The Phillies Room: Lidge

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Sunday, August 18, 2024

Game 122 - Turner Walks It Off as Good Vibes Continue

2024 Topps #352
Phillies 3, Nationals 2
Game 122 - Friday Night, August 16th in Philadelphia
Record - 72-50, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary: Trea Turner capped a 4 for 5 night with a walk-off single to score Brandon Marsh in this 3-2 win over the Nationals.

What It Means: It appears (hopefully) as if things are back on track for the Phillies.

What Happened: Aaron Nola pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, scattering seven hits and striking out four, but was left with a no-decision after Carlos Estevez blew his first home save chance in the ninth. The Phillies had scored twice in the third. Turner singled to start the inning and was at third base with two outs when Nick Castellanos singled to left. Castellanos stole second base and came home on a J.T. Realmuto single up the middle. Estevez couldn't convert the 2-0 lead into a save, giving up three straight singles to start the ninth.

Featured Card: Turner was given the night off on Wednesday, and went a combined 7 for 10 with a pair of doubles on Thursday and Friday. Brandon Marsh led off the ninth with a single to right and went to second on an error by right fielder Alex Call. Cal Stevenson then laid done a perfect bunt, advancing Marsh and safely reaching first for an infield single. Kyle Schwarber was intentionally walked, setting up Turner's big hit to win the game.

Field Report: We were there, and while it was great to see a walk-off win, the highlight for me had to be the pregame ceremony honoring Carlos Ruiz. The Phillies always do these things right, and the highlight video shown of Ruiz's greatest hits brought goosebumps. To top it off, Ruiz threw out a ceremonial first pitch to former closer Brad Lidge, reversing the roles each played in the clinching game of the 2008 World Series.

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

Friday, June 7, 2024

2009 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards: 41
Card Size: 4" x 6"

Description: The Phillies went with black borders for the first time ever. The cards have a very basic design featuring the team logo and the player's number, name and position in a digital font. Other than the 2008 World Champions card, which is my all-time favorite card from a team-issued set, there's no indication the Phillies had won the World Championship in 2008 on the cards themselves. The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed: The original 37-card set was available at Citizens Bank Park throughout the first half of the season. Following the signing of Pedro Martinez on July 15th and the acquisition of Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco on July 29th, cards of Martinez, Lee and Francisco, along with back-up catcher Paul Bako, were inserted into the set. With the addition of these four cards to the updated set, five cards available from the original set were removed - the 2008 World Champions card, along with the cards for Chris Coste, Tim Gradoville, Geoff Jenkins and Ronny Paulino. Jenkins and Paulino had been released prior to the start of the season and Coste was claimed off waivers by the Astros on July 10th.

Complete Set Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with uniform number and position):

1. 2008 World Champions
2. Mick Billmeyer (#17 - Bullpen Coach)
3. Joe Blanton (#56 - RHP)
4. Eric Bruntlett (#4 - INF/OF)
5. Clay Condrey (#55 - RHP)
6. Chris Coste (#27 - C)
7. Greg Dobbs (#19 - INF/OF)
8. Rich Dubee (#30 - Pitching Coach)
9. Chad Durbin (#37 - RHP)
10. Scott Eyre (#47 - LHP)
11. Pedro Feliz (#7 - 3B)
12. Tim Gradoville (#60 - Bullpen Catcher)
13. Cole Hamels (#35 - LHP)

14. J.A. Happ (#43 - LHP)
15. Ryan Howard (#6 - 1B)
16. Raul Ibanez (#29 - LF)
17. Geoff Jenkins (#10 - OF)
18. Brad Lidge (#54 - RHP)
19. Davey Lopes (#15 - First Base Coach)
20. Pete Mackanin (#45 - Bench Coach)
21. Ryan Madson (#46 - RHP)
22. Charlie Manuel (#41 - Manager)
23. Jamie Moyer (#50 - LHP)
24. Brett Myers (#39 - RHP)
25. Chan Ho Park (#61 - RHP)

