Phungo Cards Wil Myers

Yesterday KC Royals Farmhand/Wilmington Blue Rocks Alum Wil Myers hit a grand slam off of Roy Oswalt.  Former Phillies/Astros starter Oswalt is getting some rehab starts in an effort to contribute to the 2012 edition of the Texas Rangers.  For more on the game click here. 

2011 Phungo #14 Wil Myers

With 21 dingers Myers currently ranks 2nd among all Minor Leaguers in Home Runs (Brad Eldred -AAA Toledo Mud Hens/Detroit Tigers).

Seems like we are saying this every year, but I am looking forward to seeing another prospect make the big club in Kansas City, but not sure if they will be enough to make a difference.

Photo above was taken prior to a game in which Myers hit his first home run for the Blue Rocks.  Back then, as the card states, Myers was a catcher.  Now he patrols the Outfield for Omaha. 

If the uniform looks odd, it is because the Blue Rocks were recognizing the Negro Leagues that night in 2010. 

You can also follow the Wil Myers Twitter feed at the aptly named @wilmyers.   

Phungo Road Trip
Team Phungo will be on the road this weekend to catch the punchless Phils at Baltimore.  Gonna be in the 95 degree heat of Camden Yards, but still looking forward to the game.  Going to try for the 2nd time in a week to help Cliff Lee get his first W of 2012.

How Awesome Is this Card?!?!?!!!

A DayF original!

 

 DayF Original Brad Lidge 1/1

DayF of Cardboard Junkie sent this over about a month ago and I really love it.  It has a bunch of qualities that I like

-It captures a favorite player at likely the biggest moment of his career
-DayF painting is terrific - It is bright and vibrant and captures Brad Lidge beautifully.      
-The 2008 World Series Clincher is one of the games that I was fortunate enough to attend. 
-DayF fashioned the painting onto one of those blanks used to combat pack searching - I love recycling of items in such an appropriate fashion.

I am not an artist or painter, but I am thinking that these cards are good for absorbing the paint, this may be good for creating nice works as the one above.

Thanks DayF.  This card is going right onto my card mantle with other cards related to the 08 Series similar to the ones below.

The Phillies are going through a rough patch right now. The DayF original reminds me of happier times and the Baseball Fan in me needs that right now.

Snapshots 2012 06 06 - Dodgers @ Phillies

The Phillies inept offense once again spoiled a brilliant performance by Cliff Lee resulting in a 2-1 loss.  Lee threw 7.2 great innings last night before hanging a curve which Elian Herrera nailed for a 2 run double.  Despite the Phils lack-of-O the game was entertaining and fairly briskly played.  I came away with the old bummer the Phils lost, but still had a great night at the ballpark. 

Snapshots 

Cliff Lee

Lee threw 92 pitches for strikes last night - tough to do in a loss.

Carlos Ruiz 

.358 BA, 8 HR, 32 RBIs and this guy is in 4th place among catchers in the All-Star Voting.  Sounds like The Phils mediocre record is defintely leading to some fan apathy.

Chad Billingsley

Gotta give some credit here.  Billingsley got off to a rocky start but settled down nicely scattering a smattering of hits through the next 6 innings without yielding a run.

Don Mattingly, Dee Gordon, Clayton Kershaw

Everybody's smiling - you would be too if you were part of the team with the best record in baseball. 

Phun Cards 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus

What would you pay for a vintage baseball card of the player that inspired Bernard Malamud's classic novel "The Natural"?  What would that card be worth to you if it was from the classic 1952 Topps set?

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus


Without much effort you can get this card for under $10.  Unfortunately this particular card has a huge TW stamped on the back, but it has a fine looking front and minimal wear.  Really it is a beauty for any 1952 card, but this is a 52 Topps of a noteworthy player.


Yes, Eddie Waitkus is the inspiration for "The Natural".  The novel was of course turned into the classic film by Robert Redford who also starred in the titular role.


Check the back of the card, which goes into a lot more detail about Waitkus then a contemporary card likely would (click to enlarge):

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus (b-side - Image swiped from Baseball Card Database)




There it is the Eddie Waitkus story.  Really not the entire story that we know from "The Natural", but the crazy woman and the shooting is all there. There is also the mention of Waitkus' military service.


Near as I can tell Waitkus career didn't have a Knock out the Lights moment.  He was a member of the 1950 Whiz Kids and did get to represent the NL in the World Series.  Waitkus played 11 seasons in the majors.  During his tenure he collected 1214 hits of which only 24 were homers.

