I've needed a Phillies break since the conclusion of the Freefall of '18 wrapped up, but I wanted to break my hiatus to post these cards today. My wife's birthday is approaching and 1978 was a big year for her so I thought I'd use her upcoming birthday as motivation to wrap up a project I've been working on for a while now.
There are several players who appeared for the Phillies during the 1978 season who never appeared on a proper 1978 Topps card in red pinstripes/baby blue. In an attempt to right that wrong, I scoured the internet and my personal collection to provide suitable (?) cards for these 14 players and the Phillies coaching staff.
Some of these have already appeared throughout the past season atop series preview posts, but the entire 19-card, limited edition insert set is presented here. And I'll gladly update the Kerry Dineen and Horacio Pina cards if Phillies pictures of either player ever show up.
1.
Dan Boitano - The righty reliever appeared in one inning of one game for the 1978 Phillies. He appears in the 1980 Topps set on a Brewers Future Stars card.
2.
Todd Cruz - Cruz started his six-year career with 3 games for the Phillies as a September call-up.
3.
Kerry Dineen - Dineen appeared in 16 big league games between 1975 and 1978 for the Yankees and Phillies. He has a Phillies related card in the 1979 Oklahoma City 89ers team city that I've yet to track down.
4.
Rawly Eastwick - Acquired from the Cardinals in June 1978 for Bobby Brown and Jay Johnstone, Eastwick appears in the 1978 Topps set with his former team.
5.
Orlando Gonzalez - Gonzalez shows up in the 1977 Topps and 1981 Fleer sets, but there are no official cards marking his 26 games with the Phillies in 1978.
6.
Bud Harrelson - Harrelson appears with the Mets in the 1978 Topps set. The Phils sent Fred Andrews to the Mets in March to acquire him.
7.
Dan Larson - Larson pitched in 21 games for the Phillies between 1978 and 1981. He's in the 1977 Topps set with the Astros.
8.
Pete Mackanin - The future Phillies manager appeared in 5 games for the 1978 Phillies and he's in the 1978 Topps set with the Expos.
9.
Keith Moreland - Moreland made his Major League debut in the final game of the 1978 season.
10.
Jim Morrison - A true omission from the 1978 Topps set, Morrison appeared in 53 games for the N.L. Champion Phillies. He'd appear in the 1979 Topps set on a Phillies Prospects card with Lonnie Smith and Jim Wright.
11.
Horacio Pina - The veteran Pina was purchased from the Mexican League on September 14th, appeared in 2 games for the Phillies, and was promptly returned to the Mexican League following the season.
12.
Dick Ruthven - On June 15th, the Phillies re-acquired Ruthven from the Braves, swapping out Gene Garber.
13.
Kevin Saucier - Like Moreland, Saucier made his big league debut in the final game of the 1978 season. He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 2 innings of work.
14.
Lonnie Smith - A September call-up, Smith appeared in 17 games for the Phillies down the stretch.
15.
Carroll Beringer CO - Beringer departed following the season, having served as the bullpen coach since 1973.
16.
Billy DeMars CO - The team's hitting coach between 1969 and 1981, DeMars also served as the first base coach (1969-1972) and the third base coach (1972-1979).
17.
Ray Rippelmeyer CO - This was Rippelmeyer's final season as the team's pitching coach, a position he had held since 1970.
18.
Tony Taylor CO - Taylor's first stint as a Phillies coach saw him serve as the infield coach (1977-1978) and first base coach (1979).
19.
Bobby Wine CO - A Phillies coach from 1972 until 1983, Wine served as the infield coach (1972), first base coach (1973-1978) and bench coach (1979-1983).
