ANNIVERSARY: 10 Years Ago Today the Phillies Win the World Series

Just wanted to post a couple of pictures to remember a great night from a decade ago.

Game Ticket 2008 World Series Game 5. 2008 OCT 27 & 29

 Pat Burrell prior to the last game he would ever play with the Phillies

Harry Kalas on about to perform his final World Series Broadcast.

 Ryan Howard

Jamie Moyer carrying the rubber from the CBP pitchers Mound

 Jimmy Rollins

Don Zimmer

One of my more common avatars

Links and Sources

2008 World Series Game 5 index

2008 World Champion Phillies Player Indices

ANNIVERSARY: 1993 May 10 - Phillies Win on Dauton Slam, Push record to 23-7

Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the first Grand Slam that I saw in person. This is a re-issue of a posting published here 5 years ago:

I had always been a baseball fan but in 1993 it reached another level. The 93 Phils is where my fascination with baseball as an adult began.

And if I was to point to a single game where this all happened it would have been the Pirates @ Phillies game on May 10th 1993.

1993 05 10 Game Ticket - Pirates 1 @ Phillies 5

The Phillies were coming off a big comeback win where Mariano Duncan had hit an 8th inning Grand Slam off of Lee Arther Smith.  Smith was one of the most dominating closers of the late 80s and The game completed a 3 game sweep of the St Louis Cardinals.

The next afternoon a colleague popped into my office and asked if I wanted to go down to the game.  It was the first time I had ever considered going to a Phils game on a whim - and I am glad I did.

The Pirates and Phils were knotted at 1 in the 7th inning, Lenny Dykstra reached with a one out single Mickey Morandini reached on a 2 base error and John Kruk was intentionally walked to load the bases.  Dave Hollins grounded into a force at home setting up a bases loaded 2 out AB for team leader Darren Daulton.  And Daulton delivered - One day after Mariano Duncan hit a go-ahead slame Daulton had one of his own.  The Philllies had won 4 in a row and ran their record to 23-7 16 games over .500.  They would not look back going all the way to the World Series.

1994 Topps Black Gold #28 Darren Daulton

It was the first time I ever saw a Grand Slam in person and it was the first time I ever really understood what it was like to be watching a great baseball team. To this day it remains one of the greatest games I have ever been to.

Friday marks the 20th anniversary of that game - This year I plan on focussing on commemorating the 1983 Phillies NL Pennant but there will definitely be a few nods to the 1993 Clubs as well.

 Go Phightins!  

Sources and Links
Baseball-Ref
1993 Phillies Index
Darren Daulton Index

1996 All-Star Game Index

This is an Index of our postings related to the 1996 All-Star Game which was held in Philadelphia on July 9th 1996.

1996 Jul 9 - All-Star Game Ticket

Ricky Botallico: Game Ticket
Mike Piazza: 1997 Topps #104
Mike Piazza: 2016 Topps TBT #37

1996 UD All-Star Jumbo Checklist (Ripken, Griffey, Smoltz, Gwynn, Piazza, Boggs)

Sources and Links
Game Dated Cards Index

2004 Jun 14: Jim Thome 400th Career Home Run index

This is an index of postings related to the June 14 2004 game in which Jim Thome hit his 400th Home Run


Game Ticket June 14 2004 Reds @ Phillies

2005 Topps #25 (Wall of Fame Inductions / 400 Home Runs) 
2005 Sykbox #43 (Hall of Fame Election Results

Other Milestone Home Runs
2008 UD X Xponential #X2-JT (500th HR 2007 09 16)

Other Sources and Links
Jim Thome Index
Game Dated Cards Index

20th Anniversary: Phillies Host 1996 All-Star Game

Twenty Years Ago Team Phungo was at the 1996 All-Star Game.

1996 All-Star Game Ticket 1996 07 09

The NL won the game 6-0, As noted previously Phoenixville Alum and Dodgers Catcher Mike Piazza earned MVP honors as he went 2 for 3 including a Titanic Home Run.

