Collectible of the Week: Larry Shenk Bobble Head

Former Public Relations Director, Larry Shenk, known as "The Baron", was honored by the Phillies in 2007.  At a dinner celebrating his 44th year with the team, attendees were presented with this one-of-a-kind keepsake.

The bobble head features Shenk in business casual wear, holding a notebook with his trademark headline, "Newsy Notes" in one hand and a pipe in the other.  The "sponsor nameplate" at his feet reads: Phillies.  Never intended for public consumption, this is a pretty rare find - though, patient collectors will find them on eBay or Facebook Marketplace for around $75-100 from time-to-time.

Tale of the Tape: 

• Produced by - BD&A

• Production run - 500

• Date: 8/12/2007

• Estimated value: $75+

Phillies Collectible of the Week: Victorino Hula Figurine (2007 SGA)

There is something to be said for an original.  Unencumbered by past success an original is free to test the acceptable limits, in this case, of professional baseball promotions. Perhaps no other promotion exemplifies the rise in the team's promotional creativity over the past 10 years more than this week's Phillies Collectible, the 2007 Shane Victorino Hula Figurine SGA (6/3/07).

Sure there were others, Benny Agbayani and Sid Fernandez probably being the most famous, but it could be said that Shane Victorino's popularity with Phillies officially put the state on the map (never mind the President).  Credit the Phillies Marketing team with seizing on a spark and willing it into a fire. In 2007, they recognized that Victorino's heritage made him different than other players, and though just a first year starter, gave him one of the biggest promotions of the season.  And, they hit it out of the park.

The figurine itself is great.  Modeled after the classic dashboard hula figurines (typically female), it dresses a barefoot Victorino in a grass skit, while playing a ukulele and flashing the shaka sign.  At a glance it seems more suited for a minor league affiliate, but that is part of what makes it so good.  The team continued with annual promotions related to Shane and his Hawaiian heritage, but none ever surpassed the creative heights of the original.

Phillies Collectible of the Week: 1959 Phillies Story Booklet

Cover - 1959 Philadelphia Phillies Story

I've recently started going through the "Phillies Collector Archives" (i.e. - Rubbermaid containers storing all my old junk) to rediscover things I put away over the years.  This week's Collectible comes from those efforts...

The 1959 Philadelphia Phillies Story booklet was released by Phillies Cigars as a promotional item prior to the 1959 baseball season.  It is one of a series produced that season for Major League clubs.  The booklet is pretty small, measuring 5" x 6.5"and contains 63 information-packed pages.  As the cover notes, it was "prepared" for Phillies by Sports Illustrated - and their writing work is as good as ever here.  Inside there is a season preview for the team, individual player profiles and an interesting mini-biography of Hall of Famer, Grover Cleveland Alexander.

This is a great item for fans like me who are interested in the teams they didn't have an opportunity to watch, or those who want to remember.  After buying the magazine, I took some time to read through the profiles and found several guys, like Johnny O'Brien, who I never knew played in Philly.  And, you're sure to appreciate the old-time writing employed throughout - such as their reference to the team's annual losing campaigns as "merely a local scandal, like the man who drinks or beats his wife."

Richie Ashburn profile in the 1959 Phillies Story

Collectible of the Week: Danbury Mint 22k Gold 2008 Phillies Cards

2008 Phillies 22k Gold Cards (pictures from danburymint.com)

Fans were overrun with collecting options following the Phillies World Championship run in 2008 - of course, there were hats and t-shirts, magazines and pennants.  One of the more interesting collectibles to be produced though, was a 34-card set sold by The Danbury Mint.  The cards are standard sized, and feature Phillies players and coaches in raised, gold foil.  Each card was sold contained in a thin, plastic case.  Those who ordered through the Mint also received a red binder with card sleeves labeled with the names of the people pictured on each of the 38 cards.

