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1982 Donruss #585

Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in about 125 days.

Game 95 - Phils Continue Slog Towards All-Star Break

Philadelphia Phillies	4
San Diego Padres	5

1983 Topps #397

Saturday Night, July 12th

Petco Park - San Diego, CA
54-41, 2nd Place, 1/2 game behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler had a rare spotty outing and the Phillies offense went 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position in this 5-4 loss to the Padres.

What It Means:  The Phillies fell into second place with this loss, with one more game to play this afternoon before the All-Star Break.  They've lost four of their last five.  I did manage to watch most of this game, despite the Fox broadcasters, but I admittedly turned the game off once Jordan Romano entered in the seventh.  I made the right call.

What Happened:  Wheeler gave up a pair of home runs and four runs overall in his six innings of work before yielding to the bullpen.  Tanner Banks gave up back-to-back singles in the seventh before Romano took over with the game tied at 4-4.  Romano needed two pitches to give the Padres the lead when Manny Machado hit a sacrifice fly to right.  Nick Castellanos (single) and J.T. Realmuto (double) drove in a pair of runs in the second, and Edmundo Sosa added a two-run single in the fifth.  Sosa was in the game to replace Alec Bohm, who departed after being drilled in the back by a Yu Darvish fastball.

Featured Card:  I used to get absolutely giddy as the All-Star Game approached, and it makes me sad that I'm heading into this coming All-Star break with an overall sense of apathy.  Kyle Schwarber will be in Atlanta, while Zack Wheeler will be resting at home.  Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez and Trea Turner were all snubbed, although Sanchez wouldn't have pitched in the game anyway as he's starting today.  I wish I could get half as excited about the game as I did back in the 1980s.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

Thanks Hit King

He was a flawed man, but he was my first favorite baseball player.  I consider his 1979 Topps Burger King Phillies card as the first official baseball card in my collection, added after a trip to Burger King in Vineland, New Jersey.  I've been hooked on baseball cards ever since.

Phillies at Nationals - September 27th to September 29th

1984 Topps #300

1984 Topps Traded #103T

Friday 6:45, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 3:05
Nationals Park - Washington, DC

At the Ballpark:  On Saturday, the first 20,000 fans will receive a National hockey jersey.  Oddly enough, the Nationals don't appear to have anything special planned for the final regular-season game on Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies 94-65
1st Place in the N.L. East, 6 games ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.15)
Zack Wheeler (16-7, 2.56)
Aaron Nola (13-8, 3.52)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .296
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 108
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 38
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 102
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 32

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 16
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.56
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 213
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

Washington Nationals 69-90
4th Place in the N.L. East, 25 games behind the Phillies

Nationals Probables
Trevor Williams (5-1, 2.19)
MacKenzie Gore (10-12, 4.04)
Jake Irvin (10-13, 4.22)

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Luis Garcia - .278
Runs:  CJ Abrams - 79
Home Runs:  CJ Abrams - 20
RBIs:  Luis Garcia - 68
Stolen Bases:  Jacob Young - 32

Wins:  MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin - 10
ERA:  MacKenzie Gore - 4.04
Strikeouts:  MacKenzie Gore - 172
Saves:  Kyle Finnegan - 38

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

Philly Baseball Card Show Report - Rainy, Quick Trip

We weren't supposed to attend this show, as Doug had a travel baseball tournament scheduled for the weekend in the Toms River area.  The torrential downpour that started on Friday night scuttled those plans, so we pivoted and made the hour-plus drive to Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest Philadelphia Sports Collector Show, better known as The Philly Show.

Our goals were simple.  Doug wanted to add a Michael Lorenzen signature to the recently released Phillies scorecard celebrating the pitcher's August no-hitter.  Lorenzen may not return in 2024, and this could have easily been the only chance to get his autograph before he moves on.  I wanted to add at least one Diamond Stars card and hopefully a few 1969 Topps star cards.  My massive 1969 Topps haul from March is still mostly sitting on my project table, as life and work have forced me to step away from my 1969 Topps blog for a little bit.  (I hope to return to it in October.)

We drove through a hard, steady rain, navigated our way through the confusing admission lines, found the not-well-marked autograph pavilion, stood in line again, purchased our autograph tickets and waited our turn.  I made an impulse Jim Thome autograph ticket purchase, as I wanted to have the Hall of Famer sign his Phillies Alumni photo card.

