Merry Christmas!

2009 09 29 Phillie Phanatic with the Rockettes

The Phanatic sure knows how to enjoy the Holiday. And I sincerely hope you enjoy yours.

Everyone here at Team Phungo would like to thank all the bloggers, readers, card enthusiasts, baseball fans and traders that have helped to make this a rewarding hobby and a fun year. Here's to looking forward to even more cards and more fun in 2010!

Phungo Reader Salute, STS Results, and Pat Burrell

Today's reader salute goes out to fellow Phils Phan PTBNL who had a big 3 run inning in the Spot the Sig! contest Sunday. PTBNL was at a cosiderable advantage, he had just posted a Frank Robinson auto at Auto-matic for the People - so not only was he familiar with the auto it was likely fresh in his mind. I already had the STS! auto mapped out, and considered withdrawing the Robinson, but decided to leave it in the contest.

PTBNL has been an active participant in Spot the Sig!, often getting his guess in early on Sunday Nights. He was also gracious enough to come up w/ some suggestions for places to go when my girlfriend and I took a recent mini-vacation in Virginia. Thanks PTBNL and Phungo Salutes you!

My favorite PTBNL entry at Auto-Matic for the People was for a Pat Burrell Auto. The post is definitely worth a read, it is both heartfelt and interesting.

In honor of PTBNL's Burrell fandom I post one of my favorite Burrell cards:

2004 Fleer Authentix #50 Pat Burrell
Phillies Ticket Stub April 12th 2004

As I noted in my blog bat around post several weeks ago, I like cards that commemorate games that I have attended. The date noted on this card is opening day of the 2004 season. Unfortunately the Phils lost the game, but I still enjoy the look of the 2004 fleer Authentix cards. There is a bit of shiny chominess (didn't come through in the scan) which helps the card look a little sharper.

Pat's days in Philadelphia are likely over, I hope that he goes somewhere he can continue a productive career. He's had his ups and downs in Philadelphia, but he is a World Champion an nobody can take that away from him.

Back to this weeks autos. The Frank Robinson card is part of a Hillshire Farms series produced in 1999. I first became aware of them via a Dayf post also on Auto-matic for the people. And he is correct, I believe you can likely pick up each of the Hillshire farms autos for under 10 bucks on ebay, possibly even 5 including shipping.

1999 Hillshire Farms Home Run Heroes Frank Robinson

As for Dallas Green, he came and spoke at the Chester County Historical Society a few years back. I only remember two things Dallas said that night, one was that he completed a masters degree at University of Delaware and the second was he said "Wayne Gomes is not a closer". He was right.

PTBNL as I mentioned earliar had a big inning and I am going to have to sort all this out.
First up he got the single for getting the Frank Robinson auto so Utley Drives in Victorino. This is followed by Ryan Howard getting a big triple, must of been one of those towering pop ups that bounced off of the top of the wall (driving in Utley)- And then Howard comes home has the cutoff man throws wildly to 3rd base as PTBNL gets the Red and Green Bonus. 3 runs for PTBNL.

There was one other bonus to hand out as Night Owl found the 1974 John Ellis card. The Night Owl crew is doing a good job of working on manufacturing a run, coming through on their third bonus question. Night Owl was also inspired to create an amusing post on the cartoons of 1974 topps. Definitely check it out. With the bonus, the busy Matt Kemp has stolen 3rd.

Here is the rest of the John Ellis card:

1974 Topps #128 Johne Ellis (Reverse)

I do have a couple of questions for this weeks winners. 1) PTBNL, you sounded defeated but went back in there and figured out the Dallas Green auto, how'd you come up with it? searching ebay or going through old cards for facsimile autos? and Night Owl, did you know that cartoon was from 1974 topps?. Every time topps has the cartoons they are different but I don't know if I could pick out one year from another based on just the toon portion of the card.

I hope everybody enjoyed this weeks seasonal Spot the Sig! and it helped to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Next week will probably be a lot more basic.

Here are the current STS! standings

PTBNL - repsresentin those Fightin Phillies - 4 Runs - bases empty
Stats on the Back - Mets - 1 Run in - Man on 3rd
Cardboard Junkie - Braves - 1 Run in - Man on First
Cardboard Addiction - Bosox - Man on First
Night Owl - Dodgers - Man on 3rd
A Cardboard Problem - Yankees - on Deck

For further information regarding the Phungo Spot the Sig! contest click here and join the party - you just may find yourself with a stack of cards come spring training!

Stop back Sunday night for the next edition of Spot the Sig! 

Links
Phungo HoF index Frank Robinson

Phungo Readers Salute - Mets Fans

Today’s Phungo Readers Salute goes out to a couple of Mets fans that are good enough to stop by here. I don’t know what it is but despite the fact that we are sending out largely Phillies content, we have a couple Mets fans that visit pretty consistently.

I really enjoy Sports Locker - JRJ posts a lot of interesting information on cards and memorabilia. Yes He is a fan of the Mets but we will forgive him. Sports Locker has a background in the Jersey area so there is also the occasional Philadelphia related post.

The Mets stuff and too bad, but the Cowboys info get a little hard to take.

Mark runs Stats on the Back and is attempting to collect a card of every Met. Best of luck with that, I think some of those late 70s teams may have went through a lot of players that never got cards. He is also an active member in the Spot the Sig! contest and has scored a run to move into a tie for first place.

