Cubs at Phillies: May 19th to May 21st

2014 Topps Heritage #125

2023 Chachi 1965 Topps Missing Links #7

Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  On Saturday, the Phillies will hold their annual Salute to Service Night.  Major, the Phillies "service pup-in training for veterans with disabilities" will be introduced to fans in a pregame ceremony.  On Sunday, all kids will receive a Phanatic children's book.

Cubs 19-24
Tied for 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 5 games behind the Brewers

Cubs Probables
Marcus Stroman (2-4, 3.24)
Jameson Taillon (0-2, 6.66)
Justin Steele (6-1, 2.44)

Cubs Leaders
Average:  Ian Happ - .303
Runs:  Cody Bellinger - 29
Home Runs:  Patrick Wisdom - 12
RBIs:  Patrick Wisdom - 23
Stolen Bases:  Nico Hoerner - 12

Wins:  Justin Steele - 6
ERA:  Justin Steele - 2.44
Strikeouts:  Justin Steele and Marcus Stroman - 47
Saves:  Brad Boxberger - 2

Phillies 20-23
4th Place in the N.L. East, 7 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (0-0, 6.75)
Aaron Nola (3-3, 4.53)
TBA

Phillies Leaders
Average:  J.T. Realmuto - .304
Runs:  Nick Castellanos - 31
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 10
RBIs:  Alec Bohm - 32
Stolen Bases:  J.T. Realmuto - 7

Wins:  Four tied with - 3
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 4.06

Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 61
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 5

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

2013 Chachi Transactions #13 Nate Schierholtz

2013 is in its infancy, and there are no new Phillies transactions to report.  However, I wanted to take this chance to post the latest Chachi Transactions card of former Phillie Nate Schierholtz and refresh the list of comings and going so far this off-season.  Hopefully the New Additions listing will see the inclusion of a corner outfielder and another reliever (or two) over the coming weeks.

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

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.

2012 Phillies Team Issue 2 Update #22 Nate Schierholtz

On Friday afternoon, the Phillies non-tendered Nate Schierholtz, making him a free agent and ending his short five-month stint with the team.  The move was made in an effort to shed Schierholtz's $1.3 million salary and seemingly to free up a potential roster spot for rookie Darin Ruf.

In his 37 games with the Phils, Schierholtz hit .273 with a home run and 5 RBIs.  Going forward, whenever a player leaves the team, and as long as that player doesn't have dozens of Phillies baseball cards, I'll present his Phillies baseball card checklist as a final tribute to the departed.  Schierholtz received only two base Phillies cards during his short stay:

2012 Phillies Team Issue Series 2 Update #22
2012 Topps Update #US199

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

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

Placido Polanco (10/29/12) - Team option declined

Ty Wigginton (10/29/12) - Team option declined

Nate Schierholtz (11/30/12) - Non-tendered

2012 Topps Update #US199 Nate Schierholtz

If you've been following along at home, you may recall that I was very interested in whether or not the Phillies would produce an updated version of their second postcard set this year.  I had previously referred to this hypothetical set as Team Issue 2.1.  On September 8th, I attended a Phillies game and actually thumbed through one of the team sets available for sale at the ballpark and confirmed there had been no changes.  There was no card for Kevin Frandsen.  Likewise, reliever Josh Lindblom was also cardless.  And there was definitely no card for Nate Schierholtz.

However . . . Alert reader Steve F. recently clued me in to a current eBay auction offering up a signed Schierholtz card featuring the design of Phillies Team Issue 2.  He contacted the Phillies directly and received this reply:

The card that you found on e-bay was from the Phillies Phestival that supports ALS. That card most likely came from a mystery grab bag and not added in the second series set of cards. Those cards would have gone through the community outreach department and not merchandising as it was for the Phestival.

But Steve astutely realized that Schierholtz joined the Phillies two days after the Phestival, so that information can't be accurate.

I contacted the eBay seller directly and received this response yesterday:

It came from the updated postcard set you get at the stadium.

Wait what?

So Phillies Team Issue 2.1 exists?  Will this be yet another White Whale search for me, akin to the 1984 or 1988 Tastykake Update sets or the 1990 Tastykake set?  Will one of these sets hit eBay and if so, will the seller be savvy enough to differentiate between Team Issue 2.0 and Team Issue 2.1?  Maybe the set is currently for sale at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at the ballpark?  And how awesome is my wife for appearing to be genuinely interested in this pressing matter when I explained to her the discovery of what could be a potential Schierholtz card from Team Issue 2.1?  It boggles the mind.

2012 Topps Heritage #270 Nate Schierholtz

Phillies 3, Rockies 2
Game 138 - Friday Night, September 7th in Philadelphia
Record - 67-71, 3rd Place, 18 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies mounted a late inning comeback, defeating the Rockies, 3-2.

What It Means:  The Phillies need to go 15-9 the rest of the way to finish the disappointing season with a winning record.  Given the teams they play over the final three weeks of the season, that seems feasible.  As for the second Wild Card?  Todd Zolecki tweeted this last night: "Cardinals are second NL wild card team at the moment. They are on pace for 87 wins.  Phillies would need to finish 20-4 to finish 87-75."

What Went Right:  Three timely pinch-hits paved the way to victory.  Pete Orr led off the seventh by beating out a ground ball to short for an infield hit.  He and Juan Pierre would eventually come around to score on a Laynce Nix pinch-double, which tied up the game at 2-2.  In the ninth, Nate Schierholtz hit a pinch-single to right, scoring Jimmy Rollins with the winning run.

Featured Card and Field Report:  It's becoming more and more likely that Schierholtz won't have a 2012 Phillies baseball card.  We were there last night and the game was long and (quite frankly) a little boring.  We ventured from our seats in the fourth inning and I found the nearest Phillies Newstand to ask whether or not the photocard set for sale was the "new" set.  The nice lady working the Newstand replied that the set had come out after the All-Star break, and it was in fact the new set.  I pressed onward.

