Bryce Harper Wins 2021 N.L. MVP Honors

On Thursday evening, the greatest player in Phillies franchise history, Mike Schmidt, announced the winner of the 2021 National League MVP Award live on the MLB Network.  Having Schmidt announce the award fortunately turned out to be something of a spoiler as he gleefully announced Bryce Harper as the award's recipient and the latest member of the Phillies small fraternity to win one of the league's highest annual honors.

Surrounded by family and friends, Harper was visibly moved and got emotional after the announcement.  It turned out the vote wasn't that close, with Harper receiving 17 first place votes and 348 points overall.  The Nationals' Juan Soto finished second with six first place votes and 274 points, while Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis, Jr. received a pair of first place votes and 244 points to finish third.  Harper won the award previously in 2015, making him the fifth player in baseball history to win the award with two different franchises, joining Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Frank Robinson and Jimmie Foxx.

On Wednesday night, Zack Wheeler was robbed (in my opinion) of a Cy Young Award as the Brewers' Corbin Burnes won in the National League.  Wheeler was the only other Phillies to receive MVP votes.

Harper claims the eighth MVP award in Phillies franchise history, and I'm excited to see all the MV3 merchandise for sale at the ballpark in 2022!

Phillies MVP Winners

• Chuck Klein, 1932
• Jim Konstanty, 1950
• Mike Schmidt, 1980, 1981 and 1986
• Ryan Howard, 2006
• Jimmy Rollins, 2007
• Bryce Harper, 2021

2021 Chachi #68 Seranthony Dominguez

#58
Seranthony Ambioris Dominguez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  225
Opening Day Age:  26
Born:  November 25, 1994, Esperanza, DR
How Obtained:  Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent, October 6, 2011
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible in 2022, free agency eligible in 2025
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2018-2019, 2021

First Phillies Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #58
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2016 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #5
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #58

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Total #155

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2):  2018-2019

16 - Dominguez baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 10/4/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi #36
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #10 - with Edubray Ramos
2019 Chachi #19
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #15 - with Edubray Ramos and Juan Nicasio
2019 Chachi Friendly Encounters #16
2019 Chachi Photo Night #15

2020 Chachi Almost #15

2021 Chachi #68

Seranthony Dominguez was recalled on October 2nd, pitching a scoreless inning in the final game of the season.  He had last appeared on a big league mound on June 15, 2019, before missing 2 1/2 years following Tommy John surgery.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 162 - Bring on the 2022 Season!

2021 Chachi #69

Marlins 5, Phillies 4
Game 162 - Sunday Afternoon, October 3rd in Miami
Record - 82-80, 2nd Place, 6 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies lost the final game of the season as several players appeared with the club for perhaps the final time.

What It Means:  Celebrating my birthday, we watched the end of this game at my sister Carol's house and I was grateful to spend the the day with my family.  The time spent with family was wonderful.  The experience of watching the Phillies drop one last game of 2021, not so much.

What Happened:  It was a bullpen game with Bailey Falter starting things off, and allowing three runs in his two innings of work.  Hector Neris took the loss despite a history-making strikeout (see below).  Freddy Galvis and Andrew McCutchen both homered.  Bryce Harper doubled and recorded his 100th walk of the season.  He joined an elite list of outfielders with 40 doubles, 35 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 walks in a season:  Babe Ruth, Stan Musial and Barry Bonds.  Harper finished the season with the highest OPS in the majors (1.044).

Featured Card:  Hector Neris, who enters free agency this offseason, recorded his 520th strikeout in the fifth inning, getting Jazz Chisolm to swing and miss on a ball in the dirt.  The strikeout moved him past Ron Reed on the franchise's all-time strikeout list by relief pitchers.

Transactions:  Before the game, it was announced that Joe Dillon (hitting coach) and Juan Castro (infield coach) would not have their contracts renewed.  Pedro Guerrero (assistant hitting coach) is also essentially gone as the new hitting coach will have the ability to hire his own assistant.  Because the Phillies didn't produce team-issued photo cards in either 2020 or 2021, Dillon and Castro have no baseball cards to mark their short time on the team's coaching staff.  Guerrero appeared in all four team-issued photo card sets released in 2018 and 2019.

