ANNIVERSARY: 2010 Topps Heritage #310 Utley Ties Reggie

November 2nd marks the 10th Anniversary of the Phillies last World Series Game victory. An 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees.

That night Chase Utley tied a 30 year old World Series Record.

2010 Topps Heritage #310 Chase Utley (image swiped from trading card db)

The caption sums it up simply "Utley Ties Reggie". Nice to have your named in a comparative with a player who is such a superstar that they only need to be identified by a single name.

Flip

2010 Topps Heritage #310 Chase Utley (image stolen from comc)

The back of the Heritage cards remain faithful to the 1961T originals with scoring plays followed by the line score. The Utley Homers for game 5 can be found in the first and 7th innings of the Phillies portion of the text.

Reggie
Jackson's 5 Home Run Series was also celebrated by Topps in their 1978 set.

1978 Topps #7 RB Reggie Jackson

We covered this card a bit in our 2018 Memorial to broadcaster Keith Jackson. To read more about the card click here.

1961 Topps
2010 Heritage is an Homage to 1961 Topps. The World Series subset parallels the original with Utley's Record card matching with a card dedicated to a Pirates 5-2 victory, also over the Yankees, which featured an 8 out save from Elroy Face.

1961 Topps #310 Face Saves the Day

While both the PA teams were able to defeat the 1960 and 2009 Yankees in Game 5, afterward their fates diverged. The Pirates won the 1960 Series on Bill Mazeroski's famous Home Run while, Utley and the Phillies fell to the Yankees in 6 games. 

Phungo Games
This card reps the Phungo Game collection, read more about that game here.  In addition to the above Heritage card we have previously covered the 2009 Allen & Ginter card dedicated to Utley's World Series Record. This column can be found here.

Sources and Links
Chase Utley Index
Phungo Game Index
2009 World Series
Check out My Cards
Trading Card db
Baseball-Ref

Topps Now #362: Thanks Phillies Room!!

I am sending out a big Thank You to the fine crew over at the Phillies Room.

All season long Jim has has been keeping his eye out for Phillies Topps Now cards. He has been picking them up in bulk and passing along a card to Phungo HQ.

2016 Topps Now #362 Chase Utley

While not a Phillies card this is certainly one in spirit. There are very few folks Phillies fans are going to miss more than Chase Utley. I am glad to see him in the postseason even if it is with the Philllies west coast rival from my youth.

There are a number of things I love about this card. This is the kind of even that Suits Topps Now well especially for a club like the Phillies who are a bit short on highlights for the 2016 season.

The card also represents a Phungo Game. It was a 15-5 Phillies loss, but I definitely had a good time, you can read more about the game here.

2016 Topps Now #362 Chase Utley (b-side w/ Ryan Howard)

Typically I like some interesting copy on the back of the card, but I think Topps makes the right decision here. Sometimes you can say everything without saying anything at all.

Phungo Pix


I tried to capture a similar idea with this Photo I took at the Utley Return game. I like taking two player photos especially of opponents. It is interesting to see what relationships exist within the sportsworld.

Both of the images on the Topps card were captured by Philadelphia based Photographer Mitchell Leff. The Front of the card is here and the back here. 




Sources and Links 
Phungo Games Collection
Chase Utley Player Collection
Ryan Howard Player Collection
Mitchell Leff
Getty Images
Baseball-ref

Updates
2016 10 11 Added Paragraph regarding Photograher Mitchell Leff

Jim Thome: Welcome to the Wall!

The Philllies are adding a Jim Thome plaque to their Wall of Fame tonight. I won't be there for the induction but do plan on getting down to the park at some point this weekend.

Thome's tenure here was short but he did provide some great memories

2005 Topps #25 Jim Thome

Remember a few years back when there was a buzz regarding Topps giving players card numbers that matched their uniform numbers. This Thome card is pre-buzz but it does fall on his #25.

2005 Topps #25 Jim Thome (b-side)

One of the reasons that I like this card is the fun fact, "On June 14, 2004, Jim Became the 37th Major Leaguer to reach 400 home runs." First off I respect the accomplishment and I am happy that the prodigious home run hitter reached the milestone while with the Phillies.

