Series Preview - Red Sox at Phillies: May 21st to May 23rd

1986 Topps #477

2021 Chachi 1986 Topps Missing Links #2

Friday 7:05, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  There are no giveaways scheduled for this series.  Earlier today, the Phillies announced they would be following recently enacted Philadelphia guidelines and relaxing their mask policies.  Fans will no longer be required to wear masks while seated or in any outside areas of Citizens Bank Park.

Red Sox 27-18
1st Place in the A.L. East, 1 game ahead of the Rays

Red Sox Probables
Martin Perez (1-2, 3.40)
Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.50)
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 4.70)

Red Sox Leaders
Average:  Xander Bogaerts - .344
Runs:  J.D. Martinez - 35
Home Runs:  J.D. Martinez - 12
RBIs:  J.D. Martinez - 37
Stolen Bases:  Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez - 4

Wins:  Nick Pivetta and Eduardo Rodriguez - 5
ERA:  Nick Pivetta - 3.59
Strikeouts:  Nick Pivetta - 50
Saves:  Matt Barnes - 10

Phillies 22-22
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (3-3, 3.64)
Spencer Howard (0-0, 8.31)
Zack Wheeler (3-2, 2.52)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .294
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 26
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 8
RBIs:  Alec Bohm and Rhys Hoskins - 23
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  Connor Brogdon - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.52
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 66
Saves:  Hector Neris - 7

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

Series Preview - Phillies at Pirates: May 19th to May 21st

Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:35
PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA

Phillies 14-24, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 10 games behind the Nationals
Pirates 18-23, 5th Place in the N.L. Central, 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers

Phillies Probables:  Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.71), Vince Velasquez (2-3, 5.63), Aaron Nola (2-0, 4.50)
Pirates Probables:  Trevor Williams (2-2, 6.41), Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.48), Chad Kuhl (1-4, 6.69)

At the Ballpark:  The Pirates are throwing out some fairly strong promotions for this weekend series.  There will be fireworks after the game tonight and on Sunday all kids will receive a Pirates baseball glove.

On Saturday afternoon, the first 20,000 fans will receive what's being called a "Bob Walk Chair-Tip Bobblechair."  My assumption is that this is the typical broadcasting positioning of former Phillies pitcher and current Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk.  Very cool item.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .299
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 30
Home Runs:  Aaron Altherr - 8
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 28
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 3.71
Strikeouts:  Jerad Eickhoff - 43
Saves:  Hector Neris - 4

Pirates Leaders
Average:  Josh Harrison - .286
Runs:  Andrew McCutchen - 19
Home Runs:  Josh Bell - 9
RBIs:  Andrew McCutchen - 19
Stolen Bases:  Gregory Polanco - 6

Wins:  Ivan Nova - 3
ERA:  Ivan Nova - 2.48
Strikeouts:  Gerrit Cole - 50
Saves:  Tony Watson - 8

1982 Topps #235

1982 Topps #332

1982 Topps #458

1982 Topps #485

1982 Topps Appreciation:  If you had told me in 1982 that Mike Easler, Don Robinson and Kent Tekulve, all major stars for the Pirates in my mind, would be playing for the Phillies in the coming decade I would have been ecstatic.  Tekulve had a successful run with the Phillies as one of their most reliable relief pitchers in the late 1980s.  Easler and Robinson had less successful, and much shorter, stints with the Phillies.

Willie Montanez, the Phillies' regular center fielder in 1971 and 1972 and their starting first baseman in 1974, came back to the organization on August 10, 1982, having been released by the Pirates. Montanez appeared in the final 18 games of his 14-year career with the Phillies, hitting just .063 (1 for 16) primarily as a late-inning defensive replacement for Pete Rose at first base.

Red Sox at Phillies: April 6th to April 9th

Monday 3:05, Wednesday and Thursday 7:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

2014 Season
Red Sox 71-91, 5th Place in the A.L. East, 25 games behind the Orioles
Phillies 73-89, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 23 games behind the Nationals

2014 Statistics
Red Sox Probables:  Clay Buchholz (8-11, 5.34), Porcello (15-13, 3.43), Justin Masterson (7-9, 5.88)
Phillies Probables:  Cole Hamels (9-9, 2.46), Aaron Harang (12-12, 3.57), David Buchanan (6-8, 3.75)

At the Ballpark:  It's opening day today!  All fans will receive a 2015 schedule & car magnet.  Wednesday is opening night with all fans 15 and over receiving a McDonald's opening night t-shirt.  On Thursday night, the first 500 fans to purchase a ticket specifically for the 1915 Phillies - 100th Anniversary Salute night will receive a special 1915 National League Champions Pennant.  The Phillies will also wear special 1915 throwback hats.

