Game 107 - Reed, McBride Inducted Into Wall of Fame

Phillies 11, Nationals 5
Game 107 - Saturday Night, August 6th in Philadelphia
Record - 0-1, 3rd Place, 9 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Following the induction of Bake McBride and Ron Reed into the Phillies Wall of Fame, the current offense stayed hot as the hapless Nationals fell yet again, 11-5.

What It Means:  The Phillies own a four game winning streak and have won nine of their last ten.  They have a one game lead over the Brewers for the third Wild Card spot and they'll go for the four-game series sweep this afternoon.

What Happened:  Every starter except Kyle Schwarber had at least one hit, with Jean Segura leading the way with a three-hit night.  Rhys Hoskins hit his third straight first inning home run in a row.  Matt Vierling added a three-run home run in the first, with J.T. Realmuto contributing a two-run home run in the sixth.  Bryson Stott had a two-run triple and Edmundo Sosa doubled home Realmuto for his first hit with the team.  Ranger Suarez picked up the win, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits.

Featured Cards/Field Report:  Doug and I returned to the Hall of Fame Club, arriving shortly after the gates opened and grabbing a prime spot once again right aside the suite where various Wall of Famers and alumni were gathered.  Doug was on a roll the entire night, adding autographs to his Bake McBride/Ron Reed print (shown above) and adding solo signatures to past Wall of Fame prints.  Some of the signers were repeats from the night before, and other than Charlie Manuel, who gets a second card, I've created cards for all the new alumni who signed for Doug on Saturday night.

We were bummed McBride wasn't able to join the festivities, and it was somewhat surreal for me to see all my heroes from the 1980 team.  Of the former players and coaches stopping to sign, only Luis Aguayo and George Vukovich stopped short of Doug's spot before going into the suite.  Bob Boone, Dick Ruthven and (I believe) Warren Brusstar didn't sign at all.

We found it extremely impressive that Manny Trillo, Bobby Abreu, Manuel, Dickie Noles, Mike Lieberthal, Randy Wolf and Lee Elia all signed as many autographs as wanted.  They were gracious with their time, often stopping to chat with the assembled fans.  Trillo especially took his time, working slowly through the line, signing anything and everything put in front of him.  It was a memorable night, and we're already looking forward to next year!

My early prediction for the 2023 Wall of Fame inductee is Larry Andersen.  The current broadcaster has cut back on his schedule, and he was a member of both the 1983 and 1993 Phillies teams, who will be celebrating their 40th and 30th anniversaries next season, respectively.

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

1985 Tastykake Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards:  47
Card Size:  3 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Description:  Beginning in 1985, the Phillies used the exact same card design for three straight years.  The only differences with these cards are the photos used and the copyright line on the bottom right of the cards' fronts.  The design removes the Phillies script logo found on the 1984 cards and adds the player's uniform number and position.  The set's sponsor, Tastykake, has its logo featured on the backs of the cards.

How Distributed:  All fans attending the Phillies game at Veterans Stadium on April 21, 1985, received a complete shrink-wrapped set with a header/checklist card on the top.  The back of the header/checklist card advertised that additional sets could be purchased from the Phillies via mail order for $3.50.  The Phillies raised the price of a complete set by fifty cents over the previous year.

The 1985 Tastykake Phillies set seems to be the most ubiquitous of all the team-issued sets from the 1980s.  Up through the mid-2010s, the sets could be readily found on eBay and for sale at Citizens Bank Park.  The Memorabilia Store from Hunt Auctions located behind Section 126 had several of these sets for sale throughout the 2014 season.

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here based on the numbered checklist found on the back of the header card): 

1. Header Card / Checklist 2. John Felske (#7 - MG) 3. Dave Bristol (#4 - CO) 4. Lee Elia (#2 - CO) 5. Claude Osteen (#3 - CO) 6. Mike Ryan (#5 - CO) 7. Del Unser (#25 - CO) 8. Manager and Coaches 9. Pitchers 10. Catchers 11. Infielders 12. Outfielders 13. Larry Andersen (#47 - RHP)      14. Steve Carlton (#32 - LHP) 15. Don Carman (#42 - LHP) 16. John Denny (#40 - RHP)