More selfishly I think it is cool that it was a game attended by Team Phungo.

Citizens Bank Ballpark was brand new at the time, there was always buzz at the stadium - even more so with a potential Thome Milestone. June 14 2004 was a rainy Monday night in which the Reds were in town to make up a game that had already been postponed once. None of this could damper the spirits of the fans there to see if Thome could hit #400. He didn't make us wait long - He homered in the first inning.

Except that there was the issue of a potential rainout - what would happen if the game didn't go the required 5 innings?

The clubs played through some rain and there were delays but the clubs eventually finished the contest (officially) with the Phillies winning 10-7 in a weather shortened 8 innings.

Someday I will dig through my ticket stubs and add one to this post.

Sources and Links
Phungo Jim Thome HR #400 Index
Phungo Jim Thome Player Collection
Phungo Games Index
Baseball-ref


 

20th Anniversary: 1996 07 09 Philadelphia hosts All-Star Game

Saturday will mark the 20th Anniversary of the 1996 All-Star Game which was hosted by the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the contest which the NL took 6-0 the Philllies were only represented by one player Ricky Botallico, however there was a Hometown Hero involved in the Game.

Mike Piazza from nearby Phoenixville went 2 for 3 with a Homer and a pair of RBI. The performance earned the Dodgers Catcher Game MVP Honors.

1997 Topps #104 Season Hightlights Mike Piazza

Topps noted Piazza's accomplishments with a card in the Highlights Subset of the 1997 Flagship Set.

I will not sloppy Topps this one as Piazza is wearing a Home jersey, which he would have donned for the All-Star game, but I am thinking this shot is from LA during a glorious day game at Chavez Ravine not at Philadelphia creaky old Veterans Stadium.

The front of the card isn't specific the event, however...

1997 Topps #104 Season Hightlights Mike Piazza (b-side)

Nice  blurb on the back including dateline Philadelphia. The Home Run Piazza hit is detailed nicely, in the 70 or so games I saw at the Vet I can only recall a handful of balls that were hit as far as that one.

Finally the card also mentions Piazza Tenure at Phoenixville High - Makes for a nice add to the Phungo Locals collection.

Mike Piazza HoF Index
In a Couple of weeks Piazza will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. This posting will serves as our index of Piazza related postings.

1994 Topps #1 Philly Sports Hall of Fame
2006 Fleer Ultra #HRK15 - Junk of the Month (Padres WTF?)

Phungo Games Collection
I was lucky enough to attend the 1996 All-Star Game and I am very happy to have this Piazza card in the Phungo Games Collection which is indexed here.

As far as I know Topps did not issue All-Star cards in 1996 Update/Traded or 1997 Cards with ASG flairs. This is kind of a bummer as I would love to have more cards to represent that game. 1997 UD did add have a nice ASG logo on their 1997 Series 1 cards, I hope to take a look at those in a future posting or series.

Sources and Links
Phungo Games Index 
1996 ASG Index
Baseball-Ref

2016 Topps Scouting Report #SRA-AN Aaron Nola (rc - auto)

The Phillies Home Opener versus the San Diego Padres is today and 2nd year pitcher Aaron Nola will be the starting for the home squad.

Both the Aaron Nola Base and Autograph cards were part of the promotional material published by Cardboard Connection. I saw each card several times over the last couple of months but didn't really examine them until I took part in the Nachos Grande group break.

2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola

I am not sure how many collectors would consider Aaron Nola a good pull in a Hobby Box break of 2016 Topps, but if you have the Phillies in a Grouper it is a great pick.

When the cards from the group break arrived I quickly realized that the Nola Auto card has a different image than the base card

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola
2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola

Similar but definitely different. Notice on the base card Nola's head is angled more toward home. It also appears the index finger on his pitching hand is below the seam on the base card while it covers the seam on the auto. The angle of the non-pitching hand is different in the two shots.