Finally I want to mention Paul’s Random Stuff, who occasionally drops in a comment here. This sometimes confuses me, since my name is also Paul and I am easily confused. PRS features a nice array of Mets cards, info, and lots of Autos.

There were a couple of different directions I could of gone here, I will save both Phils and Mets fans some anguish and not post a Billy Wagner card. Instead I will post a card of a different reliever who may be the only player to contribute to both a Mets and a Phillies World Championship team, Tug McGraw.

1975 Topps Mini #67 Tug McGraw
1977 Topps #164 Tug McGraw

These two cards are interesting when placed side by side. The Photos both feature Tugger in roughly the same pose, and they both appear to have been taken at spring training facilities. What really separates the two pictures is the uniform.

Regardless of the team he played on, I think most people think of Tug McGraw as one cool dude. I saw McGraw speak once at a local historical society. He was very funny and amusing as one can imagine. It’s unfortunate that McGraw died so young, but I am glad I was able to enjoy his career and his humor.

Tug McGraw – great guy, something both Mets and Phils fans can agree on.

Phungo Readers Salute - Night Owl Cards

Today's readers appreciation is for Night Owl Cards.

Sometimes when I am not quite ready start working in the mornings I sneak over to check out what is going on in blogworld. Night Owl Cards is great for this because there is likely to be a posting composed while manning the graveyard shift, thus I have something new to read each morning.

Night Owl covers the primarily the Dodgers teamwise and he can also cast some great riffs on the vintage cards - lots o good early 70s stuff. But best of all Night Owl Cards has an interesting niche posting on Night Cards - Brilliant Concept - Night Cards Posted Over Night.


2002 UD Vintage Night Gamers NG5 Greg Maddux
2002 UD Vintage Night Gamers NG9 Troy Glaus

First off please notice I tried to get the two cards to not point off page (thats a note for Night Owl because he would likely notice)

In 2002 when UD Vintage ripped off the iconic 1971 Topps cards they produced a couple of interesting inserts sets called "Day at the Park" and "Night Gamers". I love 71 Topps, and also enjoy the UD Vintage version. One of the cool things about the two insert sets is they give you informationn on the players performance in Day or Night games depending on the set.

2002 UD Vintage Night Gamers (reverse) NG9 Troy Glaus

Oh and I should also point out that Night Owl Cards is in contention to be added to the Heavenly Seven.

Night Owl Cards, Team Phungo Salutes and Thanks you - keep up the good work and we look forward to a new post tomorrow morning!

Phungo Readers Salute - Capewood's Collections

I would like to close out the year by having a series I will refer to as Phungo Readers Salute. This is my way of thanking Phungo readers for stopping by, checking stuff out, and making this whole blog worthwhile.

I will start by recognizing fellow Phils fan Cliff at Capewood’s Collections. Back in July Cliff became the first of my regular readers, which was pretty cool since his site was one that I was familiar with and he was a Phils fan.

Capewood’s Collections is based in the Houston area so in addition to covering the Phils also covers the Astros. Cliff also comes through with music videos, movie reviews, bonsai trees and more. Capewood appeals to my interest in card sites that are more than just card sites. Cliff, thanks for your input and support and keep up the good work over at Capewood's Collection.

1996 Zenith #105 Bob Abreu

Since Capewood keeps us updated on both the Phillies and Astros, I have posted one of the few cards of Bobby Abreu in an Astros uniform. The obvious choice here would probably be Brad Lidge, but I am saving him for a future World Series Profile.

Yes Bobby Abreu was an Astro for about half a season a long time ago and now he is a Yankee. To me at least part of him remains a Phillie. He took a lot of heat in Philadelphia for spotty defensive play and not producing in the clutch. For me the criticism was a bit harsh. He played every day for the Phils for 8+ seasons consistently hitting .300 with a .400+ OBP. He’d also throw in 20 dingers, 100 RBIs and 30 Stolen Bases. Abreu is now a free agent, he spent this past season batting in the 3-Hole for the New York Yankees. I think he will do ok in the market.

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Today we also present the new updated STS! Standings.

PTBNL won Spot The Sig! for the second week in a row, and once again hit the bonus. I sure would like to know how he picked out Russ Martin last week. I don't think I alluded to Martin in a previous post, but I may have.

All that is good for a Shane Victorino Double for PTBNL which scores Jimmy Rollins from third. The run ties PTBNL with Cardboard Junkie for the STS! lead. Victorino advances to third on a stolen base for the bonus. Stats on the Back and Night Owl both get their own stolen bases.

The updated STS! scoreboard appears as follows:.

PTBNL - repsresentin those Fightin Phillies - 1 Run in - Victorino on Third

Cardboard Junkie - Braves - 1 Run in - Man on First

Stats on the Back - Stinkin Mets - Man on 3rd

Cardboard Addiction - Bosox - Man on First

Night Owl - Dodgers - Matt Kemp triumphantly advances to 2nd.

A Cardboard Problem has gotten the Yankees into the game, they remain on Deck, but I would never count out the Bronx Bombers.

For further information regarding the Phungo Spot the Sig! contest click here and join the party - you just may find yourself with a stack of cards come spring training!

Team Phungo is on vacation this weekend and I got bunches of stuff to do to get ready, therefore I am holding the profile portion of the Bob Feller STS! post for Hall of Fame Thursday.