2016 Heritage First Pack PLUS a Hanger

Got my hands on some 2016 Heritage cards on Monday, a Single Pack and a Hanger. Thanks to the Topps/Target Coupon that was part of our 2016T Blaster we opened last month the Hanger went for $6.99.

We start off with the loosey

2016 Heritage #120 Billy Hamilton

Fittingly he exciting Billy Hamilton leads off our first pack. Card #120 in the original is Floyd Robinson who reps the Reds as well, although it is on a cap-less card as he had been acquired from the White Sox following the 1966 Season.

#217 JP Howell
#9 Wil Myers
#136 John Danks
#157 Manny Machado

Nice set of cards at the top of the pack, Howell, Myers and Machado are all great examples of 1967T. The Danks card has some sort of Cactus League backdrop that adds a bit of variety to a set that is bound to be heavy on profile shots.

Wil Myers drew his former uni number (9) with the the Rays.

 #498 Odubel Herrera

First Heritage Insert is a High Number of a Phillies Player. Thats a W.  Good shot from Clearwater. Team Phungo was there roughly a year ago, perhaps this shot was taken while we were in town.

#71 Caleb Joseph
#313 Seth Smith
#66  Eddie Rosario

We can't get a Topps card of the Orioles Starting Catcher but we do have back up Caleb Joseph. The Rosario card looks like a dugout shot, which is a bit of a departure from the style from the original 1967 set, however it does maintain the spirit of the era.

Hanger Highlights

We will start out with the Hanger All-Star Team

Battery

Mark Buehrle
Hisashi Iwakuma
Santiago Casilla
Evan Gattis

The Buehrle card is a great one of a great player. Gattis is listed as a DH here but I snuck him into the Battery section for his Catching roots, and one cannot dismiss the hipster beard. 

Brandon Belt
Giovanny Urshela
Justin Bour
Starlin Castro

The Indian Urshela is one of those cards of players in the box that I didn't know. Actually had close to 300 PAs in 2016. Hell Justin Bour  is in the Phillies Division, Hit 23 Home Runs and got a rookie cup and I don't know him. Bour was not in Topps Series 1, Assuming his flagship card is in S2 he will be 28 prior to the release of his r-Cup card. I am assuming this is Starlin Castro's first card as a Yankee - We will return to this in the Inserts portion of our show.

Hunter Pence
Starling Marte
Coco Crisp
Jackie Bradley

Crisp once again displays a unique look - Still not as cool as his 2014T Card. Saw Starlin drop a can a corn in a game against the Phillies y-day, nice shot w/ the camo didn't see those in 1967.


Inserts Mojo Chasers

Chrome Aroldis Chapman (#d /567)

Ok a year ago this would have been a fine card to draw as the Serial Numbered bonus. Unfortunately in the last 12 months we found out Chapman is a jerk and now he is on a different team.

This is is my issue with the Starling Castro card above. Topps got him in a Yankees uniform, Chapman here got traded within in a month be he remains on a Reds card. 

#479 Lorenzo Cain (Hi Number)

Cool shot, Solid SP to pull. 

Standup #14 Mike Trout

Uhm this is disturbing. So far in 2016 I have picked up A Blaster, A Hanger and a couple of looseys and have scored 3 Trout inserts.

#TAN-YD Carl Yastrzemski & Chris Davis

The 1967 Font looks goofy on inserts. 

Mets Maulers: Lagares & Granderson
Atlanta Aces: Freeman & Markakis

I like using action shots on the Multi-Players, for a look back at our recent post on the originals click here.

Angels Team Card & Checklist

The team cards are goofy. 

Sources and links
1967 Topps / 2016 Heritage Index
Cardboard Connection
Baseball-ref

Sunday Night Baseball Nats @ Mets and Blaster Break of 2015 Allen & Ginter

Picked up a single blaster of 2015 A&G and only got one Phils card.

And it was a card of a player that just got traded. That is ok - 1) Paps really was never loved in PhilaPa 2) Since he got moved to DC I can make this posting as part of our Sunday Night Baseball Series.

Papelbon will be closing for the Nats and if the game between the two division rivals is tight tonight, I will not know who to root against. 

