My Favorite Cards: 1987 Topps Traded

The 1987 Topps set was probably the most "important" set of my card collecting life.  I had infrequently collected cards during earlier seasons - having (mostly) random Phillies from previous sets.    But I was really into baseball that spring and decided to collect the set - which I did from packs and common card boxes at the card shop (thanks Mom and Dad).

The card design is very memorable for anyone in my general age range (30-35 years), and as is typical with Topps Traded, this 132-card set from '87 features the same wood panel frame layout and yellow back design as the flagship set.  The Phillies made a few roster (and managerial) changes during the season.  As a result there are five cards in the team set.  Here is a quick look at them...

Lance Parrish
Parrish was a legitimate star when he signed with the Phils before the 1987 season.  There were a lot of expectations for the team, expectations that were never met.  I really like the look of this card; Topps must have liked it, too...they used the same photo for Lance's 1988 card.

Lee Elia
Elia may have been the one to gain the most from the disappointing season.  After the team stumbled out of the gate, Manager John Felske was soon fired and replaced by the longtime Phillie coach.  Of course, Elia didn't last that long either...

Jeff Calhoun
In the time before there were bullpen specialists, there was Jeff Calhoun.  The left-handed reliever was picked up in early April and pitched in 42 games (finishing 15), and posted a 1.48 ERA.  Today Calhoun would be a millionaire with a 15 year career - in his day, after posting those stats, he was out of baseball in 1988.

Chris James
Fair or not, Chris James was an example of the failed Phillies farm system.  During the years I was growing up there were a string of them - Bruce Ruffin, Jeff Stone, Ricky Jordan to name a few.  I liked CJ and like this card, though.

Wally Ritchie
Not flashy, Ritchie was a dependable lefty out of the bullpen for a few years.

Check out some of my other favorite cards in these previous posts.

Ironpigs Preliminary 2013 Promotional Schedule

It's that time of year again...Phillies minor league affiliates have begun releasing their preliminary promotional schedules.  First to the plate is the team's AAA affiliate, Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, who released their calendar yesterday afternoon.  I was very impressed with last season's lineup and this year is probably as good, if not better...

Here is what you need to be aware of in 2013:

Bobble heads
It's difficult without seeing pictures, but would rank this year's bobble head class as on-par with those handed out in 2012.  There doesn't appear to be a stand-out like Jamie Moyer's Souderton HS bobble, but still solid.

Kevin Frandsen (April 9th)
Tyler Cloyd (May 7th)
Erik Kratz (May 21st)
Barbie Q (mini) (May 26th)
Ryan Howard (July 8th)

Returning Favorites
The piggy banks have become one of my favorite LV items to collect.  Rally Towels never go out of style...kids can bring them back each game!

Rally Towels (May 23rd)
Piggy Banks (July 21st)

Best of the Rest
This is where the Ironpigs have really stepped it up.  It is evident that all promotional ideas were considered by the marketing/promotions team.  In addition to the Piggy Bank, these are the items I am most looking forward to this season.

FeRROUS & FeFe Salt and Pepper shaker set (April 10th)
Scoreboard Clock (July 18th)
"Pigs to the Bigs" T-shirt (April 7th)
John Mayberry Commemorative Glass (April 20th)

Check out the Press Release from the Iron Pigs for full promotional details

Hat Day!

Today is not an official "holiday" and it may not be marked on your wall calendar, but every year January 15th is reserved for  Hat Day.  To celebrate I figured I would share a few Phillies-related hats from my collection...

1980 World Champs!

1980 World Champions Hat
This hat is from my childhood, and it's been through the ringer!   The story goes, this hat flew into my dad's lap from the upper level of Veterans Stadium during a game.  Guess he's lucky the person wearing it didn't follow...

Brett Myers 2007 game-used hat
I bought this at the Holiday Sale following the 2007 season.  I have never been the biggest fan of his - but you can't deny the impact he had on the team that season.  This was my first game-used hat.

Brett Myers game-used hat

1960s child's hat
I don't know too much about this one...Saw it at Philly Show last year and thought it was really cool.  It is "child-sized" and has a patch with the old 50s-60s era logo.  Inside has a leather headband.  Let me know if you know any thing more about it.

1960s Phillies child-sized hat

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

Phillies Oddballs: 1964 Topps Giant

Johnny Callison Topps Giant

As a collector of the 1964 Phillies, I have admired this set for a long time.  The cards are big and bright and unlike a lot of sets from the era, they are surprisingly affordable.  There are three Phillies included: Johnny Callison, Jim Bunning and Tony Gonzalez.  These three truly represent the make-up of the entire set: Hall of Famers, Solid and Fringe stars of the 1960s.

