Inspired by this fun trading card project at the Shlabotnik Report blog, I’ve decided to undertake a similar one of my own. Except for this first one I’m not collecting cards from defunct hockey teams but rather just one sports team – the Philadelphia Phillies.
What I aim to do with Project Phillies is to collect a binder of numerically ordered cards featuring different Phillies players. The card has to show a player in a Phillies uniform and I’m going to avoid duplicating players as much as possible; although in the beginning dupes will be a necessity.
I started by looking at what was in my existing collection and just pulling them into a new binder. Here’s what I have for page 1 (which has lots of empty slots) so far:
1988 O-Pee-Chee #1 Chris James
Just because I like to be different, the leadoff card not only features a name only die-hards will remember but is from O-Pee-Chee, a Canadian brand. James was a journeyman who played for eight teams during his 10-year career. His two most productive stints came with the Phils (1986-89) and Cleveland Indians (1990-91).
2019 Topps Philadelphia Phillies #PP-3 Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola, by contrast, has been a key part of the Phils’ starting rotation for years and is in the top 10 franchise leaderboards for wins, strikeouts, and games started.
1973 Topps #3 Jim Lonborg
Jim Lonborg’s career was more or less split between long stints with the Phillies and Boston Red Sox. His best year was with Boston in 1967, when he was selected to the All-Star Game and won the Cy Young Award. He is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
2023 Topps Philadelphia Phillies #PHI-16 Jean Segura
Philly acquired Jean Segura via a trade with the Seattle Mariners in 2018. He became a free agent in 2022, played part of last season with the Miami Marlins, and has been without a team since August 2023.
1991 Upper Deck #18 Mickey Morandini
Mickey Morandini spent most of his playing career in Philadelphia and was an All-Star in 1995. He spent some time managing in the team’s farm system in the 2010s and was appointed to the role of club ambassador in 2018.
(all images courtesy the Trading Card Database)