I have one additional quibble with the Papelbon A&G card

Double Vision

Yes Topps used the same image for A&G as they did for the 66T homage 2015 Heritage. I disapprove, but I am sure Topps Sees these sets as Low end, while I see them as premium so we know we really aren't on the same page anyway.

I will display the highlights of the pack in All-Star fashion

Battery

Zach Britton
Edinson Volquez
Matt Barnes
Brian McCann

Pretty week class of pitchers - have to admit Volquez looks pretty nasty here. Overall I am not a fan of the dotting used for shading on the players faces. I am sure there is a artsy name for this technique, I don't know the term, I just know that I think it looks freaky. 

Infield

Ian Desmond 
David Wright
Danny Santana
Jon Singleton

David Wright beat out Manny Machado for the Blaster All-Stars strictly because he is a member of the teams playing tonight (even if he is on the DL). This squad has two shortstops as I did not draw a second baseman from the packs.

Jon Singleton gets the nod at first base strictly because of his one time Phillies Farmhand status.

 Outfield

Billy Hamilton
Mookie Betts
Michael Bourn
Yoneis Cespedes

We have another former Phil in Michael Bourn, while newest Met Yoenis Cespedes appears here representing the Tigers.  

The Bench (Inserts and Extras)

Starting Points Mike Moustakas
Starting Points Dee Gordon (b-side)

I like the 2015 A&G common insert, Starting Points. As a fan of game dated cards this one is aimed at me. At 100 cards I doubt I will seriously look to build the set unless I found a boatload in a dime box one day. There are 5 Phillies on the checker (Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels, Maikel Franco) Plus Jayson Werth (Blue Jays) and Cliff Lee.  

The two cards presented above represent games that occurred within days of each other. Moustakas debuted in a 4-2 victory over the Angels, He singled in the 6th off of Ervin Santana for his first career Major League hit.

The Latter card marks the debut of Dee Gordon whose first game occurred in Philadelphia where his father Tom Gordon pitched for several years. Dee pinch ran in the 9th inning of a tight game that the Dodgers lost 3-1.

One of the features of these cards that I like is that in addition to the A-side Player the text mentions other baseball events of the day. Dee Gordon's first game was shared with a Career Milestone for Tim Lincecum and the Pirates Draft of Gerrit Cole.

Val Kilmer
Jeremy Roenick

Topps of the non-baseball base cards are Val Kilmer and Jeremy Roenick. Considering my distaste for Jonathan Papelbon I would have to say that the Flyers related Roenick card is my favorite in the pack. 

Mini Mike Moustakas A&G back
Mini Javier Baez (rc)
Mini Jean Segura 
Mini Kendall Graveman A&G Back
Mini First Ladies Abigail Adams
Mini Black Border Berlin Wall
Mini Black Border Appomattox Court House
Mini Hoist the Flag Mary Read

Turned out to be a Moustakas hot pack as we picked up a pair of inserts of the Royals 3rd Baseman.

The Berlin Wall card is from the short print portion of the minis and is probably the rarest card that was drawn from the blaster. Beyond that we have some pedestrian minis other than the Baez RC Mini.

Keys to the City - Willis Tower Chicago
Ancient Armory - Dane Axe
Menagerie of the Mind - Mermaind

Couple of the full size inserts.  Of the three sets here Keys to the City is the most interesting to me.

Sources and Links
Cardboard Connection
baseball-ref

Swag from the Phillies Room: Billy Hamilton the Hall of Famer

A few weeks back Jim from the Phillies Room let me know that he had an extra pack of Phillies Baseball Heroes Playing Cards. I told him that Team Phungo was definitely interested

2010 Phillies Baseball Heroes 7-Clubs Billy Hamilton

I had seen some of these around, but never the full set. I figured there would be some interesting selections and was happy to see that there is a suit pretty much dedicated to the Phillies early days. I would love my collection to have a card of every significant Phillies player - it would be great if it was possible to have cards from when the player was active. Unfortunately team Phungo is functioning on a budget and is plenty happy to have cads such as this one of the HoF Billy Hamilton. 

