Phun Cards 2004 Topps #202 Jose Mesa: 2013 HoF candidate

The Hall of Fame ballot for the 2013 have been cast.  There is much debate about the high profile candidates like Bonds Sosa and Clemens. 

None of those controversial players played for the Phillies.  There are several cnadidates that spent at least some time with the Phillies including one major candidate who spent a lot of time with the Phillies.

I know I won't get through them all, but I would like to begin a short series hitting all of the players on this years ballot that log time with the Phils.  I am thinking these posts won't always be about the player and his credentials - more often I will discuss a specific card or set, His Phils Tenure, or maybe some odd event involving the player.

Today we start at the bottom of the Ballot with Jose Mesa. 

2004 Topps #202 Jose Mesa

Sometimes referred to as Joey Table.  The Phillies were one of eight ballclubs for which Mesa played.  He was the teams principal closer from 2001-  2003.  During that era he recorded 111 of his career 321 saves.  

I am quite fond of 2004 Topps.  The foiled "etching" of the player pix in the bottom left hand corner is unique to the 04 Topps set.  Also I don't think the player numbers have occurred on the A-side of another Topps Set. Player Name Team Name and Position are all displayed in a neat clean fashioin. A small team logo is present and not overbearing.

All those simple foil lines running across the bottom of the card hold a bit of resememblence to the teaser images we have seen of 2013 Topps.

Philly Show in Valley Forge this weekend 12/7 - 12/9 HoFs and Terry Mulholland

The PhillyShow returns to the Valley Forge Convention Center (and now casino) this weekend.  Show is FSS 12/7 - 12/9 with $8 admiission per day ($1 off coupons are in local papers)   

 

 

 

It may be December but this show will defintely have a baseball focus for autograph hounds. MAB has dubbed the show "A Celebration of Lefty's Magical Season".  This is a nod to Steve Carlton's historic 1972 Campaign in which he won 27 games en route to his first of four Cy Young awards.  Carlton will be flanked by several Phils Pasts and Present as well as other oFs including John Kruk, Darren Daulton, Tim McCarver, Tommy Greene, Dave Winfield, Frank Robinson, and Pete Rose.

 

 

 

Phungo covered Carlton in this post a few weeks back.  Today I would like to take a look at a different Phillies Left-hander who pitched for the team during another magical season 1993. Terry Mulholland will be one of the other signers in town over the weekend.

 

 

 

1990 Topps #657 Terry Mulholland (pix stolen from Baseball Card Database)

 

 

Mulholland will be remembered for a couple of things in Philadelphia. Just about anybody associated with the 1993 Phillies will be forever remembered fondly.  They were the Oasis between 80 and 08.  The one brief moment when Philadelphia was the misfit center of baseball - at the time we didn't know how misfit.  Regardless they were loved and remain so.

 

 

There was another big moment of personal glory beyond 1993 for Terry Mullholland - on August 15 1990 Terry Mulholland through a No-Hitter versus the San Francisco Giants. The only baserunner he allowed was on a Charlie Hayes error. That runner was erased via double play.  Hayes redeemed himself by spearing a line drive for the games final out.  Mulholland faced the minimum 27 batters.

 

 

Amazingly Mulholland's career lasted 2 decades! Pretty good for a player that many would look upon as mediocre. He extended is career by becoming a lefty bullpen specialist. Long after he left Philadelphia I followed his career in it's many stops (Atlanta, Arizona, Twins, Pittsburgh back to the Giants etc). Part of the reason he could stick as a lefty was because he had developed the Step Off Pick Off move.  It is currently used throughout baseball. 20 years ago Lefthanders always had remained on the rubber then stepped to first - risking a balk call - when attempting to hold a runner.  Mullholland just took his Left foot offf the rubber and through to first without stepping to the bag at all.

 

 

1993 Phil, No-Hitter, Developed a Pick Off Move.  Nice resume for one guy. 

 

 

1990 Topps

 

 

We don't talk about 90 Topps much here with good reason.  I think it is the worst design in the Topps canon.  However, I did like two things about this card - first it features Mulholland in a Phillis uniform and in a decent action shot. and...

 

 

 

1990 Topps #657 Terry Mulholland (b-side)

 

 

Check out the 2nd sentence in the Mulholland Phun Phact.  That is what makes this common card a Phun Card.   

