Unused 2020 Chachi Fan Favorites Cards

Another offseason activity of mine is looking ahead to the upcoming Phillies schedule and planning out the cards I'll use for the Phillies and their opponents for each series preview post.  The pandemic meant the planned 2020 schedule was thrown out the window, and cards I created for several expansion teams went unused.  Again, solely to get these cards out there and out of my draft folder, here are the remaining Fan Favorites cards that would have appeared throughout the 2020 season if not for the pandemic.

Larry Milbourne was a casualty of the early season series cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak on the Marlins.

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #4

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #8

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #9

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #10

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #12

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #14

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #15

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #17

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #19

2012 Chachi Transactions #14 Ross Gload

With the long off-season a little over a week away, I wanted to take a look back at the personnel movement the Phillies had during their 2012 season.  While putting together that post (to be featured soon), I decided I needed to go back one last time and re-visit the 2011-2012 offseason now that we know where all the former Phillies ended up . . . with the exception of Ross Gload.  I can't find any indication that Gload played professional baseball in 2012, so my best guess is that his bad hip finally forced him to retire.

This list was last updated way back on February 22nd, upon Raul Ibanez signing with the Yankees.  At the time, we had no idea that Dontrelle Willis and Chad Qualls would be complete busts and that Jim Thome would finish out the year in Baltimore.

The starred players weren't featured on my list of transactions back on February 22nd, as there was no indication at the time these players were actually in the Phillies' 2012 plans.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles)

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Washington Nationals)

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Texas Rangers)

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the New York Yankees)

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the Cincinnati Reds)

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent (Signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers)

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey

John Bowker (11) 1/10/12 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Wilson Valdez (10-11) 1/25/12 - Traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Jeremy Horst.

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11- ) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

*Raul Valdes (12) 10/25/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the New York Yankees

Jim Thome (03-05; 12) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon (12) 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton (12) 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

*Brian Sanches (06-07; 12) 11/28/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Florida Marlins

Laynce Nix (12) 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

*Steven Lerud (12) 12/12/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles' organization

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds

*Hector Luna (12) 1/2/12 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox organization

*Jeremy Horst (12) 1/25/12 - Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Wilson Valdez

*Juan Pierre (12) 1/27/12 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Chicago White Sox

Chad Qualls (12) 1/31/12 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres

Moving On - Madson and Rollins (Maybe), Ibanez, Gload & Schneider (Definitely)

2011 Topps Heritage
Black #C77

Five Phillies became free agents over the weekend following the conclusion of the 2011 World Series.  For now, that means five names join the list of players Moving On.  My hope, however, is that two of these players will be back in red pinstripes in 2012.

Three of the five are not likely to return.  Raul Ibanez has been the team's starting left fielder for the past three seasons, after spending the first 13 seasons in the American League with the Mariners and Royals.  Raul's tenure will best be remembered for his periods of extreme streakiness.  He was either white hot at the plate or ice cold, with really no middle ground.  Over his three seasons with the Phils, he hit .264 while averaging a little over 23 home runs and 87 RBIs per season.  By all accounts, Raul is one of the nicest people in the game.  But the Phillies will cut ties with 39-year-old and go with either Domonic Brown or John Mayberry, Jr. in left in 2012.

2011 Topps
Allen & Ginter #31

Ross Gload and Brian Schneider filled the roles of left-handed bat off the bench and back-up catcher, respectively, over the past two seasons.  Gload was severely slowed this year with a bad hip, but he still was one of the team's best pinch-hitting options.  In total, Gload went 33 for 140 (.236) as a pinch-hitter with the Phils  with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.  He was used sparingly in the field, starting just 24 games over his two seasons with the club - 15 at first and 9 in right.

2011 Topps Phillies
#PHI14

Schneider killed the Phillies during his years with the Expos, Nationals and Mets, so I was thrilled when they signed him, if for no other reason than the Phils wouldn't have to face him for a few years.  However, had I known he would hit just .208 over two seasons with just 6 home runs, I probably wouldn't have been as thrilled.  Schneider started in 73 games for the Phils over the past two years, and you could usually pencil him into your score card for most day games following night games.

I hope Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Madson are back in 2012.  I've gone into this before, but I think (I hope) Rollins could be had for three years with an option for a fourth.  He's on the record as wanting five years, but I just don't know if that kind of market exists for him.  He's the heart of the team and I believe (I hope) that he has another two to three productive years in him at short.

Madson needs to be brought back.  Without him, the team's closing prospects get murky and I'm not enamored with any of the other free agent closers on the market.  (Heath Bell?  Francisco Rodriguez?  Joe Nathan?)  The only name that intrigues me is Jonathan Papelbon, but I imagine he's heading back to the Sox.  Madson is only 31, and the money the team is saving by not bringing back Brad Lidge or Roy Oswalt should go towards bringing back the team's (I hope) 2012 closer.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Pete Orr (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Jimmy Rollins (00-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Brian Schneider (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

2011 Phillies Team Issue 2 #7 and #23

2011 Phillies Team Issue 2 #7 Ross Gload

Phillies 3, Braves 2
Game 139 - Wednesday Night, September 7th in Philadelphia

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies completed their sweep of the Braves with a walk-off win in the ninth, courtesy of Ross Gload's pinch-hit RBI-single.

What It Means:  The Phillies are 91-48 with a 10 1/2 game lead in the division.  Their magic number to clinch the pennant is 12.

