#136 Jim Kaat, Phillies

 

 

 

 

Card Front: While it is probably not the greatest action shot known to man it is action. The burgundy pinstripes is a kind of classic look for the Phils. It reminds me of the 80's and their good players and playing in a World Series. I don't really remember Jim from playing, but I have watched him on television.

 

Card Back: Now this is a back full of stats that any baseball fan can dive into and enjoy. How can you not love seeing the Senators in 1959 and 1960? How many guys do you see with 20 seasons so far and over 600 games as a starter? Kind of amazing that Jim was still going strong at 40 years old. He was probably thought of as the original "Big Unit" at 6'5" in the 70's.

 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Jim's long run with the Minnesota Twins, Jim spent the 1969 season playing with Rick Dempsey.  The ever humorous Demspey would be winding down in 1991 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Another of those Brew Crew in 1991 was Darryl Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was a bit of a traveling man, and was part of the 1999 New York Mets. One of the kings of travel is Octavio Dotel, and he would also be part of that 1999 Mets team. Octavio would eventually make a stop in Toronto as part of the 2011 Blue Jays. Another of the Maple Leaf 9 that year was Brandon Morrow. Brandon was foolishly drafted ahead of Tim Lincecum in 2006 by Seattle. He would come up in 2007, and from there through the 2009 season, he did the starter/bullpen shuffle. After the 2009 season he was traded to the Blue Jays for minor leaguer Johermyn Chavez and Brandon League.

 

Next Card: #137 Larry Wolfe, Twins

 



#118 Bud Harrelson, Phillies

Card Front: It is nice to see that Topps did their homework and got a picture of a player with his new team and didn't airbrush it. I have to admit that I wasn't a Phils fan back in the 70's and 80's, but I did like the mix of burgundy and baby blue. There is so much going on here. You have to love Bud and his Top Gun aviator glasses. Maybe it's the batting glove that looks like a golf glove, or it could be the choking up on the bat to get the little guy a hit.

Card Back: All you have to do is look at Bud's card and you would have thought he would have been a Met for life. I don't know who really won in the trade, since Bud only did 2 part time seasons in Philly but his trade partner last saw the Majors in 1976 an '77 and was never back up. Obviously Bud had a long career in the big leagues for his defense, because those stats are nothing to write home about. I would assume that he was the typical #8 hitter in front of the pitcher.Hank Aaron was called out for stepping out of the box. You see it quite often today, but it is never called.  

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Bud's long run in the Big Apple, he had many teammates come and go. During the 1973 season, Bud would play with John Milner as Mets. John would find fame and fortune in the Steel City. As a part of the 1982 Pirates, he would play on the other side the state from Philly and another of those Pirates was Junior Ortiz. Junior would catch many games, and was with a handful of teams, but in 1992 he was Cleveland Indian along with Reggie Jefferson. Reggie came to Seattle for the 1994 season with Felix Fermin in the trade that saw the Indians obtain soon to be HOF'er Omar Vizquel. The Mariners let Reggie go before the magical 1995 season.

Blog related to the team: So many Phillies fans out there. One blogger that has been at it for quite a while and does a great job gets the love today. How many of you read The Phillies Room? Jim is one of the authorities on all things Phillies related. He even does his own custom cards for the Phils. How about Twitter for a place to check him out? I say you must go to one or both today and see him, and tell him a ghost form the 1979 season sent you to see him.

Next Card: Don Stanhouse, Orioles

#112 Phildelphia Phillies, Danny Ozark

Card Front: I am sure we all can tell this is definitely a photo shoot set up during Spring Training. Last time I checked there are no palm trees in Philly. I find it odd though that if you really start to sit and study the team photo, there as many guys in polo shirts as there are baseball uniforms. There really is no consistency with a red polo, some white ones with god awful white pants, one with a red collar, some pullover v-necks. The coaches look happy to be sitting there in the front, but the players just want to get back to the clubhouse for a drink and a smoke.

Card Back: Like I've said for every previous team card, and will continue this is what Topps needs to go back to. A team card that gives us who to look for on out team instead of all these fluff extras they give us every year. There are three guys that are HOF'ers on here, two as a player and one broadcaster in Carlton, McCarver, and Schmidt. Unfortunately not one of the guys on the checklist would play for Seattle, but Larry Bowa was a coach in 2000 under Lou Piniella, and Ted Sizemore currently works in the front office.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Danny never made it to the big leagues as a player. During the 1947 season, Danny played for the Ft. Worth Cats of the Texas League. One of his teammates was Toby Atwell. Toby would eventually make it to the majors and in 1955 was a Pittsburgh Pirate with Dick Groat. During his rookie season of 1962, my favorite player Willie Stargell would share time in the Steel City with Dick. During the bicentennial of our country, Willie would spend time in the 1976 season in Pittsburgh with Craig Reynolds. Craig was traded to Seattle before the 1977 season, and was the Opening Day SS for the Mariners. He would be the lone All Star for us in 1978, before being traded after 1978 to the Houston Astros.

