Hall of Fame Class of 2025: Phillies Cards

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #15

2004 Topps Pristine #7

As is usually the case each January, I let this blog go mostly dormant with the exception of posting a daily 2024 Chachi card.  Before spring training starts in earnest, I wanted to revisit something I used to do annually whenever a new class of Hall of Famers was announced.  For each new class of Hall of Fame inductees, I go through my Phillies Collection and see how many cards of each I have.  This would mean the new Hall of Famer is typically featured on a multi-player card with a Phillies player, or in the case of Dick Allen and Billy Wagner, the new Hall of Famer actually spent time with the Phillies.

This exercise is a little easier this year as I'm proud to report my entire Phillies Collection is now tracked in a massive Excel schedule, AND also available for me to browse and search on the Trading Card Database.  I started updating my collection at TCDB a few years ago, and with the Phillies and Complete Sets collections now updated, I'll turn my attention to the "Everything Else" catch-all category.

Here's a look at Cooperstown's 2025 class, and the baseball cards I have of them in my Phillies Collection.

Dick Allen - I have 55 cards of Allen in my Phillies Collection, and 65 cards of the slugger overall.  Back in December, I posted a gallery of his Topps flagship cards here, and I've also liked this 2009 Upper Deck card of his.

Dave Parker - Parker shows up twice in my Phillies Collection.  He's on a strange 1982 Fleer Stamps issue, pointing at the camera and putting his arm around a hesitant Steve Carlton.  He also shares space with Pete Rose and Bill Madlock on a 1984 Topps Active Career Leaders subset card.

CC Sabathia - Sabathia shows up twice on 2011 Topps Diamond Duos insert cards with Carlton and Cliff Lee.  My all-time favorite memory involving Sabathia can be found here.

Ichiro Suzuki - Ichiro shares a card with Richie Ashburn in the 2007 Topps Heritage Then and Now insert set, and he's on an incredibly random "Classic Combo" card with Chase Utley in the 2007 Topps Update set.

Billy Wagner - And finally, I have 40 cards of closer Wagner in my Phillies Collection, given he appeared in 120 games with the club in 2004 and 2005.  59 of Wagner's 422 career saves came while wearing a Phillies uniform, which is his third most by franchise behind the Astros and Mets.  Browsing a gallery of Wagner's Phillies cards, this 2004 Topps Pristine card is my favorite, non-team issue card of his.  His 2005 Topps flagship card is a close second.

1982 Fleer Stamps #241

2011 Topps Diamond Duos #DD-23

2007 Topps Heritage Then and Now #TN7

2007 Topps Update #UH279

Game 26 - Strahm, 4 Relievers Shut Down M's

2004 Fleer Tradition This Day in History #9

Phillies 1, Mariners 0
Game 26 - Thursday Afternoon, April 27th in Philadelphia
Record - 13-13, Tied for 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Matt Strahm and four relievers combined to shut out the Mariners, as the Phillies squeaked by in this 1-0 victory.

What It Means:  The Phillies have reached .500 for the first time this season, they won the series against the Mariners, and they'll open a weekend series against the Astros on Friday night.

What Happened:  Strahm has been stellar.  He pitched five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five.  Seranthony Dominguez, Connor Brogdon, Gregory Soto and Craig Kimbrel followed him, holding the Mariners' offense to just one more hit throughout the end of the game.  The lone Phillies run scored in the bottom of the second when Nick Castellanos singled to start the inning, and came all the way around to score with two outs on a Kody Clemens single to center.

Featured Card:  I'd like to feature a Strahm or Clemens card here, but having none, I'll feature a card with historic significance.  20 years ago, on April 27th, 2003, Kevin Millwood pitched a no-hitter with my Dad and me in attendance.  We didn't leave our seats or sit down over the final two innings.  To celebrate the anniversary of his feat, Millwood was on hand to throw out the first pitch before this game against the Mariners, with Larry Bowa serving as his catcher.  Millwood's no-hitter was also won by a score of 1-0, with Ricky Ledee hitting a solo home run in the first inning.

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 11 - Fish and Arraez Pound Nola, Phils

2004 Topps #35

Marlins 8, Phillies 4
Game 11 - Tuesday Night, April 11th in Philadelphia
Record - 4-7, 4th Place, 3 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies fell to the Marlins, 8-4, as Aaron Nola had another rough outing and the Marlins' Luis Arraez hit for the first cycle in franchise history.

What It Means:  An incredibly busy week at work means I'm a few games behind, although I've not really missed much.

