Astros at Phillies - August 26th to August 28th

1984 Topps #692

1984 Topps #458

Monday and Tuesday 6:40, Wednesday 4:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  It's Star Wars night at the ballpark tonight, and fans who purchased a special theme night ticket will receive a Ranger Suarez Mandalorian bobblehead.  On Wednesday afternoon, fans 55 and over can stroll the bases following the game.

Houston Astros 70-60
1st Place in the A.L. West, 4 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners

Astros Probables
Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.14)
Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92)
Spencer Arrighetti (6-11, 4.94)

Astros Leaders
Average:  Yordan Alvarez - .306
Runs:  Jose Altuve - 74
Home Runs:  Yordan Alvarez - 25
RBIs:  Yainer Diaz - 72
Stolen Bases:  Jose Altuve - 18

Wins:  Framber Valdez - 13
ERA:  Ronel Blanco - 3.14
Strikeouts:  Hunter Brown - 151
Saves:  Josh Hader - 28

Philadelphia Phillies 76-54
1st Place in the N.L. East, 6 games ahead of the Braves

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73)
Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45)
Cristopher Sanchez (9-9, 3.51)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Alec Bohm - .294
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 87
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 28
RBIs:  Alec Bohm - 88
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 25

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 12
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.73
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 170
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

Astros at Phillies: October 31st to November 2nd

2022 Chachi Fan Favorites #35

2022 Chachi Fan Favorites #36

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8:03
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  The Fall Classic returns to Citizens Bank Park on Monday night for the first time since 2009.

Astros 1-1
Defeated Yankees in ALCS, 4-0

Astros Probables
Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0, 2.45)
Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.35)
TBD

Astros Postseason Leaders
Average:  Yuli Gurriel - .342
Runs:  Jeremy Pena - 9
Home Runs:  Three tied with - 3
RBIs:  Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman - 9
Stolen Bases:  Three tied with - 1

Wins:  Hector Neris and Framber Valdez - 2
ERA:  Framber Valdez - 1.42

Strikeouts:  Framber Valdez - 24
Saves:  Ryan Pressly - 4

Phillies 1-1
Defeated Padres in NLCS, 4-1

Phillies Probables
Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 1.69)
Ranger Suarez (1-0, 1.86)
TBD

Phillies Postseason Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .392
Runs:  Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto - 11
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins - 5
RBIs:  Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins - 11
Stolen Bases:  Kyle Schwarber - 3

Wins:  Three tied with - 2
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.67

Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 28
Saves:  Five tied with - 1

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

1985 Game 31 - 1985 Donruss Action All-Stars #55 Steve Carlton

Braves 3, Phillies 2 (10 Innings)
Game 31 - Wednesday Night, May 15th in Atlanta
Record - 11-20, 5th Place, 10 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Braves tied the game in the ninth and walked it off in the 10th on a Terry Harper home run given up by Kent Tekulve.

What It Means:  This is one of those brutal losses that must have stung for a few days.  The Phillies had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth thanks in part to a great outing from Steve Carlton.  Carlton had pitched six shutout innings before yielding to the bullpen.

What Happened:  The downfall happened quickly.  Larry Andersen allowed a lead-off single in the ninth to Ken Oberkfell and Gerald Perry then promptly hit a two-run home run to tie the game.  Harper led off the 10th with his game-winning home run off Tekulve.

The offense had plenty of opportunities to score more, but went 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  The game was scoreless until the seventh thanks to the pitching duel between Carlton and Braves starting pitcher Steve Bedrosian.  In the top of the seventh, Tim Corcoran doubled home Von Hayes for the first run of the game.  Mike Schmidt would single home Luis Aguayo an inning later.

Featured Card:  This was to be Carlton's last outing of pitching at least six innings of shutout baseball for the rest of the season.  In mid-June, Lefty landed on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury and he'd return in September to make three rough starts.  He'd attempt a comeback in 1986, with a few starts showing promise, but the Phillies would ultimately release the greatest pitcher in the franchise's history on June 24, 1986.

That began a season and a half odyssey that saw Carlton pitch for the Giants, White Sox, Indians and Twins between mid-1986 and early 1988.  His longest stint during that period came with the Indians, with whom he made 23 appearances (14 starts) in the first half of 1987.

1985 Topps #763

1985 Fleer #314

Transaction:  Also on this day, the Phillies designated infielder Kiko Garcia for assignment and signed utility player Derrel Thomas as a free agent.  Thomas would make his Phillies debut on Thursday against the Braves and Garcia would be released by the club on May 23rd (according to the team's 1986 Media Guide).

