Baseball Card Blogs » Phungo http://baseballcardblogs.org Posts from the Best Baseball Card Blogs on the Net Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:38:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Phungo Game Report – 2010 09 06 Tampa Bay Rays @ Baltimore Orioles – Happy Anniversary Cal Ripken! http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-06-tampa-bay.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-06-tampa-bay.html#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:47:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-2453162844580464635
For the second day in a row Team Phungo got to go to the ballpark and see a team hit four home runs and lose. Yes on a beautiful day at Camden Yards, the Tampa Bay Rays provided lots of pop, but that was not enough to contain the persistent line up that led the Orioles to an 8-7 victory.

The pitching match-up featured a pair of prospects that each organization is hoping become part of their rotations of the future as the Orioles 22 year old Chris Tillman squared off against Wade Davis (age 24). Neither pitcher dominated, although Tillman pitched well only giving up 1 run through 5 before giving up a 2 run shot to Evan Longoria in the 6th.

The 6th inning was pivotal as the Rays took a 5-4 lead on another 2 run homer - this time by BJ Upton. The Orioles hitters then showed their resilience by battling back to score four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The damage was done by three consecutive singles with men in scoring position and a sacrifice fly. The O's Bullpen will give up 2 more runs but hold on for the win.

Notes

Prior to the game the Orioles honored the 15th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr passing Lou Gehrig in number of consecutive games played. Cal returned to the yard to throw out the first pitch - photo above. Cal is not sporting faux-hawk - that is the white hat of a fan in the stands.

BJ Upton got to test his arm several times yesterday as he attempted to throw runners out at the plate three different times. Unfortunately for him, none of the chances were successful. The day had a couple of just missed plays on D including Orioles CF Corey Patterson just missing in his attempt to pull back Longoria's homer in the 5th.


Fan Favorite Rocco Baldelli had a triumphant return to the Rays as he tagged O's Reliever Mike Gonzalez for a 2 run homer. It was Baldelli's first game as a Ray since the 2008 World Series - Team Phungo was in the house for Rocco's last previous AB for Tampa when he also homered.

I also wanted to mention that we got to see a fan make arguably the best catch I have ever seen at a game. The young man was probably in his late teens, and he had to jump slightly reach over his head and backwards to make a two-handed grab of a line drive down the RF line. Unfortunately I haven't seen any highlights of the catch. Congrats to the young man regardless.


Snapshots


Chris Tillman

Tillman was the 49th overall selection in the 2006 draft. His Start on Saturday was the 19th of his MLB career.

Wade Davis v Brian Roberts (click to enlarge)
Another one of my super-wide pitcher v batter shots. I think this is Roberts first AB in the game. The crowd filled in from base to base in the lower level as the O's drew 28K+ for the game.

Roberts and Markakis

Check it out two base runners on one base. This is actually during a pitching change - The O's 3rd base coach is Gary Allenson.

Looking Back

Yesterday was the most recent Game Report featuring the Brewers and Phillies.

The Last O's Game Report was a few backs when they hosted the Rangers and lit up former Phil Cliff Lee.

This is the first Phungo Game Report on the Rays, although I do have one of my favorite postings from the last time I saw them play.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-06-tampa-bay.html/feed/ 0 Phungo Game Report – 2010 09 05 Milwaukee Brewers @ Philadelphia Phillies http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-05-milwaukee.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-05-milwaukee.html#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:01:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-2989052158101323240 Brewers and Phils combined for 6 dingers. Oddly the games deciding play came on a sacrifice fly and botched throw.

The Phils took the see-saw game 5-4. The odd Sac Fly started on a 1 out fly ball to Ryan Braun by Placido Polanco. The Phils had Carlos Ruiz at third who may have screened rookie catcher Jonathan Lucroy on the throw which bounced away. On the errant throw Phils backup infielder Wilson Valdez came all the way around from 2nd to score the winning run. It was the most exciting play in a night that was filled with Homers and nice defensive efforts.

Prince Fielder, Alcides Escobar, and Core Hart (2) supplied the fireworks for the Brew-Crew. The Good Guys got Homers from Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth. Despite giving up four homers for first time in his career Roy Halladay got the W - makes up for a couple of tough losses he has taken earlier this season. The Phils bullpen pitched 2 innings of spotless relief, with Ryan Madson and J C Romero setting it up for Brad Lidge's 20th save. Kameron Loe took the loss for the Brewers. Local product Dave Bush got the start for the Brewers and pitched well and did not factor in the decision. Carlos Ruiz was 3-3 on the night - The Phils picked up a game on the Braves and are now 20 games over .500 for the first time in 2010.