Jim Bunning Topps Giant

The oversized cards measure 3 1/8" x 5 1/4" and at first glance look like postcards.  The front features full-card color portraits of the players, while the back has a second (black/white) picture with a short player bio.  The 60-card set is full of stars from the day, including 18 Hall of Famers - including two great cards of Mickey Mantle and  Roberto Clemente.  I also think it is interesting to see established players like Jim Gentile (Kansas City Athletics) or Nellie Fox (Houston Colt .45s) in uniforms other than the ones they are generally known for wearing.

Tony Gonzalez Topps Giant

Phillies Checklist:

#10 Jim Bunning
#14 Tony Gonzalez
#36 Johnny Callison

Schedules, Schedules, Schedules...

1988 Budweiser Phillies Season Calendar

Over the weekend I came across a small cache of Phillies schedules that I have amassed over the past 25 years.  The mix of magnets, season ticket brochures and of course, pocket schedules had been shoved away after games or Winter Caravans and were all but forgotten at this point.  Some were older, like a 1981 Season Ticket brochure with the 1980 World Series Trophy on the front, others were from the current era - a 2009 pocket schedule featuring Cole Hamels.

Looking at my "collection" I realized I had no real clue what was in front of me.  Like bobble heads, autographs or game-used equipment, schedules are their own memorabilia category...one I know little about.  I'm never going to be an schedule collector, but I am resolved to learn more about them.  Here's a little primer for anyone out there who is an amateur, like me...

Season Ticket Brochures

These are pretty common during this time of year.  Historically I have picked a particular year's offering at either the old Winter Caravans, or now during the Holiday Sale.

Pros:

• Good sized for framing (generally 8x10)
• Feature interesting cover pictures reflecting the season's "theme" (remember "Bring It On"?)

Cons:

• Size can be a hinderance if you have space issues

Value:  From what I have been able to research so far, anything from the past 30+ years will not bring more than $1-2.  Earlier versions still TBD.

Pocket Schedules

I am willing to bet that everyone who reads this post has at least one pocket schedule.  They are one of the tried and true methods of distributing a season's calendar.  I found this cool site that shows some good examples of past Phillies pocket schedules: pocketschedules.net.

Pros:

• Small size, good for storage
• Offers an odd-ball opportunity if you are a collector of a particular player, or advertising

Cons:

• Small size makes it an unattractive medium for autographs
• Not good for much except keeping track of the upcoming home stand

Value: Like the season ticket brochures, you won't make a living selling anything after 1970.  But, there does seem to be some money in older ones, especially if the sponsor or artwork is interesting.

Large Format Advertisements

1976 Placemat Schedule

Because pieces in this sub-category often hung in stores or bars they are usually much bigger, and visually attractive than their smaller, more utilitarian brothers.  I found a few really cool items on ebay over the weekend that demonstrate the best there is to offer.

Pros:

• Good size and potentially good subjects for displaying
• Cool sponsor advertising

Cons:

• Size

Value: Of each of the sub-categories discussed here, this one has the most potential to hold some value. Like the pocket schedules, image subject will strongly influence how much you'll need to pay to add a piece.

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.

My Collecting Story: Roy Halladay Game Issued Hat

Roy Halladay celebrating Cliff Lee's win 7/4/12

One last "My Collecting Story" post to close out 2012...

My parents came over last week for a Christmas morning breakfast, and it gave me an opportunity to share some of the newest additions to my Phillies collection with my Dad.  While I get a thrill in buying something cool, and get a sense of enjoyment from regularly looking at it, the real fun is showing it off and talking about it with other people.  My collection started many years ago with my Dad's yard sale and flea market finds, so giving him the rundown on the collection is uniquely enjoyable.

This trip around my 8'x8' Phillies room featured some stuff I have mentioned here, like the buys from the Holiday Sale and Frank Thomas' Christmas card as well as a few other things I have picked up in between.  One of the best recent additions is Roy Halladay's game hat from the July 4th game last season.  Halladay, despite being on the DL at the time, was traveling with the team - in fact, he threw a publicized bullpen session earlier that day.  The hat has MLB authentication and shows "typical" Halladay usage - removal of the headband and cut side-seams.  Instantly, upon purchase, it was one of the best pieces of Phillies memorabilia I have (And, it's not just a museum piece, the hat is fun to wear, too).