Finally
And Yes, I finally did it, I sponsored a Baseball-Reference page.  I figured for the amount of enjoyment and information  that I have gotten from the site, I was overdue for a sponsership.  

Only 2 people like the Eddie Waitkus Baseball-Reference Page.  That is ridiculous.  Go and Like his page.

Phun Cards - The Essential Collection

Phun Cards is basically my version Cardboard Appreciation.  For all the reasons documented above, I deem the 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus card a member of the Phun Cards Essential Collection.   

1970 Topps #358 Pedro Borbon

Gotta wonder if Topps would put out the same Rookie Card for Pedro Borbon today.

The front of this card is perfectly fine. 

 1970 Topps #358 Pedro Borbon (Image Swiped from Baseball Card Database) 

Not sure the B-Side cartoon gets produced in 2012.   

1970 Topps #358 Pedro Borbon (b-side)

Borbon was a memorable player from my youth who won a couple of World Series Rings as a member of the Big Red Machine.  Farewell Pedro Borbon.

Moneyball 2012 - Chad Bradford

Time to return to Moneyball 2012 which I have neglected for so long that the feature started out as Moneyball 2011 and it is been at least 5 months since we posted on the subject.

 

 

Chad Bradford is one of Billy Beane's diamond in the rough trade pick ups.  The other thing that we find out about Bradford in Moneyball is that Bradford is a sindwinding righty.  Anytime an issue emerges with his pitching Bradford lowers his delivery slighty until at the time of "Moneyball" Bradford is actually dragging his knuckles on the ground when he pitches.

 

 

2003 Topps #29 Chad Bradford (image swiped from Baseball Card Database)

 

 

Bradford's tenure with the A's lasted until 2005 when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He eventually found his way to the Tampa Bay Rays and contributed to their 2008 American League Championship team.  Bradford made it to the postseason 7 times over a 12 year career.       

 

 

2 degrees of Separation 

 

I once met a college teammate of Chad Bradford.  Just some guy I met in a bar.  I am pretty sure he really knew Bradford, because who the hell is ever going to bring up that they played baseball with a set up reliever.  This happened several years ago - the bar has changed hands a few times since then - and all I remember about the conversation is that Chad Bradford was pretty much on the same level as the rest of the pitchers on the University of Southern Mississippi team, Then one year he shows up and has 5 more MPH and became an MLB prospect. It was also mentioned that Bradford was trying to hang on long enough for his major league pension to kick in.  I believe to get across the pension bridge you need to have 10 years of major league service, which Bradford should have cleared.

 

 

Chad Bradford 2012.

 

Tonight Bradford is representing the A's at the MLB draft.  He has been retired since 2009.  According to his Wikipedia page he is currently coaching in his native Mississippi.

 

 

Other draft Reps include HoFs Frank Robinson, Fergie Jenkins, and Tommy LaSorda. 

 

 

The Phils will be represented by their Hall of Famer, Pat Gillick along with Bill Giles.  Phils alums Pat Corralles and Bob Boone will be the Reps for the Nationals.

 

 

Moneyball 2011-2012

 

Links to  previous MB 2011-2012 posts

 

Moneyball The Movie

 

 

Art Howe
Bennett Miller

Billy Beane

Jeremy Brown

Michael Lewis

Michael Oher 

Ron Washington

Tony LaRussa

 

etc

 

Here is a link to a Moneyball and Collecting related article in Beckett that I first saw referenced by Chris Olds via Twitter. 

 

Snapshots 2012 05 29 Tigers @ Red Sox

Team Phungo was lucky enough to spend a week in Cape Cod with some good friends. Among the activities were Beach, Sun, Relaxation, Whale Watching, Disc Golf, Eating & Drinking too much and BASEBALL!!


We were able to catch a game at Fenway Park between the Tigers and Red Sox.  The BoSox took the game 6-3, in a game which Daniel Bard outpitched Justin Verlander.  Homers were hit by Jhonny Peralta, Prince Fielder and Big Papi.  The big blow for Boston was a bases clearing double by Daniel Nava off of a 100 mph fastball by Verlander.

SnapShots

Scoreboard on Game Day

 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Warming up Bard in the bullpen.

Kevin Youkilis

Miguel Cabrera

 Red Sox Bullpen Car

Green Monster w/ Pesky Pole in Foreground

Notice that fans adding Sharpie Signatures to the foul pole. 


Sadly our vacation had to come to an end - glad we were able to make it to a game.  Enjoy the snap shots.