 

 

  

Terry Mullholland is scheduled to be one of the Saturday Signers - $30/auto.   There appears to be no complimentry autograph at this years show. 

 

 

Farewell Marvin Miller: 1970 Topps #360 Curt Flood

There have been a couple of Marvin Miller cards produced in recent years notably in the 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites set.  

However, I think this card that doesn't even cite Marvin Miller says more about him, the Reserve Clause, Free Agency and the Marvin Miller Legacy then any other card:

1970 Topps #360 Curt Flood (iimage stolen from the basball card database)

Curt Flood never played a game for the Philadelphia Phillies.  This wasn't because he wrecked his knee in spring training or got cut before he made the team.  This was not because he was a Big Time draftee that couldn't hit a curve or a pitcher who's arm hit the wall and ran out of bullets. It was because Flood was of the opinion that he could not be discarded by the St Louis Cardinals to another franchise without his permission. 

And Marvin Miller agreed with him. 

Great Photos aren't just pictures, there beautiful works of art which tell stories that stretch their physical borders.  Similiarly there are a few baseball cards that live in a different stratosphere.  Most of these are Star Cards of at extreme values.  There are a few others that may be considered commons, but have details that raise them to this Star level.

The 1970 Topps Curt Flood card is great for a couple of reasons.  The biggest of which is the text tells us he is a member of the Phillies, a team for which he never intended to play. In the photo Topps shows Flood's headshot with just the underside of his cap bill so no logo is present.  This way Topps could place the card on any team - which is sort of the way the Cardinals felt about him.  On the underside of the caps bill you can see the upside down 21, The uniform number Flood wore for the Cardinals.  Cool little elements that elevate a card of a minor star 

1970 Topps #360 Curt Flood (b-side)

The cartoon on the cards reverse revals that Flood is an accomplished artist.  It is almost a clue that Curt Flood is a creative person that may think a little differently and is the kind of a guy that may challenge the system.  Just another cool detail about Curt Flood's 1970 Topps card.

It is true that Marvin Miller did a lot more for baseball and baseball players then getting Curt Flood out of Philadelpha and kickstarting the Players Union. But for me he will always be tied to Curt Flood - The Philadelphia Phillies are a footnote in the story and the 1970 Topps #360 Curt Flood tells a lot of that story in 9 square inches.    

Further Reading

Dayf over at Cardboard Junkie has a post collecting Marvin Miller Tributes here. 

I particularly like a column by Rob Neyer at SB Nation that chronicles the history of Miller non-election to the Baseball Hall of Fame 

Finally for more on the 1970 Topps #360 Curt Flood card check in with our favorite 1960s Topps Authority Jim from Dowingingtown at his 1970 Topps Blog.

Phun Cards 1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn

I am a little bit amazed that I have really not given a lot of ink to Richie Ashburn on the Phungo Pages.  Although his playing career was long over before I was born, Ashburn was a large part of the Phillies experience for any fan of my generation.  He was the color analyst for Harry Kalas from the time I started watching the game until his death in 1997. 

Despite ranking up more hits then any other player during the decade of the 1950s and 2574 for his career Richie Ashburn was dropped from the Hall of Fame ballot in 1982.  Eventually he would enter the Hall in 1995 as a selection of the Veterans committee.  Ashburn led the National League in Batting average twice (1955,1958) and OBP 4 times (54, 55, 58, 60).  He was a 6 time all star selection and was a member of the 1950 Whiz Kids.  His #1 is one of 5 numbers retired by the Phillies. 

1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn

1952 Topps #216 Richie Ashburn (b-Side)


For the Collector

 

This is the 2nd Topps card issued of Richie Ashburn.  A recent ebay auction of a rough conditioned 52 Topps Ashburn finished at $9.62.  The Hi auction for a slabbed PSA 9 Mint card was $1710.32.  6 auctions of cards in pretty good condition concluded between $26 and $43. 

The above '52 Topps Ashburn was procured for the Phungo collection off an ebay auction for $18.97 in July of 2009.