Before leaving, Dad and I were reflective about how far the collection has come over the past 20 years or so.  Back when I was hoarding SGAs in my bedroom it was only a dream to own a piece of equipment from a real Phillie, let alone one of the best pitchers in baseball history.  Now I have at least one!  It's a cool journey to have shared...

Halladay July 4th Hat

Notice cut headband and side-seams

Auction Watch: Huggins and Scott December Online Auction

I woke up this morning and realized December almost came and went without an "Auction Watch" post.  Despite not placing any winning bids, I was definitely active keeping track of lots from Hunt Auctions, Huggins and Scott and ebay - seeing several interesting items in the process.  Today I am featuring a few items from the December Huggins and Scott online auction which ended 12/13.

First Night Game Program

First Night Game Program (via Huggins and Scott)

Auction description (with part text from hugginsandscott.com): Originally intended as a novelty, the "night" baseball game has since become the norm.  The offered program was issued at Cincinnati's Crosley Field on May 24, 1935 for the first-ever Major League night game.

# of bids: 12
Final bid amount: $375

Comments:  After seeing one surface on eBay earlier this year, I wrote about this program in a previous post.  Sometimes a piece of Phillies history is elevated by it's place in Major League history.  This particular program falls into that category.  It's appeal is much broader than just Phillies or Reds collectors and the end bid amount reflects that fact.

Ibanez/Lidge BP Jerseys

Ibanez/Lidge BP Jerseys (via Huggins and Scott)

Auction description (with part text from hugginsandscott.com): Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge were issued these Phillies batting practice jerseys during the 2010-2011 seasons.  The polyester garmets feature twill or felt identifiers and proper Majestic tagging.

# of bids: 3
Final bid amount: $170
Link to auction lot

Comments: I was interested in this lot because it featured a red Raul Ibanez batting practice jersey (where I have seen one of those before?).  Just as an appraiser does when estimating the value of a home, I always look for comparable items to get a sense of what pieces in my own collection are worth.  This is one auction I will make record of...

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.

Phillies TTM: Week of 12/10/12

I had couple unique TTM returns over the past week...

Jose DeJesus

Jose DeJesus Signed Card

In August I noticed a few successes on Sports Collectors Net from former pitcher, Jose DeJesus and quickly put his 1991 Tastykake postcard in the mail.  When my envelope postmarked from Puerto Rico came back - I honestly did not know who it was from.  My guess is that Jose did not have the card in his personal collection, which would explain why he switched it out.  Wish it had at been a Phillies card...

Curt Simmons

I bought Curt Simmons' "First Win" ball during Hunt Auction's November Live Auction.  While it was not necessarily the most visually attractive ball from his collection up for bid, because it was his first win it was probably the most historically significant.  

I decided to write Mr. Simmons and ask him a few questions about his first game.  My thought was that it would be something interesting to display with the ball and maybe a picture from his early career.  I have not had a lot of luck with asking questions through TTM, but spent some time thinking of meaningful questions that would hopefully earn a response.  He did not answer any of the questions, but offered to sign a ball for me.  Guess that opens the door for another TTM post...

Frank Thomas

I exchanged a couple letters with 1964 Phillie, Frank Thomas earlier this year.  He really seemed like a very nice guy and I enjoyed reading his stories about his playing days.  Some of you may have even written him a letter after I posted his TTM information.  Anyway, in a first, I received an unsolicited piece of mail from a professional player this week when Mr. Thomas sent me a legit Christmas card!

I have to say it was pretty cool to see in the mail.  Kudos to my wife for hanging it on the pantry door beside cards from Aunt Gerry and Grandma Melvena!

2012 Phillies Holiday Sale

Yesterday was the first day of the annual Phillies Holiday sale, organized by and for the benefit of Phillies Charities.  While the sales dates back to the team's days at Veterans Stadium, I only started attending after they moved to Citizens Bank Park.  Through the years, the size of both the event and crowds attending them have grown.  Originally, it was contained within the CBP Tour Room with a few jerseys and game-used or signed bats.  Those first couple seasons I was able to pick some nice pieces - by just stopping by mid-afternoon, the second day.  Saturday, a line of several hundred people filed into two locations (the Tour Room, and the HOF Club) at 10:00AM.

