Sunday Night Baseball: 1984 Topps #456 Fergie Jenkins n Keith Moreland

This week ESPN is taking part in the 100th birthday party for Wrigley Field by broadcasting the Cardinals and Cubs from the classic ballpark.

1984 Topps #456 Cubs Batting and Pitching Leaders Keith Moreland & Fergie Jenkins
 1984T included a subset of team checklists that featured team leaders on the front of the card. In 1983 the Cubs team leaders were two former Phillies.

Keith Moreland who turned 60 last Friday came up with the Phils in 1978 and was a member of the 1980 World Series team. He had a key hit in game 2 of the 80 Series and served as the first DH in franchise history in game 3. 

The Cubs 1983 pitching staff included 3 former Phillies: Fergie Jenkins, Dick Ruthven and Dickie Noles. As a Cub Ruthven actually posted a better ERA (4.10) than Jenkins, but He didn't come over to Chicago (from the Phillies) until May 22nd - this caused Ruthven to fall a few innings short of the 162 needed to qualify for ERA leadership. 

As can be seen above the leaders presented for the statistical categories of Batting Average and ERA. Today the leaders would possibly be some SABRmetric category like OBP, WHIP, or very possibly WAR. Had the cards featured OBP and WHIP leaders it would have appeared the same. Leon Durham had a better OBP than Moreland but he fell 100 ABs short of a qualifying season. Jankins trailed Ruthven in WHIP, but as mentioned above Ruthven was short in innings pitched.

WAR is a different story, turns out the 83 Cubs team leader wasn't Moreland, Jenikns, or any other everyday player or starting pitcher. The leader was closer Lee Smith

Fergie Jenkins
Phungo HoF Index

Source 
Baseball-ref

1966 Topps #254 Ferguson Jenkins/Bill Sorrell RC

The Phillies are on a travel day between the opening series’ for the Rangers and Cubs. There are several players that tie the three teams together including Mitch Williams and Jamie Moyer. Today we are going to feature one of their pitching brethren Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins.

1966 Topps #254 Ferguson Jenkins/Bill Sorrell RC

Yes Fergie Jenkins’ rookie card was issued with him wearing Phillies pinstripes. Unfortunately the Philllies traded Fergie to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that returned an end of career Larry Jackson. Jenkins pitched for several clubs, but the two teams that make up the bulk of his Hall of Fame career are the Cubs and Rangers.

Career Highlights include Jenkins’ 1971 Season in which he won the Cy Young Award (backed up by modern WAR numbers that also would have made him NL MVP).  Fergie led the league in Ws twice ('71 & '74), four times he led the league in CGs and K/BB ratio 5 times. For his career he won 284 games vs 226 losses. 

Despite his long and successful career Jenkins never got the opportunity to play in the postseason.

Phun Phact

During Jenkins 1971 Cy Young Award season he HIT 6 home runs.

Fergie Jenkins HoF Index
1970 Topps #240
1984 Topps #456 Cubs Team Leaders 
1984 Topps #706 Active Career Wins Leaders
Phungo HoF Index Page

Sources

baseball-ref

Steve Carlton 300 Career Victories: 1984 Topps #706

30 Years ago today Steve Carlton won his 300th game. I am curious if any other 300th win came at a bigger moment.  The Phils entered play on the 23rd of September 3 games up with 9 to play. They had won eight consecutive games  - a streak that would eventually run to 11.

1984 Topps #706 NL Active Career Victory Leaders Carlton, Jenkins, Seaver

Carlton had 29 more victories left in him.  Fergie Jenkins was done pitching following the 1983 season and the above card reflects his career win total of 284.  Seaver eventually passed Jenkins and finished with 311 Wins.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago the 1984 Topps active leaders subset is a fun one for Phillies fans to collect and this Wins Leader card is another great example.


