Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies: Phils Hope Bats Show Up

2006 Topps #393

2006 Topps Rookies #19

Monday, March 30th - 6:40
Tuesday, March 31st - 6:40
Wednesday, April 1st - 1:05

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
There are themes connected with all three games of this series, but no giveaways.  Monday night is a College Series Business Analytics Night.

Washington Nationals 2-1
Tied for 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 game behind the Marlins

Nationals Probables
Foster Griffin (0-0, 0.00)
TBD
Cade Cavalli (0-0, 4.91)

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Daylen Lile - .333
Runs:  Brady House - 4
Home Runs:  Joey Wiemer - 2
RBIs:  Joey Wiemer - 4
Stolen Bases:  Nasim Nunez - 2

Wins:  Jake Irvin and Brad Lord - 1
ERA:  Jake Irvin - 3.60

Strikeouts:  Jake Irvin - 7
Saves:  Clayton Beeter - 1

Philadelphia Phillies 1-2
5th Place in the N.L. East, 2 games behind the Marlins

Phillies Probables
Taijuan Walker (0-0, 0.00)
Andrew Painter (0-0, 0.00)
Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 0.00)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryson Stott - .375
Runs:  Trea Turner - 3
Home Runs:  Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber - 1
RBIs:  Alec Bohm - 4
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 1

Wins:  Cristopher Sanchez - 1
ERA:  Cristopher Sanchez - 0.00

Strikeouts:  Cristopher Sanchez - 10
Saves:  N/A

2026 Virtual Phillies Wall (Coming Soon) / 2026 Season Summary Index / 2026 Chachi Set Checklist

Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - Phils Home for 6

2005 Topps #449

2005 Topps #482

Tuesday, April 29th - 6:45
Wednesday, April 30th - 6:45
Thursday, May 1st - 6:45

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
It's another Hatfield Phillies Franks BOGO night on Tuesday and the annual Italian Family Celebration is Wednesday night.

Washington Nationals 13-16
Tied for 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 7 games behind the Mets

Nationals Probables
MacKenzie Gore (2-3, 3.34)
Jake Irvin (2-0, 3.19)
TBD

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Keibert Ruiz - .309
Runs:  James Wood - 18
Home Runs:  James Wood - 9
RBIs:  Nathaniel Lowe and James Wood - 20
Stolen Bases:  Dylan Crews - 6

Wins:  Jorge Lopez and Mitchell Parker - 3
ERA:  Mitchell Parker - 2.65

Strikeouts:  MacKenzie Gore - 53
Saves:  Kyle Finnegan - 9

Philadelphia Phillies 15-13
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 4 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (2-1, 3.62)
TBD
Taijuan Walker (1-2, 2.78)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryson Stott - .292
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 19
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 7
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 18
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Trea Turner - 6

Wins:  Jose Alvarado and Jesus Luzardo - 3
ERA:  Jesus Luzardo - 1.73
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 50
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 5

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

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

2010 Phillies Team Issue 2 #23 Brian Schneider

Marlins 5, Phillies 3
Game 39 - Monday Night, May 16th in Philadelphia
Record - 22-17, Tied for 2nd place, 1 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phils couldn't find a clutch hit in this 5-3 loss to the Marlins.

What It Means:  The offense stranded 10 runners and went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

What Happened:  On a positive note, Tyler Goeddel continued his hot hitting with a three hit night and Tommy Joseph collected his first Major League hit.  Jared Eickhoff kept the Phillies in the ballgame with six innings pitched, allowing three runs on six hits.

Featured Card:  I'm drawing a complete blank for this game summary post, and there wasn't really that much exciting about this game from a Phillies fan's perspective.  Prior to the game, Carlos Ruiz posed with new Marlins catching coach Brian Schneider.  Schneider was Chooch's back-up catcher for three seasons between 2010 and 2012.  This is one of his team issued cards that I hadn't previously featured on this blog.

Recently added to The Phillies Room - 2016 Season Summary page with game results and links to game summary posts.