As is standard with the Danbury Mint, these cards were expensive - $12.95 apiece.  The price was even tougher to swallow with fringe contributors like Les Walrond and Mike Cervanek.  Needless to say, I did not buy directly from them that Winter, but have picked up several on the secondary market at $2-3 each.  As the World Series has drifted further back in memory, I have seen fewer of these at shows and online.  If you enjoy collecting cards, I would recommend taking a look at this set.

Team Checklist:

Joe Blanton

Eric Bruntlett

Pat Burrell

Mike Cervanek

Clay Condrey

Chris Coste

Greg Dobbs

Rich Dubee

Chad Durbin
Adam Eaton

Scott Eyre
Tom Gordon

Greg Golson

Cole Hamels

JA Happ

Ramon Henderson

Ryan Howard

Geoff Jenkins

Kyle Kendrick

Brad Lidge

Ryan Madson

Charlie Manuel

Lou Marson

Jamie Moyer

Brett Myers

Jimmy Rollins

JC Romero

Carlos Ruiz

Rudy Seanez

Matt Stairs

So Taguchi

Milt Thompson

Chase Utley

Shane Victorino

Les Walrond

Jayson Werth 

Jimy Williams

There is also a sleeve labeled for Tad Iguchi...haven't seen that card yet, but it is definitely an interesting inclusion.

Collectible of the Week: 2003 Phil and Phillis Bobble Head Variations

Phil and Phillis Bobble Head Variations (via @DrBobblesWorld)

In 2003 the Phillies sent off Veterans Stadium with a number of nostalgic promotions.  One of my favorites was the re-emergence of 1970's mascots Phil and Phillis.  The costumed characters roamed the  stadium walkways before and during the game, reminding fans of the days before the Phanatic was "born".

The Phillies started using bobble heads as a regular promotion in 2001 with (the classic) Pat Burrell and Larry Bowa giveaways.  In 2002 they introduced variants to the mix with the "red jersey" Jimmy Rollins followed by three different Phil and Phillis dual figurines the next season.  Most fans have seen the SGA version handed out "Final Innings" weekend at the Vet, but they may not know two variants - one each for Season Ticket Holders and Group Leaders - were also produced in 2003.  The overall design of the three bobbles are similar.  Key differences are that the sponsor names are only on the SGA version, and the text on the back of the base states either, "The Final Innings", "2003 Season MVP" or "Group Leader".

Variation Checklist:
Phil and Phillis - SGA (9/27/03)
Phil and Phillis - Group Leader
Phil and Phillis - Season Ticket Holder

Thanks to Dr. Bobbles World for the heads-up on the additional variations.  If you are on Twitter, give him a follow - @DrBobblesWorld

Collectible of the Week: Late 1970s, Paint-A-Player Figurine

This week I am taking a quick look at a cool item from the 1970s - Winner's Choice Paint-A-Pro/Paint-A-Player figurine.  Every once in a while I come across Phillies memorabilia from this era that just "feels" like childhood.  Like most collectors, pieces that help us connect to a great moment or period of my life hold a special place in my collection.  When I saw this on eBay I was instantly drawn to it...

Sold on a card, this 5.5"tall ceramic figurine gave every Philadelphia 10-year old the chance to create their own Phillies collectible.  Packaged in the art kit were team-color paints and logos, as well as uniform pinstripes (in case they wanted to recreate the home uniform.  Similar products were released for other Major League Baseball teams - as well as a crossover product for the NFL.

Collectible of the Week: Phillies, 1980 Burger King Card Display

1980 Burger King Set Store Display

Burger King started producing regional card sets in 1977.  The Phillies had two sets distributed at their restaurants, first in 1979 and this week's feature in 1980.  By this time we're probably all familiar with the card set itself - 23 cards (22 players and a checklist) mirroring the design used in that season's Topps cards.  The thing I like about the set are the differences that exist between it and the standard Topps team set.  The inclusion of cards for Dallas Green, John Vukovich, Kevin Saucier and Lonnie Smith make it worth owning.