1983 NL Champions Series   
Darren Daulton
Bo Diaz    
John Denny
Ivan DeJesus
Garry Maddox  
Joe Morgan 
Tony Perez
Pete Rose
 
Steve Carlton Passes Walter Johnson (Strikeouts) Steve Carlton 300 Wins
 
Sources  
Baseball Card Database  
Baseball-ref.com
ebay.com 

Swag from Vintage Sportscards

The Vintage Sportscards Blog is consistently one of my favorite card blogs. Chris' column provides a unique historical perspective and I agree with many of his opinions regarding vintage cards and their facets such as condition and value.

Here are some of the Phillies beauties He sent my way in a trade.

1966 Topps #254 Ferguson Jenkins/Bill Sorrell RC

I always figured this would be one of the last cards I would get from the Phils 1966 team Set. A Rookie Card of a Hall of Famer. Unless you are a Jenkins fan or a HOF RC collector you may not know that Fergie came up with the Phils. In 1965 Jenkins got himself into 7 games as a reliever for the Phils. During the Off-Season he was traded to the Cubs for whom he had his best years including his 1971 Cy Young Campaign.

Billy Sorrell got himself into 85 games during the course of three different Major League campaigns. It's not much, but he did get to share a baseball card with a Hall of Famer. This card bring my 1966 Phils Topps Team Set to 20 cards out of 27.



1964 Topps #135 Johnny Callison
1955 Bowman #64 Curt Simmons

These are two other great cards among the many Vintage Phils Chris sent my way. The 1964 set keeps growing on me. It is on my list of sets from the 1960s that I am considering building.

I would also like to build a Bowman set at some point. Both 1954 and 1955 are under consideration.

Right now I am just concentrating on my Phils sets from those years - here are links to those want lists

1964 Topps
1955 Bowman


Thanks to Chris for the cards, and I have a package all set to go out your way. It would have hit the streets today, but I didn't realize it was a postal holiday.

Phungo 5 with Project '62

Project '62 is where Cubs fan Chris chronicles his journey building the beautiful 1962 Topps Set. Today we check in with Chris while the Phils visit Historic Wrigley Field to play the Cubs.

1) What series of 1962 cards (other than the hi one) is the toughest to find?
It seems anything higher than #400 (note: Hi Series 1 starts at #447 and a tougher High Series starts at #523) is not only hard to find, but rather expensive. This is something I should have looked into a little more before I committed to collecting the set. I hate paying a premium for a guy who should be a common, just because Topps couldn't figure out how to release a baseball card set in less than 6 series. Damn you Topps!!!!!

phungo note: I am sure that most of you have seen this but the Project '62 banner page is as nice as any page out there - definitely check it out.

1970 Topps #240 Fergie Jenkins

2) What is the best Cubs card set from the 70s?
I would say 1970. The checklist is full of Cub's legends like Jenkins, Hundley, Kessinger, Santo, Williams, and Banks. Oh yeah, Durocher too. It's also pretty affordable. Unfortunately it is also the year that depicts their legendary meltdown of 1969. You take the good with the bad I guess.

3) Who will be in the Cubs 2011 starting Outfield?
Well I heard next year Lou wants to carry 12 outfielders and rotate them around like a merry-go-round, so who knows! Seriously though, I like what we've gotten out of Byrd this year. He deserves his spot next year. I'm sure no one will be dumb enough to take on Soriano's absurd contract so he'll still be hopping around and booting balls in left. I think Fukudome will be wearing different colors by the end of the year so that would leave Colvin in right, which is a good thing. He's quietly putting together an arguement for the ROY.

4) When will Bob Brenley take over as Manager of the Cubs?
Never!!!! I can't stand the guy. He's like your half drunken uncle who tells you the same stupid stories over and over again for the first time. In my Cub's dream world I would like to see Trammell get the nod next year and Sandberg get the bench coach position. Then after Trammell fails, give Sandberg the lifetime contract! Or better known on the north side as The Soriano Deal.

5) Who would you like to see sing "Take me out to the Ballgame"
Bartman, a goat, and the black cat that ran out in front of Santo in NY in '69. Together the trio will erase every thought of a curse with their sweet, sweet harmony, the Cubs will win, and everything will be right with the world.

