2018 HOF Candidate: Brad Lidge

We made it!

Somehow after barely posting for the last year, we were able to get through all 5 of the Phillies related HOF Candidates - and for some reason I am happy about that

2009 Allen & Ginter's Baseball Highlights #AGH23 Brad Lidge

Other than a terrific DayF original this is my favorite of the many cards that have been dedicated to Brad Lidge closing out the 2008 World Series. 

I am not as big a fan of A&G base as other folks, but I do love the highlight cards. For me the attraction is honoring the games great moments, and it is cool to have a card dedicated to a Championship won by your favorite team. 

Lidge was a perfect 41/41 in saves during the regular season and then went on to complete 7 additional saves in the postseason.

Baseball-Reference snippet of Brad Lidge 2008 Saves (regular season)

The above is how Baseball-Reference sums up Brad Lidge's 2008 save efficiency. Nothing like looking at perfection.


Flip

2009 Allen & Ginter's Baseball Highlights #AGH23 Brad Lidge (b-side)


Clear and concise, the card mentions the 41 saves of the regular season, followed by the most important one of the postseason - The Phillies 4-3 World Series Clincher versus the Rays. We have posted a few times about this game, check here if you would like to read more.

Verdict
Brad Lidge got the final out in one of the best games that I have ever had the chance to attend HOF !!

Sources and Links
2018 HoF Candidates
Brad Lidge Index
2008 World Series Champions
Baseball-Ref

Happy Independence Day! 2009 Topps A&G National Pride #NP31 Grady Sizemore

Getting the Holiday weekend off to a start by posting a card of one of the newest faces in the Phillies Organization.

2009 Topps A&G National Pride #NP31 Grady Sizemore

Last week the Phillies signed Grady Sizemore off the scrap heep and he is currently playing the outfield for the teams AAA affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Sizemore has had a decent week, picking up a couple of hits including a Home Run. The move obviously doesn't make the Phillies a contender, but it does allow the Phillies flexibility to do a couple of things. 1) Trade Marlon Byrd or Dom Brown to a contendor 2) Send Ben Revere back to AAA for some seasoning.

At this point I don't know that Ben Revere can learn much at the AAA level, A player with no pop and mediocre defensive ability just doesn't have a spot in the Major Leagues. His lack of any skill outside of hitting singles really makes it hard to find a spot for him as a ballplayer.

2009 A&G National Pride
National Pride was a commong 2009 insert of Allen & Ginter. It is a bit hard to believe that the set is now 5 years old, The checker for the subset consists of 75 cards. The Phillies featured in the set include Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz. The checker for this set has some interesting names on it, and it would be fun to do a where/now on the list 5 years removed from the originals.

Sources
Baseball-ref
Baseball Cardpedia
Teams Sets 4 U