The display itself is constructed as a mobile with three separate pieces.  From what I have learned over the years, each store received one mobile to advertise the cards.  Each piece was double-sided and featured the same graphics on each side.  The largest piece (with all the cards) measures 11"x17".  Like many of the items in my own collection, I am drawn to this piece because it wasn't supposed to be here 30 years later.  Though they are made of plastic, the expected lifespan had to be less than three months. The fact that there are a few left makes them cool addition to any collection.

Collectible of the Week: 1965 Phillies Ceramic Tiles

As reported earlier, at last weekend's Philly Show I came across some nice, vintage Phillies memorabilia.  One of the most interesting were three heavy, 6"x6" ceramic tiles featuring Phillies players from the 1960s.  Each featured a color player photo from the shoulders up along with a facsimile autograph on a white background. Jim Bunning was offered for $125 and Gene Mauch/Johnny Callison were at another booth for $200 and $300!  I had never run across these tiles before and neither vendor could tell me much about them except that there were two versions - one with cork backing and another without that was meant to be hung on a wall.  Both also thought they were issued in 1964, though with the inclusion of first baseman Dick Stuart, we can date the set to 1965.

The 2011 Standard Catalog of Baseball cards lists the complete set as $600 (NM)/$300 (EX)/$180 (VG).  The most single player tiles are Bunning ($125) and Dick Allen ($100).  Based on what I saw at the show, Bunning was "book value" and Callison/Mauch were wildly overpriced.  Of course, true value is what someone is willing to pay - so, maybe for the the right collector the price was good.  I thought these were very cool and I'll be searching for them (at closer to book value) in the future.

Complete Checklist:

• Dick Allen

• Bo Belinsky

• Jim Bunning

• Johnny Callison

• Wes Covington

• Clay Dalrymple

• Gene Mauch

• Cookie Rojas

• Tony Taylor

• Chris Short

• Dick Stuart

• Bobby Wine

Collectible of the Week: Scott Rolen Salvino Bammer Bears

Scott Rolen Bammer Bears - 1999 Phillies

My mom mentioned she read a recent entry where I took issue with Mike Schmidt's criticism of current Major Leaguer's penmanship.  Two things came to mind when I heard this news: 1.  Now that Mom is a dedicated reader, I'll need to watch the language, and 2.  I have to feature one of her favorite Phillies collectibles.  So, with that in mind, this week's collectible is for Mom.

It was the summer of 1999, the Phillies were headed toward another sub-.500 season, Beanie Babies were the latest rage, and most of us still liked Scott Rolen.  These three phenomenons met each other on May 29th at Veterans Stadium where the Phillies gave away 17,000 red, Scott Rolen Salvino Bammer Bears.  Some of you may remember this date was significant because Rolen played (after the 1998 PR hit when he sat on his t-shirt promotion day).

Salvino partnered with several professional sports teams on player-themed bears in 1999, and in Philly, the popularity of both Rolen and bean-bag bears made this one of the highlights on that season's promotional schedule.  Online sales in the secondary market were very strong and supported two additional Rolen Bammer Bear variations - red, white and blue Vet Stadium exclusive and a rainbow variation handed out by the Reading Phillies (July 11th).

I went to the game on May 29th and collected my red Bammer Bear.  And encouraged by the strong eBay market, my mom authorized the purchase of five red, white and blue versions later that summer.  We sold three of them online for a modest profit, and the final two were gifted to me and my brother. Today, you can still find all three variations online from between $5-$15...just make sure the ear tag is still present!

Note:  The 2000 Phillies promotional schedule featured a Mike Lieberthal Bammer Bear.

Reading Phillies SGA Rainbow Rolen Bammer Bear

Collectible of the Week: 1990 Topps Coins

1990 Topps Coins Tom Herr

A lot of times I end up featuring higher-end items as the "Collectible of the Week", but there are many fun, low cost pieces of Phillies memorabilia out there, too.  The 1990 Topps Coins set marked the fourth year (1987-1990) for this "throwback" product.  The coins in this year's edition were designed with a nod to the sets issued during the 1960s and featured three subsets distinguished by their pink, gold and silver colored rims.  Among the 60 players featured were Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Robin Yount and Ryne Sandberg, stars of the day such as Dale Murphy and of course, two Phillies, Von Hayes and Tom Herr.