26. Ronny Paulino (#23 - C)
27. Sam Perlozzo (#2 - Third Base Coach)
28. Jimmy Rollins (#11 - SS)
29. J.C. Romero (#16 - LHP)
30. Carlos Ruiz (#51 - C)
31. Matt Stairs (#12 - OF)
32. Milt Thompson (#25 - Hitting Coach)
33. Chase Utley (#26 - 2B)
34. Shane Victorino (#8 - CF)
35. Jayson Werth (#28 - RF)
36. Phillie Phanatic
37. Phillies Broadcasters

Complete Update Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with uniform number and position):

1. Paul Bako (#23 - C)
2. Ben Francisco (#10 - OF)

3. Cliff Lee (#34 - LHP)
4. Pedro Martinez (#45 - RHP)

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1): Bako

First Appearance in Phillies Photo Card Set (8): Eyre, Francisco, Ibanez, Lee, Martinez, Park, Paulino, Stairs
Returning Players in Phillies Photo Card Set (21): Blanton, Bruntlett, Condrey, Coste, Dobbs, Durbin, Feliz, Hamels, Happ, Howard, Jenkins, Lidge, Madson, Moyer, Myers, Rollins, Romero, Ruiz, Utley, Victorino, Werth

Paul Bako wrapped up his 12-year career playing 44 games with the Phillies in 2009. His card in this set is his sole Phillies baseball card. Paulino was traded on March 27th to the Giants for Jack Taschner, and never appeared in a game for the Phillies. He has a second Phillies card in the 2009 Topps Heritage set.

Manager (1): Manuel
Coaches (7): Billmeyer, Dubee, Gradoville, Lopes, Mackanin, Perlozzo, Thompson

Phillie Phanatic (1): The Phanatic is shown atop the dugout is his alternate day-game uniform.

Broadcasters (1): Harry Kalas, who passed away on April 13, 2009, is joined on this card by Tom McCarthey, Gary Matthews, Chris Wheeler, Larry Andersen and Scott Franzke.
Commemorative Cards (1): 2008 World Champions

The 2008 World Champions card (see below) features manager Charlie Manuel along with the team's main stars (minus Pat Burrell who had departed during the offseason) decked out in tuxedos with red bow ties flanking the World Series trophy.

Set Composition: The Phillies created the first 37-card checklist a few days before the start of the regular season, accounting for the cards in the set for Paulino and Jenkins. Miguel Cairo and Taschner, both on the opening day roster, got left out of the original set and the update set. J.C. Romero started the season on the Restricted List, but he's in the set as well.

Omissions: The Phillies could have included a few more update cards, in addition to the four players who were added late in the season to the set. Cairo and Taschner would have been in the set had the Phillies waited until early April to create the checklist. Kyle Kendrick, John Mayberry, Jr., Sergio Escalona and Tyler Walker all spent sufficient enough time on the roster to merit cards as well. Escalona spent quite a bit of time going back and forth between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley, as the lefty pitcher was with the team in six different stints.

Variations/Rarities: I'm going to separate the known rarities into two different groups - non-set cards and cards with a 2009 National League Champions logo on the back. 14,000 Phillies featured a post many years ago containing a Jayson Werth card I had never seen before, and I've never seen since. The card was distributed to kids participating in the team's annual Home Run Derby competition and contains a purple facsimile autograph and the Home Run Derby logo. The card uses a different photo than Werth's regular team issued card.

As pointed out in a comment from Steve F. in an earlier post, a card was issued for Placido Polanco in the style of the 2009 team-issued set. Polanco was signed as a free agent on December 3rd. Finally, fellow collector and invaluable resource Rick added a comment to this set's original post with a number of other rarities available - clipped and shown below. Roy Halladay received his first Phillies baseball card in the style of this set, as the future Hall of Famer had signed with the Phillies on December 16, 2009.