2013 Chachi Transactions #16 Brian Schneider

In a little over a week, the baseball complex at Bright House Field in Clearwater will come alive with players stretching, playing catch, fielding ground balls and taking batting practice.  To say that I'm excited about this would be a ginormous understatement.

Before camp officially opens, I wanted to take a look back at the moves made (so far) by the Phillies this offseason.  This post also presents back-up catcher Brian Schneider's final Chachi card, as the 13-year veteran announced his retirement last week.

Schneider was a serviceable back-up during his three years with the Phillies, hitting .212 over 122 games.  He'll pass the back-up catcher baton to Humbero Quintero (initially) and Erik Kratz (eventually).

Moving On

Jason Pridie (10/6/12) - Filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, 11/6/12)

Tyson Brummett (10/18/12) - Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays

David Herndon (10/23/12) - Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays (Signed a split contract with the New York Yankees, 11/20/12)

Juan Pierre (10/29/12) - Filed for free agency (Signed with the Miami Marlins, 11/17/12)

Brian Schneider (10/29/12) - Filed for free agency (Retired, 1/29/13)

Jose Contreras (10/29/12) - Team option declined

Placido Polanco (10/29/12) - Team option declined (Signed with the Miami Marlins, 12/20/12)

Ty Wigginton (10/29/12) - Team option declined (Signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, 12/14/12)

Nate Schierholtz (11/30/12) - Non-tendered (Signed with the Chicago Cubs, 12/21/12)

Vance Worley (12/6/12) - Traded to the Minnesota Twins with Trevor May for Ben Revere

Josh Lindblom (12/8/12) - Traded to the Texas Rangers with Lisalverto Bonilla for Michael Young and cash

New Additions

Ender Inciarte (12/6/12) - Selected in the Rule 5 draft from the Arizona Diamondbacks

Ben Revere (12/6/12) - Acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Vance Worley and Trevor May

Michael Young (12/8/12) - Acquired from the Texas Rangers with cash for Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla

Mauricio Robles (12/14/12) - Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners

John Lannan (12/18/12) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals.

Mike Adams (12/20/12) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Texas Rangers.

Delmon Young (1/22/13) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Detroit Tigers.
Chad Durbin (1/29/13) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves.

2012 Chachi #63 Stolen Base Leaders - Juan Pierre & Jimmy Rollins

This post is scheduled to publish on Tuesday morning.  I'm hoping we still have electricity by then as we're getting battered by Hurricane Sandy.  Stay safe everyone!

As expected, the Phillies exercised their option on catcher Carlos Ruiz' contract yesterday, locking him up for the 2013 season at $5 million.  It's expected that the Phils will decline their options on reliever Jose Contreras and third baseman Placido Polanco, who both missed significant time this past season due to injuries.  Ty Wigginton could also find himself without a home as the Phils could decline his option following a disappointing 2012 campaign.*

137 players became free agents immediately following the end of the craptastic 2012 World Series, with Juan Pierre and Brian Schneider both on that list of initial filings.  Pierre had a great season, and I would think the Phillies would want to bring him back to help round out the bench in 2013.  In 130 games, Pierre batted .307 and led the team with 37 stolen bases.

2012 Phillies Team
Issue 2 #23

To date, Pierre has received Phillies cards in the Allen & Ginter's set (both a base card and an insert in the What's in a Name set), the Topps Series 2 set and the two Phillies team issued postcard sets.  Per the checklist I saw for the soon to be shipped Topps Heritage High Numbers boxed set, he's the lone Phillie appearing in that set.

Schneider was limited to just 34 games in 2012 and he hit just .225.  Erik Kratz is his heir apparent to back-up Ruiz in 2013.  Despite his three seasons with the club, Schneider's sole standard size Phillies card is his relic card from the 2010 Topps 206 release.

