Stuck in last place for the third year in a row, the Philadelphia Phillies weren't very good in 1973. Sitting in the beer-soaked Veterans Stadium stands that year, you would have a heard a season-long chorus of boos while you were downing your booze. On the plus side, the Phillies did have Steve Carlton coming off a miraculous 27-10 season in 1972, along with up and comers Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Dick Ruthven, and Larry Christenson. There were also a couple promising rookies on hand you might have heard of in Mike Schmidt and Bob Boone. This nucleus would go on a a great run of being strong contenders in the late '70s and early '80s, and in the popular view, Schmidt would finish up his career as the franchise's greatest player of all-time.

Philly Phanatics, and those with a taste for important autographs, score big, with this 1973 Philadelphia Phillies team-signed baseball. An ONL/Feeney model, this period signed ball (EX-MT) hosts (30) signatures averaging ("7-8") potency unless noted, including rookie season examples by Schmidt and Boone.



Featured signers are:



North panel: Terry Harmon, Bill Grabarkewitz, Ron Stone, Bill Wilson, undetermined, Mike Schmidt (HOF), Jose Pagan, Ken Brett;



South panel: Bob Boone, Barry Lersch, Craig Robinson, Steve Carlton ("5", HOF), Tom Hutton, Greg Luzinski, George Culver;



East panel: Del Unser, Wayne Twtichell, Carroll Berringer, Ray Rippelmeyer, Jim Lonborg, Ceasr Tovar, Larry Bowa;



West panel: Mike Wallace, Mike Anderson, Mike Rogodzinski, Denny Doyle, Willie Montanez, Mike Ryan, Dick Ruthven, Bill Robinson.





1975 Philadelphia Phillies Team-Signed Baseball (21) with Carlton, Luzinski and Bowa




A white ONL/Feeney ball with signatures (21) averaging (“6" to "8”). Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA.



Notables include: Carlton (HOF), Luzinski, Bowa, Lonborg, Boone, Underwood, Christenson, Hoerner, Brown, Oates, Hutton, Johnstone and Ozark (ch).




1976 Philadelphia Phillies Team-Signed Baseball (24) with Kaat and McCarver



A creamy-white ONL/Feeney ball with signatures (24) averaging (“7”). Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA.

 

Notables include: Kaat (HOF), Luzinski, McCarver, Lerch, Garber, Christenson, Tolan, Underwood, Lonborg, Brown, Bosetti, Garber, Lersch, Boone, Hutton and Oates.



Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $150.