More Richie Ashburn
1950 Bowman #84
1952 Topps #216

1959 Topps #317 (with Willie Mays)

2009 Phungo #1

1955 Topps Cards that never were (link to Bob Lemke Custom Card)
 

Phun Cards 1959 Topps #178 Ruben Amaro

1959 Topps #178 Ruben Amaro

Ruben Amaro played 40 games for the 1958 Cardinals, but his first Topps card was issued with a Phillies Logo in the 1959 set.  This is despite the fact that Amaro would not play with the Phillies unitl June of 1960.  Amaro was a member of the Phillies for 6 years including the ill-fated 1964 season.  Amaro was good enough to stick hold down a majore league job for 11 seasons, but that is about it.  He did not really have any offensive standout years and finished his career with 8 home runs and a .234 batting average.  His 11 years were split among 4 clubs including the Angels and Yankees in addition the Phils and Cardinals.  Thanks to the Phillies 1964 collapse Amaro never got a chance to play in the post-season, but he did earn a Gold Glove for his play during that 1964 season.

  

Ruben Amaro is of course the father of Ruben Amaro Jr who is the current GM of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Ruben Amaro JR or RAJ in @TwitterSpeak also played a few unremarkable years with the Phillies.  While doing some Wiki-research I found out that the RAJ is actually a 3rd generation professional ballplayer.  His grandfather Santos Amaro played in the Cuban and Mexican Leagues.  According to Wikipedia Santos played 17 seasson in the Mexican League compiling 1,339 hits and a .314 batting average.  He was elected to the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.  

For the Collector

The 1959 Topps Card for Ruben Amaro is a Rookie Card, but basically a common. I picked up this card up for 30 cents.  A graded PSA 8 Amaro card sold for $243.26 recently.  The PSA 7 graded cards are significantly more affordable with 3 auctions ending at under $26. 

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

Phun Cards - Bob Uecker

1967 Topps #326 Bob Uecker 

I knew that Bob Uecker played baseball, but until I starting delving into vintage cards I never knew he played for the Phillies.

Uecker's playing career was not long nor was it noteworthy.  He was a catcher for 6 seasons from 1962 through 1967 compiling a .200 batting average. Half of his 14 career Home Runs were hit in the 1966 when he played for the Phillies.  Uecker was the back-up to Tim McCarver on the St Louis Cardinals World Championship Team, but he did not actually play in any series games. 

Most people know Bob Uecker as an off the field celebrity featured on TV and film - Most notably as Harry Doyle in the late 80s comedy "Major League" (and it's sequals). 

Uecker is also well known to Brewers fans as the radio play by play voice.  He has done work in TV at a national level as well, including scattered playoff games that I can vaguely remember over the years. 

In 2003 Uecker received the Ford C Frick Award for Broadcasting from the Baseball Hall of Fame.  This Year the Brewers plan to honor Uecker with a statue outside of Miller Park, The unveiling is planned for August 31 of this year.

For The Collector

I think the 1967 Topps Card above I either received in trade or found at a card show.  This is the final card Topps issued of Uecker during his playing career.  This card has a pretty good crease running down the center, and likely could be found in a dime box.  I imagine one could find a good condition 67 Uecker for a dollar without much looking.

The bulk of his cards were with the Cardinals.  His1963 Topps rookie card features him with Milwaukee's first major league team the Braves.   Recent low sale for the RC was $4.10

Essential Collection

 

This makes the essential collection based off of Uecker being an off the field Icon and on a Phils Card. 

 

A card of the Natural  
Minnie Minoso with his birth name of Orestes

A card for your Team Collection with an Off Field Icon

 

Sources:

Baseball-Reference Bob Uecker Page

Wikipedia Bob Uecker Page

 

 

Phun Cards Roger Clemens

Thanks to the neverending Clemens Trial, I get mileage out of this card about once a year or so.

1992 U.S. Playing Card Aces - Joker - Roger Clemens

How many cards are more appropriate? 

Well maybe the Justice Department should get a Joker card now. 

Phun Cards Ray Liotta - Henry Hill (1943-2012)

2004 Bowman Chrome First Year #BDP69 Ray Liotta 

Today we got the news that Henry Hill, the subject of the Martin Scorsese gangster film "GoodFellas", died at the age of 69.

I have always loved "GoodFellas" and rank it among the greatest films I have ever seen.  In the film Hill was played by actor Ray Liotta.  Liotta also famously played a right-handed batting Joe Jackson in "Field of Dreams".

Then in 2004 the White Sox drafted a pitcher named Ray Liotta.  Between my love of the film and the fact that Liotta (the actor) played an baseball icon on film, a Liotta (the player) card became a necessity for the team Phungo Collection.