Moving On

Jason Pridie (10/6/12) - Filed for free agency

Tyson Brummett (10/18/12) - Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays

David Herndon (10/23/12) - Claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays

Juan Pierre (10/29/12) - Filed for free agency

Brian Schneider (10/29/12) - Filed for free agency

*As soon as I had hit Publish on Monday afternoon, the announcement came that Wigginton's and Contreras' options were declined.  I'll give them a separate departure post.  Later in the evening, the Phillies announced they had also declined Polanco's option.

2012 Chachi #10 Brian Schneider

#23

Brian Duncan Schneider

Catcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Right  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 210

Born: November 26, 1976, Jacksonville, FL

Home: Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Drafted: Selected by Montreal Expos in 5th round of June 1995 draft

Teams: Montreal Expos 2000-2004, Washington Nationals 2005-2007, New York Mets 2008-2009, Phillies 2010-

Acquired: Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets, December 1, 2009

Contract Status: Signed through the 2012 season

2010 Topps 206 Mini Framed Autographs #TA-BS Brian Schneider

Shows you what I know.  In a post not yet three weeks old, I declared that Phillies back-up catcher Brian Schneider was "definitely gone" after filing for free agency.  Yesterday, the Phils re-signed the 34-year-old catcher to a one-year deal to again back up Carlos Ruiz and serve as Vance Worley's personal catcher.

Schneider has been all but ignored by Topps during his tenure with the team.  He's had cards in the 2010 and 2011 team issued sets (both series), but his only other Phillies card since 2010 is this autographed insert from the 2010 Topps T206 set.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Jimmy Rollins (00-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10-11) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Moving On - Madson and Rollins (Maybe), Ibanez, Gload & Schneider (Definitely)

2011 Topps Heritage
Black #C77

Five Phillies became free agents over the weekend following the conclusion of the 2011 World Series.  For now, that means five names join the list of players Moving On.  My hope, however, is that two of these players will be back in red pinstripes in 2012.

Three of the five are not likely to return.  Raul Ibanez has been the team's starting left fielder for the past three seasons, after spending the first 13 seasons in the American League with the Mariners and Royals.  Raul's tenure will best be remembered for his periods of extreme streakiness.  He was either white hot at the plate or ice cold, with really no middle ground.  Over his three seasons with the Phils, he hit .264 while averaging a little over 23 home runs and 87 RBIs per season.  By all accounts, Raul is one of the nicest people in the game.  But the Phillies will cut ties with 39-year-old and go with either Domonic Brown or John Mayberry, Jr. in left in 2012.

2011 Topps
Allen & Ginter #31

Ross Gload and Brian Schneider filled the roles of left-handed bat off the bench and back-up catcher, respectively, over the past two seasons.  Gload was severely slowed this year with a bad hip, but he still was one of the team's best pinch-hitting options.  In total, Gload went 33 for 140 (.236) as a pinch-hitter with the Phils  with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.  He was used sparingly in the field, starting just 24 games over his two seasons with the club - 15 at first and 9 in right.

2011 Topps Phillies
#PHI14

Schneider killed the Phillies during his years with the Expos, Nationals and Mets, so I was thrilled when they signed him, if for no other reason than the Phils wouldn't have to face him for a few years.  However, had I known he would hit just .208 over two seasons with just 6 home runs, I probably wouldn't have been as thrilled.  Schneider started in 73 games for the Phils over the past two years, and you could usually pencil him into your score card for most day games following night games.

I hope Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Madson are back in 2012.  I've gone into this before, but I think (I hope) Rollins could be had for three years with an option for a fourth.  He's on the record as wanting five years, but I just don't know if that kind of market exists for him.  He's the heart of the team and I believe (I hope) that he has another two to three productive years in him at short.

Madson needs to be brought back.  Without him, the team's closing prospects get murky and I'm not enamored with any of the other free agent closers on the market.  (Heath Bell?  Francisco Rodriguez?  Joe Nathan?)  The only name that intrigues me is Jonathan Papelbon, but I imagine he's heading back to the Sox.  Madson is only 31, and the money the team is saving by not bringing back Brad Lidge or Roy Oswalt should go towards bringing back the team's (I hope) 2012 closer.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Pete Orr (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Jimmy Rollins (00-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Brian Schneider (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

2011 Phillies Team Issue 2 #7 and #23

2011 Topps Phillies #PHI4 Cole Hamels

Phillies 4, Nationals 1
Game 28 - Tuesday Night, May 3rd in Philadelphia

One Sentence Summary:  Cole Hamels did it all tonight, pitching a complete game for the victory, and kick-starting the offense with his first career triple in the third inning.