Phungo Box Score
4 out of 5, I am bummed to see that Brenley isn't so well liked in Chicago. As part of our cable package we get a few WGN games and I actually look forward to those Cubs games when I can catch them - Brenley has always been a large part of the attraction - I cannot stand Ken Harrelson when we get the Sox games.

Looking Back
For a look back at a Previous Phungo 5 on the Cincinnati Reds with Nacho's Grande click here.

If you haven't voted in the George Steinbrenner poll (to the right please check it out). For background info on the poll click here.

Phungo 5 with 30-Year Old Cardboard

The Phils just finished playing the Marlins in a three game set in Florida (didn't go well for the fish) and this week will be entertaining the Chicago Cubs. And who better to talk about the suddenly Hot Cubbies and struggling Marlins then one of our favorite South Florida Card Bloggers, but Brian from 30-Year Old Cardboard.

1) You are both a Cubs and a Marlins fan. This probably affords you a unique perspective on the 2003 NLCS and the Moises Alou/Steve Bartman play. Can you elaborate on your thoughts on the events?

Let me start by saying that I was thrilled that the Marlins won that series and eventually the World Series title. Even at the time, I saw the 'Bartman Play' as just another fan interfering with a ball that could have been caught by a player. It just so happened to be in Chicago and at Wrigley. Anything there gets amplified and once the game and series ended all of the blame went to a guy that did what any of us in those seats would have attempted to do. Sadly, Cubs fans attacked him and his life was hell for quite some time afterwards. It's just another thing that Cubs' fans have hung their hats on, and until they get that victory in the World Series, they will continue to place blame on 'other' things besides the team's performance.

2) You have completed the 1983 Super Veterans Subsets, what classis subset would you like to complete next?

The 1983 Topps Super Vets set was a lot of fun to collect. It was great to re-visit many of those legendary players and learn new things about some of the guys I had forgotten. I don't want to give my secrets away just yet, but let's say that there is a nice handful of subests that were issued in the 1980's that I have my eyes on. For me, if the set brings me back to my collecting days as a kid than it is a contender!! How about a few hints?? 1985 Topps has 1 I am ready to go after. '88 Score too! Ok, enough hints...

1971 Topp #240 Fergie Jenkins

3) You have delved into both Vintage and autograph cards as a player collector do you have a preference for either type of card?

Absolutely. While autograph collecting has been a big part of my collecting habits in the past year, nothing beats obtaining a vintage card. And if you can find that 'special' one in good, great, or mint condition there is a sense of pride about adding it to your collection. Grabbing a card of Fergie Jenkins or Billy Williams that is 40 years old and in good condition is so much better than any of the autographs I have aquired from the modern certified autograph craze.

4) If the Marlins have a Sell off what player would you most like to see on the Cubs?

Josh Johnson. I'd love to see what a pitcher with his skill could do at Wrigley. And with a bigger audience in place, it would be nice to see Josh get the attention and credit he has earned by being one of the top 'hidden' pitchers in the sport. If not Josh Johnson, I'd like to see Dan Uggla get a fresh start on a new team as well....

5) "Hill Street Blues" or "Miami Vice"

Sport Jackets and no socks rule - Miami Vice!!! I was a big fan of the show when it first came out and although I never watched Hill Street Blues, I doubt that it had the same kind of cultural impact that MIami Vice had during the 1980's. Crockett and Tubbs 4-ever!!!

Good Stuff. I am more of a HSB guy then Miami Vice, but Brian came up for some solid reasoning for his position there. I am also a big Josh Johnson fan - he is the ace of the Phungo Fantasy Team. 5 out of 5 for 30-Year Old Cardboard.

Thanks to the team over at 30-Year Old Cardboard and keep those Did You Knows? coming. For a look back at a previous Phungo 5 on the Florida Marlins click here for Wax Heaven's state of the team back in May.