Series Preview - Phillies at Mets: April 3rd to April 4th

1978 Topps #446

1978 Topps #334

Tuesday 7:10 and Wednesday 1:10
Citi Field - Flushing, NY

Monday night's game was postponed due to snow and will be made up as part of a double header on July 9th.

Phillies 1-2, Tied for 4th place in the N.L. East, 2 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Mets 2-1, 2nd place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Ben Lively (0-0, 0.00), Aaron Nola (0-0, 1.69)
Mets Probables:  Matt Harvey (0-0, 0.00), Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 6.00)

At the Ballpark:  The Mets opened their season with a three-game set against the Cardinals, giving away a schedule magnet, a Mets teddy bear and tote bag.  The Phillies get nothing.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Rhys Hoskins - .500
Runs:  J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana - 3
Home Runs:  Three tied with - 3
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins and Carlos Santana - 3
Stolen Bases:  Three tied with - 3

Wins:  Drew Hutchison - 1
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 1.69
Strikeouts:  Vince Velasquez - 4
Saves:  All tied with - 0

Mets Leaders
Average:  Juan Lagares - .556
Runs:  Kevin Plawecki - 3
Home Runs:  Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d'Arnaud - 1
RBIs:  Yoenis Cespedes - 4
Stolen Bases:  Jay Bruce - 1

Wins:  Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard - 1
ERA:  Jacob deGrom - 1.59
Strikeouts:  Noah Syndergaard - 10
Saves:  Jeurys Familia - 1

1978 Topps Appreciation:  The Phillies traded Mac Scarce, John Stearns and Del Unser to the Mets on December 3, 1974 for Tug McGraw, Don Hahn and Dave Schneck.  I never realized how off center my McGraw card was until I scanned it in for this post.

Series Preview - Mets at Phillies: April 10th to April 12th

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Mets 3-3, Tied for 1st Place in the N.L. East, 2 games ahead of the Braves
Phillies 3-3, Tied for 1st Place in the N.L. East, 2 games ahead of the Braves

Mets Probables:  Jacob deGrom (0-0, 0.00), Matt Harvey (1-0, 2.70), Zack Wheeler (0-1, 11.25)
Phillies Probables:  Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 2.70), Clay Buchholz (0-0, 7.20), Vince Velasquez (0-1, 9.00)

At the Ballpark:  It's a Dollar Dog night tonight and on Wednesday all adults will receive an @Phillies cell phone wallet.

Mets Leaders
Average:  Asdrubal Cabrera - .280
Runs:  Jay Bruce - 5
Home Runs:  Jay Bruce - 2
RBIs:  Lucas Duda - 4
Stolen Bases:  Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores - 1

Wins:  Three tied with - 1
ERA:  Jacob deGrom - 0.00
Strikeouts:  Noah Syndergaard - 16
Saves:  Addison Reed - 1

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Howie Kendrick - .429
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 7
Home Runs:  Freddy Galvis and Daniel Nava - 2
RBIs:  Freddy Galvis - 6
Stolen Bases:  Three tied with - 1

Wins:  Three tied with - 1
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 0.90
Strikeouts:  Vince Velasquez - 10
Saves:  Jeanmer Gomez - 1

1982 Topps #743

1982 Topps #713

1982 Topps #250

1982 Topps Appreciation:  On December 3, 1974, the Phillies traded Del Unser, Mac Scarce and John Stearns to the Mets for Tug McGraw, Don Hahn and Dave Schneck.  It turned out to be one of the better deals in franchise history as McGraw played a huge part in the team's 1980 championship run.  Unser would return to the Phillies as a free agent in March 1979.

Stearns made his major league debut on September 22, 1974 with the Phillies in the second game of a double header against the Expos.  He went 1 for 2 with a single off Mike Torrez in the fifth.  It was to be his first and last game with the Phillies.  Stearns enjoyed a 10-year career with the Mets and would be a four-time All-Star with the club.

Mets at Phillies: May 7th to May 9th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:05

Mets 15-13, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 3 games behind the Nationals
Phillies 14-15, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 4 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Mets Probables:  Jonathon Niese (2-1, 4.08), Miguel Batista (0-1, 6.92), Dillon Gee (2-2, 4.50)
Phillies Probables:  Roy Halladay (3-2, 3.40), Joe Blanton (3-3, 2.83), Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.96)

At the Ballpark:  Tomorrow night is the team's annual Asian Pacific Celebration.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .318

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 18

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 6

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 20

Stolen Bases:  Shane Victorino - 9

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 4

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 2.45

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 44

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 9

1979 Topps #545 and #345

1979 Topps Flashback:  Today's flashback features two more players traded for one another.  In December 1974, the Phillies shipped catcher John Stearns, left-handed reliever Mac Scarce and center fielder Del Unser to the Mets for outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck and left-handed reliever Tug McGraw.

Stearns appeared in one game with the Phillies, going 1 for 2 in the second game of a double header against the Expos on September 22, 1974.  He'd compile a very nice 10-year career with the Mets, making the National League All-Star squad four times between 1977 and 1982.  He retired following the 1984 season and he's now the minor league catching instructor for the Seattle Mariners.  If I ever put together a "1974 Phillies - Missing Links" post, Stearns will be listed as one of the players with no Phillies cardboard appearances.

McGraw of course, became one of the most beloved players ever to don a Phillies uniform.