This card has three of my favorite players from the 1980 World Series winners. One is in the HOF, one should be because of what he did as a player, and the other was a huge catalyst for the team. To top it off, I always liked the 1981 Fleer set. The only thing I wished they had done was have Schmidt pose in the middle.

I traded to get my copy at a card show in Florida in 1990 or 1991. I received it in a screwdown case, and I left it in there for many years. It resides nicely in Phillies binder #1 with the rest of the 1974 set.

Where it all began for Star Company. If it wasn't for this card, 7 years of my working life would have been on a completely different path. Additionally, I may not be as active a collector/hobbyist. My card is signed, which also adds to the excitement of owning this card.

What huge news it was when Pete Rose decided to leave Cincinnati as a free agent and sign elsewhere. Even bigger news for the Philadelphia area when he signed with the Phillies. This was the first card I had of Pete with the Phillies (we ate a lot of BK that year and the next, mostly to get the cards!). Unfortunately, 1979 was not kind to the Phillies. But for those of us around back then, we all know what happened in 1980 and how important Rose was to that team. As a young baseball player myself, we were all taught to watch the way Rose played and to try to match his hustle and passion for the game.

I actually saw the Dale Murphy of this set first, but I liked that card so much, I knew I had to obtain the Schmidt. I know that it's a manufactured "relic", and it's more like a mini trophy case than a card. Having the Murphy & Schmidt (my 2 favorite players) wasn't enough. I had to obtain the players I collect as well!

Yes, I have a copy of this one signed, along with a NL ball, in a special card and ball combo holder. I thought he was going to be better than he was, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that the layout of this card is just fantastic. You see the grip on the ball, the uniform, the tone of his muscles (especially in the right arm), and great view of his face. Obviously, it's a game, because the background you see lots of people in the stands. So, after getting the card, and being awed by it, I got him to sign it (along with the ball and 3 of the other cards of him from 1990) during a scrimmage game in Clearwater, FL. At first, I just got this card signed, waited for the crowd (small one) to disperse, and then I chatted with him about his time on the Olympic team and what things looked like for the 1990 Phillies. I asked if he would sign the ball and the other cards as I was a collector and really thought highly of him. He was gracious enough to oblige.

For someone who started watching the Phillies in the 70s (as a kid), this is probably the "holy grail" of Phillies cards. But beyond that, how it was obtained just adds to the reason for this to be a favorite of mine. This one was given to me. It's not in the best of condition, but it's not terrible. My wife has 2 uncles who have been collecting baseball cards their entire lives. The one had an extra and knew that I had been trying to get one of these (at a decent price), but having a difficult time. I forget if I was at his place or he was at mine, but he pulled this card out and handed it to me. Since he dabbles in selling, I asked him what he was selling it for. That's when I found out he was giving it to me. (This is the same uncle that I bought the 1973-1977 sets and the partial 1972 set from.) Needless to say, this card won't part from my collection!

I bought this from someone who had bought it from the guy who pulled it from a pack in 1959. Owner #2 had it graded. All of the graded cards I've busted out, this one I haven't. As Owner #3, I might bust it out, and get it in my binder with the rest of the 1959 Phillies, but in the meantime, it sits atop a shelf on display (as it has now for a few years). Although his playing days were limited to one season (1959), that didn't stop Sparky from making it to the HOF. Some of the 1959s work for me, some don't. This one does. And I love knowing the story behind this card.

I know my list has a lot of Mike Schmidt. I also know this celebrates a pretty dark day in Phillies history - the day Schmidt retired. Donruss and Upper Deck also did tribute cards, but they didn't show up until 1990. Fleer beat them all by having the card in their 1989 Update set - and I'm very glad they did. Despite some others not liking the design of this set, I have always liked it. It was my favorite of the 1989 releases (and I despise the 1990 Fleer design). I also really like the 5 photos of Schmidt.

I wish he could have been on the Phillies while Schmidt was still playing then both of my favorite players would have been on the same team (and my favorite team). This is the first card depicting Murphy with the Phillies (at least with a design I liked - yes, looking at you 1990 Fleer). The 1990 Score design was solid. Probably the best of all their issues. The single color used for the traded set is better than the multiple colors used in the flagship set. Anyway, to see Murph wearing the Phillies colors and #3 was a bigger moment for me than seeing Pete Rose here. Now, my other favorite player was finally on my favorite team. It didn't last long, but it was great to have him here for a little while. And this card is the perfect representation of that moment.