Other than the Halladay card, which is an original, the cards featuring the 2009 National League Champions logo on the back use the same photos as the cards found in the set sold at the ballpark.

Non-Set Cards
1. Kyle Drabek (#4 - Reading Phillies)
2. Lou Marson (#3 - C)
3. Placido Polanco (#27 - blank back)
4. Brian Schneider (#23 - blank back)
5. Michael Taylor (#40 - Reading Phillies)
6. Jayson Werth (#28 - Home Run Derby)

National League Champions
1. Chad Durbin (#37 - RHP)
2. Roy Halladay (#34 - RHP)
3. Cole Hamels (#35 - LHP)
4. J.A. Happ (#43 - LHP)
5. Brad Lidge (#54 - RHP)
6. Ryan Madson (#46 - RHP)
7. Jimmy Rollins (#11 - SS)

Also See: Here's my original post from August 31, 2009, covering the discovery of the updated team issued set.

Resources: The Trading Card Database; Phillies collector Rick (@rickphils)

This set was originally featured in a post back in December 2014, and I'm going through these older team-issued photo card set posts to update them with new information learned (if any) over the past nine years.

2008 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards / 2010 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards - 1st Edition

1980-1999 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page

Monday, August 30, 2021

Series Preview - Phillies at Nationals: August 30th to September 1st

1986 Topps #466

2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #12

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05
Nationals Park - Washington, DC

At the Ballpark: On Tuesday night, the Nationals are hosting a Pups in the Park event.

Phillies 66-64
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 4 1/2 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (10-9, 2.90)
Matt Moore (2-4, 6.12)
Aaron Nola (7-7, 4.30)

Phillies Leaders
Average: Bryce Harper - .301
Runs: Bryce Harper - 76
Home Runs: Rhys Hoskins - 27
RBIs: Rhys Hoskins - 71
Stolen Bases: Bryce Harper - 12

Wins: Zack Wheeler - 10
ERA: Zack Wheeler - 2.90
Strikeouts: Zack Wheeler - 204
Saves: Hector Neris - 12

Nationals 55-74
4th Place in the N.L. East, 15 games behind the Braves

Nationals Probables
Josiah Gray (0-1, 2.89)
Patrick Corbin (7-13, 6.09)
Paolo Espino (4-4, 4.13)

Nationals Leaders
Average: Trea Turner - .322
Runs: Juan Soto - 86
Home Runs: Kyle Schwarber - 25
RBIs: Josh Bell - 73
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner - 21

Wins: Max Scherzer - 8
ERA: Patrick Corbin - 6.09

Strikeouts: Max Scherzer - 147
Saves: Brad Hand - 21

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

2010-2022 Phillies Alumni Photo Cards

Number of Known Cards (2010-2019): 110

Number of Known Cards (2022): 4

Card Size: 4" x 6"

Description: Either a full color or black and white photo on the front are accompanied by the official Phillies Alumni logo at the top of the card and the subject's name in white letters on a dark red background on the bottom of the card. The vast majority of the card backs contain a second player photo, biographical information, career and Phillies highlights. Copyright dates can be found either on the back or fronts of most cards.

Photo from September 2020 Phantastic Auction
How Distributed: Between 2010 and 2019, the Phillies created special alumni photo cards for returning players, coaches, managers and one executive to sign at various autograph events, during alumni weekends and as part of any reunion-related public appearances. Locations and dates of where and when I obtained some of these cards are contained in the checklist below. In September 2020, as part of their Phantastic Auction to benefit Phillies Charities, the Phillies gave collectors the opportunity to bid on 101 of these alumni photo cards, giving us the best opportunity yet to form a complete checklist of the cards released and unreleased over the past decade.