Memory Lane - Game 162
And just like that, my 13th year of chronicling the day-to-day activities of the Phillies, for better and for worse, is in the books.  Honestly, this year was a grind at times as my other blogs (1956 Topps, 1965 Topps, 1934-36 Diamond Stars) proved to be a much more enjoyable daily respite than the 2021 Phillies did.  Still, I have no plans of stopping this daily diversion and I remain hopeful the club will see postseason action in 2022.  Thank you for reading, thank you for your comments and Go Phils!

1. October 4, 2009 - Catcher Paul Hoover singled in the winning run in the 10th in a 7-6 win over the Marlins.
2. October 3, 2010 - The Phillies lost 8-7 to the Braves in their final tune-up before facing the Reds in the NLDS.
3. September 28, 2011 - The Phillies closed out the 2011 regular season with a 13-inning victory against the Braves, setting a franchise record with their 102nd regular season win.
4. October 3, 2012 - The Phillies closed out their 2012 season with a lethargic 5-1 loss to the N.L. East Champion Nationals.
5. September 29, 2013 - Zach Miner got the ball for the Phillies and lasted 2 1/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Braves.
6. September 28, 2014 - Cole Hamels pitched another fine game and suffered through another outing with minimal run support.
7. October 4, 2015 - Phillies avoid 100 losses and Ichiro makes his pitching debut in a 7-2 victory.
8. October 2, 2016 - Phillies bid an emotional farewell to franchise icon Ryan Howard.
9. October 1, 2017 - Phils clobber Mets in Pete Mackanin's final game as manager.
10. September 30, 2018 - Lame duck Phillies win season finale in Gabe Kapler's frustrating debut season.
11. September 29, 2019 - Phillies miss postseason for 8th year in a row, Brad Miller finishes the season red hot.
12. September 27, 2020 - Shortened 60-game season ends with Phillies swept out by the Rays.
13. October 3, 2021 - Hector Neris sets Phils' reliever strikeout record in the 10th straight season without postseason baseball.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #66 Kyle Dohy

#71
Kyle Kent Dohy
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  202
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  September 17, 1996, Arcadia, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in the 16th round of the June 2017 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  N/A

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #7
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Update #8

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

8 - Dohy baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 10/1/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #66

Kyle Dohy had his contract selected from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on September 25th.  Prior to the start of the final series of the season against the Marlins, Dohy had been on the active roster for five games but had yet to make his big league debut.  He's appeared in eight different Phillies minor league team sets dating back to 2017, the year Dohy was drafted.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #67 Hans Crouse

#51
Hans Michael Crouse
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  180
Opening Day Age:  22
Born:  September 15, 1998, Dana Point, CA
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Texas Rangers with Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy for Josh Gessner, Kevin Gowdy and Spencer Howard, July 30, 2021
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2021 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Update #6
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Update #6

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

1 - Crouse baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 9/26/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #10

2021 Chachi Friendly Encounters #4

Hans Crouse joined the Phillies organization from the Spencer Howard trade, and he had been one of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers' system.  He pitched well for Double-A Reading, going 2-2 with a 2.73 ERA over six starts and striking out 38 over 29 2/3 innings pitched.  He made one start for the Triple-A IronPigs and was touched for three runs in 4 1/3 innings.  Crouse was the surprise starting pitcher in the Phillies regular season home finale on Sunday afternoon.  Following the game, I believe my oldest son Doug was the recipient of the first autograph signed by Crouse as a Major League ballplayer as Doug had him sign a foul ball he had tracked down during the first inning.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #65 Cam Bedrosian

#52
Cameron Rock Bedrosian
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  2225
Opening Day Age:  29
Born:  October 2, 1991, Senoia, GA
How Obtained:  Signed as a free agent with the Phillies, July 7, 2021
Contract Status:  Signed through 2021
Major League Teams:  Los Angeles Angels 2014-2020; Cincinnati Reds 2021; Oakland Athletics 2021; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  N/A

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2104, 2017-2018

0 - Bedrosian baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 9/9/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #65

The Phillies are Bedrosian's third organization of 2021 as he began the year with the Reds and then moved to the Athletics in May.  The Athletics released him on July 3rd and he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies a few days later.  He appeared in 16 games for the IronPigs, going 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA and a pair of saves over 20 innings pitched.  His contract was selected on September 1st when active rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players.