What Happened:  Nola's record dropped to 0-2 as he allowed four runs on nine hits while pitching into the sixth inning.  The usually steady Andrew Bellatti gave up three more Marlins runs in the eighth.  The Phillies got on the board in the sixth when Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run, his third of the season.  Later in the inning, Bryson Stott would line a bases loaded single to left, scoring a pair of runs, but then Stott would get thrown out while circling too far off first base.  The Phillies have been a hot mess on the base paths so far this season.  J.T. Realmuto added an RBI double in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the deficit.

Featured Card:  Arraez doubled in the first, tripled in the sixth and hit a home run off Connor Brogdon in the seventh.  He singled off Bellatti in the eighth to complete the cycle.  The last cycle from a Phillies player came way back on June 28, 2004 when current Reds' manager David Bell did it at Citizens Bank Park against the Expos.  Of course Topps Now wasn't around back then, and as far as I know, Bell's feat has never been celebrated on a baseball card.

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 117 - Ranger Outing Wasted in Shutout Loss

2004 Upper Deck
McDonald's Phillies #4

Reds 1, Phillies 0
Game 117 - Wednesday Afternoon, August 17th in Cincinnati
Record - 65-52, 3rd Place, 10 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Reds' pitchers Nick Lodolo and Alexis Diaz baffled the Phillies, and the Reds walked this one off with a ninth inning single from Jose Barrero.

What It Means:  It would have been nice to sweep this series, especially with the four-game series coming up beginning Friday against the Mets.  The last four games lost by the Phillies have all been shutouts.

What Happened:  Ranger Suarez deserved better.  Suarez went seven innings, striking out eight and allowing three hits.  Seranthony Dominguez coughed up the winning run, reminding us that he is actually human.  The Phillies offense had five hits and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

Featured Card:  I got nothing, and I want to save my few remaining Suarez cards for a game in which the Phillies win.  So here's a card of current Reds manager David Bell, the last Phillies player to hit for the cycle, back on June 28, 2004.

Transaction:  Andrew Vasquez (lhp), designated for assignment on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.  Vasquez had been on the team's 40-man roster for less than two weeks.

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 3 - Bats Go Cold, A's Avoid Sweep

2004 Fleer Tradition #491

Athletics 4, Phillies 1
Game 3 - Sunday Afternoon, April 10th in Philadelphia
Record - 2-1, 2nd Place, 1/2 game behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  On a cold, overcast day at the ballpark, the Phillies bats went cold and the Athletics won, 4-1, avoiding the series sweep.

What It Means:  No rest for the chilly, as the Mets will come to town for a three-game set beginning on Monday night.  Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler will start the first two games of the series in their season debuts.

What Happened:  The Phillies managed three hits - a bunt single from Garrett Stubbs, a line drive to left from Johan Camargo and a solo home run in the ninth by Jean Segura.  Zach Eflin labored through four innings of work, but didn't allow a run.  Bailey Falter and Damon Jones each gave up a pair of runs in relief.

Featured Card:  Several years ago, I spent an enjoyable few months adding my entire Phillies baseball card collection to an Excel file so that I could easily sort and manage my collection.  I've updated the file each time a new Phillies card has been added to the actual Phillies Room over the years.  With no discernible highlight from this lifeless baseball game, I was curious to know the last time there was a baseball card with just members of the Phillies and Athletics on it.  According to my spreadsheet, that would be this card from the 2004 Fleer Tradition set, featuring a trio of pitching prospects.

While I'm bummed the Phillies lost this game, at least I get to soften the blow by posting a card of former Phillies reliever Geoff Geary.

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

2004 Topps Phillies Team Set

#659 Phillies Team

#288 Larry Bowa MG

#695 Jim Thome & Mike Schmidt CPC

#345 Jim Thome LL

#346 Jim Thome LL

#333 Kevin Millwood HL

#384 Bobby Abreu

#182 Terry Adams

#35 David Bell

#420 Pat Burrell

#69 Marlon Byrd

#630 Rheal Cormier

#434 Doug Glanville

#571 Roberto Hernandez

#493 Ricky Ledee

#152 Mike Lieberthal

#202 Jose Mesa

#181 Jason Michaels

#11 Kevin Millwood

#488 Eric Milton

#551 Brett Myers

#59 Vicente Padilla

#445 Tomas Perez

#117 Placido Polanco

#618 Todd Pratt

#76 Jimmy Rollins

#68 Carlos Silva

#1 Jim Thome

#468 Chase Utley

#222 Randy Wolf

#561 Shawn Wooten

#328 Madson & Ramirez FS

#727 Randy Wolf AS

Traded

#T113 Jim Crowell

#T146 Danny Gonzalez

#T179 Lee Gwaltney

#T205 Terry Jones

#T187 Rob Tejeda

#T15 Billy Wagner

#T73 Greg Golson DP

2003 Topps Phillies Team Set / 2005 Topps Phillies Team Set