The signature across the front of the card is the autograph of Ricky Botallico the only member of the Philies to receive an All-Star invite in '96.

A few years after the 96 ASG Botallico visited my workplace to sign autographs. This was during the extremely lean late 90s when the Phillies were trying to get attention any way possible. I felt bad for Botallico, he was placed in a nice outdoor area atop a hill, but the day ended up being colder than expected and windy than expected. Only a few dozen people even came out for the autographs. It was pretty sad.

In his only All-Star Performance Ricky Botallico had a fine outing in front of the home fans. Entering in the fifth inning he retired three of the four batters he faced, the only batter to reach was Brady Anderson via a Ken Caminiti error. Botallico's victims included Future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken and Ivan Rodriguez (strikeout!).

Primestar

 

One of the 1996 ASG sponsors was a local Satellite TV business named "Primestar". Each fan was given the above frame for the over-sized All-Star Ticket.

It isn't real simple to do but the when placed in the holder the ticket looks kinda nice, except for the Primestar Logo right at the top...

1996 All-Star Game postings

This posting will serve as an index to our 1996 ASG coverage

1997 Topps #104 HL Mike Piazza ASG MVP
2016 Topps TBT #37 Mike Piazza

1997 UD SP #136 Ricky Bottalico (Reading Phillies HoF night - 2009)

1996 UD All-Star Game Jumbo #275 Roberto Alomar

2002 Topps #145 John Smoltz

20th Anniversary

Additional Sources and Links
Game Dated Card Index
Baseball-ref

Name the Game: 2014 Chrome #174 Chase Utley

If you want to Name the Game DON'T SCROLL BEYOND THE CARD!

Otherwise stay with us and I will discuss this card below.

2014 Topps #174 Chase Utley (Black Parallel #61/100)

The Photo features Phungo favorite Chase Utley, it appears he is recording a putout on the front end of a possible double play with Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana sliding into second base.

Chase is wearing the Phillies alternative cream jerseys which are reserved for day games. Those two facts point pretty quickly to a single game, a sad 10-4 loss on the 15th of May in 2013. If we look a little deeper we find the only time Santana reached base was in the 7th inning.  He was erased a pitch later on a 6-4-3 double play induced by Phillies pitcher Phillippe Aumont versus the Indian Ryan Raburn

Getty Got It
Once we established the date as a cross check we scanned the Getty Archive and found the image. Hovering the cursor over the photo yield the date and location information which confirms the 2013 05 15 date mentioned above. It also credits Hunter Martin as the Photographer.

Phungo Games

Ticket 2015 05 15 Indians @ Phillies

One of the reasons this card caught my eye is that it is from a Phungo Game - A game attended by Team Phungo. For our dismal game report on that disaster click here. 

Flip

2014 Topps #174 Chase Utley (b-side Black Parallel #61/100)

This is a parallel from the 2014 Chrome set. The black border refractor is a nice look for Phillies Cards - Nice contrast with the Red and having an Indians uni in the frame doesn't hurt. These parallels have a limited print run of 100 copies which can be seen in the top right corner.

To see the vanilla Utley Chrome card you can click here to see our blaster break from 2014.

Variations
In addition to all the parallels the Image also shows up on the mini variation of the 2014 Gypsy Queen Chase Utley card. An example can be seen in the Cardboard Connection Variation Guide - scroll down to card #255.
 
Sources and Links
Phungo Games Index
Chase Utley Player Collection
Baseball-ref
Getty Images
Hunter Martin Photography
Cardboard Connection 

Updates
2016 0121: Game Ticket Added

Phungo Game Report: 2015 04 12 Nationals @ Phillies

The Northeast is emerging from a long cold winter and baseball on a beautiful Sunday is a very welcome sight. Team Phungo was very excited to make it out to an Opening Week Phillies Home Game versus the World Series Favorite Washington Nationals.

