2018 HOF Candidate: Kevin Millwood

The second installment of our 2018 HOF Candidates is on journeyman pitcher Kevin Millwood who had a pretty decent career. His two year stint for the Phillies was fair at best, however there were some big moments during those 2 seasons.

2013 Gypsy Queen No-Hitters #NH-KM Kevin Millwood

His biggest of those moments was on April 27 2003 when Millwood authored a 1-0 No-Hitter versus a San Francisco Giants team that was anchored by Barry Bonds batting clean-up.

Topps recognized the accomplishment in their 2013 Gypsy Queen No-Hitters insert set. Decent looking card which fits the GQ motif. I like that Topps added the uniform number to the front of the card. While looking at this card it occurred to me an awful lot of No-Nos have been tossed by players wearing #34. Within the 15 card 2013 GQ No-Hitter Insert Set alone there are several: Millwood, Felix Hernandez, Homer Bailey, the recently deceased Roy Halladay, and of course Nolan Ryan.

This card also hit on my continuity error nerve. Millwood pitched his No-Hitter at the Vet and yeah that is obviously not the Vet. In fact our here is shown here wearing a road uni - so this game was not even played in Philadelphia.

Flip

2013 Gypsy Queen No-Hitters #NH-KM Kevin Millwood (B-side)

Functional back text doesn't really bring out the excitement of a no-hitter. Topps first cover Millwood's No-Hitter much better in their 2004 offering which is discussed here. 

Phungo Verdict
In addition to Pitching the No-Hitter for the Phillies, Kevin Millwood also started the final game ever played at the Vet. Unfortunately the game was a 5-2 loss to Millwood's former team, the Atlanta Braves.

Obviously that is not the difference maker in Millwood's credentials. He is a respectable 30+ career WAR player, who racked up 169 Ws during a 16 years career. His Cy Young peak was #3  in 1999 (Randy Johnson). That season featured his sole All-Star and World Series Appearances.

Good pitcher, rough Phillies tenure despite some big moments. Verdict VETO. 

Sources and Links
2018 HOF Candidates
Kevin Millwood No-Hitter Index
Cardboard Connection
Kronozio
Baseball-Reference

Seattle Post - 2014 Phungo #34 Kevin Millwood

Team Phungo will be rooting for the Seahawks in the NFC half of Championship weekend. To show our support we post a Phungo Card from the Seattle baseball squad.

2014 Phungo #34 Kevin Millwood

When we had the Team Phungo Seattle road trip, I was a little bummed to see Kevin Millwood as the starting pitcher for our game. He sort of symbolized some really crummy Phillies teams and he never lived up to being an Ace while here. Truth is Millwood is more of  a decent 3 maybe a 2 starter.

Initially Millwood ended up on the discard photo pile, but I rechecked his numbers and the man had a decent career. In 1999 he was the best pitcher on the Braves NL Championship squad, and finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting. While pitching for the Indians in 2005 he won the AL ERA title and finished 6th on the Cy Young ballot. He authored a No-Hitter with the Phillies and started a second one while with the Mariners.

2014 Phungo Card    
This card has the first error I have spotted, This pix is from a game played May 8, 2012 not 2013. These are the things that happen when you defer a card for a year. Other than that I am happy with the card even if it is a touch blurry. The light blue to grey fade is pretty sharp and catching a pitcher at this point in his motion always looks good on a card.  

The card number is 34 which Millwood wore for much of his career including his Phillies stint. It is, however, not his Mariners number which was 25. Once again on the Phungo cards we differentiated handedness for pitchers, RHP for Millwood. The line beneath the player name is a dark blue rather than the light blue border as a nod to the Mariners accent color.

Sources
baseball-ref

Opening Day 2013 - Cole Hamels & A look at Topps Opening Day through the Years

Welcome to Opening Day Folks - well Opening Day for the Phillies, since The Astros hosted the Rangers last night (technically Opening Night I supposes).  The Phils don't play v Atlanta till 7p tonight -so once again technically they are also part of Opening Night - pt 2.  

Cole Hamels

2010 Topps Opening Day #37 Cole Hamels
2012 Topps Opening Day #196 Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has NEVER started an opening day game.  This is for various reasons. Since Roy Halladay arrived in Philadelphia he has been without a doubt the Ace.  That changed in 2012 - Now Cole Hamels has earned that role.  Prior to Roy Halladay, Hamels was a rung below at least one other pitcher, including folks like Brett Myers.

I have not done the research but when Cole Hamels signed his $140MM+ contract last summer, it may have made him the highest paid pitcher to have never been an opening day starter.

This changes tonight, as Hamels will be on the mound v the Atlanta Braves.

Topps Opening Day Logo

 2005 Topps Opening Day #43 Jimmy Rollins

I thought today would be a good opportunity to check out the Topps Opening Day logo through the years.

The Topps OD Logo has matched the MLB Opening Day Logo the last few seasons. The logo has been used at least the last 2 seasons - This logo is on the Cole Hamels 2012 Topps OD card at the top of the post. 
 
Prior to that the Topps OD logo was a similar with a bunting/drape design. This design was used starting in 2005, and varied only by the year placed in the center of the logo. You can see this logo on Jimmy Rollins card above, which is similar to the 2010 Cole Hamels Topps OD at the top.

2003 Topps Opening Day #31 Jimmy Rollins
2004 Topps Opening Day #27 Kevin Millwood
2005 Topps Opening Day #145 Pat Burrell

From 2003-2005 Topps created special logos for their Opening Day brand. There really isn't much connection between the logos other than the all feature the year. I know that the 2003 Topps OD set included minis.  Other OD sets may have included them as well,.    