Bedrosian's father pitched for the Phillies between 1986 and 1989, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 1987 when he saved a league leading 40 games.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #64 Freddy Galvis

#8
Freddy Jose Galvis
Infield

Bats:  Both  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'10"  Weight:  190
Opening Day Age:  31
Born:  November 14, 1989, Punto Fijo, Venezuela
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Tyler Burch, July 30, 2021
Contract Status:  Signed through 2021
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2012-2017; San Diego Padres 2018; Toronto Blue Jays 2019; Cincinnati Reds 2019-2020; Baltimore Orioles 2021; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP149
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2007 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #8
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2012 Phillies Team Issue First Edition #13

Newest Card Added:  2021 Topps Heritage #283

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  2014-2021

51 - Galvis baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/29/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2011 Chachi Almost #4
2012 Chachi #8
2013 Chachi #11
2013 Chachi #39 HL - Walk-Off HR
2014 Chachi #35
2015 Chachi #8
2016 Chachi Preview #5
2016 Chachi #8
2016 Chachi #66 RBI Leaders
2016 Chachi Archives #13
2016 Chachi Photo Day #15
2017 Chachi Preview #5
2017 Chachi #8
2017 Chachi #34 HL - 1st Inning Explosion
2017 Chachi Archives #7
2017 Chachi Photo Night #17
2018 Chachi Preview #1
2018 Chachi Departures #4

2018 Chachi Fan Favorites #4
2018 Chachi Ballpark Visits #6
2019 Chachi Ex-Phillies #4
2021 Chachi #64

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #63 Jorge Bonifacio

#39
Jorge Luis Bonifacio
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  220
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  June 4, 1993, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
How Obtained:  Signed as a minor league free agent, May 25, 2021
Major League Teams:  Kansas City Royals 2017-2019; Detroit Tigers 2020; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2021 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #3
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #3

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2017-2019

1 - Bonifacio baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/22/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #63

Jorge Bonifacio was a surprise call-up on August 20th, but with the Phillies desparate for any kind of offense they felt it was worth taking a shot on the former Royals and Tigers outfielder.  He began the season with Double-A Reading where he batted .251 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 49 games.  A promotion to the IronPigs followed and Bonifacio was batting .321 with three home runs and 13 RBIs when his contract was selected.

Bonifacio hit a career-high 17 home runs and drove in 40 runs with the Royals as a rookie in 2017.  He was suspended for 80 games in 2018 after testing positive for PEDs.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #62 Adonis Medina

#77
Adonis Medina
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  187
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  December 18, 1996, Santo Domingo, DR
How Obtained:  Signed as an amateur free agent, May 29, 2014
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  2017 Bowman Prospects #BP104
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2016 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #26
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Topps Gypsy Queen #11

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  2021

31 - Medina baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi #53

2021 Chachi #62

When Adonis Medina made his big league debut with the Phillies last September 20th, he became the first wearer of uniform #77 in team history.  Medina was recalled for just one game on August 14th and was optioned back to Lehigh Valley afterwards without getting to pitch.  Hopefully we'll see him actually pitch for the Phillies at some point in 2021.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #61 David Paulino

#53
David Confesor Paulino
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'6"  Weight:  240
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  February 6, 1994, Nizao, Dominican Republic
How Obtained:  Signed as a minor league free agent, January 18, 2021
Contract Status:  Signed through 2021
Major League Teams:  Houston Astros 2016-2017; Toronto Blue Jays 2018; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #23
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #23

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

1 - Paulino baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #61

David Paulino was on the Phillies active roster for two games, and was designated for assingment on August 14th after pitching two innings for the club the night before.  Assuming he clears waivers and accepts a return to the IronPigs, we could see him again at some point this season if the Phillies need an additional bullpen arm.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #60 Ian Kennedy

#31
Ian Patrick Kennedy
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  210
Opening Day Age:  36
Born:  December 19, 1984, Huntington Beach, CA
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Texas Rangers with Hans Crouse and Kyle Gibson for Josh Gessner, Kevin Gowdy and Spencer Howard, July 30, 2021
Contract Status:  Signed through 2021
Major League Teams:  New York Yankees 2007-2009; Arizona Diamondbacks 2010-2013; San Diego Padres 2013-2015; Kansas City Royals 2016-2020; Texas Rangers 2021; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Topps #236