Phillies Spring Training Leaders

Average:  Odubel Herrera - .343

Runs:  Odubel Herrera - 12

Home Runs:  Chase Utley - 4

RBIs:  Cody Asche and Chase Utley - 11

Stolen Bases:  Odubel Herrera - 7

Wins:  David Buchanan - 3

ERA:  David Buchanan - 1.29

Strikeouts:  Andy Oliver - 22

Saves:  Luis Garcia - 4

1985 Topps #686

1985 Topps #209

1985 Topps Appreciation:  I'll be looking back at Phillies-related cards from the 1985 Topps set throughout the season in these game summary posts.  First up are two players that didn't spend much time at all with the Phillies.

Mike Easler spent two seasons in Boston in 1984 and 1985 as the team's primary designated hitter.  He came to the Phillies in December 1986 in the deal that sent Charles Hudson to the Bronx.  Almost exactly six months later, Easler was shipped back to the Yankees where he'd finish up the year and his career.

The best years of Bill Campbell's career were spent in Boston between 1977 and 1981.  An All-Star in 1977, Campbell was the American League's leading fireman with 31 saves.  He spent the 1984 season with the Phillies (6-5, 3.43 ERA) and was traded to the Cardinals in April 1985.  He'd go on to appear in three games in the 1985 World Series with the Cardinals.  I took a look a Campbell's 1979 Topps card three years ago in this series preview post.

1987 Phillies - No Missing Links

1987 Fleer Update #U-27, 1987 Donruss Opening Day #155, 1987 O-Pee-Chee #135 and 1988 Donruss #604

Thanks entirely to the 1987 Tastykake Phillies set, I've found another season in which every player who suited up for the Phillies received at least one Phillies baseball card.  I've put together posts covering 1980 to 1987, and then 1990 to 2000, and that's something that can be said for only three seasons in that range - 1985, 1987 and 1993.

3 Cards or More
35 Players

I'm going to include Mike Easler in this first category.  Easler only played 33 games with the Phillies before he was traded back to the New York Yankees in early June.  His 1987 Donruss Opening Day card is the sole standard sized card to feature Easler in a Phillies uniform, and he also appears in the 1987 Tastykake Phillies set.  The card that pushes him into this category, in my opinion, is his 1987 O-Pee-Chee card.  The card shows Easler in a Yankees uniform but bears a Phillies logo and the little "Now with Phillies" legend on the front of the card.

1987 Tastykake Phillies #45

1987 Tastykake Phillies #51

1987 Tastykake Phillies #58

1987 Tastykake Phillies #39A

2 Cards
Ken Dowell (15 games in 1987) - 1987 Fleer Update #U-27 and 1987 Tastykake Phillies #37
Ken Jackson (8 games in 1987) - 1985 Tastykake Phillies #44 (with Francisco Melendez) and 1987 Tastykake Phillies #51
Tom Newell (2 games in 1987) - 1987 Tastykake Phillies #50 and 1988 Donruss #604

I was always excited to receive new cards of Mike Schmidt or even Von Hayes during the mid to late '80s.  But what really got me excited is when the Ken Dowell's of the world appeared in a major card release like Fleer Update.  Dowell's entire Phillies career spanned 15 games between June 24th and July 19th, and that was good enough for the fine folks at Fleer to decide to give the light-hitting shortstop a card in their update set.  Dowell was released by the Phils following the 1987 season and spent three seasons in the Mets and Braves organizations before hanging up his spikes.

Jackson was rewarded for his strong season at Double-A Reading with a September call-up, and he made his Major League debut on September 12th.  In 8 games, Jackson hit .250 (4 for 16) with two doubles.  He spent eight seasons toiling in the minors for the Phils before wrapping up his professional career in 1989 in the Rangers' organization.

If Dowell's inclusion in the 1987 Fleer Update set is curious, then Newell's inclusion in the 1988 Donruss set is flat out crazy mysterious.  Also a September call-up, Newell appeared in two games in which he accumulated one inning pitched and four earned runs for a career ERA of 36.00.  He left the Phillies organization following the 1988 season, missed the 1989 season, and played the next two seasons within the Yankees' organization.  But at least he's forever immortalized within the 1988 Donruss set.

1987 ProCards Maine Guides #16, #9, #2 and #4

1 Card
Greg Jelks (10 games in 1987) - 1987 Tastykake Phillies #45
Greg Legg (11 games in 1986 and 3 games in 1987) - 1987 Tastykake Phillies #11
Doug Bair (11 games in 1987) - 1987 Tastykake Phillies #58
Joe Cowley (5 games in 1987) - 1987 Tastykake Phillies #39

Jelks, who was called up to the Phillies in late August, appeared in 10 games for the Phillies at third base, first base and left field.  He hit .091 (1 for 11) and spent the entire 1988 season back with Triple-A Maine.  According to his Baseball Reference page, Jelks was still playing professional baseball as late as the 2001 season.

