Joe Thurston.
Final Game:  September 30, 2006 - Pinch-hit for Geoff Geary in the 9th inning against the Marlins, striking out against Joe Borowski.
Departed:  Spring Training 2007 - Released.

0 Simon Baseball Cards in My Collection

Complete Chachi Checklist
2006 Chachi #58

1997 Fleer #653

2003 Topps #119

2003 Topps Heritage #156

2004 Topps #624

2006 Chachi #58

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1997 Fleer #653
First Topps Base Card:  2003 Topps #119
Last Mainstream Card:  2004 Topps Chrome #356
Other Notable Cards:  1997 Bowman #131, 1998 Upper Deck #301, 2002 Fleer Tradition #321, 2002 Topps 206 #338, 2003 Topps Heritage #156, 2004 Topps #624

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
1 Kirk Bullinger
2 Chris Pritchett
3 Bryan Ward
4 Mark Holzemer
5 Turner Ward
6 P.J. Forbes
7 Matt Walbeck
8 Kelly Stinnett
9 Valerio de los Santos
10 Josh Hancock
11 Brian Powell
12 Paul Abbott
13 Todd Jones
14 A.J. Hinch
15 Ramon Martinez
16 Matt Kata
17 Aquilino Lopez
18 Adam Bernero
19 Jose Hernandez
20 Randall Simon

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.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.