Garcia had been released by the club once already, prior to the start of the regular season, but was quickly re-signed when the Phillies dealt Ivan DeJesus to the Cardinals.  Garcia had only appeared in four games for the Phillies in 1985, going 0 for 3 to end his 10-year big league career.

Derrel Thomas was a veteran of 14 seasons in the majors, having last appeared in 122 games with the Expos and Angels in 1984.  When the Phillies signed him, he had been playing for the Miami Marlins, an unaffiliated team in the Class A Florida State League.  Thomas took over Garcia's uniform number too - #18.

1985 Virtual Phillies Wall / 1985 Season Summary Index

Series Preview - Orioles at Phillies: July 3rd to July 4th

1978 Topps #287

2018 Chachi 1978 Topps Missing Links #19b

Tuesday 7:05 and Wednesday 4:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  There will be a special pre-game Salute to Veterans on Wednesday, Independence Day.

Series Preview - Astros at Phillies: July 24th to July 26th

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

Astros 65-33, 1st Place in the A.L. West, 17 games ahead of three teams
Phillies 34-62, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 24 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Astros Probables:  Brad Peacock (8-1, 2.49), Charlie Morton (7-4, 4.18), Mike Fiers (7-4, 3.59)
Phillies Probables:  Vince Velasquez (2-5, 5.14), Nick Pivetta (3-5, 5.58), Aaron Nola (7-6, 3.38)

At the Ballpark:  Tuesday night will be the club's annual Christmas in July celebration.

Astros Leaders
Average:  Jose Altuve - .358
Runs:  George Springer - 82
Home Runs:  George Springer - 27
RBIs:  Carlos Correa - 67
Stolen Bases:  Jose Altuve - 21

Wins:  Dallas Keuchel - 9
ERA:  Mike Fiers - 3.59
Strikeouts:  Lance McCullers - 114
Saves:  Ken Giles - 21

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Aaron Altherr - .288
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 46
Home Runs:  Tommy Joseph - 15
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 52
Stolen Bases:  Howie Kendrick - 8

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 7
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.73
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 97
Saves:  Hector Neris - 9

1982 Topps #218

1982 Topps #377

1982 Topps #404

1982 Topps Appreciation:  The three Astros pictured here would go on to join the Phillies later in their careers.

Dave Roberts (1982) appeared in 28 games with the Phillies at the end of his 10-year career, hitting .182 (6 for 33).  Kiko Garcia (1983-1985) provided a boost to the Phillies offense during their pennant-winning season of 1983, hitting .288.

Dickie Thon (1989-1991) served as the Phillies starting shortstop for three years, in between the Steve Jeltz and the Juan Bell eras.  In 431 games, Thon hit .259 with the Phils.

Marlins at Phillies: October 3rd to October 4th

Saturday Double Header 4:05, Sunday 3:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Marlins 69-90, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 20 games behind the Mets
Phillies 62-97, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 27 games behind the Mets

Marlins Probables:  Justin Nicolino (4-4, 4.16), Tom Koehler (11-14, 4.00), Adam Conley (4-1, 3.84)
Phillies Probables:  Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.86), Alec Asher (0-5, 9.00), David Buchanan (2-9, 7.54)

At the Ballpark:  This is it . . . the final series of the 2015 season.  Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day with "prizes and surprises" promised for all fans in attendance.

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Dee Gordon - .329
Runs:  Dee Gordon - 83
Home Runs:  Giancarlo Stanton - 27
RBIs:  Justin Bour - 71
Stolen Bases:  Dee Gordon - 56

Wins:  Tom Koehler - 11
ERA:  Tom Koehler - 4.00
Strikeouts:  Tom Koehler - 132
Saves:  A.J. Ramos - 30

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Odubel Herrera - .290
Runs:  Odubel Herrera - 62
Home Runs:  Ryan Howard - 23
RBIs:  Ryan Howard - 77
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 19+

Wins:  Ken Giles, Aaron Harang and Aaron Nola - 6*
ERA:  Aaron Harang - 4.86
Strikeouts:  Aaron Harang - 106*
Saves:  Ken Giles - 15^

+Ben Revere, now with the Blue Jays, is the overall team leader with 24 stolen bases.
*Cole Hamels, now with the Rangers, is the overall team leader with 6 wins (tied) and 137 strikeouts.
^Jonathan Papelbon, now with the Nationals, is the overall team leader with 17 saves.