"But does this set have a Kevin Frandsen card?," I asked.

"No one has ever asked for a Frandsen card," she responded, "But you’re free to look through the cards to check."

So I did.  And there was no Frandsen card.  And the cards of Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton remained.  "Sorry," nice Newstand lady said. "I guess Frandsen doesn’t have a card this year."

So there you have it.  The Phillies have three more home series remaining this year (11 more home games) and I can't imagine they'll be producing Team Issue set 2.1 at this point.  I'll be attending a few more games, and I'll continue to check though.  (The Phils are now 4-7 in games I've attended this year.)

1999 Metal Universe #39 Mike Lieberthal

Cardinals 4, Phillies 1
Game 113 - Saturday Night, August 11th in Philadelphia
Record - 51-62, 5th Place, 19 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The bats were held in check by Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee couldn't escape trouble in the sixth as the Phillies lost to the Cardinals, 4-1.

What It Means:  The two teams will play the rubber match this afternoon.

What Went Wrong:  The Phils had two hits in the first two innings, and then were shut down without another hit until the sixth.  Lee pitched a decent ballgame until the sixth when he allowed a three-run home run to Matt Holliday.

Garry Maddox

Featured Card and Field Report:  We were there last night and we witnessed yet another Phillies loss.  The best part of last night's game (by far) was the pre-game ceremony and the introduction of about 30 ex-Phillies players.  It was great to see some of my personal favorites such as Larry Christenson, Ricky Jordan and Larry Milbourne.  We also got to see Garry Maddox outside the ballpark, prior to the game, at his annual Stephen Starr-Garry Maddox Barbecue Challenge.  In a bit of a role reversal, Steve Carlton caught the first pitch from his former personal catcher, and new Hall of Famer, Tim McCarver.

The star of the weekend however was new Wall of Fame inductee, Mike Lieberthal.  Lieby gave an emotional acceptance speech prior to Friday night's game, thanking his ex-teammates along with the late, great Harry Kalas and John Vukovich.  He spent the majority of his 14-year career with the Phillies, playing in 1,174 games with the Phils between his debut in 1994 and his last season with the club in 2006.  He appeared in 38 games with the Dodgers in 2007 before his retirement.  Lieberthal's 1,139 games behind the plate is the most in franchise history, ahead of Red Dooin (1,124), Bob Boone (1,095) and Darren Daulton (965).  It's fitting that Boone was the person who inducted Lieberthal into the exclusive Wall of Fame club.

This is a card from Lieberthal's best year, 1999, in which he went to the All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove and hit career highs  in home runs (31) and RBIs (96), while batting .300.

The Phils are now 3-6 in games I've attended this season.  As we were leaving the ballpark, Jenna pointed out that Kevin Frandsen, Nate Schierholtz and Erik Kratz now have giant 2011 Topps-style baseball cards appearing in the starting line-up outside Ashburn Alley.  And a spot check at a few different vendors confirmed that the Phillies have not yet released version 2.1 of their team-issued postcard set.

2012 Chachi #51 Nate Schierholtz

#22

Nathan John Schierholtz

Outfield

Bats: Left  Throws: Right  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 205

Born: February 15, 1984, Reno, NV

Drafted: Selected by San Francisco Giants in 2nd round of June 2003 draft

Teams: San Francisco Giants 2007-2012, Phillies 2012

Acquired: Acquired from the San Francisco Giants with Seth Rosin and Tommy Joseph for Hunter Pence, July 31, 2012

Contract Status: Eligible for free agency following the 2014 season

2012 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10 Kevin Frandsen

Phillies 8, Nationals 0
Game 103 - Tuesday Night, July 31st in Washington
Record - 46-57, 5th Place, 15 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Another Massive, Vacation-Related Catch-Up, Part 3 of 7

One Sentence Summary:  A new era of Phillies baseball was ushered in (an "improving" era) and of course the new-look Phils crushed the Nationals, 8-0.

What It Means:  With Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence dealt to contending West Coast teams earlier on this day, it became official that the Phillies are going to use the remaining few months of the 2012 season as an extended audition for the 2013 season.  This season officially stinks.

What Went Right:  Cliff Lee pitched like Cliff Lee, throwing seven shutout innings and striking out seven on the way to just his second win of the season.   Jimmy Rollins paced the offense with an inside-the-park home run in the fourth, following Kevin Frandsen's two-run home run in the second.  Frandsen also provided nice defense at third.

2012 Topps #63

Featured Cards:  It appears as if Frandsen will get an extended audition at third as Placido Polanco spends yet more time on the disabled list.  This is his card from this year’s Lehigh Valley IronPigs set. Frandsen joins the 2012 Missing Links list as he has yet to appear on a Phillies baseball card.

For the time being, the newly acquired Josh Lindblom and Nate Schierholtz can be added to the list although I’m curious as to whether or not the Phillies will issue a few update cards to their team-issued postcard set.  Here's a quick summary of the newest Phillies and their recent cardboard representations:

From Dodgers
Josh Lindblom (rhp) - No cards in 2012, but Lindblom was in the 2011 Bowman Draft set
Ethan Martin (rhp with AA Chattanooga) - Martin was in the 2011 Topps Pro Debut and 2011 Bowman Prospects set

From Giants
Nate Schierholtz (rf) - 2012 Topps #63, 2012 Topps Heritage #270
Tommy Joseph (c with AA Richmond) - 2012 Topps Pro Debut #117
Seth Rosin (rhp with High A San Jose) - No recent cards, but Rosin had cards in the 2010 Bowman Draft, 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition and 2012 Topps Pro Debut sets