2015 0412 Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies: Max Scherzer facing Cesar Hernandez

The Nats may be the World Series pick. However it was the Phillies who took the opening two games of the series and entered the day 2 games up on the Washington Squad.

Unfortunately the Phillies were unable to complete the sweep.

The Nats triumphed 4-3 n extra innings. Game Highlights included Yunel Escobar scoring on a Justing DeFratus wild pitch to take the lead in the Top of the 10th, Home Runs by Bryce Harper and Darin Ruf, and fine starts by Nats New Free Agent Acquisition Max Scherzer and Phillies Spot Starter Seaon O'Sullivan.

Snapshots

2015 MLB Opening Day Logo

It has been almost a week since Opening Day but the logo was still visible, albeit a tad faded.

2015 0412 Sean O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan was called up to make the spot start for the Phillies and will likely stay in the rotation until the Phils off-season acquisition Chad Billingsley is ready to pitch again.

2015 0412 Max Scherzer

The Nats big Free Agent signing this winter was Max Scherzer, So far he has pitched very well in both his starts but due to poor offensive support he has not been credited with a W in either start.

Scherzer appeared very upset throughout most of his pre-game bullpen session. Not sure if he was really unhappy with himself or if this is some sort of technique he uses to get himself fired up.

 

2014 0412 Bryce Harper

The biggest blemish on Sean O'Sullivan's start was giving up a first inning Home Run to Bryce Harper. 

2015 0412 Bryce Harper and Bob Davidson

We happened to capture this strange moment between Bryce Harper and Umpire Bob Davidson. Not sure what was going on here. As far as I know there was not a controversial play or other craziness that the two would be discussing.  It just seemed very odd for Bryce Harper to be putting both his hands on Bob Davidson's shoulders.  

 

 2015 0422 Darin Ruf

The sole offensive outburst for the Phillies was a Pinch Hit Homer by Darin Ruf.

 

Line Up Cards

This years Line Up cards are the same in-hous design the Phillies went with in 2014. Here we have two of the new cards for 2015, Jeff Francoeur, Odbuel Herrera, along with Cesar Hernandez. 

2015 0412 Nationals @ Phillies Game Ticket

Sources and Links
MLB Boxes
MLB Umpires

Game Dated Cards

This is an index of a cards that are tied to specific dates. 

Lines on beige background are games that were attended by Team Phungo (typically but not always Phillies Games). I have tried to tag these with three asterisks at the end (***)

Lines on pink background are Phillies related games that were not attended by team Phungo.

 

DayF Sketch Card Original Brad Lidge 1/1

2025 0626 Rangers 5 @ Brewers 6: 2025 Topps #376 Jackson Chourio (2025 Topps Holiday #H182, 2024 ToppsNow #349)
2023 1012 Braves 1 @ Phillies 3: 2024 Topps Stadium Club #219 Nick Castellanos (no column, Blue Sky post)

2023 0622 Braves 5 @ Phillies 1: 2024 Topps #463 Aaron Nola (no column, Getty Link)
2023 0928 Red Sox 2 @ Orioles 0: 2024 Topps 1989 retro #89B2-10 Gunnar Henderson

2018 0622 Djamondbacks 2 @ Pirates 1: 2018 ToppsNow #355 Nova/Corbin (SABR game)*** 
2018 0530 Astros 3 @ Yankees 5: 2018 Topps #US79 Altuve/Judge Dichotomy

2018 0429 Braves 10 @ Phillies 1: 2019 Topps #1 Ronald Acuna Jr (RoY/ASR)
2017 0630 Phillies 1 @ Mets 2: 2017 ToppsNow #311 Jacob deGrom***
2016 0907 Blue Jays 0 @ Yankees 2: 2017 Topps #286 Aaron Judge (rc)
2016 0816 Dodgers @ Phillies 2016 ToppsNow #362 Chase Utley Returns ***
2016 0807 2016 Topps OD #SD-1 Ichiro (3000 Hits)