17. Tony Ghelfi (#35 - RHP) 18. Kevin Gross (#46 - RHP) 19. Al Holland (#19 - RHP) 20. Charles Hudson (#49 - RHP) 21. Jerry Koosman (#24 - LHP)      22. Shane Rawley (#48 - LHP) 23. Pat Zachry (#38 - RHP) 24. Darren Daulton (#10 - C) 25. Bo Diaz (#6 - C) 26. Ozzie Virgil (#17 - C) 27. John Wockenfuss (#14 - C) 28. Luis Aguayo (#16 - INF) 29. Kiko Garcia (#18 - INF) 30. Steve Jeltz (#30 - SS) 31. John Russell (#29 - OF-1B) 32. Juan Samuel (#8 - 2B)

33. Mike Schmidt (#20 - 3B) 34. Tim Corcoran (#22 - 1B-OF) 35. Greg Gross (#21 - OF-1B) 36. Von Hayes (#9 - CF) 37. Joe Lefebvre (#23 - OF) 38. Garry Maddox (#31 - OF) 39. Jeff Stone  (#26 - OF) 40. Glenn Wilson (#12 - OF) 41. Ramon Caraballo / Mike Diaz 42. Mike Maddux / Rodger Cole 43. Rick Schu / Chris James 44. Francisco Melendez / Ken Jackson 45. Randy Salava / Rocky Childress 46. Rich Surhoff / Ralph Citarella 47. Team Photo

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1):  Zachry

First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (1):  Rawley
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (26):  Aguayo, Andersen, Carlton, Carman, Corcoran, Daulton, Denny, Diaz, Garcia, Ghelfi, G. Gross, K. Gross, Hayes, Holland, Hudson, Jeltz, Koosman, Lefebvre, Maddox, Russell, Samuel, Schmidt, Stone, Virgil, Wilson, Wockenfuss

Manager (1):  Felske
Coaches (5):  Bristol, Elia, Osteen, Ryan, Unser
Phillie Phanatic (0)
Broadcasters (0):  But see below.
Future Phillies (6):  Caraballo / Diaz, Maddux / Cole, Schu / James, Melendez / Jackson, Salava / Childress, Surhoff / Citarella
Other Cards (2):  Header Card / Checklist, Team Photo

Surprises:  There was very little roster turnover between the end of the 1984 season and spring training 1985, as Shane Rawley and Pat Zachry are the only two new additions to the set.  Along with Zachry's one and done Phillies card, this set includes the only Phillies baseball card of Rich Surhoff.  The stand-alone cards feature the entire opening day line-up and adds Tony Ghelfi, Darren Daulton and Joe Lefebvre, who would spend the entire season on the disabled list.

The set's designer's decided to try something different with group photos of coaches and players by position.  Batting practice pitcher Hank King is featured on the coach's card, making this (I believe) his sole Phillies baseball card.  Bill Campbell is featured on the pitcher's card and Ivan DeJesus is featured on the infielder's card, but both are omitted from the regular set.  As the regular season was about to begin, Campbell and DeJesus were traded to the Cardinals for pitcher Dave Rucker.

Of the players receiving solo cards in the regular set, Ghelfi was left off the pitcher's card, John Wockenfuss was (sadly) left off the catcher's card, Kiko Garcia was left off the infielder's card and Lefebvre and Garry Maddox were not on the outfielder's card.

Omissions:  The day before these sets were handed out to fans, the Phillies traded Al Holland to the Pirates for Kent Tekulve.  An update set could have featured Tekulve and other players acquired during the season, such as Derrel Thomas, Tom Foley, Freddie Toliver, Alan Knicely and with a few weeks left to go in the regular season, Dave Stewart.

Variations/Rarities:  Once again, fellow collector Rick came through with a few rarities back when I originally published a post for this set.  These could have been first made available during this season's ALS Autograph Party which would have been in its second season in 1985.  (The Phestival became an official event in 1989.)  Tug McGraw announced his retirement following the 1984 season and this card seems to be a final tribute to the popular lefty reliever.  Fronts and backs of these cards are presented below.

Rarities 1. Tug McGraw - Former Phillies Great 2. Phillies Broadcasters - Richie Ashburn, Harry Kalas, Andy Musser and Chris Wheeler

Also See:  With the 2020 season put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I went back and recapped the Phillies games played in 1985 between that season's opening day and the All-Star break.  An index to those game summaries can be found here.