What Went Right:  Starter Roy Oswalt took a no-hitter into the sixth before allowing a lead-off double to Michael Bourn.  He didn't factor in the decision, but it was great to see some life on his fastball as he pitched seven solid innings while striking out seven.

Raul Ibanez remained hot, hitting a solo home run in the second.  The Phils tied it up in the eighth on a Placido Polanco RBI single.  That set up Gload's heroics in the ninth.  Ibanez reached on walk and went to second on Carlos Ruiz' single.  Gload, who is hitting .132 since July 1st, lined a Peter Moylan slider just off the first base bag and into right.  Ibanez came around to score the winning run and complete the sweep.

One other item to note - Chase Utley left the game with a possible concussion after being drilled in the helmet with an Eric O'Flaherty pitch in the sixth inning.  Hopefully, Utley just has a bad headache and he's cleared to fly with the team to Milwaukee.

Featured Card:  Gload has battled a bad hip all year which has severely limited his playing time. Coming into tonight's game, Gload had appeared in 77 games this year - 1 as a DH, 3 in right field, 3 at first base and 70 as a pinch-hitter.  He played in 94 games last year with the Phillies, appearing in the field in just 25 of those games.  So it's tough to blame Topps for not giving the guy a Phillies baseball card yet.  Gload's last mainstream baseball card came in the 2009 Topps Heritage Update set when he was featured with the Marlins.  This is his card from the Phillies team-issued set (Series 2) available at the ballpark.

2011 Chachi #11 Ross Gload

#7

Ross Peter Gload

1st Base - Outfield

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 190

Born: April 5, 1976, Brooklyn, NY

Home: East Hampton, NY

Drafted: Selected by Florida Marlins in 13th round of June 1997 draft

Teams: Chicago Cubs 2000, Colorado Rockies 2002, Chicago White Sox 2004-2006, Kansas City Royals 2007-2008, Florida Marlins 2009, Phillies 2010-

Acquired: Signed as a free agent formerly with the Florida Marlins, December 16, 2009

Contract Status: Signed through the 2011 season

Complete Topps Base Set Checklist:

2005 Topps #468 - White Sox

2008 Topps #196 - Royals

2009 Topps #163 - Royals

2009 Topps Update #UH291 - Marlins

2010 Phillies Team Issue #3 Ross Gload

Phillies 9, Blue Jays 0

Game 71 - Friday Night, June 25th in Philadelphia

Wearing their road grays and serving as the "away" team, the Phillies and Roy Halladay easily handled the "home" Blue Jays, winning 9-0. Halladay, facing his former team for the first time, pitched 7 strong innings, allowing 6 hits while striking out 4. Getting the start at first while Ryan Howard DH'd, Ross Gload paced the offense with 3 hits and 4 RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the 5th.

Chase Utley and Shane Victorino (Doug's favorite) each knocked in a pair of runs and Jimmy Rollins walked a career-high 4 times. Jayson Werth tripled and scored 3 runs.

I could have gone with a Halladay baseball card to represent this win, but how many chances will Ross Gload get this year to shine? I haven't seen the print edition of today's Philadelphia Daily News, but I'm hoping they used either "Fully Gloaded" or "Lock and Gload" to tout Gload's role in last night's victory.

Away Game: We were there last night, taking in the game from the right field stands. Once we got over the initial weirdness of seeing the Phils in their road grays, and other than a few reminders, it seemed like any other home Phillies game. As the Blue Jays took the field in the top of the 1st, public address announcer Dan Baker half-heartedly declared, "Ladies and Gentleman, the 2010 Toronto Blue Jays!" There were a few boos, but for the most part the crowd didn't even really seem to take notice. Each Blue Jays player approached the plate to their home "walk-up" music, and a few Blue Jays' promo spots played on the big scoreboard between innings.

The Phils use giant 2009 Topps cards to represent that game's starting line-up on a wall inside the left-field entrance gate. As this was their first "home" regular season game to ever feature a DH, the Phillies were not prepared with a "Designated Hitter" label for Howard's card. They opted to leave the space blank rather than do a quick mock-up of a DH label.

On the Menu: While Doug enjoyed a slice of pizza from Seasons Pizza, Jenna and I opted for Bull's BBQ. She went with the pulled pork sandwich platter while I went with the highly recommended sampler platter, consisting of a pulled pork slider, a grilled turkey slider and a mini Bull Dog. Chickie & Pete's crab fries were enjoyed by all (mostly me) and Jenna and Doug capped off the night by splitting a vanilla soft serve ice cream in a helmet with rainbow sprinkles. It was by far the best Blue Jays home game I've ever attended.

2010 Chachi #11 Ross Gload

He may not have a lumberjack's beard, but Ross Gload is doing his best to try and fill Eric Bruntlett's roster spot this year. Last year's league leading pinch hitter is off to a slow 1 for 7 start in 2010. The Gload-Meister is card #11 in this year's Chachi set. (That's not his actual nickname.)

Phillies debut: April 7, 2010

Major League debut: August 31, 2000

How acquired: Signed as a free agent formerly with the Florida Marlins, December 16, 2009

Others wearing #3 in the 2000s: Chuck Cottier (coach) 2000, Todd Pratt 2001-2005, Abraham Nunez 2006-2007, Jerry Martin (coach) 2008, Lou Marson 2008-2009

Pictured: Spring Training action, March 25, 2010