Checker 2009 Phungo

The Original Phungo set was released in 2009. The 64 card checklist is presented below, card #31 is unknown - I may have never produced one.

2009 Phungo #1 Richie Ashburn 

1	Richie Ashburn	Phillies
2	BJ Upton	Rays
3	Thomas Jefferson	Statesman
4	Alex Gordon	Royals
5	Pat Burrell	Phillies
6	Ryan Howard	Phillies
7	Pedro Feliz	Phillies
8	Phillies Phanatic	Phillies
9	Jason Donald	Phillies
10	Manny Ramirez	Dodgers
11	Brian Roberts	Orioles
12	Matt Stairs	Phillies
13	Big Apple	Mets
14	Ernie Banks	Cubs
15	Kevin Millar	Orioles
16	Abraham Lincoln	Nationals
17	Aubrey Huff	Orioles
18	JC Romero	Phillies
19	James Bond Island	Landmark
20	Mike Mussina	Yankees
21	Carlos Delgado	Mets
22	Anibal Sanchez	Marlins
23	Scottie Reynolds	NCAA Hoop Villanova
24	Yankees Anthem	Yankees
25	Gregg Olsen vs Jim Thome	Orioles/White Sox
26	Chase Utley	Phillies
27	Rob Davis	Football Packers
28	Jayson Werth	Phillies
29	Kenny Mayne	Mariners
30	Shane Victorino	Phillies
31
32	Carlos Carrasco	Phillies
33	James Shields	Rays
34	Felix Hernandez	Mariners
35	Cole Hamels	Phillies
36	Greg Maddux	Dodgers
37	Chad Durbin	Phillies
38	Kyle Kendrik	Phillies
39	Brett Myers vs Paul LoDuca	Phillies/Mets
40	Paul Sorvino	Actor
41	Charlie Manuel	Phillies
42	Spike Lee	Director
43	Rollie Fingers	Athletics
44	Luke Hochevar	Royals
45	Pedro Martinez	Mets
46	Greg Maddux vs Ryan Howard	Padres/Phillies
47	Ryan Ludwick	Cardinals
48	Torii Hunter	Angels
49	Blue Jays Statue of Liberty	Blue Jays
50	Jamie Moyer	Phillies
51	Washington Monument	Landmark
52	CC Sabathia	Brewers
53	Grant Balfour	Rays
54	Brad Lidge	Phillies
55	Roger Clemens	Astros
56	Joe Blanton	Phillies
57	Johan Santana	Mets
58	Harry Kalas	Phillies
59	Rob Reiner	Director
60	Don Zimmer	Rays
61	Rudy Seanez	Phillies
62	Vendor	Vendor
63	Ryan Madson	Phillies
64	Phillie Phanatic	Phillies

WeekLinks 2014-01-11

Saturday - The Eagles season comes to an end, as they lose in the final seconds to the Saints 26-24.
Monday - Florida State wins the NCAA football Championship. Alum Buster Posey is happy.
Tuesday - Record Cold hits the east coast.

 2009 Phungo #36 Greg Maddux

Wednesday - Hall of Fame Inducts Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. Jack Morris and Rafael Palmeiro are both banished from the BBWAA ballot. 

Thursday - Disgraced Philadelphia writer Bill Conlin Dies
- Comcast and The Phillies announce Chris Wheeler and Gary "Sarge" Matthews will not be returning to the broadcast booth.

Prior WeekLinks
2013-12-22

Farewell: 2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

On Monday we go the news that Chad Durbin retired. Durbin may have only been a middle reliever for the Phillies, but he performed that job for the 2008 World Champions. That season was among Chad’s best,  He had a 2.87 ERA (152 ERA+) in 87+ innings for the Champs. He was a member of three of the Phillies recent postseason teams (2008-2010) prior to moving on to Cleveland and Atlanta then returning to the Phillies for one last stretch this past season.


2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

This will always be one of my favorite Phungo Cards and I have featured it a number of times. Partially because I like the card, and partially because there really aren't many Chad Durbin cards.

The photo was taken looking down into the Phillies Bullpen following the clinching W in the 2008 World Series. I met Chad Durbin at a card show in 2011 and told him about the picture, he mentioned that he remembered being in the bullpen celebrating. He said it was like being in a movie with all the bright lights shining down and people cheering.