And here's a commercial from 1985, featuring Garry Maddox and inviting fans to the game on April 21st for their free Phillies photo cards.

Resources:  Beckett.com; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils).

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

1984 Tastykake Phillies Photo Cards / 1986 Tastykake Phillies Photo Cards

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

Series Preview - Phillies at Braves: June 14th to June 16th

2019 Chachi Fan Favorites #8

2019 Chachi Fan Favorites #9

Friday and Saturday 7:20, Sunday 1:20
SunTrust Park - Atlanta, GA

Phillies 38-30, 2nd place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Braves
Braves 40-29, 1st place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies

Phillies Probables:  Nick Pivetta (4-1, 4.93), Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.58), TBA
Braves Probables:  Max Fried (7-3, 3.75), Sean Newcomb (1-0, 2.59), Mike Foltynewicz (1-5, 6.02)

At the Ballpark:  On Sunday, the first 5,000 kids will receive a Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies growth chart.  Also, Braves alumni will be signing for an hour prior to the game as part of the Alumni Sunday series.  Bob Horner, Sonny Jackson, Chris Hammond and Craig Skok are scheduled to appear.  This is definitely something I wish the Phillies would introduce into their promotional calendar.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Jean Segura - .284
Runs:  Andrew McCutchen - 45
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 14
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 47
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez and Jean Segura - 4

Wins:  Three tied with - 6
ERA:  Zach Eflin - 2.81

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 86
Saves:  Hector Neris - 14

Braves Leaders
Average:  Freddie Freeman - .311
Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 49
Home Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 18
RBIs:  Freddie Freeman - 46
Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuna, Jr. - 9

Wins:  Max Fried and Mike Soroka - 7
ERA:  Mike Soroka - 1.92

Strikeouts:  Julio Teheran - 76
Saves:  Luke Jackson - 10

2009 Phillies Team Issue

I updated this post here in June 2024 and this original post is now outdated.

 
Number of Cards:  41
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The Phillies went with black borders for the first time ever.  The cards have a very basic design featuring the team logo and the player's number, name and position in a digital font.  Other than the 2008 World Champions card, which is my all-time favorite card from a team issued set, there's no indication that the Phillies had won the World Championship in 2008 on the cards themselves.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed:  The original 37-card set was available at Citizens Bank Park throughout the first half of season.  Following the signing of Pedro Martinez on July 15th and the acquisition of Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco on July 29th, cards of Martinez, Lee and Francisco, along with back-up catcher Paul Bako, were inserted into the set.  With the addition of these four cards to the update set, five cards available from the original set were removed - the 2008 World Champions card, along with the cards for Coste, Gradoville, Jenkins and Paulino.

Complete Standard Checklist (37):  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.

2008 World Champions 2 - Sam Perlozzo CO 4 - Eric Bruntlett 6 - Ryan Howard 7 - Pedro Feliz 8 - Shane Victorino 10 - Geoff Jenkins 11 - Jimmy Rollins 12 - Matt Stairs 15 - Davey Lopes CO 16 - J.C. Romero 17 - Mick Billmeyer CO 19 - Greg Dobbs 23 - Ronny Paulino 25 - Milt Thompson CO 26 - Chase Utley 27 - Chris Coste 28 - Jayson Werth 29 - Raul Ibanez

30 - Rich Dubee CO 35 - Cole Hamels 37 - Chad Durbin 39 - Brett Myers 41 - Charlie Manuel MG 43 - J.A. Happ 45 - Pete Mackanin CO 46 - Ryan Madson 47 - Scott Eyre 50 - Jamie Moyer 51 - Carlos Ruiz 54 - Brad Lidge 55 - Clay Condrey 56 - Joe Blanton 60 - Tim Gradoville CO 61 - Chan Ho Park Phillie Phanatic Phillies Broadcasters

Complete Update Checklist (4):