For the first time ever, I spent all my allotted money at one table and one table only.  Technically, it was two tables, but the two dealers from the Buffalo area were working together and even provided me with a joint business card.  From the Ed Hans side of the table, I found a Paul Waner card needed for my 1934-36 Diamond Stars set build, which is steadily plugging along.  From the Gary Nuchereno side of the table, I first settled on four star cards needed for our 1969 Topps set - all in good shape and very reasonably priced.  After we secured Thome's and Lorenzen's autographs, I went back and found 11 needed commons and semistars from the same dealer's 1969 Topps binder.

Doug spent his money on Ultra Pro supplies with nary a new baseball card purchased.  We were on our way out in less than two hours, me with 16 new cards for my two current, primary set builds and a Thome autograph, Doug with his signed Lorenzen scorecard and some much needed supplies.  We'll now rest up and get ready to likely do a little more damage at the next show in December.

Recent Memory Lane

Valley Forge 12 - December 2021 - Huge haul of 1965 Topps, Jim Thome

Valley Forge 13 - March 2022 - Easy like Sunday morning, close to completing 1965 Topps

Oaks 3 - December 2022 - 1965 Topps set completed, dent made in 1969 Topps, Schwarber, Vierling and Stott

Oaks 4 - March 2023 - Huge haul of 1969 Topps and five Diamond Stars cards added

Oaks 5 - September 2023 - Thome, Lorenzen, only 26 cards purchased from two dealers

1965 Topps - 3rd Series Phillies Alumni

It took us a while, but we finally finished off the third series of the 1965 Topps set we've been collecting since late 2019.  I'm getting closer to completely wrapping up the set, and the blog celebrating every card in the set, so I'd expect these series review posts to start to come a little quicker.

Here's a look at the 20 cards in the set's third series featuring a former Phillies player, coach or manager.  Clicking on the card number underneath each picture will take you to that card's post.

#184

#186

#187

#190

#192

#198

#201

#203

#207

#210

#211

#213

#225

#228

#239

#248

#252

#253

#256

#264

1965 Topps 2nd Series Phillies Alumni / 1965 Topps 4th Series Phillies Alumni

Series Preview - Reds at Phillies: August 13th to August 15th

1986 Topps #1

1986 Topps #200

Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 1:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  On Friday and Saturday nights, the Phillies are hosting COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Nights.  Fans are able to get a free one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (must be at least 18 years of age) or first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (must be at least 12 years of age) at the Suite level near the West VIP Elevator lobby.

On Saturday, all kids will receive a Bryce Harper t-shirt and on Sunday, fans 15 and over will receive a Phillies sustainable water bottle. 

Reds 62-54
2nd Place in the N.L. Central, 8 games behind the Brewers

Reds Probables
Tyler Mahle (9-3, 3.78)
Luis Castillo (6-11, 4.53)
Sonny Gray (4-6, 4.40)

Reds Leaders
Average:  Nick Castellanos - .319
Runs:  Jesse Winker - 77
Home Runs:  Joey Votto - 25
RBIs:  Joey Votto - 72
Stolen Bases:  Jonathan India - 8

Wins:  Tyler Mahle and Wade Miley - 9
ERA:  Wade Miley - 3.00

Strikeouts:  Tyler Mahle - 148
Saves:  Heath Hembree - 8

Phillies 60-55
1st Place in the N.L. East, 1/2 game ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (10-6, 2.42)
TBD
Aaron Nola (7-6, 4.35)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Jean Segura - .313
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 67
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 24
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 68
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper - 12

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 10
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.42
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 181
Saves:  Hector Neris - 12

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

1979 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards:  38
Card Size:  3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Description:  As was the case with all Phillies photo cards issued throughout the 1970s, these cards feature a black and white photo with the players' name below.  The backs of the photo cards are blank and there's no indication on the cards themselves that they're from 1979.  Some of the cards contain blue facsimile autographs, as noted on the checklist below. 

How Distributed:  The photo cards were handed out to fans individually and supplied to the players in order to reply to fan mail or honor autograph requests.  I could be wrong, but I don't believe the cards were ever available in complete set form.  The set's checklist is comprised of the manager, four coaches, all but one of the 25-man opening day roster (Mike Anderson is omitted) and eight players who would make their season debut with the team between May and early July. 