1990 Topps Coins Von Hayes

I like both Phillies coins in the set, in fact, the inclusion of Herr is the main reason I decided to talk about it.  Though he only played a season and a half in Philadelphia he stands out in my mind when I think back to Phillies baseball during this period.  Herr was a local guy coming home, and a slick switch-hitter that added credibility to the lineup.  Because of his relatively short stay in town there are very few pieces of Phillies-themed, Tom Herr memorabilia - but, his cards in maroon pinstripes are classics (not a loser in the lot).

The bottom line on these coins is that they offer a bit of nostalgia at a low price.  Because of their shape and size, they are not easily mixed in with your cards from 1990 (maybe part of the reason they only lasted four years).  Both the Herr and Hayes coins, or the entire set could be bought online for a few dollars...

Back of the Herr and Hayes coins

Online review of the set from 85% Sports
Previous Collectible of the Week posts

Collectible of the Week: Phyllis by Ted Key

Ted Key's book - Phyllis

Thought I would change it up a little with this week's featured collectible.  The book, "Phyllis" by cartoonist Ted Key was published by E.P. Dutton in 1957.  It is an easy to read story of a sparrow who built her nest in the tall grass of left field at Connie Mack Stadium during a Phillies road trip.  The team, urged by the fans to not disturb the nesting mother bird builds a temporary chicken wire fence in the outfield and Phyllis becomes a local celebrity.

While not necessarily your typical collectible, the book is an interesting look back at baseball in the late 1950's and worthy of a place in your Phillies collection.  Many illustrations depict Phyllis and the Phillies players in or around Connie Mack Stadium and opposing teams include the long defunct Brooklyn Dodgers.  I bought a copy on eBay about a year ago, never previously seeing or hearing of the story.  And, during Alumni Weekend I noticed there was a copy of the book in the Hall of Fame section as part of a Connie Mack Stadium display - which I thought was pretty cool.  Copies are available online for a fairly low price (between $5-10).  

Illustration from "Phyllis"

Ted Key's Wikipedia page

Images taken from this eBay auction.

Collectible of the Week: Tommy Greene No-Hitter Jersey

Tommy Green No-Hitter Celebration

This week the Phillies celebrated 1991 with "90's Retro Night" which featured both them and the Cincinnati Reds wearing uniforms matching those worn 21 years ago.  As noted in my previous entry, despite their sub-.500 record, there were several memorable on-field moments that summer - none bigger than Tommy Greene's No-Hitter on May 23rd.  I remember watching this game after school and telling my dad all about it when he got home.  It's a day that in many ways has made a post-career, career for Tommy Greene and sticks with many fans my age.

I wanted something representative of the 1991 season to present for this week's "Collectible", and it just made sense to relate it to the no-hitter.  One of most unique items I was able to find online (i.e. - I do not own this) was the gray road jersey Greene wore the day he throw his gem.  Paragon Auctions (paragonauctionsite.com) put the item up for bid last September.  It sold after 14 bids for a whopping $2,100!

Tommy Greene No-Hitter GU Jersey

Tagging on T. Greene No-Hitter GU Jersey

I am not a big collector of game used jerseys, but have picked up a few at the Phillies Holiday Sales over the years.  Buying from the Phillies gives me a lot of confidence in the jersey's authenticity (whether game used or issued).  If/when I purchase outside  have to rely on the information I have available to me.  One of the best resources I can recommend for anyone interested in collecting game used jerseys is the Phillies Game Worn Guide.  When researching this item, I referenced my copy of the guide and identified the uniform tagging used during the 1991 season:

Example of Phillies 1991 Jersey Tagging

From the example in the guide, I can reasonable conclude that the item in the auction lot is a gamer from the 1991 season.  The rest is a leap of faith.  Of course, I would feel better if it was being sold by or had a COA from either Greene or the Phillies - but, that was unfortunately not the case in this situation.  Still, if you have trust in either the dealer or auction house, and believe they have done their due diligence to authenticate the jersey definitely don't let a piece of Phillies history like this get away!