Snapshots
A Robin
This statue of Robin Roberts guards the first base gate at Citizen's Bank Ballpark.


A Wolf
Former Phil and Phungo Phavorite

A Vegetarian
Prince coming in from BP. Might be Prince's first appearance in Phungo.


and A Jimmy
J-Roll has never been featured on a Phungo Card. He is always batting lead-off - I think I am not quite ready to take a picture when Jimmy is at the plate. Rollins was also spotted at the Red Bull Flugtag earlier on Saturday.

Other Observations
It was a really windy night - blowing left to right - I would have thought anything to Left would have gotten knocked down, but both Escobar's and Werth's Homers were drilled deep. The Bank may have held Fielder's sky-high homer on another night - same with Howard's.

The Brewer's were fairly well represented in the crowd. It is a holiday weekend and I am sure a few fans made the trip to Philadelphia for the series. Most common shirt I spied last night was Ryan Braun, with Prince Fielder not getting as much love as I would of thought.

Every Phillies home game is a sell-out, but there are levels of sell-outs. some are mobbed and some feel like Sell-outs in name only. Surprisingly last night was closer to the Mobbed variety. Lots of college students have returned to town and there was a Penn State promotion which added to the festive evening.

I only caught the tail end of the Brewer BP and they had the reserves swinging that bats. Rookie Lorenzo Cain looked pretty sharp lacing several hard hit liners and popping a long homer to left. Mat Gamel also hit the ball hard several times. Craig Counsell had the most consistent BP knocking several balls sharply up the middle.

Good Guy Awards
Mat Gamel and Willie Randolph were both spotted signing autographs for fans.

Looking Back
For a previous Game Report check here for the Rangers and Orioles (2010/08/21)
For the last Phillies Game Report click here for a game featuring the San Francisco Giants (2010/08/17).

Looking Ahead
The Labor Day Baseball Bonanza continues with the tricky Night Game followed by a Day game as team Phungo travels to Baltimore to see the Orioles host the Rays.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/phungo-game-report-2010-09-05-milwaukee.html/feed/ 0 2010 Phungo Cards – Mike Moustakas http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/2010-phungo-cards-mike-moustakas.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/2010-phungo-cards-mike-moustakas.html#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:55:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-5978887112863237476 2010 Phungo #17 Mike Moustakas

You may not know who Mike Moustakas is right now, but I think you may a year from now.

Moustakas is a Third Base prospect in the Royals system. Earlier this week he had an impressive game for Kansas City's Omaha Franchise. He connected for four hits that night including 3 homers and an incredible 11 RBIs. That's more runs then the Phils have scored in a couple series this year. Click here for the MiLB story on the game.

The picture from the Phungo card above was taken at a Wilmington Blue Rocks game last year. This is the Phungo Game Report from that day that also featured Pirates prospect Pedro Alvarez.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/09/2010-phungo-cards-mike-moustakas.html/feed/ 0 Where are they Now – Ben Davis http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/where-are-they-now-ben-davis.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/where-are-they-now-ben-davis.html#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:05:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-501364179849229465 1995 Topps Traded #74T Ben Davis Draft Pick

I wanted to reference a recent article in our paper about former Padres catcher Ben Davis. Davis is from the Philadelphia area and was the 2nd overall pick in the 1995 draft. He spent parts of 7 seasons in the Majors with he Padres, Mariners, and White Sox.

Ben is still playing professionally but not at the Major League level - and not as a Catcher. Ben is trying to get back to the Majors as a Pitcher for the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atantic League.

One of Davis' Riversharks starts was even mentioned in Paul's Random Stuff.

The Ben Davis card above is his rookie card from the 1995 Topps Traded set which is an odd set due to the strike that ended the 1994 season. In addition to the many draft picks and other prospects in the set there is a solid group of veterans that changed clubs due to being unsigned during the strike.

1995 Topps Traded #74T Ben Davis Draft Pick (b-side)

It is interesting to get a look at the flip side of the Davis card. It features his high school batting numbers. Due to playing here in the northeast there is an incredibly small sample size of at-bats. I am sure that Davis played on many a travel team while learning his craft.

Best of Luck to Ben Davis. He was never a Phillie, but he is a local guy and this is a fun story to follow.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/where-are-they-now-ben-davis.html/feed/ 0 Phungo 5 with Night Owl Cards http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/phungo-5-with-night-owl-cards.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/phungo-5-with-night-owl-cards.html#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:33:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-6036071632113402515 Night Owl Cards.

1) What current Dodger player is the most overlooked by Topps?
It'd have to be Vicente Padilla. He isn't on a Topps or Heritage card this year. Just about all the other Dodgers are covered.

