2015 Topps First Look

First 2015T purchase was at my local big box. I picked up what has been my traditional first purchase the last couple of years: Three 12 card packs for $1.99 each plus one hanger pack $9.99 (72 Cards).

I believe this is the same prices as a year ago.   

This is just a quick look at a couple of cards from the bounty.

First Card

2015 Topps Bryce Brentz

A prospect in the Red Sox organization, I am familiar with him from seeing him play at the 2013 AA All-Star game in Reading

First Phillies Card 

 

2015 Topps David Buchanan

The first Phillies card of the year was of David Buchanan who will likely be a back end of the rotation starter this season.

Almost at the same time I found the above Buchanan card, my assistant Ms Phungo found this card.

2015 Topps Carlos Ruiz 

CHOOOOOCH! The man who Buchanan will be pitching to this season. Good looking card, action preceding a play at the plate.

2015 Topps Checker Derek Jeter

There was a bit of a twitter kerfuffle over Derek Jeter being on Card #1 of 2015T. I didn't get it, he is an iconic player why not card 1. This however is not card 1 this is a checklist that falls later in the set.

2015 Topps Yamani Grandal

There is some great photography in Topps the last couple of years. I think the tattoo Grandal is sporting is a Tazmanian Devil in catchers gear. If it is, I have total respect for the man.

2015 Topps Khris Davis

I like this one for both the in action and the Pirates font on the wall distance sign

2015 Topps Jackie Bradley Jr

I love this. Corner to Corner for Jackie Bradley Jr

Inserts

Archetypes Hank Aaron Nolan Ryan

I didn't really look into the inserts, just posting some quick pix.

Jackie Robinson Story Insert

The Jackie Robinson card is from a special insert set produced for Target. It appears this replaces the red parallel cards.

First Home Run Matt Carpenter & Don Mattingly

These two cards were at the end of the Hanger pack, I think they are a regular insert. Cool idea to honor different players first homers.

2015 Topps Index
This post will act as an index for my musing on 2015 Topps
Variation: S1 #216 Greg Holland

Thats a Wrap


Sources & Links
Cardboard Connection

2015 Topps Variation Greg Holland

More complete posting on 2015 Topps in the future but wanted to set this up for folks interested in Variations.

2015 Topps #216 Greg Holland (Variation & Base)

In general I was happy with the look of the cards and the Phillies I pulled. Still haven't really considered the inserts - nothing jumped out at me.

For more information on Variations check with Cardboard Connection

Sources and Links
Phungo 2015 Topps First Look
Cardboard Connection 

The Elephant Man at the Booth Theater 2014 12 25

As a Christmas Present to each other Mrs Phungo and I spent the Holiday in New York City. One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing the Elephant Man on Broadway.

Playbill: The Elephant Man at the Booth Theater  
  
The latest reading of the Elephant Man is a star studded affair with the ubiquitous Bradley Cooper in the title role.

My opinion on the show is mixed, Cooper does, well as the lead, The rest of the cast is terrific as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the first act which flew by, but I got lost after the intermission. It may just of been me getting worn out from a full day of over indulgence in the city but I definitely felt a drag in the shows final scenes.

For me "the Elephant Man" speaks to our societies collective obsession with celebrity. Its a subject that fascinates me, and I enjoyed seeing the iconic show with a noteworthy cast on the big stage of  Broadway.

Side Notes
We have been going to NYC a lot for shows recently. For whatever reason we end up at the Booth theater (where Elephant Man played) a lot. My guess is that it is because I need to be star struck and the Booth is a theater that can produce the kind of shows that benefit from star power.

Bradley Cooper gives the show plenty of star punch. He is of course up for an Academy Award in the film "American Sniper". I am sure the timing of the large production of a big name show just prior to awards season is no accident. We will features light coverage of the Oscars over the next couple weeks - not a full blow series, but a handful of posts. I think I have seen only two Best Picture nominees and really don't have much to add to the conversation.

The Elephant Man cast also included Patricia Clarkson (who appeared in Phungo Faves "Easy A" and "Freinds with Benefits". Anthony Heald starred in "Silence of the Lambs" with Anthony Hopkins who was in the 1980 Film "the Elephant Man".  The Film and play are unrelated works, but are both based on the life of John Merrick.

For sports fans one of the actors in the play is Henry Stram, son of Hall of Fame football coach Hank Stram.

Philadelphia Theater fans may recognize Kathryn Meisle who we saw at the Wilma in the 2010 Vaclav Havel play "Leaving". She appeared opposite David Strathairn whom baseball fans will remember as Eddie Cicotte in the Film "Eight Men Out"

The show runs through February 22nd. It is a tough and pricey ticket but worth it for the right audience.

Sources Links
Phungo 2015 Oscars Index
On The Road NYC 2014 12 25
IMDB
The Elephant Man on Broadway
Football Ref

Checker 2013 Phungo

 2013 Phungo #1 Cole Hamels

Players in Green are links to a posting on the card.

Card	Subject	Team
1	Cole Hamels	Phillies
2	Derek Jeter	Yankees
3	Harold Baines	White Sox
4	Ralph Kiner	Pirates
5	Adam Jones	Orioles
6	Ryan Howard	Phillies
7	Joe Mauer	Twins
8	Hunter Pence	Giants//Phils
9	Domonic Brown	Phillies
10	Chipper Jones	Braves
11	Jimmy Rollins	Phillies
12	Joel Hanrahan	Pirates
13	Manny Machado	Orioles
14	Paul Konerko	White Sox
15	Dick Allen	Phillies
16	Giancarlo Stanton	Marlins
17	Todd Helton	Rockies
18	Matt Cain	Giants
19	Carlos Beltran	Cardinals
20	Jim Thome	Orioles
21	Yadier Molina	Cardinals
22	McCutchen	Pirates
23	Starlin Castro	Cubs
24	Miguel Cabrera	Tigers
25	Cliff Lee	Phillies
26	Chase Utley	Phillies
27	Placido Polanco	Phillies
28	Buster Posey	Giants
29	Greg Dobbs	Marlins
30	Prince Fielder	Tigers
31	Dave Winfield	Padres
32	Matt Wieters	Orioles
33	Ruben Amaro Jr	Phillies
34	Halladay	Phillies
35	Justin Verlander	Tigers
36	Jeff Francis	Rockies
37	Stephen Strasburg	Nationals
38	Nick Swisher	Indians
39	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	Red Sox
40	Rick Sutcliffe	Orioles
41	Scott Rolen	Reds
42	Juan Pierre	Phillies
43	Todd Frazier	Reds
44	Evan Longoria	Rays
45	Terry Mulholland	Phillies
46	Nick Markakis	Phillies
47	Daniel Schlereth	Orioles
48	Pablo Sandoval	Giants
49	Vance Worley	Phillies
50	Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers
51	Carlos Ruiz	Phillies
52	Jason Heyward	Braves
53	Bobby Abreu	Dodgers
54	Chris Heisey	Reds
55	Ryan Zimmerman	Nationals
56	AJ Ellis	Dodgers
57	Zack Wheeler	Mets
58	Jonathan Papelbon	Phillies
59	Tony Campana	Cubs
60	Bruce Harper	Nationals
61	Erik Kratz	Phillies
62	Jose Molina	Rays
63	Jesus Montero	Mariners
64	Darin Ruf	Phillies
65	John F Kennedy	President
66	Tommy Joseph	Phillies
67	Jonathon Niese	Mets
68	Scott Hartnell	Hockey Flyers
69	Joaquin Benoit	Tigers
70	Ichiro	Yankees