Collectors should note the copyright date on these cards does not necessarily correspond to the year of first issuance. Complicating any efforts to fully checklist these cards is the fact the Phillies had originally printed the cards with a copyright date on the back reflecting the date of issuance. In the mid-2010s, the copyright date on the backs of some of these cards is for the date of the photo on the front. For example, Nick Punto's card contains statistical information through Punto's final season in 2014, but the card contains a 2003 copyright date which corresponds to the photo used. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 the Phillies seemed to have switched back to using a copyright date that corresponds with the date of issuance and not the date of the photo.

In August 2018, the Phillies produced 20 new alumni photo cards for the express purpose of having them available for returning members of the 2008 World Championship team to sign at a potential pre-game autograph session during that season's Alumni Weekend. For whatever reason, the planned autograph event was significantly curtailed with only Eric Bruntlett and Pedro Feliz stationed at one sole table for fans. These 2008 alumni cards remain generally unreleased to the public, with the exception of one copy of each card made available in the 2020 Phantastic Auction along with cards for Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer and Brett Myers which were all made available during the 2019 Alumni Weekend.

I've hopefully captured the vast majority, if not all, of these cards produced and issued by the Phillies between 2010 and 2019.

2022 Update: New photo cards for Bobby Abreu, Greg Gross, Dick Ruthven and Kevin Saucier were made available prior to the game on Sunday, August 7th as part of the annual Phillies Alumni Weekend. I'm going to keep these four new cards separate from the list below.

Complete Standard Checklist - 2010 to 2019 (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with copyright date and other notes):

1. Bobby Abreu (2004) - Bat lowered, first available at some point after 2014.
2. Dick Allen (2017)
3. Ruben Amaro, Jr. (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
4. Larry Andersen (2010)
5. Marlon Anderson (2003) - First available in 2016.
6. Mick Billmeyer CO (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
7. Joe Blanton (2018) - Obtained on 8/4/19 during 2019 Alumnni Weekend.
8. Bob Boone (2010) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
9. Ricky Bottalico (2010)
10. Larry Bowa (No date) - Wall of Fame plaque is on the back.
11. Eric Bruntlett (2018) - From 2018 Alumni Weekend.
12. Warren Brusstar (2017) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
13. Jim Bunning (2011)
14. Pat Burrell (2012) - Cream alternate jersey.
15. Pat Burrell (2008) - Red pinstripes jersey, available as part of the 2015 Phillies Team-Issued 2nd Edition set.
16. Marty Bystrom (2010) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
17. Steve Carlton (2017)
18. Dave Cash (2011)
19. Wes Chamberlain (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
20. Larry Christenson (2010) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
21. Clay Condrey (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
22. Rheal Cormier (2011) - Obtained on 8/12/14 at Citizens Bank Park.
23. Darren Daulton (2010)
24. Roly deArmas CO (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
25. Bob Dernier (2017) - Obtained on 7/7/17 at Citizens Bank Park.
26. Greg Dobbs (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
27. Denny Doyle (2010)
28. Rich Dubee CO (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
29. Mariano Duncan (2018)
30. Chad Durbin (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
31. Jim Eisenreich (2010)
32. Lee Elia CO (2010)
33. Scott Eyre (2011)
34. Pedro Feliz (2009) - First available at some point after 2012.
35. Paul Fletcher (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
36. Ben Francisco (2019) - First available during 2019 Alumni Weekend.
37. Gene Garber (2010)
38. Pat Gillick GM (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
39. Doug Glanville (2010)
40. Wayne Gomes (2012)
41. Dallas Green MG (2010)
42. Tyler Green (2010)
43. Tommy Greene (2010) - Obtained on 3/30/13 at Citizens Bank Park.
44. Von Hayes (2012)
45. Al Holland (2011)
46. Dave Hollins (2010)
47. Ryan Howard (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
48. Raul Ibanez (2019) - Unused 2019 Alumni Weekend card.
49. Pete Incaviglia (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
50. Danny Jackson (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
51. Geoff Jenkins (2014)
52. Ricky Jordan (2011) - Obtained on 8/9/14 during 2014 Alumni Weekend.
53. Kyle Kendrick (2018) - Obtained on 8/4/19 during 2019 Alumnni Weekend.
54. John Kruk (2011)
55. Brad Lidge (2014)