Unfortunately for the Pitching Ray Liotta, his career hasn't quite worked out - as far as I can tell via Baseball-Reference.com he has been out of affiliated baseball since 2009.

For the Collector

This card was found in a dime box, and I am sure it isn't worth that much, unless you are one of the Ray Liotta's

Phun Cards 1953 Topps Orestes Minoso

1953 Topps #66 Orestes Minoso

This is the second installment of my Essentials Collection.  I have seen Minnie Minoso's name raised a few times recently in conjunction with Jamie Moyer news items that mention older players seeing Major League action. 

For Minoso's part this was somewhat of a stunt returning to the game in 1976 after over a decade in retirement.  I recently found out that this was only partially for publicity.  According to the new biography Bill Veeck: Baseball’s Greatest Maverick, by Paul Dickson, It was also an opportunity to help improve Minoso's MLB pension benefts.  Minoso would again return to the White Sox in 1980 to become a 5 decade man.  In 1993 Bill Veeck's Son Mike Veeck lured Minoso out of retirement one further time to play for the Independent league St Paul Saints to add another decade to that total. 

Even without the several comebacks Orestes "Minnie" Minoso had a career of significance - and fall into that borderline Hall of Famer category.

The 9 time all-star's career totals include 1000+ Runs Scored and 1000+ RBIs - He fell just short of 2000 hits with 1963.  In 1954 Minoso led the league in Total Bases and finished 4th in the AL MVP voting.  Oddly he finished 4th in the MVP voting 4 different times including when he also finished 2nd to Gil McDougald for Rookie of the Year - McDougald finished 9th in MVP, go figure.  Minoso's other superlatives also included 3 Stolen Base titles and leading the league in Hits in 1960.

Orestes "Minnie" Minoso's final hit was in his 1976 return to baseball when he singled off of Sid Monge at the age of 50.

For The Collector

To have a great vintage collection, I think one should have an Orestes Minoso card.  On most of his Topps Cards Minoso is referred to as Minnie.  On both the '52 and '53 Topps cards Minoso is listed by his birth name Orestes.  

There are at least 4 recent ebay auctions in which Minoso's 53 Topps card (off conditon) went for under $10, with a low of $6.61.  I am not sure what mine went for me, I suspect in the $5 neighborhood.

I don't have a 1952 Topps Minoso, however I did find 3 recent auctions where the card sold for under $15.   

The Bowman cards from the era sometimes have Orestos listed on the back of the card, but none of them have that name on the front.  

Starting in 1956 Topps had Minoso as "MINNIE" including the quotes. After that he is simply Minnie.  

 

Minnie Minoso Player Collection Index

1977 Topps RB #232 (Oldest player to get a Hit in MLB Game)
2008 Topps Heritage Flashbacks #BF1 (image only part of box break)

Essential Collection
1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus 
1953 Topps #66 Minnie Minoso

Sources
Baseball-Reference Minnie Minoso Page
Wikipedia Minnie  Minoso Page
SABR-Bio Project Minnie Minoso Page
Philly.com Book Review "Bill Veeck: Baseball's Greatest Maverick" 

Phun Cards 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus

What would you pay for a vintage baseball card of the player that inspired Bernard Malamud's classic novel "The Natural"?  What would that card be worth to you if it was from the classic 1952 Topps set?

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus


Without much effort you can get this card for under $10.  Unfortunately this particular card has a huge TW stamped on the back, but it has a fine looking front and minimal wear.  Really it is a beauty for any 1952 card, but this is a 52 Topps of a noteworthy player.


Yes, Eddie Waitkus is the inspiration for "The Natural".  The novel was of course turned into the classic film by Robert Redford who also starred in the titular role.


Check the back of the card, which goes into a lot more detail about Waitkus then a contemporary card likely would (click to enlarge):

1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus (b-side - Image swiped from Baseball Card Database)




There it is the Eddie Waitkus story.  Really not the entire story that we know from "The Natural", but the crazy woman and the shooting is all there. There is also the mention of Waitkus' military service.


Near as I can tell Waitkus career didn't have a Knock out the Lights moment.  He was a member of the 1950 Whiz Kids and did get to represent the NL in the World Series.  Waitkus played 11 seasons in the majors.  During his tenure he collected 1214 hits of which only 24 were homers.

