My Collecting Story: Phillies Weekend Wrap-up

On the heels of last weekend's Philly Show, this week's Holiday Sale and Poppel.com signing just about drained my last dollar of 2011.  The annual sale held by the Phillies is a good place to pick up some game used jerseys, hats and bats, as well as a load of autographed items.  Normally you find the goods from second-tier players like Eric Bruntlett or Mike Sweeney featured - but, this year there seemed to be a nice selection from stars like Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth and Jimmy Rollins.  In past years I have been able to pick up a couple unique items that build on my collection without breaking the bank (Carlos Ruiz '07 BP jersey, Ruiz '08 batting helmet, Brett Myers and Randy Wolf game worn hats and a few game used bats). This year's big item was a Jayson Werth game-used alternate home uniform from the 2008 season.  Complete with dirt stains, this instantly becomes my best gamer!

Jayson Werth Alt. GU Jersey

Also, I picked up a "Four Aces" Group Leader bobble-head and a few nice signed pieces that will fit nicely into my collection - a Billy Wagner single-signed ROMLB and 12 assorted autographed 8x10 player photos.  The 8x10's include Scott Rolen, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Jamie Moyer and Jayson Werth.  I am looking forward to handing a couple of these pictures in the Phillies room immediately!  Larry Andersen was wandering around the CBP store and I caught him to sign the 1993 World Series program cover - glad I didn't pay to get him last weekend!

Autographed Phillies Player 8x10 Photo Cards

Billy Wagner SS ROMLB

Phillies Four Aces Bobble Head

Larry Andersen on the '93 WS Program

After the Holiday Sale I shot up 95 to Bucks County Technical HS for the Poppel.com card show. The show brought in two 2008 Phillies (Greg Dobbs and Chad Durbin) - but, at $30 a piece, after all I have spent over the past 6 days I had to pass on both.  Instead I took the budget route and decided to add two signatures to my ongoing 1993 Phillies poster - Wes Chamberlain and Ben Rivera.  I have met both in the past, but wasn't sure I was going to have the shot to get them on the poster.  At $15 each, they fit the budget and helped me get a little closer to completing this project.

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