2009 Topps #208 James McDonald

2) Explain the Octavio Dotel move to me.
I don't think I can. Even if I could explain it in the most logical way possible, you would say it wouldn't make sense. The Dodgers traded two prospects that they once thought quite highly of -- James McDonald and Andrew Lambo -- for a set-up reliever. This is a move you make when you're one game out of the lead, not 8 out with three teams ahead of you. Even then I don't think you make the move. How has Dotel helped the Dodgers? Their bullpen is even more of a disaster. McDonald had issues but I was willing to work through them, he's young. Losing Lambo hurts. He's already hitting well in the Pittsburgh organization.

3) What is the Most annoying non-Sports Sports story 2010?
A-Rod 600
Ben Rotliesberger
Brett Favre
LeBron
Michael Vick
Tiger
Far and away Brett Favre. The story won't die. Unlike the others, it reappears every year. And it produces more stories about absolutely nothing than the other candidates combined. It has wasted hours at work since I'm forced to read these stories. I don't even like that I'm writing about him right now. If there are any aliens out there reading this, I am pleading with you to land in Hattiesburg, Miss., and take Brett Favre away so you can perform whatever examinations you must to figure out why this guy is like this. But please don't return him to us.

4)Am I correct in noting that there are no actual Night cards in the Night Owl banner??
Yup, no night cards. When I designed the banner, I just grabbed some cards I knew I liked. There wasn't any other thought that went into it. I'd change it, but it's too much of a process.

5) I love this one - and Night Owl will probably be sorry he ever turned me on to the concept, Give me 3 candidates for Blobs in the Dodgers Phils series.
Even though the Phillies will probably sweep, I can't predict a sweep.
Game 1: Brad Ausmus
Game 2: Jayson Werth
Game 3: Casey Blake

Phungo Box Score
4 out of 4 with a couple of Blobs pending.

NOC and I first swapped emails for this interview maybe two weeks ago when things weren't going well for the Dodgers. I think in there they had a mini-surge - More recently they have sunk back to the middle of the pack and cast off Manny Ramirez. It is looking like their chances to get back into the WildCard hunt are diminishing.

For a look back at a previous Phungo 5 on the Mets featuring Paul's Random Stuff click here.

If you want to see the Phungo Chat with Night Owl from 2009 click here.

Also related today's Manny Trade news, I would like to link to a posting I did on Ramirez in May of 2009. My attitudes towards Manny and steroids remain similar. Any time I got to see him play he had the potential to do something exciting - and that's part of why I go to the yard.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/phungo-5-with-night-owl-cards.html/feed/ 0 Pull of the Month – August 2010 http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/pull-of-month-august-2010.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/pull-of-month-august-2010.html#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:55:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-7880945812835234257

2010 Allen & Ginter World's Wordsmiths #WGS1 Homer

How can you beat a mini of a dude named Homer. Betcha he would have a blog if he was kicking today.

Homer wins this months Pull of the Month, but I did get one other fine insert this month - this was from Topps Series 2. Overall I think Peak Performance is a little Meh, but it is always good to get one from your squad especially when it is of Hall of Fame Third Baseman Mike Schmidt.

2010 Topps Peak Performance #PP-60 Mike Schmidt

Junk of the Month
2010 Topps NFL Football #286 Kellen Winslow

Damaged card - probably a pack searcher check the 2nd "L" in "KELLEN".

Past Pull and Junk of the Month entries"

2010 July
2010 June
2010 May
2010 April
2010 March
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/pull-of-month-august-2010.html/feed/ 0 More Strasburg Propaganda http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-strasburg-propaganda.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-strasburg-propaganda.html#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:19:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-4917721901548591106


Sports Propaganda Stephen Strasburg Limited Edition Screen-Print

Here we have another "Cards that Never Were". MLB is selling limited edition Screen Prints of the 2009 U&H Topps Propaganda cards. The Screen-Prints and are printed on Archival Paper. The price is in $67 ($132 framed) plus any other hidden fees not mentioned on the site.

This is the link for Strasburg.

The Phillies Page

Which actually includes a pitcher that is on an active roster in Roy Halladay

There are also Posters of the Prints that run for $24.

Propaganda main page
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-strasburg-propaganda.html/feed/ 0 2010 Topps NFL Football – Inserts & Highlights http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-inserts.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-inserts.html#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:25:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-7042447094113217233 (36 cards for $4.98) and I think this provided a pretty good variety of the cards offered by this years Topps Release.


A nice Superbowl Card. The back provides the final score and the Saints half of the statistical box score. A nice looking Manning card, with an ugly-ass All-Pro logo. I don't know how about adding some Red White and Blue like the uniforms they where in the Pro Bowl.