Collectible of the Week: Mike Lieberthal SGA Lunch Box

Phillies 2000 SGA Mike Lieberthal Lunchbox

The 2000 Phillies lost 97 games, traded Curt Schilling to Arizona and generally failed to energize the fan base.  Though there were several promising players like Bobby Abreu, Scott Rolen and Mike Lieberthal, the team lacked pitching depth, relying on Randy Wolf and Robert Person to anchor the starting staff and finished fifth in the division.  During these late-90's, early-00's seasons the promotional staff earned their money, creating a number of memorable giveaways to lure in the fans.  One of my all-time favorites from this era is the Phillie Phanatic/Mike Lieberthal metal lunch box.

The lunch box is heavy duty - a throwback to the 1970-80s style containers many of us used to bring our lunches to school (Note: I had Return of the Jedi).  It is square with rounded edges, metal and contains pictures of catcher Mike Lieberthal on one side and the Phillie Phanatic on the other.  Side panels contain the 2000 Phillies logo ("Bring It On") and sponsor (Oreos) images.  Intended for children, as a 14-under Sunday giveaway, this piece was the first of several "back-to-school" promotions to feature metal lunch boxes.  Value for this item has seemed to stay consistent over the years.  While I have not seen many on the secondary market, I would expect to spend about $10 to buy one today.

Collectible of the Week: 2007 Cole Hamels SGA Bobble Head

Cole Hamels  - 2007 Home Uniform Bobble Head with packaging

The Phillies held a "Christmas in July" promotion on July 25, 2007.  Cole Hamels started, and after the bullpen blew the game (that sounds familiar) the Phillies ended up pulling it out 7-4 behind Ryan Howard's 14th inning, two-run home run.  Historically speaking, the Phils' season was at a crossroads.  Chase Utley had just broken his hand, and with the Tad Iguchi trade still two days away things could have really gone downhill.  Of course, Iguchi came in and batted .300 over 45 games and the Phillies began their current streak of NL Eastern Division Championships.

Despite the on-field turmoil, the team had a strong promotional schedule for the 2007 season.  Some of the highlights included the Ryan Howard MVP bobble head, the Victorino "Hula" figurine, the Phanatic bobble belly and the classic "College" t-shirt.  For the Christmas in July celebration, all fans attending the game against the Washington Nationals were given the home uniform Cole Hamels bobble head.  The box featured the play on words - "Cole in Your Stocking."

Vital Stats:

Production run - 43k+
Manufacturer - Evolving Branded Merchandise
Sponsor - American Red Cross
Approximate value - Found online anywhere between $30-60


Cole Hamels Road Uniform Variant Bobble Head

Cole Hamels 2007 Away Uniform Variant

Vital stats:

Production run - 1,500
Manufacturer - Evolving Branded Merchandise
Sponsor - American Red Cross
Approximate value - $100-125

Comments - One of the more rare figurines the Phillies have given away, this version was handed to participants of a Red Cross blood drive at Citizens Bank Park on August 18th (2007).

Collectible of the Week: Jim Bunning HOF Induction Yearbook

1996 Hall of Fame Program

August 4, 1996 - The day legendary Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ceremony capped a three-year streak in which Phillies were featured induction class members following Steve Carlton ('94), Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn ('95).

While there are many different collectibles that are sold every summer during Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown, NY, the induction yearbook is an affordable classic.  Like a game day program you could buy at Citizens Bank Park, it is a nice keepsake of the event and makes a great autograph medium.  The yearbook for the class of 1996 featured a white cover with four colored blocks - one for each of the inductees (Bunning, Weaver, Foster and Hanlon).   

On the secondary market, programs from this era typically retail for between $10-$15.  Fans who have participated in the activities of an Induction Weekend are probably familiar with the practice of getting their souvenirs "cancelled" at the town's post office the morning of the inductions.  Having the cancellation stamp does not impact the book's overall value, but I like having it present - since it places the program at the event that day. 