For anyone who has not attended the sale, it is essentially the way the Phillies purge old memorabilia inventory.  For the most part, Phillies Charities try to make a varied number of items available for (somewhat) reasonable prices.  They have a lot of low price options (programs, autos, cards, etc) and some upper-tier ones too (this year there was a Thome signed bat for $300). As I wrote after last season's sale, my annual adventure is all about getting "one unique item."  This year, I was focused on a game-used helmet.  I have had some luck in the past with helmets, picking up Carlos Ruiz's 2008 gamer two years ago.  Grabbing a well-used right-handed helmet made my morning.

Here is a quick rundown of the things I bought yesterday:

Game-used helmet

Game-used Phillies helmet

While it's cool to get one with the number stickers still affixed, those tend to be more rare and therefore more pricey.  This one, without the number came with a cost-efficient $30 price tag.

Game-used jerseys

Raul Ibanez - 2011 red BP jersey

JC Romero - GU '11 Away Jersey

It was slim-pickings with jerseys this year.  There were very few "name" players, with most of the inventory being made up of non-roster Spring Training invitees, coaches and guys who had very limited time with the big club.  Missing were named players who had left within the past two years, and highly ranked minor league prospects.

Publications

Assorted Phillies publications

Going to the Tour Room for out of print publications is one of my favorite parts of the day.  I like to stock up on programs I missed, player postcards and whatever random things they find.  This year I got the 2012 Yearbook, the final version of the 2012 postcard set, and a number of old programs for $1 each.  Not too exciting, but cost efficient and very valuable for autograph seeking next year!

Signed Jim Thome hat

Jim Thome signed hat

Don't normally buy the autographed hats, but I wanted to add something Thome to my collection.  At $30 this fit the bill.

It was also cool to randomly run into a few readers in the Majestic Store.  Thanks for the article idea...should see it out sometime this week!

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

December Philly Show Recap

If you follow any of my posts on social media, you may have noticed the December Philly Show was a little different for me than previous shows.  If you don't follow me, or if you do and don't hang on every Tweet I send, I'll tell you now: this year, there were no autographs.  I considered using this post to provide the details of how MAB Celebrity did not honor the terms of a sale completed on their website - but, let's face it, the story probably only interests me.  If you really want to know you can message me - otherwise, just know they lost my patronage (which equates to approximately $200/show) from this point on.

Despite not getting any autographs, the trip was one of the best experiences I have had at a Philly Show for a while.  In previous years I have tied up a lot of my available money in autographs, so without that upfront expense I decided to open myself up to the idea of buying a couple good pieces of Phillies memorabilia.  Though I didn't come back with any one standout piece, I did add a few new things to my collection:

1972 Steve Carlton Arena Card

This 11x14" picture is printed on cardboard - and amazingly, is still wears its original wrapping.  It has a glossy finish and depicts Lefty in classic pitching motion at Veterans Stadium.  As I have learned, the card was originally available at the stadium.  All the major sports leagues were represented in the line, though I am not sure how many Phillies were issued in 1972.  Great pickup at a very low price ($2.50). Note: Sorry, was having trouble loading a picture.


1950 Phillies Inquirer Clippings

Seminick and Waitkus 1950 Inquirer clippings

I was excited to see one of my favorite vendors back for the show.  Over the past 4-5 years I have been able assemble with his help a nice collection of 16 signed 1950 Phillies clippings from the Inquirer.  He actually had added a few signed clippings since I saw him last March - but, none that would be new to my collection.  I am missing three starters - Andy Seminick, Eddie Waitkus and Willie Jones.  Seminick signed for years on the show circuit and I'm sure I'll find one of him eventually.  Waitkus and Jones will be a lot harder - both dying prior to the memorabilia boom of the 1980s.  Anyway, I did buy unsigned versions of both Seminick and Waitkus to add to my wall...eventually to be replaced by signed ones!

My signed 1950 Phillies display

I made a few offers on more expensive items, but couldn't come to an agreement on a final price on any of them.  I'll take my savings into next weekend's show at Buck's County Tech HS....

Collecting Brad Lidge

Word circulated this week that former Phillies closer Brad Lidge is calling it quits.  And though much of his Phillies career was up and down but he will forever be remembered for the one shining moment when he clinched the city's second baseball World Championship.  During his four seasons in Philadelphia Lidge became one of the most collectible Phillies.  So, as he prepares to embark on his post-baseball life it is only fitting that we look back at some of the best pieces of Lidge-themed Phillies memorabilia...