Lineage cards - I don't get the Marshall/Thomas card - This is the B-Side of the Elway/Tebow card - The Front of the card is featured over at A Pack to be Named Later.


More stuff we saw in Topps Baseball - between the 4 packs I pulled two of the Gridiron Giveaway cards. Good to see Gale Sayers get some love.

The Tom Brady Card is a Yo Momma Card reprinted from 2002 Topps - This one happens to be with the original back, not sure if Football is doing both backs or not. In the middle is a Demaryius Thomas 52 Bowman insert. This a pretty sharp looking card and considered #4 of his 5 rookie cards in 2010 Topps. Finally a 75th anniversary Draft card of Ben Tate - Drafted in the 2nd round 58th overall by the Texans.


Enlarge these and you can see the B-side of the rookie card for CJ Spiller. I put a big Red Dot next to the line indicating this is Rookie Card 1 of 5 for Spiller. Like 2010 MLB Baseball, Football had Team Cards. Here I have the A-side of the Packers card and the B-side of the Redskins Card. I am not sure if Franchise History is part of the football set - between the 4 packs I picked up there were 70 cards and no Franchise History to be found - that's a shame because I liked those cards in 2010 Topps Baseball.

Various Star players - and local heroes. 2010 Topps Football has mostly action shots on the base cards. And I think the Photography is pretty strong.

It was also nice to see Topps figured out that the foil stamping around the player name looks much better if the name is in a white font rather than black.



I close with the Darelle Revis collection. Out of 70 cards I came out with three Revis cards. I don't know how many times the Jets wore the throwbacks, but most of the Jets cards that came out of the 4 packs had them in the throwback unis.

The Classic Matchup Revis/Moss card is a checklist.

The W store also had blasters on sale that contained 81 cards - I forget the exact configuration probably 7x10 plus one "bonus" pack of cards. the 81st "card" is a manufactured patch card I think.

Ok sometime this weekend I will try and get back to baseball posts.

For a look at the first pack of Topps NFL football opened by Team Phungo click here.

For a look at the pack opened at APTBNL click here.
]]> http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-inserts.html/feed/ 0 2010 Topps NFL Football -Retail http://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-retaill.html http://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-retaill.html#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:15:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774694844210394599.post-3210585320209228783 Twelve Card pack, $2.10 including PA Sales Tax.

2010 Topps NFL Football
#365 Larry Johnson
#47 Jacoby Jones
#74 Ernie Sims
#284 Shaun Phillips

A PSU alum, and and a new Eagle.


#231 Julius Jones
Gridiron Lineage #GL-ET John Elway & Tim Tebow
Topps Attax Julius Peppers
#286 Kellen Winslow (damaged)

I am sure many folks will find the Lineage card a bit sacrilege. I didn't notice that the pack had been tampered with but the Winslow card is ripped badly at the center bottom. Doesn't really show up on the scan.




#196 Brian Robiskie
#180 Reggie Wayne
#294 Everson Griffen (rc)
#194 Colt McCoy(rc)

A Viking Rookie Card and Colt McCoy RC. Some of the premier rookies from specify that there are 5 Rookie cards in the set and what number the card is in that set. The McCoy is card 1 of the 5 card Colt McCoy Rookie set.

If there are any Browns Fans out there, I suppose that this pack would make them happy.

For a look at another pack of 2010 Topps NFL Football click here to see my post at Phungo
]]> http://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-retaill.html/feed/ 0 2010 Topps NFL Football – First Pack http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-first-pack.html http://phungo.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010-topps-nfl-football-first-pack.html#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:14:00 +0000 deal tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504854198915382684.post-4158602649928816652 2010 Topps Football Cards. The cards come 12 to a pack and went for $2.10 w/ PA Sales Tax included.

First Football Card of the Year
2010 Topps NFL Football #67 Joey Porter


The Rest

I liked pretty much every card I got in the pack - click to enlarge this one and you will get a peak at a B-side of Matt Ryan. The Gridiron Giveaway is the football version of Baseball's Million Card Giveaway.


Got two Vikings - sort of. The first is a Peterson Attax card.

The Last 3 cards in the pack were all Rookie Cards. The Last Card is of Jahvid Best, he was the highest pick among the 3 cards featured here (#30 overall). On the back of the card it specifies:

"This is 1 of 5 Jahvid Best Rookie Cards in 2010 Topps Football"

Sounds Like some parallel insanity or rookie inserts galore for The newest edition of Topps Football.

I will have a more formal review later - I am just posting these for images right now. Perhaps I will have a more thorough post at aPTBNL if nobody else has posted one by this evening.
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