56. Mike Lieberthal (2012)
57. Tony Longmire (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
58. Greg Luzinski (2010) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
59. Pete Mackanin CO (2019) - Unused 2019 Alumni Weekend card.
60. Garry Maddox (2017) - First available on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
61. Jeff Manto (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
62. Charlie Manuel MG (2011) - Red pullover, available as part of the 2015 Phillies Team-Issued Photo Card set.
63. Charlie Manuel MG (2017) - Red pinstripes jersey, available for autographs at the 2018 Phillies Phestival on 6/21/18.
64. Jerry Martin CO (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
65. Roger Mason (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
66. Gary Matthews (2010)
67. John Mayberry, Jr. (2019) - Unused 2019 Alumni Weekend card.
68. Bake McBride (2017) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
69. Tim McCarver (2012)
70. Jason Michaels (2004) - First available at some point after 2011.
71. Don Money (2015) - Old Phillies logo on back.
72. Willie Montanez (2011)
73. Mickey Morandini (2018) - Obtained at 2018 ALS Phillies Phestival.
74. Jamie Moyer (2018) - Obtained on 8/4/19 during 2019 Alumnni Weekend.
75. Dale Murphy (2018) - Obtained on 8/4/19 during 2019 Alumnni Weekend.
76. Brett Myers (2018) - Obtained on 8/4/19 during 2019 Alumnni Weekend.
77. Dickie Noles (2012) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend. Includes black facsimile autograph.
78. Roy Oswalt (2014)
79. Placido Polanco (2010)
80. Todd Pratt (1993) - First available in 2016.
81. Nick Punto (2003) - First available at some point after 2014.
82. Randy Ready (1995) - First available in 2016.
83. Ben Rivera (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
84. Mike Rogodzinski (2010)
85. Jimmy Rollins (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
86. J.C. Romero (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
87. Aaron Rowand (2014)
88. Carlos Ruiz (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
89. Juan Samuel (Unknown)
90. Curt Schilling (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
91. Matt Stairs (2011)
92. Kevin Stocker (2012)
93. Tony Taylor (2010)
94. Bobby Thigpen (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
95. Jim Thome (2016) - Available briefly as part of the 2016 Phillies Team-Issued 2nd Edition set.
96. Milt Thompson (2016)
97. Milt Thompson CO (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
98. Manny Trillo (2017) - Obtained on 8/13/17 during 2017 Alumni Weekend.
99. Del Unser (2012)
100. Chase Utley (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
101. Wilson Valdez (2011) - Obtained on 7/12/14 at Citizens Bank Park.
102. Shane Victorino (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
103. Ozzie Virgil (2012)
104. Jayson Werth (2018) - Unused 2018 Alumni Weekend card.
105. David West (2018) - First available on 6/10/18, 25th Anniversary of '93 team.
106. Mitch Williams (2010)
107. Bobby Wine (2015) - Old Phillies logo on back.
108. Rick Wise (2010) - Posed pitching photo
109. Rick Wise (2011) - Pitching from mound
110. Randy Wolf (2016)

Complete Standard Checklist - 2022

1. Bobby Abreu (No date) - Bat in air, and first available on 8/7/22 during Alumni Weekend

2. Greg Gross (2022) - First available on 8/7/22 during Alumni Weekend

3. Dick Ruthven (2022) - First available on 8/7/22 during Alumni Weekend

4. Kevin Saucier (2022) - First available on 8/7/22 during Alumni Weekend

Surprises/Omissions: I'm aware of 8 additional cards that were not part of the 101 cards auctioned off in September 2020 - Pat Burrell (red pinstripes jersey), Bob Dernier, Denny Doyle, Lee Elia, Gene Garber, Charlie Manuel (red pinstripes jersey), Mike Rogodzinski and a second card for Milt Thompson featuring him as a coach.

