Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard

Note - The interview below was conducted prior to the Marlins eventful day yesterday and we really didn't discuss Mr Guillen here. 

Opening Day has come and gone and despite the Marlins spoiling the Team Phungo Home Opener outing, we are going to check in with Brian at 30-Year Old Cardboard and see what is going on with the franchise that now goes by the Miami Marlins.

1) Have you adjusted to saying Miami Marlins

I'm getting there.  I prefer to call my team 'The Fish' so it works out nicely for me as the team mascot has not changed.  Still, there are times when I have to do a double-take when I see someone wearing the new gear.

2) How many items do you expect to add to the Andre Dawson collection this year? 

As many as I can.  My main goal is to get to 1,000 unique cards.  I think I will hit that goal by the summer.  I have some ideas for some new inscribed baseballs that I would like to add to my collection, and I am going to try to bring home a few surprises too...

3) Do Marlins fans really care about the retiring and unretiring of the #5?

Not in the least bit.  If #5 was worn by a former Marlins legend it would be a different story - to be honest very few people even knew that it had been retired in the first place.  My guess is that the only people upset about it were the ones that bought LoMo's #20 jerseys and t-shirts.

4) Since you cover both the Cubs and Marlins, Is Carlos Zambrano more of a Loss for the Cubs or a Gain for the Marlilns?

Definitely a gain for the Marlins.  He did very little constructive work for the Cubs at the end of his tenure in Chicago.  And while they were probably happier to get rid of him than we may have been to pick him up, I would certainly welcome any opportunity to see if a former dominant hurler could re-capture his spark on my team!!!

2012 Phungo #28 Carlos Zambrano

5) Jimmy Buffet troubador or buffoon?

He is a good guy.  And I like that he speaks his mind.  Plus, he has great taste in sports teams.   LOL

Scorecard

5 of 5 - Great answer regarding Logan Morrison picking up the #5 Jersey - We absolutely must give a salute to anyone that can build a player collection of a thousand cards for a single player.

The Buffet following sometimes baffles me, but 30YOC brings up a valid point about how the man handles himself.  I do admit I was impressed with the man the one time I saw him concert.  Side Note:  I once saw the Coral Reefer Band (Sans Jimmy) do the National Anthem at Camden Yards.

Looking Back
2010 Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard
2009 Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard

2012 Phungo 5 Postings
Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies Room.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Pirates Treasure Room

Oakland A's - The Fuji Chronicles

Seattle Mariners - Emeral City Diamond Gems 

Texas Rangers - Play at the Plate

Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard

Today we are visiting with 30-Year Old Cardboard and talking Marlins.

1) When the Marlins move in 2012?, will there be anything you will miss at Dolphin/Blockbuster/Landshark Stadium?
When the Marlins move even further South, I will miss the 30-minute drive to the ballpark the most. And with their move to a new stadium, I will also miss the relatively cheap parking price of $10. I am guessing that the new ballpark will charge between $20-$25. YEAH!! The current stadium is set up for football, but I think it happens to be a great place to watch baseball as well. Hopefully the new stadium will be even better.

2) Are there any parameters on "Same Card Different Paths?"
'Same Card, Different Paths' was a fun series to add to '30-YOC'. Originally, the idea came to me from the idea of how it must feel to be a player or team collector that had problems securing a high-profile card due to the 'other' guy. Just ask Night Owl how it feels to have one of his favorite players featured on what is known by 99.9% of collectors as Mike Schmidt's rookie card.

2010 Phungo #50 Chris Coghlan

3) How surprising was Chris Coghlin's rookie season?

Coghlan's rookie campaign was incredible. At the start of the year, my eyes were firmly affixed on Cameron Maybin, but Coghlan came out of nowhere and made great strides as the Marlins' lead-off hitter. Had it not been for Maybin's demotion to AA ball, Coghlan may not have received the playing time he got with 'The Fish'. I firmly believe that the lead-off hitter has more pressure on him than any other hitter - and his tremendous success as a rookie was fun to enjoy each and every night. It felt very similar to what Jerome Walton did for the Cubs in '89.

4) How do you feel about the Marlins playing a Home Series vs the Mets in San Juan?
I'm ok with it. But if I were a season ticket owner, and I got billed for three games that were not at 'home' I may have another opinion. I do know that the team is working with any fans that want to make the trip to see the games...

5) Is the Cuban the best regional sandwhich?
Ask most South Floridians and they will say yes. My honest opinion is that you guys in Philadelphia own that title(amongst many others)!!!