2016 Topps S1 - Game Dates w/ related links for 2016 Phillies Checker  

2015 0822 2016 Topps #68 Odubel Herrera 
2015 0721 Rays @ Phillies 2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (rc) MLB Debut ***

2015 0624 2016 Topps #237 Carlos Ruiz

2015 0609 2016 Topps Perspectives #P-20 Ryan Howard

2014 0822 White Sox @ Yankees 2015 Topps #302 Martin Prado (Gatorade Variation) ***  
2013 0923 Rays @ Orioles: 2013 Topps Chase It Down #CD5 Adam Jones ***
2013 0515 Indians @ Phillies: 2014 Topps Chrome #174 Chase Utley (Black Parallel) ***
2013 0901 Royals @ Blue Jays 2014 Topps #273 Mark DeRosa (Confiscated Football)
2010 1006 Reds @ Phillies: 2011 Topps #359 Roy Halladay Postseason No-Hitter ***

2010 0908 Marlins @ Phillies: 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter BHS Ryan Howard HR #250

2009 1102 Yankees @ Phillies: Chase Utley hits 2 of his 5 World Series Home Runs *** 
2009 1102 Yankees @ Phillies: 2010 Topps Heritage #310 Utley Ties Reggie, 10th Anniversary ***
2009 0906 Giants 1 @ Brewers 2: Prince Fielder Bowling Walk-Off (#1 Club)
2009 0321 WBC South Korea vs Venezuela (Shin-Soo Choo Homer / 2018 Winter Olumpics)
2009 0309 WBC  Netherlands 2 Dominican 1 
2008 1029 Rays @ Phillies: DayF Sketch Card Original Brad Lidge 1/1 (featued above) ***
2008 1029 Index to postings related to the 2008 World Series Clincher
2008 1025 Rays @ Phillies: Jamie Moyer World Series Start
2008 1005 2009 UD PoH #BSM-PB Pat Burrell 2 HRs NLDS clincher
2008 0907 Phillies @ Mets 2008 UD Documentary (Joe Blanton reps a game in which he never played) ***
2008 0620 Angels @ Phillies: 2008 UD Documentary (Pat Burrell Hat Trick 3Ks) ***

2008 0605 Reds @ Phillies 2009 Topps #200 Chase Utley (only game in series Phillies wearing Cream)

- NO ARTICLE YET

2008 0605 Reds @ Phillies 2008 Stadium Club #112 Joey Votto (only game in series Phillies wearing Cream) - NO ARTICLE YET
2007 0710 2007 Topps #UH279 Ichiro and Utley (ASG Inside the Park HR) 
2007 0425 2008 UD Masterpieces #69 Chase Utley (5 Hit Game) 
2006 0817 2017 Topps Baseball Card Day Phillies WoF #16 Mike Lieberthal
2006 0620 Yankees @ Phillies: 2015 Topps #TMB-6 Tape Measure Ryan Howard ***
2006 0505 Giants @ Phillies:  2007 Topps Finest ***
2005 0711 ASG HR Derby Detroit Bobby Abreu wins with 41 dingers
2005 0711 ASG HR Derby Detroit (Hee-Seop Choi / 2018 Winter Olympics)
2005 0404 Nationals @ Phillies 2005 Topps Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-TEAM ***
2004 0614 Reds @ Phillies 2005 SubIndex of posts related to Jim Thome HR #400***
2004 0608 D-Backs @ Orioles: 2005 #47 Bazooka Randy Johnson ***
2003 0427 Giants @ Phillies: 2013 Gypsy Queen #NH-KM Kevin Millwood No-Hitter
2002 0727 Phillies 3 @ Braves 5: John Smoltz Thowback
2002 0523 2003 Topps #333 HL Shawn Green (4 HR 6 Hit Game) 
2002 0405 2002 Fleer Authentix #86 (Home Opener, Rolen reaches 5 times) ***
2002 0405 2002 Fleer Authentix #56 (Home Opener Bobby Abreu 4-4 3 RBI) ***
2000 0619 2001 Stadium Club Pat Burrell 