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically): 

1. Ramon Aviles (action) 2. Doug Bird 3. Bob Boone (action, auto) 4. Larry Bowa (action, auto) 5. Warren Brusstar (action) 6. Jose Cardenal (action) 7. Steve Carlton (action, auto) 8. Larry Christenson (action) 9. Rawly Eastwick (action, auto)       10. Nino Espinosa (auto) 11. Greg Gross 12. Bud Harrelson (action) 13. Jim Kaat (auto)

14. Randy Lerch (action) 15. Jim Lonborg (action) 16. Greg Luzinski (action, auto) 17. Pete Mackanin (auto) 18. Garry Maddox (action, auto) 19. Bake McBride (action, auto)       20. Tim McCarver (action) 21. Tug McGraw (action, auto) 22. Rudy Meoli (action, auto) 23. Dickie Noles (action) 24. Danny Ozark MG (auto) 25. Dave Rader 26. Ron Reed (action, auto)

27. Pete Rose (action, auto) 28. Dick Ruthven (auto) 29. Kevin Saucier (action) 30. Mike Schmidt (action) 31. Lonnie Smith (auto) 32. Herm Starrette CO (auto) 33. Tony Taylor CO (auto) 34. Bobby Tiefenauer CO (auto) 35. Manny Trillo 36. Manny Trillo (action) 37. Del Unser 38. Bobby Wine CO (auto)

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1):  Meoli

First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (12):  Aviles, Bird, Espinosa, Gross, Mackanin, Noles, Rader, Rose, Saucier, Smith, Trillo (2)
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (20):  Boone, Bowa, Brusstar, Cardenal, Carlton, Christenson, Eastwick, Harrelson, Kaat, Lerch, Lonborg, Luzinski, Maddox, McBride, McCarver, McGraw, Reed, Ruthven, Schmidt, Unser

Manager (1):  Ozark
Coach (4):  Starrette, Taylor, Tiefenauer, Wine

Surprises:  The biggest surprise here is the inclusion of a Bud Harrelson card, although his photo could ver well be from 1978.  Harrelson had retired from baseball following the 1978 season, but injuries to Larry Bowa and Manny Trillo in the early part of the season forced the club to reach out to him.  Harrelson resigned with the Phillies on May 25th and made his season debut a day later.  The last player to make his debut during the season and appear within the set is Dickie Noles, who made his big league debut on July 5th.

Omissions:  For some reason, hitting/third base coach Billy DeMars didn't card a new card for this set.  He'd return to the checklist in 1980.  Also odd is the omission of outfielder Anderson who returned to the Phillies via free agency on March 5th and appeared in 79 games for the team.  Five other players, all September call-ups, appeared with the Phillies in 1979 and didn't receive photo cards - John Vukovich, John Poff, Jack Kucek, Keith Moreland and Dan Larson.

Variations/Rarities:  Fellow collector Steve let me know of a few rarities and variations for this set.

Signature Variation 1. Rawly Eastwick (no auto) 2. Dick Ruthven (no auto)

Error 1. Warren Brusstar (actually depicts Randy Lerch)

And while it's definitely not part of the team-issued photo card set, I'm including a scan of the Richie Ashburn photo below which could have fit in nicely with the set.  The photo is 5" x 7" and the note on the back indicates the Phillies broadcaster signed the photo on June 16, 1979 at Whitehall Mall.

Also See:  My First Phillies Game; 1979 Burger King Phillies #13 Pete Rose

Resources:  The Trading Card Database; Beckett.com; Phillies collector Steve F.

This set was originally featured in a post back in November 2014, and I'm going to slowly go through these team-issued set posts and update them with new information learned (if any) over the past six years.

1978 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards / 1980 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards

1970-1979 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page

1983 Tastykake Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards:  32
Card Size:  3 1/4" x 5 1/4"

Description:  This is the first team-issued photo card set featuring full color photos.  A color head shot of each player is on the front and the backs are either blank or contain an encouraging message "written" by the player.  Most of these messages begin with a standard, "Dear Fan: Thanks for your letter.  the Phillies and I appreciate your interest."  In the checklist below, I've indicated which photo cards have the "Dear Fan" greeting on the back, which are blank and which have a message variation.  This is the second consecutive year Tastykake sponsored the set, and the black Tastykake logo can be found on the backs of all cards with the exception of the card for Veterans Stadium.