Phungo 5 Box Score

Brian has come up with some interesting insights on the Marlins for us and Kudos for bringing the Philly Cheesesteak into the conversation. A well done 5 for 5 for 30-Year Old Cardboard. There are many fine and fun features over at 30-YoC, whether they are chronicling the efforts in collecting the 75 Reds or the exploits of Hall of Famers.

Thanks for helping out with this division rival version of Phungo 5.

Looking Back

For a look back at a previous Phungo 5 Click Here to see our Washington Nationals Q&A with 25 Years of Baseball.

Mike Schmidt Day at 30-Year Old Cardboard

I just wanted to let Phillies Fans and Phungo Readers know that 30-Year Old Cardboard has put together a great set of posts regarding Mike Schmidt to commemorate his 60th birthday (on Sunday Sept 27th).

Thanks Brian and Happy Birthday to Michael Jack!


2009 04 19 Harry Kalas Memorial at Mike Schmidt Statue (Click to Enlarge)

*Harry Kalas called every one of Mike Schmidt's 548 career Home Runs.

Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard

The Phils just finished playing the Marlins in a three game set in Florida (didn't go well for the fish) and this week will be entertaining the Chicago Cubs. And who better to talk about the suddenly Hot Cubbies and struggling Marlins then one of our favorite South Florida Card Bloggers, but Brian from 30-Year Old Cardboard.

1) You are both a Cubs and a Marlins fan. This probably affords you a unique perspective on the 2003 NLCS and the Moises Alou/Steve Bartman play. Can you elaborate on your thoughts on the events?

Let me start by saying that I was thrilled that the Marlins won that series and eventually the World Series title. Even at the time, I saw the 'Bartman Play' as just another fan interfering with a ball that could have been caught by a player. It just so happened to be in Chicago and at Wrigley. Anything there gets amplified and once the game and series ended all of the blame went to a guy that did what any of us in those seats would have attempted to do. Sadly, Cubs fans attacked him and his life was hell for quite some time afterwards. It's just another thing that Cubs' fans have hung their hats on, and until they get that victory in the World Series, they will continue to place blame on 'other' things besides the team's performance.

2) You have completed the 1983 Super Veterans Subsets, what classis subset would you like to complete next?

The 1983 Topps Super Vets set was a lot of fun to collect. It was great to re-visit many of those legendary players and learn new things about some of the guys I had forgotten. I don't want to give my secrets away just yet, but let's say that there is a nice handful of subests that were issued in the 1980's that I have my eyes on. For me, if the set brings me back to my collecting days as a kid than it is a contender!! How about a few hints?? 1985 Topps has 1 I am ready to go after. '88 Score too! Ok, enough hints...

1971 Topp #240 Fergie Jenkins

3) You have delved into both Vintage and autograph cards as a player collector do you have a preference for either type of card?

Absolutely. While autograph collecting has been a big part of my collecting habits in the past year, nothing beats obtaining a vintage card. And if you can find that 'special' one in good, great, or mint condition there is a sense of pride about adding it to your collection. Grabbing a card of Fergie Jenkins or Billy Williams that is 40 years old and in good condition is so much better than any of the autographs I have aquired from the modern certified autograph craze.

4) If the Marlins have a Sell off what player would you most like to see on the Cubs?

Josh Johnson. I'd love to see what a pitcher with his skill could do at Wrigley. And with a bigger audience in place, it would be nice to see Josh get the attention and credit he has earned by being one of the top 'hidden' pitchers in the sport. If not Josh Johnson, I'd like to see Dan Uggla get a fresh start on a new team as well....

5) "Hill Street Blues" or "Miami Vice"

Sport Jackets and no socks rule - Miami Vice!!! I was a big fan of the show when it first came out and although I never watched Hill Street Blues, I doubt that it had the same kind of cultural impact that MIami Vice had during the 1980's. Crockett and Tubbs 4-ever!!!

Good Stuff. I am more of a HSB guy then Miami Vice, but Brian came up for some solid reasoning for his position there. I am also a big Josh Johnson fan - he is the ace of the Phungo Fantasy Team. 5 out of 5 for 30-Year Old Cardboard.

Thanks to the team over at 30-Year Old Cardboard and keep those Did You Knows? coming. For a look back at a previous Phungo 5 on the Florida Marlins click here for Wax Heaven's state of the team back in May.