Getty the Game
Both pictures were shot from the same angle and in fact were taken during the same game by the same photographer.  We discussed the base card last week and noted that the photo was this one taken by Miles Kennedy. The shot on the Auto card was also taken by Kennedy but it was taken an inning later than the base card.

During the 2nd inning of the game on July 21 2015 Aaron Nola faced four hitters yielding only one hit a single to Jake Elmore. Also during that same inning Nola recorded a strikeout of Rene Rivera.

2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola (b-side)

The back of Nola's card mentions his best game of the season, a 2-0 combined shutout of the Marlins in which he got through 8 innings yielding just three hits while striking out six. The game is discussed on Nola's base card as well.

Phungo Game Cards
The picture is from a game attended by Team Phungo and will join the list of Phungo Game Cards.

Sources and Links
2016 Topps Index
2016 Topps Phillies
Getty Images
Baseball-ref

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (rc)

Aaron Nola didn't earn the Opening Day start for the rebuilding 2016 Philadelphia Phillies. That honor rightfully went to veteran Jeremy Hellickson.

Nola did earn the #2 spot in the rotation.

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola

The nice thing about getting the b-slot is that if the weather cooperates Nola will get the opportunity start the Phillies Home Opener on Monday.

The #133 card is Nola's first flagship card, and will likely be considered his rookie card - Note the mandatory RC flair in the bottom right. This likely will end up being the image my memory will permanently attach to 2016 Topps.

Flip

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (b-side)

Nice blurb on the back of the card, the Text mentions that the Phillies sold 8,500 tix in the days leading up to Aaron Nola's debut - One of those tickets went to Team Phungo. The Phillies may have lost the game 1-0 but it still felt like a W, a symbolic turning of the page to a new generation of players.

Getty the Game
Now we get to the reason I love this card. The text on the back ties to the image on the front. I quickly perused the pictures on Getty Images and found this photo which was taken July 21 2015 during Nola's debut. The Getty Details are even good enough to mention that the picture was taken during the first inning, There were four batters in that inning the most prominent of which was Evan Longoria.

The Photo is credited to Miles Kennedy who has a few sports related images in the Getty library and appears to be a staff photographer with the Phillies.

Finally since this card features both a Photo on the front and text on the back that refers to a game team Phungo attended the card gets added to our favorite subset, the Phungo Games Collection.

2016 WAR
Hoping for a good sophomore year from Aaron Nola, +2.1. 

Sources and Links
Phungo Game Cards Index
2016 Topps Index
2016 Topps Phillies
Getty Images

Name the Game: 2014 Chrome #174 Chase Utley

If you want to Name the Game DON'T SCROLL BEYOND THE CARD!

Otherwise stay with us and I will discuss this card below.

2014 Topps #174 Chase Utley (Black Parallel #61/100)

The Photo features Phungo favorite Chase Utley, it appears he is recording a putout on the front end of a possible double play with Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana sliding into second base.

Chase is wearing the Phillies alternative cream jerseys which are reserved for day games. Those two facts point pretty quickly to a single game, a sad 10-4 loss on the 15th of May in 2013. If we look a little deeper we find the only time Santana reached base was in the 7th inning.  He was erased a pitch later on a 6-4-3 double play induced by Phillies pitcher Phillippe Aumont versus the Indian Ryan Raburn

Getty Got It
Once we established the date as a cross check we scanned the Getty Archive and found the image. Hovering the cursor over the photo yield the date and location information which confirms the 2013 05 15 date mentioned above. It also credits Hunter Martin as the Photographer.

Phungo Games

Ticket 2015 05 15 Indians @ Phillies

One of the reasons this card caught my eye is that it is from a Phungo Game - A game attended by Team Phungo. For our dismal game report on that disaster click here. 

Flip

2014 Topps #174 Chase Utley (b-side Black Parallel #61/100)

This is a parallel from the 2014 Chrome set. The black border refractor is a nice look for Phillies Cards - Nice contrast with the Red and having an Indians uni in the frame doesn't hurt. These parallels have a limited print run of 100 copies which can be seen in the top right corner.