10 - Ben Francisco 23 - Paul Bako

34 - Cliff Lee 45 - Pedro Martinez

One and Done (1):  Bako
First Appearances (8):  Eyre, Francisco, Ibanez, Lee, Martinez, Park, Paulino, Stairs
Returning Players (21):  Blanton, Bruntlett, Condrey, Coste, Dobbs, Durbin, Feliz, Hamels, Happ, Howard, Jenkins, Lidge, Madson, Moyer, Myers, Rollins, Romero, Ruiz, Utley, Victorino, Werth

Bako wrapped up his 12-year career playing 44 games with the Phillies in 2009.  His card in this set in his sole Phillies baseball card.  Paulino was traded on March 27th to the Giants for Jack Taschner, and never appeared in a game for the Phillies.  He has a second Phillies card in the 2009 Topps Heritage set.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.  (I'm not counting the semi-rare Matt Stairs card from 2008 as his official first appearance.)

Manager (1):  Manuel
Coaches (7):  Billmeyer, Dubee, Gradoville, Lopes, Mackanin, Perlozzo, Thompson
Phillie Phanatic (1):  The Phanatic is shown atop the dugout is his alternate day uniform.
Broadcasters (1):  Harry Kalas, who passed away on April 13, 2009, is joined on this card by Tom McCarthey, Gary Matthews, Chris Wheeler, Larry Andersen and Scott Franzke.
Commemorative Cards (1):  2008 World Champions

The 2008 World Champions card (see below) features Hamels, Utley, Howard, Rollins, Lidge, Manuel, Madson, Victorino, Werth, Myers, Ruiz and Moyer decked out in tuxedos with red bow ties flanking the World Series trophy.  Gradoville is listed above with the coaches, but he was actually the team's bullpen catcher.

Variations/Rarities:  14,000 Phillies featured a post a few years ago containing a Jayson Werth card I had never seen before.  The card was distributed to kids participating in the team's annual Home Run Derby competition and contains a purple facsimile autograph and the Home Run Derby logo. The card uses a different photo than Werth's regular team issued card.

And as pointed out in a comment from Steve F. in an earlier post, a card was issued for Placido Polanco in the style of the 2009 team issued set.  Polanco was signed as a free agent on December 3rd.

Finally, Rick adds a number of other rarities available in the design of this set in his comment below.  Of most interest to me personally is the blank backed Roy Halladay card, which would be his first official Phillies card.

• 3 - Lou Marson (2008 statistics on back)
• 4 - Kyle Drabek (Reading Phillies)
• 23 - Brian Schneider (blank back)
• 27 - Placido Polanco (blank back)
• 28 - Jayson Werth (Home Run Derby)
• 34 - Roy Halladay (blank back)
• 40 - Michael Taylor (Reading Phillies)

Rick adds that several cards are available with a 2010 copyright date and a 2009 National League Champions logo on the backs.  I've addded to the list Rick originally provided with a few additional cards I've picked up over the years. 

• 11 - Jimmy Rollins
• 34 - Roy Halladay
• 35 - Cole Hamels
• 37 - Chad Durbin
• 43 - J.A. Happ
• 46 - Ryan Madson
• 54 - Brad Lidge

Also See:  Here's my original post from August 31, 2009, covering the discovery of the updated team issued set.
Trivia:  Beckett.com has no record of this set in its database, and the checklist at The Trading Card Database omits the four update cards.
Resources:  The Trading Card Database; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils)

2002 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards:  36
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The early 2000s were in full effect with these cards, thanks to the Phillies design department.  Full color photos share the card with a multi-colored, computer-ish looking geometric border, complete with three different sized floating baseballs.  The card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.  Scott Rolen's card celebrates his 2001 Gold Glove win, although the actual text on the card prematurely predicts his 2002 Gold Glove win.
How Distributed:  The 36-card set was available for sale at Veterans Stadium throughout the season.

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.

