Phillies Spring Training and Jack Russell

1933 Goudey #123 Jack Russell

Today the Phillies played their first spring training game. They lost to the Pirates in Bradenton. On Thursday the Phils will host the Toronto Blue Jays at their relatively new home "Bright House Field".

Until 2003 the Philadlephia Phillies (as well as the FSL Clearwater Phils) played their home games at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium. Jack Russell was a major league ballplayer who settled in Clearwater, got involved in local politics and was an instrumental figure in raising funds to build the stadium.

During his 15 year career Russell pitched for six different teams, participated in two World Series (33 Senators, 38 Cubs), and earned a spot on the second ever All-Star Team in 1934. He never played for the Phillies but his name is definitely familiar to Phillies Fans.

2008 Goudey Blaster Break

I know I am way behind with this one - It sort of got lost in the Phillies stretch run.

So yes, I opened this box a while ago and just wanted to go over the stats just in case anyone out there is still working on 08 UD Goudey. I don't remember the configuration 8 packs of 8 it looks like.

Here are the vitals:

53 Base - Five of which were duplicates of 4 hobby packs that I had bought previosly - that seems a little high. 1 Phil, Hamels, which I needed. 7 of the base were retired stars.

1 SP #229 Ozzie Smith
1 President #250 James Buchanan - The only president from Pennsylvania.
1 1936 Goudey #257 David Wright
1 1936 Goudey mini #258 Jeter
1 Sports Royalty # 276 Bruce Jenner
1 Sports Royalty mini #326 Sanya Richards (Red Back)
1 Hit Parade of Champions #HPC-10 Mr Hockey Gordie Howe
2 Yankee Stadium Legacy #3800 Roy White 09/03/1970 Orioles 8 @ Yankees 4
#3825 Thurman Munson 05/01/71 Brewers 1 @ Yankees 0
1 Game Used Memorabilia #M-JB Jason Bay

08 Goudey fell in the like but not love category for me, I had opened a couple of hobby packs over the summer and generally liked the product enough and that convinced me to get a blaster to gather some additional base cards.

The only disappointment was that 5 of the cards from the blaster I already had in a pretty small collection of maybe 25 cards from 4 hobby packs. Otherwise I was pretty happy, the inserts in this blaster were all decent, Jason Bay isn't the flashiest card in the Materials set, but he is a player I root for so thats definitely a nice addition to the personal collection.

I am also sending out a reminder that Sunday is Spot the Sig! day. This weeks STS is scheduled to go up around 9:30pm Eastern

Goudey Vs Goudey

07 Goudey v 08 Goudey

Actually it is more like Retail vs Hobby. I picked up 3 packs of 07 Goudey out of the Target Bargain Bin and 3 packs of 08 Goudey Hobby at a card show. Previously I had only picked up 1 pack of each product. The 07 Goudey was a bad experience, I was unimpressed with the cards in that first pack, and it appeared to have already been opened - I have avoided that hobby shop since. I chronicled my first 08 Goudey Pack a few weeks ago, it was awesome - read more here.

The 08 will probably have an advantage because it is Hobby over Retail - Lets see what happens.

First three 07 Goudey Packs

Red

19 Brian Roberts

54 Jason Varitek

61 Jimmy Rollins

68 Justin Morneau

75 Mark Mulder

124 Mark Teahan

126 Carlos Guillen

149 Raul Ibanez

150 Joe Crede

173 Konerko

197 Delmon Young

Green

10 Pettitte

27 Chipper

34 Jeter

38 Eric Chavez

62 Joe Mauer

97 Trevor Hoffman

116 Edwin Encarnacion

132 Ramon Hernandez

143 Luis Gonzalez

156 Scott Podsednik

157 David Eckstein

180 Moises Alou

250 Reggie Jackson SP Heads Up

Now the three 08 Goudey Packs

12 Kelly Johnson

13 Tom Glavine

17 Brian Roberts

19 Jim Palmer

36 Fukudome

39 Luis Aparicio

50 Adam Dunn

64 Garrett Atkins

65 Tulowitzki

70 Miguel Cabrera

91 John Lackey

105 Ryan Braun

114 Justin Morneau

123 Chien-Ming Wang

140 Ryan Howard

142 Chase Utley

143 Shane Victorino

149 Jack Wilson

166 Felix Hernandez

169 Raul Ibanez

180 Akinori Iwamura

219 Dave Winfield (SP)

YSL 1540 August 11th 1942: Charlie Keller, Boston Red Sox 3 @ New York Yankees 2
HPC-22 Nolan Ryan Berk Ross Hit Parade of Champions

Card Design - 2008 - I like the 08s better in general. I prefer the traditional card size, and the sharper color scheme.

Phillies - 2008 - 3 Phils with both Utley and Howard. Easy Win.

Base Cards - 2008 - slight Win for 08, 07 Ramon Hernandez was my one duplicate, and I think I may have 3 of that card now. Liked all of the HOF players in the 08 set.

Inserts/Short Prints - 2007 - Reggie Heads Up beats out Winfield SP and Ryan Berk Ross card. I am not sure what the other Hit Parade of Champions look like, but this one just looks out of place amongst the rest of the Goudeys. The small size makes it feel like a crummy cracker jack prize.

Price - 2007 - $5.06 for 3@ 1.59 each + 6% sales Tax. v 12.00 for 3 08 Goudey @ 4.00 pack

Winner 2008 Despite the price difference, I just like the set better in general. The Three Phillies really put the three 08 packs ahead.

I will be adding some of these to my personal collection, if any of the others are needed by set builders, I am open to offers.

2008 Goudey - Phils need MoJo Pack - YAHTZEE!!!

The Phils have a big weekend series with the Division Leading New York Mets - I am thinking that opening up a pack of 2008 Goudey (Hobby) Might give them some much needed MoJo!

#62 Brad Hawpe
Paul Molitor
#81 Roy Oswalt
YSL 6035 Tino Martinez 8/18/2000 Yankees 8 Angels 9
#192 Alex Rios
#10 Phil Niekro

whoa actually I mean -

GG-PM PAUL MOLITOR AUTO!!!


Thats pretty much how it happened. I have read on a couple of other blogs how people have skipped right passed the this year's Goudey Auto's and sure enough it happened to me. I was just about to get stressed because the pack was a card light and then I realized hey this Molitor card has a signature.

A nice auto on a good looking card of a Hall of Famer! I have to admit I am actually giddy!

This is easily the best pack drawn auto I have ever gotten. Hopefully the Phils will also come up with some big hits of their own this weekend as well.

in other news:

Team Phungo is scheduled for our first ever (and most likely only) visit to Shea Stadium this Saturday. We are hoping the weather cooperates or well I am really hoping that it is miserable enough that game officials have the foresight to move the game to Sunday afternoon. Regardless check back next week and I hope to have a game report and some photos from one of the final games at Shea Stadium.

OK now I am going back to being giddy.

Go Phightins!!!