To see the vanilla Utley Chrome card you can click here to see our blaster break from 2014.

Variations
In addition to all the parallels the Image also shows up on the mini variation of the 2014 Gypsy Queen Chase Utley card. An example can be seen in the Cardboard Connection Variation Guide - scroll down to card #255.
 
Sources and Links
Phungo Games Index
Chase Utley Player Collection
Baseball-ref
Getty Images
Hunter Martin Photography
Cardboard Connection 

Updates
2016 0121: Game Ticket Added

Still the Home Run Leader for November

This years World Series made it into November, by my count it is the fourth time this season has extended into the 11th month of the year. The previous years were 2001, 2009, 2010 and 2015.

Last week Curtis Granderson added his name to the list of players who have November Homers, a list that is headed by Chase Utley.

2010 Allen & Ginter Highlight Sketches #AGHS1 Chase Utley

During the 2009 World Series Utley hit five Homers, three of which occurred in 2 November games in Philadelphia.

Home Runs 4 and 5 were both hit in Game 5, the most recent World Series Game won by the Phillies and the most recent Series game hosted in Philadelphia. Team Phungo was happy to be at that game and you can read about that very enjoyable night here.
 

2010 Allen & Ginter Highlight Sketches #AGHS1 Chase Utley (b-side)

The flip side of the card goes into a some additional details including the Mention of Mr October, Reggie Jackson, who is the only other player to previously hit five homers in a Series.

Phungo Game Cards

This card is a member of one of my favorite collections: The Phungo Game Collection which is the narcissistic set of cards devoted to games that Team Phungo was fortunate enough to attend. Above is a snapshot of the e-ticket I picked up for the game. I miss hard tickets, but do realize that the time marches on. I do have a paper ticket to this game but it isn't the same as the ones issued by the teams/league.

The Index of Phungo Game Cards can be found here.

Chase Utley 
He is gone but not forgotten. I have a couple of player collection and this posting will act as an index to the Chase Utley related cards in the Phungo Collection

Sources and Links
Phungo Game Cards
Chase Utley Player Collection Index 
Baseball Cardpedia

Swag from Paul's Random Stuff

Social Media outlets can suck up a lot of time and for a procrastinator like myself they are quite dangerous. .

However, occasionally something pops on Twitter that gets my attention in a good way.

2015 Topps #302 Martin Prado (Gatorade Variation)

Paul of Paul's Random Stuff was tweeting some 2015T cards and he posted the above card. There are so many variations in 2015T I did not know this one existed. But I am glad the card exists.  

Now one may ask, what does Team Phungo want with a 2015T New York Yankees card of a player that only wore the uniform for about a week.

Well this card, which is a variation of Prado's 2015 base card, is going into my very special Phungo Games Colleciton.

Last September Team Phungo made a special trek up to the Stadium to see Derek Jeter play in his home park one last time. For more details on that game click here.  The Captain had an uneventful night (1-5) but Martin Prado had a terrific game 2-5 with 3 RBI including a game winning single - which led to the Gatorade Bath above.

A Big thanks to Paul for adding this card to my favorite collection!

2015 Topps
I am picking a nit here but as a Yankee Martin Prado played more second base than third. This card is a "Special" card featuring a photo from a specific game in which Prado played second. In Topps defense the bulk of Prado's time with  the D-Backs was spent at third. 


Sources and Links
Index of Phungo Games 
2015 Topps
Baseball-ref

Game Dated Cards

This is an index of a cards that are tied to specific dates. 

Lines on beige background are games that were attended by Team Phungo (typically but not always Phillies Games). I have tried to tag these with three asterisks at the end (***)

Lines on pink background are Phillies related games that were not attended by team Phungo.