3 - Todd Pratt 5 - Pat Burrell 6 - Doug Glanville 7 - John Mabry 8 - Marlon Anderson 9 - Tomas Perez 10 - Larry Bowa MG 11 - Jimmy Rollins 13 - Turk Wendell 15 - Dave Hollins 16 - Travis Lee 17 - Scott Rolen 18 - John Vukovich CO 21 - Greg Gross CO 24 - Mike Lieberthal 25 - Gary Varsho CO 27 - Ricky Bottalico 30 - Tony Scott CO

31 - Robert Person 33 - Ricky Ledee 34 - Nick Punto 35 - Cliff Politte 37 - Rheal Cormier 40 - Jose Santiago 43 - Randy Wolf 44 - Vicente Padilla 46 - Vern Ruhle CO 48 - David Coggin 49 - Jose Mesa 51 - Terry Adams 52 - Carlos Silva 53 - Bobby Abreu 56 - Brandon Duckworth 59 - Ramon Henderson CO Phillie Phanatic Phillie Broadcasters

One and Done (0)
First Appearances (9):  Adams, Coggin, Duckworth, Ledee, Mabry, Punto, Santiago, Silva, Wendell
Returning Players (18):  Abreu, Anderson, Bottalico, Burrell, Cormier, Glanville, Hollins, Lee, Lieberthal, Mesa, Padilla, Perez, Person, Politte, Pratt, Rolen, Rollins, Wolf

Coggin, Duckworth, Santiago and Wendell appear on 2001 late season additions and I'll change their First Appearance designation above if I can determine whether or not the 2001 late season cards were issued together in an update set form, or if they were one off rarities.  (I believe they would have been issued in update set form.)

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Bowa
Coaches (6):  Gross, Henderson, Ruhle, Scott, Varsho, Vukovich
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (1):  After an 11 year absence and for the first time since 1990, the broadcasters received their own card in the team issued set.  Scott Graham, Harry Kalas, Larry Andersen and Chris Wheeler are featured in a photo taken during spring training.
Commemorative Cards (0)

Variations/Rarities:  The set entry for the 2003 Phillies Team Issue at Beckett.com makes mention of cards for Jim Thome and Greg Luzinski in the style of the 2002 cards, given away at the team's winter caravan.  The existence of these cards have been confirmed by Rick's and Steve's comments below.

• 19 - Greg Luzinski
• 25 - Jim Thome

Rick also mentions that the Abreu, Burrell, Lieberthal and Rolen cards are available with facsimile autographs.

Also See:  There was a standard-sized 36-card team set given away at The Vet during the year and jointly sponsored by Acme and Nabisco.  I'd like to eventually feature a post on this giveaway set, and a sample of a card from this set can be found here.
Trivia:  The 2002 set is back on Beckett's radar after the 1999, 2000 and 2001 issues had been completely ignored by the online database.
Resources:  Beckett.com; The Trading Card Database; Phillies collectors Rick and Steve (per their comments below)

1985 Tastykake Phillies

I updated this post here in October 2020 and this original post is now outdated.

 
Number of Cards:  47
Card Size:  3 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Description:  Beginning in 1985, the team used the exact same card design for three straight years.  The only things differentiating the cards are the photos used and the copyright line on the bottom right of the cards' fronts.  The design removes the Phillies script logo found on the 1984 cards and adds the player's uniform number and position.
How Distributed:  All fans attending the Phillies game at Veterans Stadium on April 21, 1985, received a complete shrink-wrapped set with a header/checklist card on the top.  The back of the header/checklist card advertised that additional sets could be purchased from the Phillies via mail order for $3.50.  The Phillies raised the price of a complete set by fifty cents over the previous year.

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards themselves aren't numbered, but I'm presenting the checklist below based on the numbered checklist found on the back of the header card.

Header Card/Checklist John Felske MG Dave Bristol CO Lee Elia CO Claude Osteen CO Mike Ryan CO Del Unser CO Manager and Coaches Pitchers Catchers Infielders Outfielders Larry Andersen Steve Carlton Dan Carman John Denny Tony Ghelfi Kevin Gross Al Holland Charles Hudson Jerry Koosman Shane Rawley Pat Zachry Darren Daulton

Bo Diaz Ozzie Virgil John Wockenfuss Luis Aguayo Kiko Garcia Steve Jeltz John Russell Juan Samuel Mike Schmidt Tim Corcoran Greg Gross Von Hayes Joe Lefebvre Garry Maddox Jeff Stone Glenn Wilson Ramon Caraballo/Mike Diaz Mike Maddux/Rodger Cole Rick Schu/Chris James Francisco Melendez/Ken Jackson Randy Salava/Rocky Childress Rich Surhoff/Ralph Citarella Team Photo

One and Done (1):  Zachry
First Appearances (1):  Rawley
Returning Players (26):  Aguayo, Andersen, Carlton, Carman, Corcoran, Daulton, Denny, Diaz, Garcia, Ghelfi, G. Gross, K. Gross, Hayes, Holland, Hudson, Jeltz, Koosman, Lefebvre, Maddox, Russell, Samuel, Schmidt, Stone, Virgil, Wilson, Wockenfuss

This tells me there was very little roster turnover between the end of the 1984 season and spring training 1985, as Rawley and Zachry are the only two new additions to the set.  Along with Zachry's one and done Phillies card, this set includes the only Phillies baseball card of Rich Surhoff.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.  (In fact, Rawley made his Phillies cardboard debut within the 1984 Fleer Update set.)

Manager (1):  Felske
Coaches (5):  Bristol, Elia, Osteen, Ryan, Unser
Phillie Phanatic (0)
Broadcasters (0)
Group Photos (5):  Manager and Coaches, Pitchers, Catchers, Infielders, Outfielders
Future Phillies (6):  Caraballo/Diaz, Maddux/Cole, Schu/James, Melendez/Jackson, Salava/Childress
Other Cards (2):  Header/checklist card, team photo

The set's designer's decided to try something different with group photos of coaches and players by position.  Batting practice pitcher Hank King is featured on the coach's card, making this (I believe) his sole Phillies baseball card.  Bill Campbell is featured on the pitcher's card and Ivan DeJesus is featured on the infielder's card, but both are omitted from the regular set.  As the regular season was about to begin, Campbell and DeJesus were traded to the Cardinals for pitcher Dave Rucker.

Of the players receiving solo cards in the regular set, Ghelfi was left off the pitcher's card, Wockenfuss was (sadly) left off the catcher's card, Garcia was left off the infielder's card and Lefebvre and Maddox were not on the outfielder's card.

Variations/Rarities:  Thanks again to Rick, who passed along the scan below and information on two additional cards that I would definitely consider "rarities."  I've not seen either of these cards listed on any checklists for this set, nor have I come across either card in my travels.

• Tug McGraw - Former Phillies Great
• Broadcasters - Richie Ashburn, Harry Kalas, Andy Musser and Chris Wheeler

McGraw announced his retirement following the 1984 season and this card seems to be a final tribute to the popular lefty reliever.

Also See:  Scrapbook Sunday: September 1, 1985
Trivia:  The 1985 Tastykake Phillies set seems to be the most ubiquitous of all the team issued sets from the 1980s.  The sets can be readily found on eBay and at Citizens Bank Park.  The Memorabilia Store from Hunt Auctions located behind Section 126 had several of these sets for sale this past season.
Resources:  Phillies SGA 1985; Beckett.com; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils)

Farewell Wheels

2013 Phillies Team Issue 2

I recently returned from an out-of-town work trip to Nashville, so my post on the dismissal of long-time broadcaster Chris Wheeler and former player, turned broadcaster Gary "Sarge" Matthews is a little late.  While I've never been a huge fan of Wheeler, I do think the way he was shown the door was a little cold.

By all accounts, the decision was made by Comcast as a result of the mega-deal just entered into between the media giant and the Phillies.  Comcast felt that change was needed (and it probably was) and their new stake in the team's media revenue gave it the clout to make the call.  In the pre-Comcast contract era, if the Phillies felt a change was needed in the broadcast booth, Wheeler would have been given the option to broadcast a final, farewell season and then gracefully ride into the sunset.  He wasn't given that option, and it's kind of a shame.

Growing up, the adult voices I heard the most were my parents, my grandparents, a few adult family friends and then Harry, Whitey, Andy Musser and Wheels.  There were some extra guys in there at times (Kent Tekulve, Jim Barniak and Todd Kalas to name a few) but the steady foursome of Harry, Whitey, Andy Musser and Wheels provided the soundtrack to my Millville and Sea Isle summer nights.  The former three have since entered the great broadcast booth in the sky, and now Wheeler has had his microphone taken away.

Potential replacements for Wheeler are rumored to be Ricky Bottalico, Brad Lidge or Doug Glanville.  Sarge won't be replaced and all of this won't affect the way I enjoy the games at home at all.  Thankfully, the radio team of Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen and Jim Jackson will remain together and I'll continue to mute the TV and listen to that trio call the game.

So farewell to Chris Wheeler.  He knew and respected the game and his departure marks yet another milestone on my personal journey to "Man am I getting old."

2013 Phillies Survival Guide

2013 Topps Phillies #PHI-17

I'm not going to lie to you here, folks.  It's not looking good for the Fightin' Phils right about now and before it's all over, it could get a lot worse.  The 2013 version of the Phillies has tried our patience, given us indigestion and perhaps made us cuss at our television sets.  I'm here to tell you that you're not alone in your frustration and that you don't need to suffer alone.  We'll get through this and we'll be better fans because of it.  Heck, if we can get through most of the seasons of the 1990s and early 2000s, we can get through just about anything.

As a public service, I've put together 7 handy tips to get us through the rest of this season.  Presented below, in no particular order, are my suggestions to any Phillies fan looking to make the best of what has been a truly lost season.

1.  Enjoy Scott and L.A.

2013 Phillies Team Issue -
Franzke and L.A. are in the back middle

I'm not going to use this space to bash the team's current televsion broadcasters, but I'm not alone in my opinion that they're not very good.  My wife and I automatically mute the TV at gametime and tune in to the radio broadcast so that we can enjoy the game with Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen.  They have an excellent rapport with each other and they can turn the most miserable of games into an enjoyable experience.  Without sounding sacrilegious, the best comparison to this duo is Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn, and I know I'm not alone in that assessment either.

2.  Be nostalgic.
Most of us own or have access to highlights or complete broadcasts of the 2008 World Series games.  There's nothing wrong with re-watching any of these games in lieu of watching Delmon Young or Ryan Howard hack haphazardly at the plate.  From late 2007 through roughly Game 3 of the 2011 N.L.D.S., the Phillies were one of the best, if not the best, teams in baseball.  Those are now the "good old days" and there's nothing wrong with listening to Harry call Brad Lidge's strike out of Eric Hinske over and over again.

2009 Topps #278

3.  Don't listen to sports talk radio.
Honestly, I've tuned in to very little sports talk radio over the past decade and I consider myself wiser because of it.  Sports talk radio does not exist to inform its listeners or provide meaningful insight into the nuances of the game.  It exists to sell advertising space.  For a frustrated Phillies fan, nothing good has ever come to listening to sports talk radio.  Turn it off.

4.  Enjoy the ballpark(s).
Citizens Bank Park is a fantastic place to watch a game.  Sure, it's probably too expensive, but most ballparks in major cities are.  The food is good, there's not a bad seat in the house and the organization has done a great job giving its fans an enjoyable experience with every visit.

Also keep in mind that the team's Triple-A (Lehigh Valley), Double-A (Reading) and Low-A (Lakewood) affiliates are within driving distance.  If you need a break from the big squad, jump in the car and head to a minor league game to scout the 2014 or 2015 Phillies.

2008 Topps Allen & Ginter N43 #N43-CU

5.  Cheer for Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz while you still can.
I remember when the 1980 Phillies started breaking up and it was difficult for me to understand why Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa and Bob Boone were playing on other teams.  The last remnants of the 2008 Phillies team are barely holding on and there's a very real possibility that Chooch and Utley are playing elsewhere in 2014.  Utley may not even last the full season in red pinstripes.

6.  Collect the cards.
The Phillies were not a very good team during my formidable years as a kid growing up in South Jersey but that didn't stop me from wanting to track down different Ricky Jordan, Don Carman or Pat Combs cards.  If you're reading this, chances are you're a die-hard Phillies fan and a collector of their baseball cards.  Don't let the crappy product on the field taint your enjoyment of your hobby.

7.  Look to the future.
Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in roughly 230 days.  Without getting all A. Barlett Giamatti here, it's true that baseball is a funny game and team's fortunes can change drastically from season to season.  Remind yourself that it won't be long until a future Phillies team causes someone to say, "Wow, these guys play like the 2009 Phillies!"

So help me, Ricky Otero, we'll get there again.

I missed nine games during my vacation, and I'm going to post nine brief game summaries tomorrow in a colossal, post-vacation catch-up.  You may want to avoid the blog tomorrow if you don't want to relive the misery.