Finally
And Yes, I finally did it, I sponsored a Baseball-Reference page.  I figured for the amount of enjoyment and information  that I have gotten from the site, I was overdue for a sponsership.  

Only 2 people like the Eddie Waitkus Baseball-Reference Page.  That is ridiculous.  Go and Like his page.

Phun Cards - The Essential Collection

Phun Cards is basically my version Cardboard Appreciation.  For all the reasons documented above, I deem the 1952 Topps #158 Eddie Waitkus card a member of the Phun Cards Essential Collection.   

Phun Cards 1994 Topps #180 George Brett - Work of Art?? and a PHUNGO CHALLENGE!!!

When I first got back into collecting, I (and many others) read Ben Henry's The Baseball Card Blog.  He introduced me to the concept of Baseball Cards as more than just Cards, but as "Tiny Works of Art".  

This 1994 Topps Card of Hall of Famer George Brett falls into the Work of Art category for me. 

1994 Topps #180 George Brett

The 1994 Topps Set is rarely discussed.  I am sure there are several reasons for this.  1994 is the year of the big baseball strike and the 2 time reigning World Champions were a foreign team, the Toronto Blue Jays.  

Looking at it today it is a solid design.  There is a subtle Home Plate frame to the photo which likely appears no more perfectly on any card then on this one.  It proportions at a perfect angles to the giant Kauffman Stadium scoreboard. 

I generally dislike pictures from behind the player, but the scorebard and the HoF starpower of George Brett make this on and interesting shot.  George Brett, The Scoreboard, and a complimentry design put this card in the Work of Art category for me.

Phungo Challenge

There is so much information it is almost too easy for a Phungo Challenge but I will put it out there for all you Baseball-Reference freaks - What game is the photo from?  My scan is a bit blurry - you may want to check the Baseball Card Database image.  

For The Collector

I am pretty sure this 1994 Topps Card can be found in a Dime Box.  Not bad for a work of art.  Brett's Topps Rookie Card is from the 1975 set.  The Low recent ebay auction for the card closed at $9.50 shipped - decent condition although a very dinged up corner.  There were about a half dozen auctions for the card that ended at $15 and under.  A BVG Gem Mint 9.5 card came in at a whopping $2530.25.  Dozens of Good and Up Slabs sold for between $100 and $200. 

The lowest price card auto I found for Brett was $26.55 for a sticker auto 2004 SP Prospects (#d/50).  That was the lone auto produced by a major manufacturer that was going for under $40.  It was a bit disappointing to see that none of the George Brett Auto Cards that I saw were particularly nice looking. 

Links & Sources
Phungo George Brett HoF Index
ebay
 

Phun Cards Phungo Challenge - 2012 Chrome Mickey Mantle

We have a Phungo Challenge for this rather crummy looking Saturday here in the North East.

2012 Topps Bonus Chrome #MBC1 Mickey Mantle

Featured this card several times this week, so I am sure you have seen it plenty - at least those of  you that are reading Phungo when you should be working.

Your Phungo Challenge is to figure out what year the Photo on the above card was taken.

Hint:  Believe it or notl this is another example more gold in 2012 Topps. 

You can play even if your not in the gloomy northeast.  Winner gets added to the 2012 Phungo Challenge Wall of Fame and the complete reverence of the Phungo Readers.   


Oh and Go Flyers! will be watching hockey while being lazy this afternoon.

Phun Cards: 1958 Topps #476 Stan Musial All Star

This is the 2nd installment of Phun cards, essentially our variation on Cardboard Appreciation.  

For a long time I ran a feature titled Hall of Fame Thursday, which featured HoF players and people from various sports at various levels.  It was basically baseball centered with a strong Philadelphia accent.  Sometimes the subjects were big names like Steve Carlton other times they were less well known athletes such as Philly Sports HoF member, sprinter Leroy Burrell.

Today we are leaving the Philly area and taking a look at a Phavorite card in the Phungo Collection of Stan Musial. 

1958 Topps #476 Stan Musial All Star

1958 is the first year that Topps had a subset of All Star cards in the collection.  Which is only one of several reasons this card is special. 

    1) Stan Musial was a first ballot Hall of Famer - 1969

    2) You got to like anybody whose nickname was Stan the Man

    3) This is not nearly Stan Musial rookie cards, but it is his first card issued by Topps (Musial was not issued a base card in 1958)

    4) In my opinion the 58 All Star set is pretty sweet looking. 