 

DayF Sketch Card Original Brad Lidge 1/1

2025 0626 Rangers 5 @ Brewers 6: 2025 Topps #376 Jackson Chourio (2025 Topps Holiday #H182, 2024 ToppsNow #349)
2023 1012 Braves 1 @ Phillies 3: 2024 Topps Stadium Club #219 Nick Castellanos (no column, Blue Sky post)

2023 0622 Braves 5 @ Phillies 1: 2024 Topps #463 Aaron Nola (no column, Getty Link)
2023 0928 Red Sox 2 @ Orioles 0: 2024 Topps 1989 retro #89B2-10 Gunnar Henderson

2018 0622 Djamondbacks 2 @ Pirates 1: 2018 ToppsNow #355 Nova/Corbin (SABR game)*** 
2018 0530 Astros 3 @ Yankees 5: 2018 Topps #US79 Altuve/Judge Dichotomy

2018 0429 Braves 10 @ Phillies 1: 2019 Topps #1 Ronald Acuna Jr (RoY/ASR)
2017 0630 Phillies 1 @ Mets 2: 2017 ToppsNow #311 Jacob deGrom***
2016 0907 Blue Jays 0 @ Yankees 2: 2017 Topps #286 Aaron Judge (rc)
2016 0816 Dodgers @ Phillies 2016 ToppsNow #362 Chase Utley Returns ***
2016 0807 2016 Topps OD #SD-1 Ichiro (3000 Hits)

2016 Topps S1 - Game Dates w/ related links for 2016 Phillies Checker  

2015 0822 2016 Topps #68 Odubel Herrera 
2015 0721 Rays @ Phillies 2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (rc) MLB Debut ***

2015 0624 2016 Topps #237 Carlos Ruiz

2015 0609 2016 Topps Perspectives #P-20 Ryan Howard

2014 0822 White Sox @ Yankees 2015 Topps #302 Martin Prado (Gatorade Variation) ***  
2013 0923 Rays @ Orioles: 2013 Topps Chase It Down #CD5 Adam Jones ***
2013 0515 Indians @ Phillies: 2014 Topps Chrome #174 Chase Utley (Black Parallel) ***
2013 0901 Royals @ Blue Jays 2014 Topps #273 Mark DeRosa (Confiscated Football)
2010 1006 Reds @ Phillies: 2011 Topps #359 Roy Halladay Postseason No-Hitter ***

2010 0908 Marlins @ Phillies: 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter BHS Ryan Howard HR #250

2009 1102 Yankees @ Phillies: Chase Utley hits 2 of his 5 World Series Home Runs *** 
2009 1102 Yankees @ Phillies: 2010 Topps Heritage #310 Utley Ties Reggie, 10th Anniversary ***
2009 0906 Giants 1 @ Brewers 2: Prince Fielder Bowling Walk-Off (#1 Club)
2009 0321 WBC South Korea vs Venezuela (Shin-Soo Choo Homer / 2018 Winter Olumpics)
2009 0309 WBC  Netherlands 2 Dominican 1 
2008 1029 Rays @ Phillies: DayF Sketch Card Original Brad Lidge 1/1 (featued above) ***
2008 1029 Index to postings related to the 2008 World Series Clincher
2008 1025 Rays @ Phillies: Jamie Moyer World Series Start
2008 1005 2009 UD PoH #BSM-PB Pat Burrell 2 HRs NLDS clincher
2008 0907 Phillies @ Mets 2008 UD Documentary (Joe Blanton reps a game in which he never played) ***
2008 0620 Angels @ Phillies: 2008 UD Documentary (Pat Burrell Hat Trick 3Ks) ***

2008 0605 Reds @ Phillies 2009 Topps #200 Chase Utley (only game in series Phillies wearing Cream)