The biggest omission here is that no card has ever been produced (that we're aware of) for the greatest Phillies alumnus of all-time - Mike Schmidt.

Variations/Rarities: There are a few variations to these cards available, all with identical photos to their "regular" counterparts. A second Rheal Cormier card was issued with a 2017 copyright date and omitting his Minor League Career notes on the back. There are also cards available for Dave Hollins, Ricky Jordan and Tony Taylor with both 2010 and 2011 copyright dates. These three cards with 2010 copyrights have glossy backs as opposed to the usual matte backs.

Also See: This is my third attempt at posting a checklist for these cards with prior attempts coming in December 2016 and June 2018. Fellow collector Rick has been a huge help with gathering information on these cards over the years. More recent thanks goes to fellow collector Matt who sent me the Eric Bruntlett and Paul Fletcher cards for my collection.

Please see here for a smaller checklist for the team-issued alumni photo cards issued in 2007, 2008 and 2009. These cards use a different design than the alumni cards issued between 2010 and 2019.

Checklist by Era: This is how I've sorted these cards in a binder, and I thought if it was helpful for me it might be helpful for other collectors too.

1960s (2) - Bunning, Wine

1970s (11) - Allen, Cash, Doyle, Garber, McCarver, Money, Montanez, Rogodzinski, Taylor, Wise (2)

1980 World Champions (17) - Boone, Bowa, Brusstar, Bystrom, Carlton, Christenson, Elia, D. Green, G. Gross, Luzinski, Maddox, McBride, Noles, Ruthven, Saucier, Trillo, Unser

1980s (6) - Dernier, V. Hayes, Holland, Matthews, Samuel, Virgil

1993 N.L. Champions (26) - Amaro Jr., Andersen, Chamberlain, Daulton, Duncan, Eisenreich, Fletcher, T. Green, Greene, Hollins, Incaviglia, Jackson, Jordan, Kruk, Longmire, Manto, Mason, Morandini, Pratt, Rivera, Schilling, Stocker, Thigpen, Thompson, West, Williams

1990s - 2000s (15) - Abreu x 2, Anderson, Bottalico, Cormier, Glanville, Gomes, Lieberthal, Michaels, Murphy, Punto, Ready, Rowand, Thome, Wolf

2008 World Champions (30) - Billmeyer, Blanton, Bruntlett, Burrell (2), Condrey, deArmas, Dobbs, Dubee, Durbin, Eyre, Feliz, Gillick, Howard, Jenkins, Kendrick, Lidge, Manuel (2), Martin, Moyer, Myers, Rollins, Romero, Ruiz, Stairs, Thompson, Utley, Victorino, Werth

2009 N.L. Champions (4) - Francisco, Ibanez, Mackanin, Mayberry Jr.

2010s (3) - Oswalt, Polanco, Valdez

2000-Present Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page

Monday, October 19, 2020

2007 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Number of Cards: 43
Card Size: 4" x 6"
Description: Full color photos are surrounded by a blue border (for pitchers) or a red border (for everyone else) with the player's name featured prominently in blue or red at the top of each card. The Citizens Bank Park logo can be found in one of the four corners on the fronts. Ryan Howard's card, from the first version of this set, contains a gold badge commemorating his 2006 N.L. MVP win. An updated set was issued after the All-Star break containing a second version of Howard's card omitting the gold badge. The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed: The original 36-card set was available for sale at Citizens Bank Park throughout the first half of the season. Early in the second half of the season, 7 new cards were added to the set with 6 cards removed. I'll take a closer look at the additions and subtractions below.

