Phungo 5 with Sports Locker

The Phils are spending this beautiful, summer-like, weekend hosting the NL East leading New York Mets. Representing the Mets on the Hot Seat is the always informative Sports Locker. In addition to updating on the Mets, Sports Locker is always good about providing hobby related tidbits and commentary with a fresh perspective.

1) How have your plans for the National been shaping up?
I'm actually not sure I'm going this year. I like talking about it and the idea of it, but I'm not sure it's the best thing for collectors any more. Reg. admission is almost $20, plus the parking fee add up to around $30 a day just to walk in the door. TriStar also keeps rolling out the same autograph guests at each show. I'd like to see admission prices cut in half, door prizes, more of a show for the opening, card company product presentations and some collector/hobby presentations like: spotting fake autographs, fake patches and competitions. Lets do some fun stuff with instead of charging $20 for rows of tables to look through. Just my 2 cents.

2) You attend a lot of autograph and card shows, are there any dealers who you try to buy from consistently?
I recognize more faces than names. It's great to see the same people at shows and catch-up with them. Some of the people I talk to are dealers and a lot are fellow collectors.

3) Your a Cowboy and a Mets fans (this would make you very detested locally btw) - if you could add a Cowboy to the Mets Roster who would it be and what position would he play?
I'm a Cowboy fan because of my grandfather. He was born/raised in Louisiana and I spent a lot of time with him as a kid. He didn't like baseball, so when I lived in NJ I started following the Mets. Our family favorite Cowboys player is Bradie James. He's a gamer and the Flushing crowd loves that. He's probably too big for infield - so I'd say corner OF for him.

4) What is the favorite Road food when traveling to all the card and autograph shows that you attend?
I'm a cliff bar fan. I eat a ton of those things. Easy to pack, easy to throw in a backpack and you don't have to worry about finding something disgusting to eat at the food court.

5) Where does the Snuggie go from here?
I've cooled on the TV sales since my favorite BMays passed away. I'm a marketing guy, so if I were marketing the snuggie - I'd like to push for custom imaged snuggies. Submit your photo and get it screened on there.
2010 Topps #249 John Niese

Phungo 5 Box Score

Despite what the Hated Mets did to the Phils last night behind a strong pitching effort from John Niese and an impressive hitting attack, I will need to hand out a 5 of 5. I am not sure I am looking forward to seeing the custom Snuggie, but I am sure it's day will come.

Looking Back

If you want to look back at a prior Phungo 5 with A Giant Blog click here.

Swag from Sports Locker

James over at Sports Locker was good enough to contribute the above Robin Roberts Patch Card to the Phungo Collection. I am sure that you are all familiar with Sports Locker, but I just want to nudge everyone to check in over there to keep up with goings on and information regarding the National which is being held in Baltimore this year. James has taken the blogosphere lead in publicizing the event to collectors, and I am hoping to make it down to the show this year.

He pulled from a 2010 Topps pack. I believe that these may have come in the Target Blasters this year and represent each All-Star Game. This card commemorates the 1953 All-Star Game which was played a Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Here is a close up of the patch showing the Old School Cincinnati Redstockings character.



You can sort of make out Cincinnati, 1953, and All-Star Game all on the patch.

Robin Roberts pitched 3 innings of shutout ball during the 1953 All-Star game which was one of 5 All-Star games started by Roberts.

The NL took the game 5-1 with Pee Wee Reese contributing 2 RBIs and while collecting the games only extra-base hits.

Thanks again to the good folks over at Sports Locker for adding this fine patch to the Phungo Collection.

Phungo 5 with Sports Locker

2009 05 01 Mets @ Phillies Daniel Murphy Batting v Chan Ho Park (4th inning ?)

This weekend the Phils are hosting the New York Mets for the first time in the 09 season. Our Card blog representin the Stinkin Mets is Sports Locker. Sports Locker covers a lot of sports Memorabilia not just Baseball cards, especially autographed items. SL has collected many an item and auto from the two Mets World Championship teams and the rather successful Dallas Cowboys franchise. I have also enjoyed the book reviews and autograph event info presented at Sports Locker.

Here is the Phungo 5 for Sports Locker:

Would you like to know how good a beer tastes when drunk out of a Commemorative World Series Cup?

ok I didn't really ask this one, but I will just say it tastes good.

1) You have lots of autos and other memorabilia, what is your favorite item featuring an item most folks would not consider a star?
My favorite non sports star autograph is from Billy Mays (yes, the infomercial guy). I did some research, found his address in Florida and sent him a letter and a baseball to sign. I find the whole TV Marketing product world so interesting and he's the biggest star on it.

2) You go out and get a lot of your autos on your own, Do you use official MLB Baseballs? I use official MLB baseballs - I think the autograph doesn't bleed and fade as much if any. When I buy them, I buy in bulk from Anaconda Sports. They are a ton cheaper than buying them one at a time.

3) How long does Oliver Perez stay in that rotation?
Great question! I was twittering with the NY Post sports writer Sunday night about that. We both believe the situation is looking more like the SF Giants situation with Barry Zito a year ago. Ollie needs to skip a start, head to the pen and work things out.

4) Is F-Mart the Real Deal or the next Lastings Milledge?
My Mets have this long history of over-hyping a prospect (sans Reyes and Wright). To me, FMart seems like Alex Escobar, over hyped and injury prone. I hope that's not the case though. I think the Mets have other OF prospects ranked higher than FMart now, but he's off to a hot start in AAA.

5) Citi Field Logo Thumbs up or down?
The logo sucks. If the Wilpons weren't too busy trying to rebuild the Ebbets Field legacy, perhaps they could find a way to build their own.

Great Phungo 5 for Sports Locker, but we can only give you 4 out 5 - I have elected to ding SL for using the word "twittering" and now I'm corrupting my blog with the term. I barely know how to use a cell phone. plus lets face it, he's a Mets fan and should be happy with 4 out of 5.

Seriously Sports Locker is on my frequent reading list and it was good to get the info on the Phils Rival.

For a look back at the last Phungo 5 featuring Texas Rangers Cards click here. Next week we are planning on featuring Cards on Cards.

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.