- NO ARTICLE YET

2008 0605 Reds @ Phillies 2008 Stadium Club #112 Joey Votto (only game in series Phillies wearing Cream) - NO ARTICLE YET
2007 0710 2007 Topps #UH279 Ichiro and Utley (ASG Inside the Park HR) 
2007 0425 2008 UD Masterpieces #69 Chase Utley (5 Hit Game) 
2006 0817 2017 Topps Baseball Card Day Phillies WoF #16 Mike Lieberthal
2006 0620 Yankees @ Phillies: 2015 Topps #TMB-6 Tape Measure Ryan Howard ***
2006 0505 Giants @ Phillies:  2007 Topps Finest ***
2005 0711 ASG HR Derby Detroit Bobby Abreu wins with 41 dingers
2005 0711 ASG HR Derby Detroit (Hee-Seop Choi / 2018 Winter Olympics)
2005 0404 Nationals @ Phillies 2005 Topps Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-TEAM ***
2004 0614 Reds @ Phillies 2005 SubIndex of posts related to Jim Thome HR #400***
2004 0608 D-Backs @ Orioles: 2005 #47 Bazooka Randy Johnson ***
2003 0427 Giants @ Phillies: 2013 Gypsy Queen #NH-KM Kevin Millwood No-Hitter
2002 0727 Phillies 3 @ Braves 5: John Smoltz Thowback
2002 0523 2003 Topps #333 HL Shawn Green (4 HR 6 Hit Game) 
2002 0405 2002 Fleer Authentix #86 (Home Opener, Rolen reaches 5 times) ***
2002 0405 2002 Fleer Authentix #56 (Home Opener Bobby Abreu 4-4 3 RBI) ***
2000 0619 2001 Stadium Club Pat Burrell 

1998 0928 Tigers @ Blue Jays: 1999 Bowman Best #136 Roy Halladay Second career start, No-Hitter through 8.2 innings
1998 0630 Phillies @ Yankees: 2008 UD Yankee Stadium Legacy YSL #5835 Tino Martinez ***
1998 0623 1999 Fleer #95 Jim Thome (HOF Tribute by Once a Cub )
1997 0531 1998 UD/2015 Topps Andres Galarraga Tape Measure Home Run
1997 0521 1998 Topps Stadium Club #4 Vladimir Guerrero (SF score from 2B) 
1996 0709 1996 ASG AL 0 @ NL 6 Game Ticket (index to related postings) ***
1993 0603 1994 Topps #180 George Brett 
1993 0409 Opening Day Game Ticket Darren Daulton (25th Anniversary)  

1992 0621 1993 Score #415/1993 Topps #262 Mickey Morandini

1979 0612 1980 Topps #709 Alan Trammell Steals Home in a game managed by Dick Tracewski
1977 1018 1978 Topps #7 RB Reggie Jackson 5 HR/Keith Jackson Memorial (2018)

1977 0721 1978 Topps #52 Jim Lonborg 

1976 0925 1978 Topps #52 Jim Lonborg (b-side / Phillies clinch NL East) 
1974 0717 1975 Topps #3 Bob Gibson (3000 Ks)
1971 0810 2015 Topps #H-74 Harmon Killebrew (500 HRs) 
1970 1001 1972 Topps #423 Oscar Gamble (Memorial)

1965 0409 2014T Heritage Flashbacks #BF-A Astrodome Opens
1964 1014 1965 Topps #137 Jim Bouton Wins Again (1964 WS G6) 

1959 1001 1960 Topps #385 Charlie Neal (First Topps World Series Card)
1959 0610 1964 Topps #109 Rusty Staub (Rocky Colavito Trivia) 
1959 0610 1964 Topps Jumbo #9 Rocky's Hot Bat
1956 1008 1961 Topps #402 Don Larsen Memorial / Perfect Game
1956 1008 1961 NU Cards Baseball Scoops #418 Don Larsen Perfect Game
1955 0829 1954 Topps Jackie Robinson #30 2016 Topps Berger's Best #BB-5 

1946 0714 1961 Fleer #28 Ted Williams Shift implemented by Leo Durocher
1936 0624 2012 Topps #GG-22 Joe DiMaggio (2 HR Inning)

Other Game Dated Series
Subset Index - This is a group of Indices for Subsets, several of which have Game Dated Cards (Record Breakers, No-Hitters, Postseason Games etc)


Blog Bat Around Compilation (posted 2008) ***

Want List - Phillies
2014 Gypsy Queen Mini #255b Utley Fielding Variation - matches 2014 Topps Chrome #174