1998 0928 Tigers @ Blue Jays: 1999 Bowman Best #136 Roy Halladay Second career start, No-Hitter through 8.2 innings
1998 0630 Phillies @ Yankees: 2008 UD Yankee Stadium Legacy YSL #5835 Tino Martinez ***
1998 0623 1999 Fleer #95 Jim Thome (HOF Tribute by Once a Cub )
1997 0531 1998 UD/2015 Topps Andres Galarraga Tape Measure Home Run
1997 0521 1998 Topps Stadium Club #4 Vladimir Guerrero (SF score from 2B) 
1996 0709 1996 ASG AL 0 @ NL 6 Game Ticket (index to related postings) ***
1993 0603 1994 Topps #180 George Brett 
1993 0409 Opening Day Game Ticket Darren Daulton (25th Anniversary)  

1992 0621 1993 Score #415/1993 Topps #262 Mickey Morandini

1979 0612 1980 Topps #709 Alan Trammell Steals Home in a game managed by Dick Tracewski
1977 1018 1978 Topps #7 RB Reggie Jackson 5 HR/Keith Jackson Memorial (2018)

1977 0721 1978 Topps #52 Jim Lonborg 

1976 0925 1978 Topps #52 Jim Lonborg (b-side / Phillies clinch NL East) 
1974 0717 1975 Topps #3 Bob Gibson (3000 Ks)
1971 0810 2015 Topps #H-74 Harmon Killebrew (500 HRs) 
1970 1001 1972 Topps #423 Oscar Gamble (Memorial)

1965 0409 2014T Heritage Flashbacks #BF-A Astrodome Opens
1964 1014 1965 Topps #137 Jim Bouton Wins Again (1964 WS G6) 

1959 1001 1960 Topps #385 Charlie Neal (First Topps World Series Card)
1959 0610 1964 Topps #109 Rusty Staub (Rocky Colavito Trivia) 
1959 0610 1964 Topps Jumbo #9 Rocky's Hot Bat
1956 1008 1961 Topps #402 Don Larsen Memorial / Perfect Game
1956 1008 1961 NU Cards Baseball Scoops #418 Don Larsen Perfect Game
1955 0829 1954 Topps Jackie Robinson #30 2016 Topps Berger's Best #BB-5 

1946 0714 1961 Fleer #28 Ted Williams Shift implemented by Leo Durocher
1936 0624 2012 Topps #GG-22 Joe DiMaggio (2 HR Inning)

Other Game Dated Series
Subset Index - This is a group of Indices for Subsets, several of which have Game Dated Cards (Record Breakers, No-Hitters, Postseason Games etc)


Blog Bat Around Compilation (posted 2008) ***

Want List - Phillies
2014 Gypsy Queen Mini #255b Utley Fielding Variation - matches 2014 Topps Chrome #174

2010 Topps Heritage #310 Utley Ties Reggie

2010 Topps #372 Phillies Franchise History  
2009 Topps Heritage #390 BJ Upton (2008 10 29)
2009 Topps Heritage #391 Brad Lidge (2008 10 29)

2007 Topps Finest Ryan Howard Home Runs
#RH-HR17 2006 0528
#RH-HR25 2006 0620

Ryan Howard 2007 Topps Generation Now #9,24,53
Chase Utley 2007 Topps Generation Now #6? From game played 2006 0629
2004 Topps #695 Thome/Schmidt

Cole Hamels 2007 UD Series 1 #395
Cole Hamels 2007 UD First Pitch #256
Gavin Floyd 2005 UD First Pitch #FP-8