What It Means:  The Phillies are now 19-9, temporarily a half game ahead of the Marlins in the N.L. East, pending the outcome of the Marlins-Cardinals game in St. Louis.

What Went Right:  Hamels continued his recent trend of fantastic pitching.  He allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out six.  Jimmy Rollins, batting lead-off for the first time this season, brought home Hamels in the third with an RBI-single.  Rollins tripled and came home on Placido Polanco's sac fly in the fifth.  The Phils added a few insurance runs in the seventh, but they weren't needed, given Hamels' fine performance.

Raul Ibanez broke an 0 for 35 skid with a double in the fourth, avoiding Desi Relaford's "record" of 0 for 36 in 1998.

Featured Card:  There's a good chance Hamels' 2011 Topps Series 2 will look like this when it's released in June.  This card is from the Topps Phillies team set.

Field Report:  Sadly, this picture most likely represents the closest Pete Orr and Brian Schneider will get to appearing in the 2011 Topps set this year.  The Phillies post each game's starting line-up on the wall just outside Ashburn Alley with giant Topps baseball cards and I was happy to see Orr finally has a card . . . Final tally for Jenna and me on Dollar Dog Night - 4 dogs.  Although a few of our dogs looked as if they had been prepared a few weeks ago . . . Jayson Werth received a mixed bag of cheers and boos upon his first visit back to Citizens Bank Park.  He politely doffed his batting helmet to the crowd in the top of the first, and he signalled to the outfield crowd in the bottom of the first as he took his place in right field.  He went 0 for 3 with a walk . . . The Phillies are now 3-1 in games I've attended this year.

2011 Chachi #10 Brian Schneider

#23

Brian Duncan Schneider

Catcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Right  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 210

Born: November 26, 1976, Jacksonville, FL

Home: Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Drafted: Selected by Montreal Expos in 5th round of June 1995 draft

Teams: Montreal Expos 2000-2004, Washington Nationals 2005-2007, New York Mets 2008-2009, Phillies 2010-

Acquired: Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets, December 1, 2009

Contract Status: Signed through the 2011 season

Complete Topps Base Set Checklist:

1995 Topps Traded #122T - Expos - Prospects (with Mark Sweeney, George Arias and Richie Sexson)

2001 Topps Traded #T142 - Expos - Prospects (with Mark Sweeney, George Arias and Richie Sexson)

2005 Topps #449 - Nationals

2006 Topps #393 - Nationals

2007 Topps #214 - Nationals

2008 Topps #471 - Mets

2009 Topps #654 - Mets

2010 Upper Deck #332 Brian Schneider

Phillies 5, Rockies 4

Game 99 - Monday Afternoon, July 26th in Philadelphia

I'm not one to whine or complain about my chosen professional on a blog about the Phillies and their baseball cards, but there are definitely some days when I wish I had chosen the path of professional pumpkin farmer over the path I ended up walking. I had tickets to this afternoon's Phillies game but I ended up intermittently watching the action on ESPN's Gamecast instead of basking in the sun and enjoying a Phillies win and series sweep over the Rockies in person. Joe Blanton's mug shot mocked my decision to skip the game and tend to my professional duties each time I checked in on the game action. "Deadlines? What deadlines?," he seemed to query each time I alt-tabbed over to the game. "Look at me," he continued, "I had an ERA over six coming into this game and I'm not worried in the least. There you sit at your desk, muttering to yourself about the ineptitude of [REDACTED FOR JOB SECURITY PURPOSES] and here I am, pitching 6 innings, working just over 90 minutes, and not having a care in the world."