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with position on the front of cards, uniform number on backs):

1. Antonio Alfonseca (#57 - RHP)
2. Rod Barajas (#2 - C)
3. Mick Billmeyer (#17 - CO)
4. Pat Burrell (#5 - LF)
5. Fabio Castro (#52 - LHP)
6. Chris Coste (#27 - C/INF)
7. Greg Dobbs (#19 - INF/OF)
8. Rich Dubee (#30 - CO)
9. Adam Eaton (#23 - RHP)
10. Freddy Garcia (#34 - RHP)
11. Karim Garcia (#10 - OF)
12. Geoff Geary (#56 - RHP)

13. Tom Gordon (#45 - RHP)
14. Cole Hamels (#35 - LHP)
15. Wes Helms (#18 - 3B)
16. Ramon Henderson (#31 - CO)
17. Ryan Howard (#6 - 1B, MVP Logo)
18. Jon Lieber (#21 - RHP)
19. Davey Lopes (#15 - CO)
20. Ryan Madson (#63 - RHP)
21. Charlie Manuel (#41 - MG)
22. Jamie Moyer (#50 - LHP)
23. Brett Myers (#39 - RHP)
24. Abraham Nunez (#3 - INF)

25. Jimmy Rollins (#11 - SS)
26. Aaron Rowand (#33 - CF)
27. Carlos Ruiz (#51 - C)
28. Matt Smith (#40 - LHP)
29. Steve Smith (#7 - CO)
30. Milt Thompson (#25 - CO)
31. Chase Utley (#26 - 2B)
32. Shane Victorino (#8 - RF)
33. Jayson Werth (#28 - OF)
34. Jimy Williams (#22 - CO)
35. Phillie Phanatic
36. Phillies Broadcasters

Complete Update Checklist, 2nd Version:

1. Michael Bourn (#9 - OF)
2. Ryan Howard (#6 - 1B, No MVP Logo)
3. Kyle Kendrick (#38 - RHP)

4. Jose Mesa (#49 - RHP)
5. J.C. Romero (#16 - LHP)

6. Francisco Rosario (#54 - RHP)
7. Mike Zagurski (#59 - LHP)

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1): K. Garcia

First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (17): Alfonseca, Barajas, Bourn, Castro, Coste, Dobbs, Eaton, F. Garcia, Helms, Kendrick, Moyer, Romero, Rosario, Ruiz, M. Smith, Werth, Zagurski
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (15): Burrell, Geary, Gordon, Hamels, Howard (2), Lieber, Madson, Mesa, Myers, Nunez, Rollins, Rowand, Utley, Victorino

Manager (1): Manuel
Coaches (7): Billmeyer, Dubee, Henderson, Lopes, S. Smith, Thompson, Williams
Phillie Phanatic (1): This is one of the strangest Phanatic cards from all the team issued sets. The card is horizontal and someone played picture putty with the fans in the background of the photo to create a multi-colored psychedelic design.
Broadcasters (1): Scott Graham got the boot and was replaced by Gary Matthews in the booth. Sarge is joined on this card by Harry Kalas, Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen and Chris Wheeler.

Here's the rationale for the six cards removed from the second version of the set available for sale at some point early in the second half of the season:

Karim Garcia - Released by the Phillies on March 28th, prior to opening day.

Matt Smith - Sent down to Ottawa on April 26th and had Tommy John surgery on July 3rd.

Fabio Castro - Spent most of the summer in Triple-A Ottawa, spending three weeks with the club between late April and mid-May.

Freddy Garcia - Went on the disabled list on June 9th, not to return.

Ryan Howard (MVP Logo) - For reasons we'll never know, the Phillies replaced the Howard card with an MVP logo with a logo-less version for the second edition of the set.

Jon Lieber - Went on the disabled list on June 23rd, not to return.

And the seven cards added to the second version of the set:

Michael Bourn - Made the club's opening day roster.

Francisco Rosario - Recalled on April 9th, but was on the disabled list from mid-June through the end of August.

Mike Zagurski - Had two different stints with the club, first getting recalled on May 25th.