Interestingly enough, the 2001 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards lists Joe Amalfitano in the checklist instead of Porfi Altamirano.  The Beckett database entry for the set perpetuates this error.  As pointed out by 14,000 Phillies in his checklist entry for the set, both Beckett and the Standard Catalog omit the Dave Roberts card from their checklists.

How Distributed:  My guess is these photo cards were available to purchase in set form at Veterans Stadium and also available individually as players responded to fans' autograph requests.  I personally had a tough time tracking down the cards for John Denny, Von Hayes and Bill Robinson.

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically, with Dear Fan inscriptions unless otherwise noted): 

1. Luis Aguayo 2. Porfi Altamirano 3. Marty Bystrom (blank) 4. Steve Carlton (blank) 5. Larry Christenson 6. Pat Corrales MG (blank)       7. Ivan DeJesus 8. John Denny 9. Bob Dernier 10. Bo Diaz 11. Ed Farmer

12. Greg Gross 13. Von Hayes 14. Al Holland 15. Garry Maddox 16. Gary Matthews 17. Tug McGraw (Support . . . )       18. Larry Milbourne 19. Bob Molinaro 20. Sid Monge 21. Joe Morgan 22. Tony Perez

23. Ron Reed (blank) 24. Dave Roberts 25. Bill Robinson 26. Pete Rose 27. Dick Ruthven (blank) 28. Mike Schmidt (blank) 29. Ozzie Virgil 30. Phillies Coaches (blank) 31. Phillie Phanatic  32. Veterans Stadium (blank)

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (0)

First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (7):  Denny, Hayes, Holland, Milbourne, Molinaro, Morgan, Perez
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (21):  Aguayo, Altamirano, Bystrom, Carlton, Christenson, DeJesus, Dernier, Diaz, Farmer, Gross, Maddox, Matthews, McGraw, Monge, Reed, Roberts, Robinson, Rose, Ruthven, Schmidt, Virgil

Manager (1):  Corrales
Coaches (1):  There's one card featuring all five Phillies coaches - Mike Ryan, Deron Johnson, Bobby Wine, Dave Bristol and Claude Osteen.

Phillies Phanatic (1):  The more readily available version features the Phanatic on his ATV.

Other Cards (1):  Veterans Stadium.

Surprises:  There are no real surprises here, and I'm assuming the set was issued once with no updates made.  The entire 25-man opening day roster, with the exception of the two players discussed below, received photo cards.  The Phillies also had five players on the disabled list to start the 1983 season, and they all received cards too - Luis Aguayo, Marty Bystrom, Hayes, Al Holland and Roberts.

Omissions:  Len Matuszek and Alejandro Sanchez both made the opening day roster, but were omitted from the set.  Sanchez returned to the minors a week into the season when Hayes was activated from the disabled list.  Matuszek stuck around a bit longer, optioned down to Triple-A Portland on April 29th.  Kiko Garcia started the season at Portland, but was recalled on May 17th and he'd remain with the club through the rest of the season.  I wish the Phillies had considered an update set as Garcia and a number of players acquired during the season - Joe Lefebvre, Willie Hernandez, Larry Andersen and Sixto Lezcano - would have been obvious choices.  There were also a number of prospects who debuted during 1983, including Charles Hudson, Kevin Gross, Steve Jeltz, Juan Samuel and Darren Daulton, and update cards for those players would have been highly sought after by collectors.

Variations/Rarities:  According to the set's entry in the 2001 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, several cards are available with different backs.  There's also a different Phanatic card available showing him walking around the field in the vicinity of home plate.  I've listed these variations below.

Fellow collector Bill e-mailed to let me know of a few other back variations.  The Greg Gross card can be found with both "Dear Fan" and "Support amateur baseball" backs.  And the ATV variation of the Phanatic can be found with "Dear Fan" and "Tell your parents" backs.

Back Variations       1. Greg Gross (Support . . . ) 2. Sid Monge (Quitters never win)      3. Pete Rose (A good eduction) 4. Phillie Phanatic (Tell your parents)

Phanatic Variation        1. Phillie Phanatic - Not on ATV

Resources:   14,000 Phillies, Beckett.com, Phillies collector Bill, 1984 Phillies Media Guide.

This set was originally featured in a post back in October 2014, and I'm going to slowly go through these team-issued set posts and update them with new information gathered (if any) over the past six years.

Standard Version

Variation

1982 Tastykake Phillies Photo Cards / 1984 Tastykake Phillies Photo Cards

1980-1999 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page