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12):  2010-2021

3 - Kennedy baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #60

Ian Kennedy has appeared in every Topps flagship set release (either base or Update) since 2010, which I find incredibly impressive. He was a 21-game winner for the Diamondbacks in 2011, and after converting to a closer he saved a career-high 30 games for the Royals in 2019.  Kennedy will get most of the Phillies' save opportunities down the stretch run.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #59 Kyle Gibson

#44
Kyle Benjamin Gibson
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'6"  Weight:  215
Opening Day Age:  33
Born:  October 23, 1987, Greenfield, IN
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Texas Rangers with Hans Crouse and Ian Kennedy for Josh Gessner, Kevin Gowdy and Spencer Howard, July 30, 2021
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022
Major League Teams:  Minnesota Twins 2013-2019; Texas Rangers 202-2021; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Topps Heritage #224

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  2013, 2015-2016, 2018-2020

1 - Gibson baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #59

Kyle Gibson will hopefully solidify the Phillies starting pitching rotation for the remainder of the 2021 season and for all of 2022.  He's won at least 10 games in five different seasons with the Twins and Rangers, and Gibson was named to his first All-Star team this year.  He assumed his usual uniform number (#44) upon joining the Phillies and if outfielder Matt Vierling comes back up from the IronPigs this season, he'll need a new number.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Realmuto Hits First Phillies All-Star Game HR in 40 Years

American League 5, National League 2
All-Star Game - Tuesday Night, July 13th in Denver

One Sentence Summary:  Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. led the A.L. All-Stars to their eighth consecutive win as the Mid-Summer Classic returned after a year absence caused by the pandemic.

What It Means:  Yes, I watched the entire game as has been my tradition every year since the mid-1980s.  Yes, I enjoyed seeing the top players in the majors showcased on a national stage and it was fun to actually root for Freddie Freeman, Max Scherzer and Fernando Tatis, Jr.  And yes, I complained early and often to my family about the atrocious uniforms being worn by both teams as MLB opted to forego having each team wear their normal uniforms in favor of poorly designed, pajama-like, beer league softball uniforms.  I hated them.

What Happened:  Guerrero homered in the third to give the A.L. an 2-0 lead and he added an RBI groundout in the third to cement his MVP status for the game.  Mike Zunino also homered for the A.L.  Shohei Ohtani was the main story of the game as he was the A.L.'s starting pitcher while also leading off.  He pitched a perfect first inning but went 0 for 2 at the plate.  Xander Bogaerts had two hits for the junior circuit with no N.L. player collected more than one hit.  Ohtani was credited with the win with White Sox closer Liam Hendriks securing the save.  Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, tagged for two runs in his two innings of work, took the loss for the N.L.

Featured Cards:  With Giants catcher Buster Posey injured, Realmuto got the start behind the plate for the N.L.  It was Realmuto's third All-Star Game selection and his second with the Phillies.  He caught the first five innings, receiving pitches from starter Scherzer, Burnes, German Marquez and Trevor Rogers.  Realmuto struck out swinging against Lance Lynn to end the second, but hit a solo home run in the fifth off Tigers pitcher Gregory Soto.  The homer broke a 40-year draught for the Phillies, the longest dry spell at the time, as the last Phillies player to hit a home run in an All-Star Game was Mike Schmidt in 1981.

We watched anxiously for Zack Wheeler to appear from the bullpen and we were bummed he didn't enter the game while Realmuto was still catching.  For whatever reason, N.L. manager Dave Roberts held Wheeler back until there were two outs in the top of the ninth.  Wheeler relieved Craig Kimbrel and struck out A's slugger Matt Olson on three pitches.