Jose Mesa - Rejoined the Phillies on June 9th after being released by the Tigers.

Kyle Kendrick - Called up on June 13th from Ottawa and never went back down.

J.C. Romero - Joined the team on June 29th after being claimed off waivers from the Red Sox.

Ryan Howard (No MVP Logo) - See above.

Surprises/Omissions: The inclusion of a Karim Garcia is somewhat of a surprise, and the checklist's creator swung and missed on predicting the team's opening day roster. Bourn, and three relievers who made the club out of spring training were completely overlooked - Clay Condrey, Zack Segovia and Joe Bisenius.

The annual ALS Phestival was held on May 21st this season. Looking at the Phillies' active roster at the time of the Phestival, only Condrey and reliever Yoel Hernandez were without photo cards.

The second version of the set couldn't have been released prior to early July, as Romero was added to the roster on June 29th. Looking at the team's roster for their first home game following the All-Star Break on July 13th, pitchers Brian Sanches, J.D. Durbin and Anderson Garcia were all active and in the bullpen but not included in the updated second version of the set.

Variations/Rarities: As I learned after publishing my original post on this set back in December 2014, Steve let me know there were cards made in the style of this set for Geoff Jenkins and Brad Lidge, both added in the 2007-2008 offseason. The Lidge card I have in my collection has a completely blank back. Rick added there are cards with facsimile autographs for four of the team's stars:

Facsimile Autographs
1. Pat Burrell (#5 - LF)
2. Ryan Howard (#6 - 1B)
3. Jimmy Rollins (#11 - SS)
4. Chase Utley (#26 - 2B)

Offseason Additions
1. Geoff Jenkins (OF)
2. Brad Lidge (RHP)

Also See: The Phillies and Upper Deck gave away a pack of baseball cards on Alumni Night featuring 25 regular cards and 10 "Vintage" cards featuring Phillies alumni. The alumni cards only came one per pack, making them much harder to track down.

Resources: Phillies collectors Steve and Rick (@rickphils).

This set was originally featured in a post back in December 2014, and I'm going to slowly go through some of these team issued set posts and update them with new information gleaned (if any) over the past nearly six years.

2006 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards / 2008 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

2000-Present Phillies Team-Issued Photo Cards Want List / Phillies Team Issued Sets Index Page

Saturday, February 8, 2020

The First Phillie of 2020: A 10-Year Low

We opened our first packs of 2020 Topps on Saturday afternoon and I have one word to describe the design of this year's offering: Messy. While the photography used for the cards is great, the design itself is a major distraction with bars, lines and rectangles cluttering the card fronts. Depending on the orientation of the photo, the player's name could appear on the right, left or bottom of the cards when thumbing through a stack.

My wife Jenna brought home three blaster boxes from Target, and as we opened the packs the consensus was that none of us liked the horizontal cards. Which makes it fitting this year's First Phillie was a horizontal card - #190 Aaron Nola - as found in my son Doug's first pack of the year. This is a set that won't look great in 9-pocket pages given that every other card is oriented in a different direction. The backs of the cards are drab and unimpressive.

I'm also again bothered by the placement of "special" cards throughout the set, as Topps interrupts the flow of player card with Postseason cards, League Leader cards, team celebration cards or team cards. I'd like these so much better if they were grouped together as subsets.

Ben was unimpressed

Doug just wanted the Trout card

And finally, and perhaps my final complaint, is that the Phillies primary logo has been altered by Topps here. The bell should be blue and not white. The correct logo was used on Phillies cards found within the 2019 Topps set, so why make the change for this year's cards? Based on a gut reaction ranking, I'm bummed this is my least favorite design of the last ten years and I can't believe I'm already missing the imperfect design from 2019.

Also, I'm getting old.

Subjective, Unscientific Gut Reaction Topps Flagship Set Design Rankings (2011 to 2020), Best to Worst