2002 Topps Opening Day #13 Bob Abreu
2000 Topps Opening Day #78 Paul Byrd

I am not sure when Topps first produced Opening Day - my limited research found cards going back to 2000.  The 2000-2002 cards feature an Opening Day foil shield. Note on the early Bobby Abreu card he is simply Bob.   

There you have it internet - A quick look at Topps Opening Day Cards through the years.

Phun Cards - 2004 Topps #333 Kevin Millwood

Ok I am a bit behind on this one, several weeks ago Kevin Millwood pitched the first 6 innings of a combined No-Hitter for the Seattle Mariners. 

2004 Topps #333 2003 Season Highlights Kevin Millwood No-Hitter

The amazing thing to me is that Millwood authored a No-Hitter in 2003 and here we are almost a decade later and Milwood is the starting pitcher in a second no-no.

2004 Topps #333 2003 Season Highlights Kevin Millwood No-Hitter (B-side)

Both No-Hitters were won by a score of 1-0.  I wonder how many pitchers have started multiple no-hitters won by that narrow margin. 

I definitely do not put the combined No-Hitter up there with the complete gamer, regardless it is quite an accamplishment for Millwood to be involved in 2 of them and win by the narrowest of margins. 

In early May Kevin Millwood was the starting pitcher for the Mariners in a game that Team Phungo attended in Seattle.  He was up against Justin Verlander - who is a No-no waiting to happen every outing.  Millwood got off to a rough start that night and I thought to myself we may be witnessing the end of a career.  As it turns out Millwood is having a fair year  - good enough to keep him in the majors with the no-hitter an additional nice moment as well.

For the Collector
I either picked this card up out of a dime box or via a trade package.  Most Highlight cards of non-superstars that were issued after 1974 can be picked up for a dime or less.  I particularly like No-Hitter cards and have quite a few in the Phungo collection.

Kevin Millwood No-Hitter Postings
2013 Gypsy Queen No-Hitter #NH-KM (2018 HOF Candidacy)

Sources and Links
No-Hitter Index
Game Dated Cards Index
Baseball-Ref

2010 Topps First Pack

This is no longer news for the rest of you, but it is for me. I finally got my hands on My First Pack of 2010 Topps yesterday. I bought five packs, this is pack number 1. It is a retail pack that I picked up at the local bargain chain store Five Below (everything is $5 and under) The Pack went for $2.11 including PA sales tax.

The first 2010 Topps card of the year is:

2010 Topps #148 Cody Ross

Sort of anti-climatic. Outfielder for a Phils rival. One time journeymen who has found a home with the Marlins, especially now that they have finally given up on Jeremy Hermida.

Since everyone has seen these already I will to a quick blow by blow of the pack.
2010 Topps #273 Pat Neshek
Blogosphere favorite who I didn't realize pitched last year.


2010 Topps #15 Bobby Abreu (click to enlarge)
Former Phil - with the back of the card. 2100 Hits at the age of 36...


2010 Topps #40 Josh Johnson
2010 Topps #56 Andy Pettitte

Among Phils Rivals Johnson is a Phungo Favorite. He was the ace of the team Phungo Fantasy Squad pitching staff that took the 2009 title.

Good Photo of Pettitte, but he Beat Phils in final game of 2010 Series >:| Getting past that - one wonders - Does Pettitte have HOF credentials?


2010 Topps #5 Texas Rangers
2010 Topps #72 Franchise History Milwaukee Brewers

The above two cards came up back to back. Having both versions of team cards in the base set is confusing. I am not sure the regular team card is necessary - I would have preferred another middle reliever be thrown in there. I do like the Franchise History cards and may collect them as as a faux set. Although what is with Topps placing a Beer Ad smack dab in the middle of a Baseball card?? (click to enlarge and see alcohol ad)

2010 Topps mom 2004 Topps #600 Alfonso Soriano
2010 ToppsTown #TTT16 Kevin Youkilis

Pretty sure this is a Photoshop Special with Soriano in a Home Jersey AND the Yankees in the dugout also wearing the home duds. This card is of the SP back variety.

2010 Topps #HOTG17 History of the Game - 1957 Dodgers and Giants Move to California (click to enlarge)

This insert set is likely on the to do list.

2010 Topps #62 Kevin Millwood
2010 Topps #91 Erik Bedard

Ranger heavy pack. As a Brave Millwood is 29 games over .500, the Rest of his career he is +5.
He has not reached the Postseason since being traded to the Phils after the 2002 Season.

Notice both the Millwood and Bedard Cards were fed through the foil stamper incorrectly. The Players name (in black) is now in an ugly mess below the foil. Curiously the names are more readable when fed through a scanner - they are not when viewing the card for real. The Topps logo glances off the top border of the card and the players postition is also raised. nice job Topps.

Two Cents from Phungo

I picked up a total of 5 packs on Friday and will be back throughout the weekend with additional thoughts.

I have very little new thoughts to add to what has already been stated elsewhere. I am happy with the look of the cards. The borrowed design does not bother me. The team logo is a bit large but not to much so. I could do without the foil. Solid Photography and Interesting inserts.

For those of you that keep track of such things, the cards are listed in the order in which they came out of the pack. To keep the pix face center, I may have flipped some of the card pairs in the scans.

Pull of the Pack

I am going with Josh Johnson here, Had the Yankees not just beaten the Phils in the Playoffs, I would likely go with Pettitte. I have always like Bobby Abreu, but everyone knows fielding isn't Bobby's strength. Soriano Mom SP is likely a favorite for many collectors

Meh of the Pack

Erik Bedard easily. The Mis-foiling of the card plus Bedard's rep as a soft pitcher when he was in Baltimore all add up to a Meh card.