2003 Topps T205 TF20 Abreu Konerko Pick Off (2002 06 20??)
Brandon Duckworth 2002 UD Vintage #239
2005 UD Classic Moments – Len Dykstra #LD

Thome 2004 Fleer Ticket Studs #7

Randy Wolf 2004 SP Authentic Game Dated 2003-0814 Randy Wolf 2004 SP Authentic Game Dated 2003-05-15

Non-Phils Want List
2016 Topps Perspectives #P-4 Bryce Harper

1993 04 09 - 20 years ago today my first home opener

The game didn't go real well, but the magical season that followed was a lot of fun.

I honeslty don't remember much about the game - I think it was a little windy and chilly for the suckers in the shade.  Krukker got to 2nd on a defensive indifference in the 9th, which brought a cheer from a bunch of fans that saw it as a fat man steal. Game featured a bunch of Homers by all the Phils stars, Kruk,  Dykstra and Daulton (2).  Unfortunately got four of their own including one by Mark Grace.

  

Ticket Stub 1993 04 09 Darren Daulton

Faux Blaster - 2009 Topps Heritage

I have been on vacation for the past week and have taken a much needed break from all Net related activities. Thanks for your patience while I sort through some stuff and figure out what I was working on pre-vaca. Today I will open by posting a Faux Blaster. Basically my Faux blasters consist of $20 worth of Hobby Packs of a particular product.

This entry will focus on 2009 Topps Heritage. For my $20 I was able to pick up 6 packs of Heritage Hobby at a recent card show (ok it was a couple of months back - but who's counting).

Here are some of the highlights:


2009 Topps Heritage # BF1 Mickey Mantle Flashback (643 Foot Homer @ Tiger Stadium)
2009 Topps Heritage # 218 Ozzie Guillen
2009 Topps Heritage # 73 David Price Rookie Star
2009 Topps Heritage # 387 2008 World Series Game #3 (Carlos Ruiz)


2009 Topps Heritage # 319 Mike Aviles Topps All-Star Rookie
2009 Topps Heritage # 449 Nick Swisher (SP)
2009 Topps Heritage # 163 Johnny Damon
2009 Topps Heritage # 397 Chicago Cubs / Checklist

I am particularly fond of the Carlos Ruiz card of course and also the Johnny Damon base card. and here is why:
2009 Topps Heritage #163 Johnny Damon (B-side)
2008 Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees game ticket 2008-05-03
(click to enlarge)

Check out the first season highlight on Damon's card. It occurred at the final Major League game I attended at Yankee Stadium last year. Pretty cool and I get to add it to my Phungo Games collection.

Overall the faux blaster was okay, I came out with a couple of stars but was a little short on inserts and was not lucky enough to pull any big hits - The Swisher card was my sole short print. I did get the vendor to throw in a 70 card grab bag box that contained some good stuff including a few Phillies and a couple of 08 Topps Finest.

And I also cheated just a bit on my Faux Blaster by picking up this buyback card that I spotted.

1960 Topps #47 Don Zimmer (2009 Topps Heritage Buy Back)

The Zimmer card went for $3 and was in a sheet of other buybacks of lesser known players. The card is in pretty good shape and for $3 I consider it a steal. Don Zimmer is not a Hall of Famer but surely doesn't deserve to be slumming with a bunch of commons.

So there you have it for $23.10 (includes a single of Ronny Paulino as a Phil out of a dime box also) I have picked 50 2009 Topps Heritage cards. The only Phil I recieved other than the Paulino was the WS Highlight of Ruiz. Including tax, a 2009 topps Heritage retail Blaster would typically run $21.59. For hobby I consider these 6 packs a little disappointing simply for being short on Phillies and running below expected on the insert ratios, but finding the Zimmer card makes up for any issues with the rest of the content.

I will be catching up on things the next week or so (and maybe sneaking out to a card show today) but should be back with a Phungo 5 sometime next week.