Forever Collectibles World Series bobble head

Brad Lidge Forever Collectibles World Series bobble head

Comments: I have never been a big fan of Forever Collectibles' bobble heads, having a general opinion that they often have no resemblance to the actual player (even by bobble head standards).  The World Series line (1 of 2,008) that followed the Phils' 2008 championship run is probably the only exception.  They look very sharp with the players holding the trophy while standing on a WS logo.

Autographed 2008 World Series baseball

Brad Lidge signed 2008 World Series ball

Comments: If you are collecting 2008 Phillies, chances are you have at least one Brad Lidge autograph.  His 48-48, perfect season along with saving the final game of the Series that year make him a key player in any team project.  More commonly available than previous World Series balls, one from 2008 signed by Lidge deserves a spot in your man cave.

November 11, 2008 Sports Illustrated Cover

Brad Lidge Sports Illustrated 11/11/2008

Comments: Sports Illustrated covers have to be the pinnacle of success for any athlete.  And in November 2008 Brad Lidge climbed to those heights.  I collect all the Phillies Sports Illustrated covers and this has to be one of the best...though I have always been annoyed by that "Dear Bud..." graphic that shares the frame.

Phillies TTM: Flashback, Wally Backman

Here is another one from TTM archives...

Wally Backman played with the Phillies for two seasons, 1991 and 1992, appearing in 136 games.  For most of his time with the team he was a key player off the bench often spelling Mickey Morandini at second base.  I had a real appreciation for his gritty approach to the game and can still picture him slashing at pitches with that flat swing and of course, Harry calling his name - "the Great Waldo" after some (not so frequent) significant play.

I sent this card to Wally at Veterans Stadium during the summer of 1992.  It has been so long ago that I no longer recall the turnaround time, but I do remember being excited when it came back.  Though it will never be worth a ton of money, this card will always be one of my favorite TTM successes.

1950 Whiz Kids Collection Comes/Goes on Ebay

It is not unusual to come across an eBay seller who is unloading a "collection" of related items.  But rarely do those collections hold as much historical significance to Phillies fans as the one ebayer village.antiques posted two weeks ago.  Up for bid was a group of four great Phillies memorabilia lots related to the Whiz Kids pennant run in 1950.  Though I didn't win any of them, thought they were worth taking another look at...

A pair of 1950 World Series tickets
The Phillies met the Yankees in Shibe Park for the first two games of the 1950 World Series.  While the tickets offered in this lot are not complete (missing the tab on the left-hand side), what is left is pristine.  First rule of memorabilia collecting is condition and these tickets pass the test.

1950 World Series Tickets Phillies/Yankees - Shibe Park

Number of bids: 7
Final bid amount: $193.50

1950 World Series Program (Philadelphia Version)
Until 1974 the World Series programs were unique by team.  Since then, they have been unified under a single cover design with local differences identified within the pages.  In 1950, more New York versions were printed than Philadelphia.  That is one of the factors that has generally kept our hometown version higher valued.

The offered program had a couple condition issues that impacted it's final sale price.  First of all, the cover has the date and score written along the top edge.  It is also has a fully scored scorecard.  Both of these characteristics are typically undesirable, though I personally like the game scoring to tie the program to a specific game.  In this case I think it was the cover damage that kept bids from passing $100.

1950 World Series Program Philadelphia Version

Number of bids: 25
Final bid amount: $77.01

Pennant Clinching Game Memorabilia
The Whiz Kids clinched the pennant in Brooklyn on October 1, 1950.  And while a contingency of Philadelphians made the trip to New York for that final series of the season, most in attendance were Dodgers fans which makes finding tickets and programs from the game fairly rare.  These two lots offered both...

I have a small collection of 1950 Phillies memorabilia, and targeted these two pieces as potential additions.  The World Series lots were very good, but more common.  Both were in pretty good condition, and because their titles lacked the "World Series" tag, I figured they had the potential to stay in a more reasonable price range.  In the end I was bitterly disappointed to lose out on both by $1 in the ending seconds...

October 1, 1950 Pennant Clincher Brooklyn Dodgers/Phillies Program

Program bidding: 5
Program final bid amount: $28.88

October 1, 1950 Pennant Clincher Game Ticket

Ticket bidding: 3
Ticket final bid amount: $67.68

My Favorite Cards: Carlos Ruiz

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this week.  Though he hasn't been hit that hard by the faithfuls, his 25-game suspension for amphetamines use will certainly impact the first month of next season.  Maybe many just see it as one more log on the fire that is current Philadelphia sports.  That issue aside, Chooch has been one of the key players during the great 2007-2011 run, and one of the guys I really enjoy watching play.