Memory Lane

From 1996 - Attending the All-Star Game at The Vet
From 2009 - All-Star Game memories
2010 All-Star Game - N.L. 3, A.L. 1 in Anaheim
2011 All-Star Game - N.L. 5, A.L. 1 in Phoenix
2012 All-Star Game - N.L. 8, A.L. 0 in Kansas City
2013 All-Star Game - A.L. 3, N.L. 0 in Flushing
2014 All-Star Game - A.L. 5, N.L. 3 in Minneapolis

2015 All-Star Game - A.L. 6, N.L. 3 in Cincinnati
2016 All-Star Game - A.L. 4, N.L. 2 in San Diego
2017 All-Star Game - A.L. 2, N.L. 1 in Miami
2018 All-Star Game - A.L. 8, N.L. 6 (10) in Washington
2019 All-Star Game - A.L. 4, N.L. 3 in Cleveland

2020 All-Star Game - Cancelled

2021 All-Star Game - A.L. 5, N.L. 2 in Denver

2021 Chachi #56 Mauricio Llovera

#63
Mauricio Alejandro Llovera
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  224
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  April 17, 1996, El Tigre, VZ
How Obtained:  Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent, December 14, 2014
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Lakewood BlueClaws #18
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #18

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

6 - Llovera baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/15/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist

2020 Chachi New Additions #3
2020 Chachi #48
2021 Chachi #56

Mauricio Llovera was added to the active roster last September 6th, and made his big league debut that same day against the Mets. The righty rookie had a tough outing, facing 10 batters in the seventh and beginning of the eighth and allowing four runs on five hits.  He was recalled prior to the All-Star Break when four Phillies players landed on the Covid-related injured list.

Signed as a free agent in late 2014, Llovera first appeared in a Phillies minor league team set in 2017 with the BlueClaws.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #55 JD Hammer

#64
John Dale Hammer
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  202
Opening Day Age:  26
Born:  July 12, 1994, Fort Collins, CO
How Obtained:  Acquired with Jose Gomez and Alejandro Requena from the Colorado Rockies for Pat Neshek and cash considerations, July 26, 2017
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2019, 2021

First Phillies Card:  2019 Topps Update #US27
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2018 Choice Phillies Minor League Top 30 Prospects #26
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #13

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  2019

8 - Hammer baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/11/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi Preview #2
2019 Chachi #43
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #4 (with Vince Velasquez)
2019 Chachi Friendly Encounters #12

2019 Chachi Photo Cards #65

2020 Chachi Almost #16
2021 Chachi #55

JD Hammer had an impressive first half of the season with the Triple-A IronPigs, leading to his promotion shortly before the All-Star break.  He spent the entire 2020 season training at the team's alternate training site in Lehigh Valley.
Hammer switched his uniform number to #64 as his original #65 was claimed by new pitching coach Caleb Cotham in the offseason

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #53 Neftali Feliz

#96
Neftali Feliz
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  235
Opening Day Age:  32
Born:  May 2, 1988, Azua, Dominican Republic
How Obtained:  Signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent, January 4, 2021
Major League Teams:  Texas Rangers 2009-2015; Detroit Tigers 2015; Pittsburgh Pirates 2016; Milwaukee Brewers 2017; Kansas City Royals 2017; Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #11
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #11

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9):  2009-2017

1 - Feliz baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/6/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #53

As I'm writing this, Feliz has alrady departed from the Phillies organization, designated for assignment on July 1st and declared a free agent on July 3rd after passing through waivers and declining his assignment back to Lehigh Valley.  The former A.L. Rookie of the Year appeared in two games for the Phillies getting hit hard in both, and earning an 0-1 record and a 36.00 ERA with the club.  I have one card of his in my Phillies collection, from the recently released IronPigs team set.

Feliz reportedly signed a minor league deal yesterday with the Dodgers, which means he's just about destined to be one of the league's most dominant relievers in the second half of the 2021 season.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 72 - Nola K's 10 in a Row; Effort Wasted in Loss

2021 Chachi #54

Mets 2, Phillies 1 (Game 1 - 8 Innings)
Game 72 - Friday Afternoon, June 25th in Flushing
Record - 34-38

One Sentence Summary:  Aaron Nola tied a major league record with 10 consecutive strikeouts, but the Phillies couldn't close it out, losing in extras to the Mets, 2-1.

What It Means:  I think I need a break from the Phillies.