Collectible of the Week: Schmidt, Carlton 1977 Topps Cloth Stickers

Carlton - '77 Topps Cloth Sticker

Schmidt - '77 Topps Cloth Sticker

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Steve Carlton 1977 Topps cloth sticker on eBay.  I collected Carlton cards pretty heavily during the late 1980's, and early 1990's - but, as work, college, girls and other things crept into my life, card collecting got pushed to the side.  At the time (pre-internet), finding either of the Phillies cards in the set for a price I could afford was few and far between.  Not surprisingly, these were two gaps in my collection for some time.

As I try to give my son some of the experiences I had growing up, I have recently come back to collecting Phillies cards more regularly.  While I will never keep up with every variation in every set, it has been fun to add both the Schmidt and Carlton cloth stickers to my collection over the last couple years.  The 1977 sticker set is a must-have for vintage card collectors, and has justifiably been revisited in the 2012 Topps Archive set.  I am looking forward buying them soon, too.


The 1977 Topps Cloth Sticker set details:

• 55 nylon fronted stickers featuring notable players from 1977 (18 additional checklist cards were included - they could be used to create two, nine-piece puzzles of both NL/AL All-Star teams).
• Two Phillies are included: Mike Schmidt (#41) and Steve Carlton (#11).
• Both can usually be found for less than $10.
• As with anything else, condition is key!  Stickers from the original 1977 set tend to pull away from the backing if not kept in the "ideal" environment.  There are enough of these two cards on the current market to be picky.
• Full checklist (via KeyMan Collectibles)
• More on the Phillies stickers in the 2012 Topps Archive set (via 14k Phillies cards)

Collectible of the Week: 2004 Starting Rotation Nesting Dolls

Phillies 2004 SGA - Starting Rotation Nesting Dolls

Russian nesting doll giveaways were a trend of the mid-2000's across Major League Baseball.  Billed the heir-apparent to the bobble-head as the stadium giveaway of choice, almost every team had at least one promotion featuring them during this time.   For anyone unfamiliar with the product, nesting dolls are a series of hollowed out, bowling pin shaped figurines that vary in size and fit within each other.  Traditionally, the figurines featured the images of peasant women, but for the sports-themed promotions, they bore the likeness of popular athletes.

The Phillies, facing the challenge to fill an empty Veterans Stadium/Citizens Bank Park 81 nights of the summer, jumped on board the budding trend during the 2003 and 2004 season's adding three separate sets to their promotional schedules.  The first set (SGA - 8/17/03) featured hitting stars Jim Thome, Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu.  Solid feedback to the first set (as mentioned in this archived article) led to two additional sets being handed out in 2004 - Phatatic set (5/23) and this week's spotlight collectible - "Starting Rotation" set (5/31) featuring Kevin Millwood, Randy Wolf, Vincente Padilla, Eric Milton and Brett Myers.

The dolls had a nice run, but obviously did not live up to expectations with fans and collectors alike.  Ultimately, I think it is their inability to be easily displayed (and, not lingering anti-Russian sentiment) that can be blamed for their failure.

Product details:

SGA Date - May 31, 2004
Produced by - Babooshkah.com (as best as I can tell, but let me know if you know better)
Production run - 20,000
Sponsored by - Motrin IB
Featured players - Kevin Millwood, Randy Wolf, Vincente Padilla, Eric Milton and Brett Myers

A look at all three sets from philliessga.com

Collectible of the Week: World Series Press Pins

World Series press pins have been manufactured for each Fall Classic since 1911.  Since then teams have designed and distributed pins to members of the press and club VIPs.  Originally meant to be worn on a jacket lapel, the pins are generally small but attractive.  As you know, the Phillies have been to seven World Series in their history - and a pin exists for each of those events (except 2009...more information on that below).