By an account I have ever read Durbin is a really decent guy and seems to understand how lucky he has been. He also seems to be prepared for life after baseball. I read via twitter yesterday that he is working with a bat company and if I remember correctly even during his playing days he had an online project that helped connect prospects with scouts. I hope Durbin finds a post playing career with the Phillies or another organization. He's a good guy for the game to have around.

2008 World Series Champs

With the Durbin retirement announcement it felt like a good time to Where are they Now the 08 Champs:

Carlos Ruiz - With Phillies, Just signed to stay on through 2015.
Ryan Howard – With Phillies contracted forever for lots o $$
Chase Utley – Resigned with Phillies during 2013 through 2016ish
Pedro Feliz - Out of MLB appears to have last played with Camden Riversharks in 2012.
Jimmy Rollins - contracted with Phillies thru 2014 and possibly 2015
Pat Burrell – Retired after winning another World Series with the 2010 San Francisco Giants. Currently scouting with the Giants.
Shane Victorino – RF for the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Selling his beard for charity.
Jayson Werth – playing RF for megabucks with division rival Washington Nationals

Cole Hamels – Phillies current Ace.
Jamie Moyer – Retired in 2012 at age of 49.
Brett Myers – pitched as reliever for Indians in 2013, Released on 8/29 and is currently a Free Agent.
Joe Blanton – was 2-14 for the 2013 Angels.
Kyle Kendrick – was in Phillies organization in 2013, but may be a free agent this winter.


Chris Coste – Retired, last played MLB in 2009. Has done pre-/post- on Phils Broadcasts.
Eric Bruntlett – Retired last MLB appearance 2009
Greg Dobbs – with the Marlins in 2013.
Geoff Jenkins – Game 5 of the 2008 World Series was Jenkins last MLB game ever.
Matt Stairs – Retired, last played MLB with 2011 Nats.
So Taguchi – Returned to play in Japan, retired in 2012.


JC Romero – Pitched in Indians and Nationals Minor League system in 2013
Scott Eyre – Retired after 2009 Season with the Phillies
Brad Lidge – Retired as a Philie in 2013. Last pitched in 2012 with Nationals
Ryan Madson – Has not pitched in the Majors since left Philadelphia as FA in 2011. He is currently a FA was last seen in the Angels org.
Clay Condrey - Last pitched in the Twins organization in 2010.
Chad Durbin – See Above

Sources
Baseball-ref.com 

Updates
2013 11 27 - added Jimmy Rollins and Clay Condrey 

Hall of Fame Thursday - Ernie Banks - Phun Stuff from Thoughts and Sox

1964 Topps #55 Ernie Banks

2009 Phungo #14 Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977, his first year of eligibility. Mr Cub had 512 career Homers, 1636 RBI, 1305 Runs, and 2583 Hits during his 19 year major league career. He was a two-time MVP who played on 13 all-star teams. His 277 Homers as a Shortstop was the major league record until he was passed by Cal Ripken Jr.

The Topps card I received in a trade with Adam from Thoughts and Sox. I sent over a couple of vintage Red Sox and a pile of more recent Bosox and he sent back bunch of Phillies and the 1964 Banks card above.

The Phungo card has a picture taken during the 2008 All-Star Futures game. Banks was named an honorary captain. I erroneously put down his position has 3B, for some reason I thought I heard that he was inducted into the HOF as a Third Basemen. According to the Hall of Fame Website he was inducted as a shortstop. Banks did play about half of his career at first base. Banks' Phungo card number is 14 which is the number he wore during his playing career, and was also the first number ever retired by the Cubs.

One interesting fact I found out while researching this post is that on May 8th 1973, Cubs manager Whitey Lockman was ejected from a game versus the Padres. Banks was a coach for the Cubs at the time and took over the helm for the team. The Cubs went on to win the game in 12 innings 3-2. This game preceded Frank Robinson's first management stint by nearly two years, meaning that Banks was the first black manager in Major League Baseball.

Banks has established the charity Live Above and Beyond Foundation as an organization to fight discrimination among various age groups. Proceeds from the charity wine Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay benefit the foundation.

Links 
Phungo HoF Index - Ernie Banks 
*Note - This column was written before I started sourcing posts, I am guessing most of the statistical information from Baseball-ref and other info from the always reliable wikipedia