2010 Topps Heritage #310 Utley Ties Reggie

2010 Topps #372 Phillies Franchise History  
2009 Topps Heritage #390 BJ Upton (2008 10 29)
2009 Topps Heritage #391 Brad Lidge (2008 10 29)

2007 Topps Finest Ryan Howard Home Runs
#RH-HR17 2006 0528
#RH-HR25 2006 0620

Ryan Howard 2007 Topps Generation Now #9,24,53
Chase Utley 2007 Topps Generation Now #6? From game played 2006 0629
2004 Topps #695 Thome/Schmidt

Cole Hamels 2007 UD Series 1 #395
Cole Hamels 2007 UD First Pitch #256
Gavin Floyd 2005 UD First Pitch #FP-8

2003 Topps T205 TF20 Abreu Konerko Pick Off (2002 06 20??)
Brandon Duckworth 2002 UD Vintage #239
2005 UD Classic Moments – Len Dykstra #LD

Thome 2004 Fleer Ticket Studs #7

Randy Wolf 2004 SP Authentic Game Dated 2003-0814 Randy Wolf 2004 SP Authentic Game Dated 2003-05-15

Non-Phils Want List
2016 Topps Perspectives #P-4 Bryce Harper

Happy Trails Randy Johnson Game Revealed

I stole this picture off an ebay listing - This card is on my non-Phils want list, and I just haven't found it yet. NicoLax24 made a compelling argument for this being a Cardinals game but I am pretty sure it is an Orioles game.

The game that NicoLax24 Referenced was a Playoff game that occurred on October 24th 2001 between the Diamondbacks and Cardinals. Unfortunately the game was played in Arizona not St Louis. This photo was taken at a Diamondbacks away game - check the D-Backs unis at dressed to the nines.

I am pretty sure this game occurred on June 8th 2004. The Diamondbacks blew out the Orioles 8-1 in a game that I attended. I have been to Camden Yards several times and there is an area in the Right Field power alley that serves as a dugout for some sort of stadium personnel. Those folks in there are wearing Orioles Orange, not Cardinals Red. There is also a sign that marks the OF depth as 373 feet there, and you can see part of that sign behind Mr Johnson.

The Unit pitched 11 games at Camden Yards, but only one of those was as a Diamondback and that game was on June 8 2004.

Since this game is among the Phungo Games that I have attended this card is also on my want list for Phungo Games.

Randy Johnson HoF Index
1991 Score #700 (No-Hit Club 1992 0602 No-Hitter)
2000 Skybox Dominion #7 (ERA League Leaders w/ Pedro Martinez
2005 Topps Bazooka Stamp Quad (w/ Schilling, Pettitte & Hudson)

Sources and Links
Dressed to the Nines
Baseball-ref

Tino Martinez a White Whale and the Agony of Defeat

Some people’s White Whale may be something incredibly hard to get and possibly prohibitively expensive – the 52 Mantle for example. But for a lot of people something a lot more conventional. It may be a hard to find chrome Jose Cruz Jr or an early 80s Sparky Lyle Card. My White Whales fall in this latter category, they me be plentiful and a lot cheaper, however that may not make them any less hard to find.

Last week I noted in the initial Blog Bat Around that I seek cards that represent games I have been to. One of the cards I mentioned was YSL #5835 Tino Martinez from this year’s UD Yankee Stadium Legacy collection.

I have only been to two games at Yankee Stadium and one this past year and one on June 30th 1998 – the day represented by the Martinez card. Since there are no Yankee Stadium Legacy cards from 2008 games yet, presently the YSL #5835 is the only one I want.

So many Yankee Stadium Legacy cards exists that people are giving them away. The problem is that YSL is such a behemoth to deal with that finding a specific single card is a bit of a needle and hay stack issue.