For More info on Stan Musial check his Hall of Fame Page 

For the Collector

I challenge you to find a more affordable initail Topps Card of any First Ballot Hall of Famer from the vintage era.  Generally collectors don't value the All Star Subset cards of players as much as the base cards from the same year which controls costs, additionally the Musial Card (along with several other 58 All Star cards) was double printed. 

I am not sure what the above Musial card went for, I suspect around $5 - there is a minor pinhole bottom left, but that isn't enough to bother Team Phungo.

Low recent auction price $3.03 for one that was in slightly rougher condition then mine.  There were 3 auctions that ended under $5.  Fairly nice version of the card came in the $7 - $10 range.  Graded cards topped out at $101.87 (BVG 8.5 NM-MT+) . 

Phungo Stan Musial HoF Index
1959 Topps #470 (Baseball Thrills - 3000 Hits May 13 1958)  


Sources
1958 Topps All-Star Index
ebay 
Stan the Man
Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball-Ref
 

Phungo Challenge Resolved: Pat Burrell and Andruw Jones 2000-06-19

Uncle John's Band who publishes the entertaining Cards that Never Were blog was the only person to submit an entry for our Phungo Challenge on a Pat Burrell card roughly a month ago.

 

 

2001 Topps Stadium Club Pat Burrell

 

For this card UJB went with June 19th 2000.  I think he got the right series but I am leaning towards a game that was played the previous day Sunday 6/18. 

 

The series is pretty easy to drill down,  Burrell's rookie season is the only one he played at first base.  6/16-6/19 was the only Phils home series hosting the Braves that featured a Burrell appearance.  The Guest Star on the card is obviously Andruw Jones - pretty strong guest appearance there.  Surprisingly not many of Jones' ABs during those 4 games match up with the evidence in this Photo.

 

I pretty much brought it down to a few plate appearances in the games on June 18th and June 19th.  In the end, I am pretty sure this is a day game and that is why I went with 6/18.  It is true that there is significant daylight early in a night game in June, but the AB for Jones would not have taken place until at least the 3rd inning on 6/19 which would have been likely after 8p.  I can't see there being that much light at that time of day.  The other half of that theory is that I think Topps and their photographers generally use day games, because of the better lighting. 

 

I also worked under the theory that Jones could have been safe on the play.  And indeed on Sunday June 18th in the fourth inning Jones did have an infield single.  There were other possible outcomes - obviously the ground out, which happened on 6/19 and back end of a fielders choice which may have happened on 6/19.  

There is a chance that Uncle John's Band is correct and he hti the correct series so UJB you are the winner of the first Phungo Challenge of 2012!

Sources & Links

Game Dated Cards Index

Andruw Jones Index

Phun Cards and a Phungo Challenge

Phun Cards is a new feature that we are going to try running here at Phungo.  There have been numerous series that have been started here and never quite finished or returned to at all.  Like everyone here, I have a bit of ADHD and bunches of ideas dance around my brain and don't make it to the page or only do in a half-ass way.

Well today I want to introduce one of those ideas.....and see where it goes.

I am hoping that Phun Cards can be our version of the Cardboard Appreciation err I mean CA feature.  Typically single cards that are interesting for one reason or another.  I would also like to bring Hall of Fame profile back and make it part of Phun Cards.

Enough blabbing - Here is the first ever Phun Card 

2000 Topps Stadium Club #148 Pat Burrell

yeah yeah I know, gotta get the scanner hooked up.  not a priority - I have all this house stuff to do and all these important twitter feeds to follow.  And it's a shame because this is a pretty decent looking action shot from way back at the turn of the century.  Stadium Club has always had banging photography - in 2008 I think it may have come at the expense of Topps Flagship product which had horrid photos.

This card features a young Pat Burrell at the other end of his career which appears to be coming to an end.  We also have a pretty decent guest star on the card in the Person of Andruw Jones.  Amazingly Jones had already been in the league 4 years and will likely bookend Burrell's career by playing for the Yankees this season. 

Phungo Challenge

It is a Friday and you read this far because you really don't feel like working so here is your Phungo Phriday Challenge ....

I have always wanted to do this - Ok all you Baseball-Reference junkies - you know where we are going here:  What day was this game played?