What Happened:  Nola pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out 12 overall and connecting for two of the Phillies' three hits.  His double in the fifth scored their only run, driving home Nick Maton.  Jose Alvarado, the team's newly appointed closer, came into the game to try for a five-out save, wriggling out of trouble in the sixth.  In the seventh, Luis Guillorme reached when Rhys Hoskins couldn't catch a ball thrown by Alvarado.  Guillorme would come around to score the tying (unearned) run and the Mets walked it off in the eighth when Dominic Smith singled home Francisco Lindor.

Featured Card:  Nola blew away the Phillies franchise record, which had been seven consecutive strikeouts by Steve Carlton (1981), Curt Schilling (1996) and Jerad Eickhoff (2018).  His 10th straight strikeout, against Michael Conforto, tied him with Tom Seaver for the all-time record.  Seaver did it on April 22, 1970 against the Padres.

Transaction:  In a flurry of pregame moves, Sam Coonrod (rhp) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm injury and David Hale (rhp) was designated for assignment, most likely ending his Phillies tenure.  Maton (ss) was once again recalled from Lehigh Valley and Neftali Feliz (rhp), who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2017, had his contract selected.  Enyel De Los Santos (rhp) was added to the roster as the 27th man for the double header.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #52 Matt Vierling

#44
Matthew Gregory Vierling
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  215
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  September 16, 1996, St. Louis, MO
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 5th round of June 2018 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2018 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #29
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Topps Heritage Minor League #9

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

4 - Vierling baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 6/20/21.

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2021 Chachi #52

Matt Vierling impressed during spring training as a non-roster invitee and began the 2021 season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils.  His .345 average and six home runs in 24 games in Double-A earned him a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he appeared in only three games, batting .417 (5 for 12).  When Matt Joyce landed on the injured list with a bad back, the Phillies selected Vierling's contract, adding him to their 40-man roster.  In his big league debut on June 19th, he collected a pinch-hit, a stolen base and his first run.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #50 Luke Williams

#30
Lucas Daniel Williams
Infield-Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  186
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  August 9, 1996, Park Ridge, IL
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 3rd round of June 2015 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  2015 Bowman Draft #56
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2016 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #32
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #28

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

9 - Williams baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 6/11/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #50

2021 Chachi #51 - Walk-Off HR HL

Not knowing much about Luke Williams, I was immediately impressed by him when he bunted (on his own) down the third base line on the very first pitch he saw in the big leagues because he noticed the third baseman playing back.  In his first start on June 9th, he hit the game-winning home run to give the Phillies a dramatic 2-1 win, becoming the first Phillies player to hit a walk-off home run in his first start.

Williams' first baseball card appearance came in the 2015 Bowman Draft set.  He's appeared in seven minor league team sets since then, including the recently released 2021 IronPigs team set.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 60 - Williams Walks It Off with First Big League Home Run!

2021 Chachi #51

Phillies 2, Braves 1
Game 60 - Wednesday Night, June 9th in Philadelphia
Record - 29-31, 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Rookie Luke Williams delivered his first major league home run in the form of a dramatic, walk-off shot to left to give the Phillies a 2-1 win.

What It Means:  Having gone to bed early in the middle of Tuesday night's game, I debated doing the same last night.  But my oldest son Doug and I stayed up, and we were treated to Williams' big hit and the jubilant celebration that followed.  It's easily one of the most memorable Phillies moments I've watched live in recent memory.

What Happened:  Zach Eflin (6 innings, 8 hits, 1 run) and Ranger Suarez (3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs) combined to keep the Braves to a single run.  The Phillies defense used three double plays and a few stunning plays from shortstop Ronald Torreyes to keep the Braves from scoring more.  Before the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies had managed four hits, including an earlier double from Williams.  After a lead-off walk to Andrew McCutchen, Williams connected for his game-winning home run off Braves closer Will Smith.

Williams became the fourth Phillies player ever to hit a walk-off home run for his first career home run, joining John Peters (1921), Rick Joseph (1967) and David Foster (1996).  He's also the first Phillies player ever to hit a walk-off home run in his first big league start.

Featured Card:  This is already the fifth custom Highlight card for the 2021 season, which surpasses the complete Highlight card totals of most recent seasons.  Hopefully the number of memorable moments this season translates into a postseason berth and not just a more interesting video yearbook.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist