TRENDY: 2015 Carolina Prospects #23 Lucas Giolito

The Nationals have put Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the DL. To replace the 2010 Prospect Washington has called up 2016 Prospect Lucas Giolito.

2015 Carolina Prospects #23 Lucas Giolito

I like to occasionally joke about Strasburg's injury history, but it is a shame to see the potential ace go down in the middle of what may be his best season to date. 

While Stephen Strasburg may not have had a standout season yet, I think the Nats would be happy if their latest top prospect Lucas Giolito someday puts up numbers similar to Strasburg has in 2016.

2015 Carolina Prospects
I picked up this set of 2015 Carolina Prospects at a recent Wilmington Blue Rocks game.  It is a nice looking set based on the hockey stick element from 1982 Topps. Other notables in the set include Adam Plutko, Bradley Zimmer, and Lucas Sims. 

2015 Carolina Prospects #23 Lucas Giolito (b-side)


Pretty decent flip side for a minor league card, the Text takes us up to the point where Giolito had Tommy John Surgery. The 21 year old Right-Hander is recovering well, posting a 3.17 ERA through 71 Innings at AA Harrisburg this year.

If Giolito's debut goes well, it still may be a while until Phillies fans get to see the him, the two clubs don't face each other until late August.
 
Sources and Links
Baseball-ref

Purple

Inspired by Night Owl Cards Prince Memorial last week we have a few Phillies Purple Cards.

1975 Topps # 574 Tony Taylor

In deference to NOC we open with a 1975T card that has a Purple top. The Phillies had purple cards in Flagship even in years when it was not one of the base colors.

Several times over the years Purple has served as a secondary color for Phillies cards. The 1990T Bob Dernier is a favorite - Green and Purple are particularly good complimentary colors.

Purple Chrome

Purple Parallels have shown up the last couple of years commonly found in Toys R Us sets, but I think the 2013 Heritage may have been regular retail.

Fleer stole the 1954T design for this set. Lots of Purple on the Ron Gant card.

Continuing with Fleer with a minimalist retro inspired design from 2006. Kind of like the look of this set.

The Purple continues through to the b-side.

 HoF Mike Schmidt go the Purple Honors on his 1988 Score card.

Once again the Purple continues through to the back, although more subtle then on the Rollins 06 Fleer Tradition Card.

Finally from 1982T, in addition to the titles the signature hockey sticks are also in Princely Purple.

Finally we close with Prince Himself

Purple Rain 45 RPM on Purple Vinyl

And the packaging...

I supposed colored vinyl is the Parallel of Records.

Sources and Links
Prince Memorial / Prince R&R HoF Index

1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Record Breaker

A few nights ago we ran a column on the Derek Jeter 2015 Topps #1 card and how it compares with the companies other opening cards.

1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Highlight NL Strikeout Record

I classified all the #1s in relation to the Jeter card. The judging was very subjective, and this is one of the cards that I determined was better than 2015T Jeter. Lefty got the nod because he is one of my favorite players from when I was a kid and was the Ace for the Phillies first World Championship team in 1980.

Your results may vary - if you don't like it, write your own blog.

Steve Carlton broke Bob Gibson's NL Career Strikeout mark on Septemember 21st 1981 in a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Expos. The tying K took place in the 2nd inning against Montreal Third Baseman Larry Parrish. The following inning Carlton struck out Hall of Famer Andre Dawson with the Record Breaker.

The OCD collector in me would like to point out that the above Photo of Steve Carlton shows Lefty in the Phillies Home Whites. This means that the picture was NOT taken at the game in which Carlton broke Gibson's records.

Flip

1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Highlight NL Strikeout Record (b-side)

The back of the card contains some info on the game without noting that the Phillies lost that day. The L was not on Carlton who pitched 10 shutout innings. The game was in the 17th inning when Dawson recorded a bases loaded single to give the Expos the victory.

An incredible dozen different players were penciled in the Number nine spot for the Phillies that day including Rookie Ryne Sandberg who entered the game as a pinch runner.

The text also mentions the previous record holder Bob Gibson who was honored by Topps with a Highlight Card in 1975 commemorating his 3000th strikeout.

Sources and Links
Topps #1 Club Index
Phungo Steve Carlton HOF Index
baseball-ref