Imagine my surprise when I saw YSL #5835 in a recent ebay auction. I was shocked and happy to see it. First off I had never seen the card. Unlike the ‘52 Mantle - seen lots o those. I confirmed it was the one – I had only conjectured the card number from other YSLs I had seen and the Yankees 98 Schedule in Baseball-Reference. Right Date Check - Phils Got Clobbered 9-2 sounds about right Check – definitely the one I wanted. WhooHoo I had found my YSL Whilte Whale.

The Martinez was in a 4 card lot of YSLs with a starting bid of .99 cents and 2.75 shipping. I entered a minimum bid and thought to myself who the hell else is going to bid on these 4 YSL cards and forgot about it. A Yankee Stadium Legacy card certainly isn’t worth more than 4 bucks.

Well several hours later I got my 2^nd shock of the day when I found somebody had bid 2.75 to win the four cards. Perhaps I should have factored in that #33 Wally Pipp was in the lot. Don’t know, but I had missed my White Whale and felt the Agony of Defeat.

Looking back I wouldn’t change a thing. It turns out the card isn’t worth $5 to me. At least right now it isn’t.

What do you think?

1) Stick to your guns Phungo. You’re absolutely right - There ain’t no way you want to pay over $5 for a single Yankee Stadium Legacy card.

2) Phungo you’re a Moron – This is a White Whale for a Fiver! – This is a priceless artifact for your collection and you let it go for five bucks. What the Hell are you thinking?

Bat Around - Phungo Game Cards

I find my collection to be quite varied. I am a Phillies fans and would consider myself primarily a team collector, but I am also presently trying to build some sets, collect autograph cards, and star cards.

These are all among things that other hobbyists collect. One thing that I collect which I have yet to see anyone else write about is cards representing games that I have attended.

Perhaps this is because it is somewhat narcissistic. Yes I am geeky enough that I have created a file of Retrosheet/Baseball-Reference Box Scores of every game I have ever been to - all 201 of them. I collect cards that feature any of those games – sometimes I call them Phungo Games as in “Cole Hamels had the most Wins in Phungo Games this year” The only time I have even seen anyone mention anything similar is someone on the Bench was building a set of Yankee Stadium Legacy cards from the games he saw there with his father.

So yes some mirror sets that many other collectors loathe, I actually have a use for. 2007 Topps Generation Now has a whole bunch of Ryan Howard cards representing HRs I saw him hit – I have a couple of these and some still on my want list.

And Moments and Milestones – the checklist is far too large for me to think about building a want list – but I do have a few:

And there are gems on the backs of some cards:

But the true treasures are cards that I have identified the photo to be from a game I have been to:

There is some true work that goes into Identifying these cards. One might ask how the heck are you sure that the Hamels card is from that specific game. Well here goes: The card is a home day game. That much I can identify from just looking at the card. Cole Hamels did not reach the majors till 2006 so this has to be from an 06 game since it's an 07 series 1 card. Then I look at the scoreboard – The Orioles were at the Angels (They did not play the Dodgers in 06) The only day game which Cole pitched while the O’s were visitng he Angels prior to 2007 was on September 4, 2006.

There are also cards of events I have seen that are related to players that are not Phillies.

The scan is a little hard to read but the Gonzo cartoon mentions that he hit his 300th homer on June 5 2006.

I collect these also – You put them next to the ticket and you have a pretty cool little item.

Topps got the date incorrect on the card, but I still think it's a cool card.

Oh and yes prior to this year I was at one game at Yankess Stadium, June 30^th 1998. If my calculations are correct that is YSL #5835 Tino Martinez. That card remains on my want list.

Within my binders I also have pages of cards related to the Phungo games. For instance I have a collection of every player who I have seen hit a grand slam. Yes most of these players are pretty common like Darren Daulton or Bobby Abreu and now I will be adding Shane Victorino to the Grand Slam page. The ones that hurt are the those hit by the opposition.

Eventually I will have pages dedicated to the 2008 World Series. It will be filled with Phillies but it will also have Rays, like Rocco Baldelli who hit the only Home Run I saw in the 2008 World Series.

I find it to be a way of tying together my card collection with the experience of going to the game. And it also brings some personal value to cards that may otherwise be considered commons.