I covered Legg in depth with the 1986 Phillies Missing Links post.  Bair pitched in 11 forgettable games for the Phillies toward the tail-end of his 15-year career.  After his short time in Philadelphia, Bair would actually enjoy one of his better seasons with the 1989 Pirates when he posted a 2.27 ERA over 44 relief appearances.

And what to say about Cowley?  Cowley was acquired from the White Sox in late March 1987 for outfielder Gary Redus.  He was supposed to stabilize the rotation, but instead ended up going 0-4 over 5 appearances with a 15.43 ERA.  He pitched in 13 more games for Triple-A Maine, but after going 3-9 with a 7.86 ERA, his Phillies and his Major League Baseball careers were over.  Neither Topps nor Fleer deemed him worthy enough for inclusion within their update sets.

Past Missing Link Posts

1980 Phillies - Orlando Isales and Don McCormack

1981 Phillies - Jerry Reed

1982 Phillies - Stan Bahnsen and Alejandro Sanchez

1983 Phillies - Steve Comer

1984 Phillies - Renie Martin, Jim Kern and Mike LaValliere

1985 Phillies - None

1986 Phillies - Tom Gorman and Jeff Bittiger

1990 Phillies - Louie Meadows

1991 Phillies - Dave LaPoint

1992 Phillies - Darrin Chapin and Mickey Weston

1993 Phillies - None

1994 Phillies - Tom Edens and Bob Wells

1995 Phillies - Jim Deshaies, Kevin Elster, Omar Olivares, Chuck Ricci and Dennis Springer

1996 Phillies - Glenn Dishman, Bronson Heflin, Manny Martinez and Rafael Quirico

1997 Phillies - Rob Butler and Mike Robertson

1998 Phillies - Robert Dodd and Matt Whiteside

1999 Phillies - Joel Bennett, Domingo Cedeno, Joe Grahe and Torey Lovullo

2000 Phillies - Clemente Alvarez, Kirk Bullinger, Mark Holzemer and Bryan Ward

1987 Topps Phillies - Missing Links

There are only 11 players who suited up for the Phillies in 1987 who did not appear as Phillies in either the 792-card base Topps set or the 132-card traded set.  Some of the cards below have been featured on the blog before, but presented here is the entire 11-card "missing links" Phillies team set.

All of the photos featured on these cards are taken from the team's 1987 Tastykake set.

PR1

PR2

PR3

PR4

PR5

PR6

PR7

PR8

PR9

PR10

PR11

Scrapbook Monday: December 11, 1986

1987 Topps #PR4

It's been a slow off-season so far for the Phillies and for this blog.  This is the time of year when days go by with nary a mention of the Phillies in the sports section of the newspaper.  Much like the Phillies' players themselves right now, I'm taking it easy.  I look to start some off-season work-outs in mid-December, just to loosen up the arm and clear the cobwebs, and I'm hoping to have secured my new iMac by then as I try to figure out just how I'm going to create the 2011 Chachi cards.

My Phillies scrapbooks from the mid-'80s and early-'90s suffered the same fate.  I'd have a few pages detailing the Postseason and then there would be a large gap in time between the naming of the league's MVPs and the date when pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater.  (The one exception being the 1991 off-season, when I painfully chronicled the courting of and ultimate rejection by free agent Bobby Bonilla.)

The 1986 off-season garnered just one lonely page in my scrapbook.  I cut out a small blurb to document a few roster comings and goings, including the end of the Rocky Childress era, and I clipped the transaction line on December 11, 1986, to show the acquisition of Mike Easler from the Yankees.  No fanfare, no real excitement on the page, and even the Hit Man's photo caption seems bored:  "To play left field".

Easler appeared in just 33 games for the 1987 Phillies, before they shipped him back to the Yankees in mid-June.  His .282 average with the Phils was just fine, but I guess the team was disappointed with his power output - 1 home run and 10 RBIs.  The young Chris James moved over to left and the Hit Man era, much like the Rocky Childress era before it, was over.

Easler appeared as a Phillie on just three baseball card sets - Donruss Opening Day, O-Pee-Chee (with the "Now with the Phillies" tag) and the Tastykake Phillies set.  I borrowed the photo from the Tastykake set for this Topps card that probably would have appeared in the 1987 Topps Traded set if Easler hadn't been shipped back to the Yankees.

And the slow off-season continues.

24 Years Later:  Little did I know as I clipped out the pictures of Easler and Charles Hudson back on 12th Street in 1986 that my first son, Doug, would be born exactly 24 years after this trade was made.  That event has worked out much, much better than the Easler trade.  No contest.