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen #113
I started buying Phillies team sets again this year, and none stood out as much as Topps Gypsy Queen.  The second edition of this brand was a success!  If you need any proof of why you should buy the Phillies set, take a look at this card...

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Carlos Ruiz

2009 Topps Heritage #387
Not technically a "Ruiz card", but how could I not include this great card from the 1960-flashback set? In a World Series filled with memorable plays, the rain-delayed Game Three featured a little World Series history.  This card celebrates the first game-winning, infield hit in WS history as Carlos sealed it for the Phils with a dribbler in the ninth.  As the old saying goes, they're all line drives in the book!

2009 Topps Heritage #387 (Ruiz)

2007 Upper Deck Alumni Night Set #14
This card is from a cool set given out Alumni Night 2007.  The set features players from the 2007 team as well as ten select alumni (including Dave Hollins and Rico Brogna).  Not necessarily a tough find locally, but I've always like the overall design of the cards and in particular this one of Chooch.

2007 Upper Deck Alumni Night Carlos Ruiz

2010 Topps #122
There have been several cards featuring Ruiz wearing the "tools of ignorance", but this one stands out above the rest.  It's hard to have a unique card image as a catcher, but I think this is a different take on the "mask-off, pop up pose" we have seen before.

2010 Topps Carlos Ruiz

Take a look at some of my other favorite cards posts.

Hidden Gems: Jamie Cooper, "Dream Scene" Print

Jamie Cooper's, "Dream Scene" print

This could easily fit as a "Collectible of the Week" item, but because it takes a little more work than the normal piece of Phillies memorabilia, I'll call it a "Hidden Gem."  Jamie Cooper's "Dream Print" is prominently displayed in the Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park.  You may recognize it if you have attended a game in that section, or gone on the stadium tour.  I first noticed it in print version at the Philly Show last Spring.  I am always on the watch for Phillies collectibles that I haven't seen before, and this print jumped out immediately.

The dealer was asking $300 for the framed 39x16" print, which he said he had shipped from Australia. I picked his brain a little more and came to understand that the artist, Jamie Cooper, is from down-under and that while the prints were not limited edition, they could only be purchased by contacting him directly and have them sent internationally.  Later in the day I saw a guy who had a lot of autographs on and around the drawing.  He was waiting in line to have it signed by Mike Schmidt.  I asked him where he got it and pretty much recounted the same story - from a dealer who had purchased it from the Australian artist.  He paid $200.

Like any good Phillies Collector would, I started to research how to get one of these for myself.  I Googled his name and emailed him for more information.  Here is what I found:

For sale is the 39x16" print I had seen at Philly Show for $125, but there is also a high-end offering.  Collectors looking to purchase something more dramatic may want to buy a 72x20 ($2795) or 55x15 ($1795) stretched canvas print.  Each print is signed by the artist, and is sent with a certificate that details the story behind the scene.

Contact Jamie Cooper:
Website: http://www.jcap.com.au/
email: jamie@jcp.com.au
Twitter: @jcap27

My tribute to the Reading Phillies

1989 Reading Phillies Hall of Fame poster

As I am sure you all know, the Phillies AA-affiliate team re-branded themselves as the Reading Fightin' Phils last weekend.  For anyone unfamiliar with the update, the change comes complete with an ostrich fist  and a strange, hot dog logo hat.  Anyway, I wanted to acknowledge the loss of the classic Reading Phillies moniker the only way I know how - by taking a look at some memorabilia.

My expertise is not in the minor league memorabilia market, but I was curious to see if the re-branding resulted in any interesting lots being posted on eBay.  There are actually quite a few items listed, but these three posters commemorating the 1989, 1990 and 1991 Reading Phillies Hall of Fame inductions stuck out to me.  Each one was sponsored by the Reading Eagle and feature the logos and players many of us grew up watching.  The fact that posters were used to mark the date is pretty typical for this era, and the fact that these survived in such great shape is a tribute to the owner.

1991 Reading Phillies Hall of Fame Poster

My personal favorite is the 1989 poster.  The design is very cool - with the two pennants and a glove/ball displaying the induction year.  The highlight though is the player pitching on the left-hand side of the page. The artwork makes it a frame-worthy item.  The following two years seem less inspired with the player portraits lessening in quality each successive season (though Schmidt on the '90 poster is pretty good).  The seller is asking $5 each, but I would think all three for $10 is probably a better price for the lot.

1990 Reading Phillies Hall of Fame poster