Key things to have in mind when considering purchasing a World Series pin are authenticity and condition.  Like many other vintage collectibles, reproduction pieces exist in the market.  Before plunking down any serious cash, do your homework and get familiar with the details of the pin you're looking to purchase.  For example, authentic pins will have the maker stamp on the back - find out which company made the pin that year and match it up.  It should be a red flag if the mark is missing, or it is  for a different company.  And, lastly, what is the overall condition of the pin?  Is it complete/intact?  Does it have scratching, or cracking?

Below is a quick reference for the pins distributed by the Phillies for their home World Series games:

1915

Items related to the Phillies 1915 World Series appearance command top dollar when they appear on the secondary market.  The press pin from that season is especially difficult to find in good shape/intact - with a design that features both cloth and an attached charm. 

• Manufacturer: J.E. Caldwell and Company
• Pin Type: Pin back
• Value: $8,000 - 10,000

1950

The familiar Phillies player leaning on a bat, doffing his cap was the main figure on this press pin.  He is standing on a red oval which reads, "1950 World Series Press."  These are hard to come by - and with the popularity of the Whiz Kids, an expensive collectible!

• Manufacturer: Martin Sterling
• Pin Type: Thread Post
• Value: $300-500

1980

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The design features a Veterans Stadium pin with a bronze coin charm. One side of the coin depicts the Liberty Bell surrounded by the words, "Philadelphia Veterans Stadium."  The reverse shows the Phanatic.

• Manufacturer: Balfour
• Pin Type: Needle Post
• Value: $40 - 75

1983

View fullsize

During the Phillies Centennial season, the Wheeze Kids made their way into World Series!  The press pin features the 100th Year logo - with "World Series" in gold written on the white base paths.  The team's script logo runs across the top in red.

• Manufacturer: Balfour
• Pin Type: Needle Post
• Value: $20-30

1993

View fullsize

When compared to previous pins, the 1993 World Series edition is pretty plain.  The base is a gold Liberty Bell with the Phillies script logo across the middle.  Above and below reads, "World Series" in blue.

• Manufacturer: Balfour
• Pin Type: Needle Post
• Value: $40-50

2008

The 2008 pin leverages the Citizens Bank Park silhouette logo as a base.  Across the middle is that season's World Series logo on top of a red banner reading, "Fall Classic."  The Phillies script logo sits on top of the WS logo.

• Manufacturer: If you know, let me know...
• Pin Type: Needle Post
• Value: $15-20

2009

The Phillies did not have press pins created for the 2009 World Series.  In an unusual move, the team purchased stock from the CBP Majestic Store and handed them out to members of the press.  The pins featured the logos from both the Phillies and Yankees - along with the World Series logo.

Note: There are also "phantom" pins for near-miss seasons - 1964, 1976, 1977 and 1981, but I'll save those for another entry...

Phillies 2012 Promotional Schedule Review: The Losers

Last week I talked about the best freebies to be handed out by the Phillies this season, and I would be remiss to avoid the obvious "other side" of the promotional schedule.  Don't get me wrong, the positives far outweigh the negatives this year - but, there are a few dates I have definitely avoided buying.

Charlie Manuel Commemorative Baseball

Date: Saturday, April 14th

Charlie Manuel Commemorative Ball

Comments:  No offense to Charlie, but this ball is not the least bit interesting to children 14 years under (or over).  In the past the Phillies have used "Children's Opening Day" to recognize Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay (and others) - this year's ball celebrating Cholly's franchise record managerial wins should be the end of the run. 

Phillies Liberty Bell Hat

Date: Monday, May 14th

Phillies Liberty Bell Hat Giveaway

Comments: I have never been a big fan of the giveaway hats.  Inferior manufacturing, and sponsor logo prominently built into the design - they have gone right to Goodwill.  When I saw the picture for this hat I was sure it was the "Ladies Night" prize.  

Phillies Schedule Magnet

Date: Tuesday, April 3rd and Monday, April 15th

Comments: Another one of those "tried and true" promotions that I could do without.  I remember getting these on Fan Appreciation day (for the next season) as a kid.  I doubt many people today frequently reference their refrigerator for Phillies game times nowadays - but, I may be wrong.  I'll give mine to my three-year old, he might have some use for it.