Bonus

1974 Kellogs 3D Wayne Twitchell
1974 Kellogs 3D Greg Luzinki

There were some bonus cards in the package including these two Kellog 3Ds, which are my first Phillies cards from this set.  I like how Kellogs goes to the trouble of noting Luzinski's specific outfield position. If Kellogs could do this 40 years ago, why can't Topps handle the detail today.

Thanks to the crew at the Phillies Room. Great Cards to help us Phillies fans to get through a long winter until baseball returns. 

2009 Bowman #BDPP2 Billy Hamilton (RC)

Tonight's on Sunday Night Baseball the Cincinnati Reds will attempt to sweep the Dodgers in what could be a NL playoff preview.

2009 Bowman #BDPP2 Billy Hamilton (Bowman 1st Card)


For at least the last two seasons Billy Hamilton has been a BuzzProspect due to his ridiculous base stealing numbers. He has a total of 395 SBs over 5 minor league seasons, including 155 in 2012 and a combined 230 the last two seasons.

Hamilton has only been in four games for the big club, but has already made an impact. On Tuesday night he pinch ran for Ryan Ludwick - Hamilton Stole 2nd and scored on a Todd Frazier Double.  It was the only run of a 1-0 Reds victory. Nice debut for the prospect. The following night the Reds were down a run in the 14th inning when Hamilton did virtually the same thing. PR for Ludwick, SB, score on a Zach Cozart single.  Unfortunately for the Reds the Cardinals had a young star of their own, Matt Adams who performed some heroics of his own that night, as Cincinnati lost the marathon contest 5-4.

Last night Hamilton had a similar impact for versus the Dodgers, once again PR for Ludwick, SB, score on Frazier single.  It should be noted that on Friday night Hamilton collected a stolen base, but was also doubled off 3B on a liner back to pitcher Brian Wilson.     

For the Collector

I am pretty sure this is the first card issued of Billly Hamilton, although it doesn't fall under the new "official MLB" RC designation - since Hamilton had not played in the majors prior to the products release.

Regardless I was very happy to find this card in a nickle box a few months ago.  It really doesn't sell for much on the auction market, but $2.50 is a lot more than a nickle.  The high end for Billy Hamilton right now is the Gold #d/50 version of this card which went for a tidy $102.


Sources
DodgersNation.com
baseball-ref.com
baseball Cardpedia
ebay.com

2013 03 08 Exton Mall Card Show Nickel Box

I never expect much from a Nickel Box.  Those low expectations actually improve the experience.  There are no worries about getting a good deal for a card or its condition.  The card is stinking nickle - The only issue it adds to my hoarding habit. 

2013 Topps Vance Worley

Yes there were 2013 Topps Phillies in the nickle bin, albeit only former Phillies.  X-Phil or not, I am a fan of the retro-uni cards.  With relatively little effort my 2013 Topps Phillies collectiion is off to a good start.  I think I have four of the cards so far, and that is from just one each of a  Hanger and single pack and the Worley above.

Note: according to the Current Twins Depth Chart, Worley is Minnesota's Opening Day starter.  I think the Twinkies may be in for a long year.

2009 Bowman First Card #BDPP2 Billy Hamilton RC

If your a prospector you have likely heard of Billy Hamilton - he stole something like 400 bases last year at  various stops in the Reds system. I have seen him ranked 11th among prospects in one of the polls.

Speed is always exciting especially with young players. Hamilton will also have the advantage of playing with a pretty good ballclub whne he reachees the major league level. 

There is a minor dinged corner on the caxrd, but still finding a prospect card in a nickle bin is a thrill. Especially when it appears he is on the verge of making some noise at the major league level.

2013 Topps Heritage Joe Blanton and Anthony Gose

There were also just released Heritage Cards commons in the nickle bin - lots of them. No Current Phillies but a couple of Formers.

Note: Again with the Depth Charts - The Angels Depth Chart has Joe Blanton penciled in at #3.  Makes it a little tough  for me to take them seriously as a contender. 

2013 Topps Heritage #300 Jason Heyward

There was at least one star in the Heritage nickel bin and on a Hero Number as well. This card shares its number with the 1964 Topps Hank Aaron card. I wonder how many heritage cards had their Heritage number shared between Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones. Dudes didn't play the same postion, but they were definitely the stars of their respective squads. 

For a look at the team Phungo 1964 Topps retrospective start here