Phone ringing, e-mails piling up, I alt-tabbed over again to see Jimmy Rollins knowingly staring back at me. "You should have been here today, Jim," he said. "The 2nd inning was nuts! Rockies' outfielders running into one another, Brian Schneider actually being credited with a triple, Rockies' infielders throwing the ball around. I bet your little Gamecast summary doesn’t show that, does it?" It doesn't, Jimmy. It certainly doesn't. My last check of the action this afternoon showed the Phils had squeaked by with a 1-run victory after Brad Lidge gave up a 2-run home run to Seth Smith and then loaded the bases before retiring the final batter. I wonder if Lidge ever wishes he had become a pumpkin farmer?

(And to top it all off, I don't even have any other decent 2010 baseball cards of Schneider. He's got a Chachi card, the Phils' team issued card, and this cruddy Upper Deck card featuring him with the Mets. Cheerful posts to return tomorrow.)

2010 Phillies Team Issue #23 Brian Schneider

Phillies 4, Reds 3 (12 Innings)
Game 84 - Thursday Night, July 8th in Philadelphia

Catcher Brian Schneider played a part in allowing the Reds to score a crucial run in the top of the 8th, but he completely redeemed himself with a walk-off solo home run in the 12th to give the Phillies the victory.  Kyle Kendrick pitched a great ballgame, settling in after allowing a 1st inning home run to Joey Votto and not allowing another run.  He was pulled with 2 outs in the 7th having surrendered only 3 hits.

Shane Victorino countered Votto's home run with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the 1st.  His 14th home run of 2010 matched his career high set back in 2008.  Victorino factored into the team's second run in the 3rd.  After Jimmy Rollins walked, Victorino reached on a sharply hit ball knocked down by Votto at first.  Votto recovered and threw to pitcher Johnny Cueto covering, but Victorino knocked off Cueto's glove as he ran by and the ball trickled away.  Votto recovered again and threw the ball to a gloveless Cueto, hitting the helpless pitcher below the belt as Rollins scampered home on the bizarre play.

Ryan Madson entered the 8th with a 1-run lead.  With 2 runners on with 2 outs, he appeared to have struck out Brandon Phillips to end the inning.  But Schneider couldn't block the pitch.  Madson failed to cover home as Schneider tracked down the errant ball and the Reds had their 2nd run.  The Phils managed to take the lead once again when Wilson Valdez tripled to start the 8th and he came home on a Rollins' sacrifice fly.

The Reds' 3rd run came as Brad Lidge was trying to close things out in the 9th.   The first two Reds reached, and former Phillie Miguel Cairo doubled with 2 outs to score the tying run.  It was Lidge's 3rd blown save in his last 4 opportunities.  Jose Contreras and Nelson Figueroa pitched 3 scoreless innings of relief to set up Schneider's dramatic winning home run in the 12th.  There were more bizarre plays and sloppy baserunning by the Phils, but the important thing is the win pulled the team to within 5½ games of the idle first place Braves.

2010 Chachi #10 Brian Schneider

I'm going to go ahead and not be concerned by the presence of three members of the 2009 Mets squad currently on the Phillies roster. Along with back-up catcher Brian Schneider, #10 in the 2010 Chachi set, the current roster also includes long-man Nelson Figueroa and infielder Wilson Valdez. All three played with the Mets last year, so hopefully none of that bad mojo rubs off on the Phils.

Phillies debut: April 8, 2010

Major League debut: May 26, 2000

How acquired: Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets, December 1, 2009

Other wearing #23 in the 2000s: Kevin Jordan 2000-2001, Placido Polanco 2002, Travis Chapman 2003, Shawn Wooten 2004, Marc Bombard (coach) 2005, Ryan Franklin 2006, Joe Thurston 2006, Adam Eaton 2007, Paul Bako 2009

2009 Postseason: Oops, sorry. No Postseason for the 2009 Mets. That's too bad.

Pictured: Spring Training, February 23, 2010 - Probably the most boring picture thus far in the 2010 Chachi set.

Brian was the source of much angst for Phillies fans back on the 4th of July, 2002.