1985 Topps #379

1985 Topps #763

1985 Topps Traded #62T

1985 Topps Appreciation:  I've got a post coming up which will tally up all the Phillies-related cards in the 1985 Topps set.  The three cards shown here are the last remaining 1985 Toopps Phillies cards that had no logical fit in any series preview posts throughout the season.  Sorry guys.

I'm looking forward to doing these series preview posts in 2016 looking back at Phillies-related cards in the 1970 Topps set.  I've already put together a list of former and future Phillies in the 1970 Topps set, and there were quite a few I wasn't familiar with.  Just one more reason to look forward to the 2016 season!

Phillies at Orioles: June 8th to June 10th

Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore, MD
Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 1:35

Phillies 28-31, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 6 games behind the Nationals
Orioles 32-25, Tied for 1st Place in the A.L. East with the Rays, 1/2 game ahead of the Yankees

Phillies Probables:  Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.27), Vance Worley (3-2, 3.38), Cliff Lee (0-3, 2.92)
Orioles Probables:  Jake Arrieta (2-7, 5.53), Tommy Hunter (2-3, 5.59), Jason Hammel (6-2, 2.97)

At the Ballpark:  The series will mark the 26th Annual OriolesREACH Food and Funds Drive.  From the Orioles website:  "Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items and cash donations to Oriole Park for each game against the Phillies to benefit the Maryland Food Bank."

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Placido Polanco - .289

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 41

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 13 

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 36

Stolen Bases:  Shane Victorino - 13

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 8

ERA:  Cliff Lee 2.92

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 86

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 15

1979 Topps Flashback:  It's a hodgepodge of a flashback tonight.  Since the Phillies and Orioles only face off once this year, unless they meet again in the World Series, I'm squeezing all 1979 Topps cards with both a Phillies and Orioles connection into this one post.

Larry Christenson spent his entire 11-year career with the Phillies.  His career was cut short due to arm injuries and his last season with the Phillies was 1983.  He didn't make the team's postseason roster when they faced off against the Dodgers that season in the N.L.C.S., and against the Orioles in the World Series.

1979 Topps #493, #543, #37 and #102

One of Christenson's teammates on the '83 team was Kiko Garcia, who came to the Phillies after five seasons in Baltimore and two seasons in Houston.  He's perhaps best known for being the starting shortstop for the 1979 A.L. Champion Orioles and hitting .400 (9 for 20) in the World Series against the Pirates.  Garcia enjoyed a decent year in 1983, hitting .288 while filling in at short and third base.  

Joe Kerrigan pitched in 26 games for the Orioles in 1978 and just one game in 1980, spending the entire 1979 season with Triple-A Rochester.  He served as the Phillies pitching coach in 2003 and 2004 under manager Larry Bowa.

And Mike Anderson spent the 1978 season with the Orioles, hitting .094 in 53 games.  He had started his 9-year career in 1971 and spent five seasons with the Phils before getting shipped to the Cardinals in  December 1975 for Ron Reed.  Following two seasons in St. Louis, and his lone season in Baltimore, Anderson spent the 1979 season back with the Phillies.

Scrapbook Sunday: May 15-18, 1985

1985 Topps #763 Kiko Garcia

25 years ago this week, the Kiko Garcia era for the Philadelphia Phillies came to an unceremonious end. Kiko had signed with the Phillies in March 1983, after spending the prior two years with the Astros. The 1983 season would be the most successful of his 10-year big league career, as he hit .288 for the NL Champs, appearing in just over half the team's games as a utility infielder. Joe Morgan, the regular second baseman for the Wheeze Kids, got plenty of days off throughout the season, and Kiko filled in nicely.

His playing time decreased in 1984 and in 1985 he appeared in just 4 games before being released by the Phillies on May 17th. He'd never make it back to the Majors, but Kiko was still bouncing around the independent leagues as late as the 1997 season, when he was 43 years old.

Walker, Mystery Phillie: My note on the bottom left indicates another mystery Phillie appearing in a box score. On May 10th, a "Walker" pitched a third of an inning for the Phils according to the box score I clipped from the Atlantic City Press. Unbeknownst to me until many, many years later, "Walker" was actually Phillies reliever Dave Rucker. The Atlantic City Press box score editor had failed me again.