Blog related to the team: So many Phillies fans that collect cards and have blogs. I wish sometimes when I do these posts I could assign people to other teams, but I want them to be linked to the boys they love. One collector's love for the Fightin' Phils love that never wavers like it when Things Are Funner Here. I'm sure most all of you have read plenty of what Julie was given us over the last 2+ years. I like the work she does, and I always find it refreshing to have the ladies love of hobby as much as we do. Go over and tell her hi now!

Next Card: #113 Pete Redfern, Twins

#90 Bob Boone, Phillies

Card Front: Bob is in the classic catcher pose. I wouldn't even recognize it was him if it didn't have his normal #8 and his name on the card.  You have to wonder how well did those jerseys with zippers up the front work. I know that most people aren't big fans of the road blues from the 70's but I think they worked well for the Phillies.

Card Back: Bob was starting to get some star status with a card ending with 0. Bob would play through 1981 with the Phils before going out west to the Angels. Does anybody remember his two seasons in Kansas City? It's not hard to say the Boone family was a baseball family through and through. Ray was the first, followed by Bob, and then his sons Aaron and Bret all were All Stars in their careers. While not always the greatest hitter, Bob was might good behind the dish.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: We all know Bob's son Bret played twice with the Mariners, but that's too easy. During the the 1985 season Bob would be an Angel with Bob Kipper. Mr. Kipper would move on and in 1988 would be a Pittsburgh Pirate with a young skinny Barry Bonds. Barry would come back out west and bulk up to be a part of the 2007 San Francisco Giants with Travis Blackley. Travis made his debut with the M's in 2004, and from 2007 until just this season with the A's, Travis had not been back in the majors. It is good to see him make a full return.

Blog related to the team: Because of the fact that I just got in on his annual summer clearance trade for some Mariners cards, there is one man who must get some love. If you don't know who Cliff is, you need to go check out his Capewood Collections. Not only does he love his Phillies, and his close to home team in the Astros, there is other knowledge to gain. Cliff will give his opinions on movies, and give us the song of the week-- of which I've found some new songs and bands I've come to like. Go over and get in on the card bonanza!!

Next Card: #91 Terry Crowley, Orioles



#52 Randy Lerch, Phillies

Card Front: We see Randy the lefty in his windup on the road. I would venture to guess this was taken at Shea Stadium in New York. It is really hard to tell too much about this card because it was taken from a distance. We can see his stirrups and his #47. I wonder if he is giving them the heater?

Card Back: It seems Randy made the eventual climb to the Phils with September call ups in 1975 and '76. His 11 wins in the 1978 season would be his highest total of his career for any one year. Granted it was minor leagues, but 11 complete games is way more than any major leaguer gets nowadays. The baseball date of Dale Long homering in 8 consecutive would be matched by Don Mattingly in 1987, and Ken Griffey in 1993.  

Six degrees or less to Seattle: While Randy was always an NL guy he can tie to the Mariners. As part of the 1983 San Francisco Giants one of Randy's catchers was Steve Nicosia. Steve would move on to be part of the 1985 Montreal Expos playing along with a very young Andres Galarraga. At the end of his career, the Big Cat was a member of the 2001 Texas Rangers. A new $252M man had come to Texas that year from Seattle named Alex Rodriguez.

Blog related to the team: Ahh, the Phillies. They have so many fans, and so many of them have blogs and collect cards. One fan that just recently featured me on his blog is Paul of the great blog Phungo. Not only does he love his Phils, but he also does some awesome custom cards. I hope to someday get my hands on some custom M's cards.

Next Card: Mick Kelleher, Cubs

#25 Steve Carlton, Phillies

Card Front: Back to back Hall of Famers. We see "Lefty" working his magic on the mound at Shea Stadium. It looks like the change up is the pitch coming to the plate. How cool would it be to see the Phils go back to the powder blues on the road?

Card Back: Look at all those stats! That's just the first 14 years of a nice 24 year career. You have to wonder if the Cardinals kick themselves for trading Steve to the Phillies for Rick Wise?! Steve was one of the most dominant lefties of his day. Nice little note about another HOF'er in Lou Gehrig playing his last game in the streak.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Five years after this card, Carlton would be a member of the 1984 Phillies with Kevin Gross. Five years later, Kevin would team up with Randy Johnson in Montreal as Expos in 1989. Later in that same year a young "Big Unit" would get traded to Seattle much to Mariner's fans dismay. Then we got to know him as he got pretty darn good.

Blog related to the team: There are an abundance of Phils fans on the blog world. One that's been around the block with the Phillies and does great custom work is the great Phungo. Is it just me or is that just a fun word to say? Check it out and show them some Brotherly Love--Philadelphia style.

Next Card: #26 Jamie Quirk, Royals