The Phillies Fan Union Newsletter The October 16th, 2006 Edition Membership as of October 15th, 2006: 108,949

___ FEATURE STORY In one of baseball's most passionate cities, baseball came alive for a while and a whole new perspective gripped the city. The team almost made the playoffs, and there's Ryan Howard's run toward the National League MVP. Just as the old passion was gripping the city, tragedy struck and Cory Lidle is gone. All of a sudden, what's really important is crystal clear. GET THE FULL STORY

 THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION Supporting the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association ***Do whatever you can***This Week's Question: I spent my best years with the Phillies (mid-1960 through 1968). I am a from Cuba and led NL outfielders in fielding average three times, including 1962, when I had no errors in 276 chances. I was the first regular CF ever to field 1.000, and only the third outfielder overall. In 1967, my career-high .339
batting average was second in the NL and the majors. Who am I? 

UNION NEWS:  NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNION YET? Join Us And spread the word! PFU HALL OF FAME VOTING - Have a favorite Phillie? Nominate him for the PFU Hall of Fame. Feel free to use the Phillies All-Time Roster - Courtesy The Sports Cube THE NOMINEES ARE: Andy Seminick 11,331 Votes Mickey
Morandini 10,992 Votes Dave Cash 10,397 Votes Jim Fregosi 9,896 Votes VOTE HERE RESULTS OF THE WEEKLY SURVEY Do you feel that the Phillies should have fired Marc Bombard, Bill Dancy, and Gary Varsho? Yes 21% No 63% Nor Sure 16%  GET THE BEST IN PHILLIES MERCHANDISE    PHILLIES NEWS: 
THE HOWARD MVP WATCH - Week 7 Ryan Howard was named the 2006 Player of the Year, as well as the top National League first baseman by his peers in the annual survey taken by The Sporting News. The Express beat out St. Louis' 1B Albert Pujols in both categories. Hopefully, the award will serve as a prelude to the National League's Most Valuable Player Award to be announced at the end of the month.
 
CORY LIDLE DIES IN PLANE CRASH Former Phillies pitcher Cory Lidle died in an airplane accident in New York City on Wednesday afternoon when a plane he was piloting crashed into a 50-story building on
the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Reports indicated that the plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 2:30 p.m. ET, crashing into the building roughly 15 minutes later. Lidle, a right-hander, was traded to the Yankees July 30th. He went 8-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 21 games for the Phillies. 
 
UTLEY NAMED TOP 2B IN TSN POLE Phillies 2B Chase Utley was named to The Sporting News' All-Star team, which is voted on by his peers. Utley finished the year with a .309 batting average, 32 home runs, and 102 RBI. He was a starter on this year's All-Star team. He finished second in the National League in hitting and established himself as one of the premier second baseman in major league baseball. Utley enters his first arbitration eligible post-season this
year.
 
GOODBYE JOHNNY Johnny Callison, a three-time All-Star outfielder with the Phillies, died Thursday night following a long illness. He was 67 years of age. Callison played for the Phillies from 1960 through the 1969 season. In 1,886 career games, Callison batted .264 with 321 doubles, 89 triples, 226 homers and 840 RBI. He also had 926 runs scored. He was the first and only Phillies player to win the MVP Award in an All-Star Game following his dramatic, three- run homer with two out in the bottom of the ninth that gave the NL Stars a 7-4 win at Shea Stadium in 1964.
 
NUNEZ'S FUTURE UNCERTAIN Though
Abraham Núñez had a decent second half in 2006, third base will be one of the potential upgrades for Pat Gillick in the off- season. Núñez is a nine-year veteran with a career BA of .244. He played 630 games with the Pirates from 1996-2004. He joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005, and replaced Scott Rolen near the end of the season. He was signed to a two year contract by the Phillies. Núñez is a switch hitter with little power. Núñez batted .211 with an .576 OPS. He did play an excellent third base.
Tryouts To Be Held For Phillies Ball girls - From The Phillies Lynx Stadium Facts - From The Ottawa Linx E.L. announces nominees for Minor League Baseball Awards - From The Reading Phillies Threshers Awarded For Community Involvement - From the Clearwater Threshers Historic Bowman Field - From the Williamsport Crosscutters BlueClaws VIP Card Specials - From the Lakewood BlueClaws PHIL-INS
The Phillies compiled a 5.48 ERA in April and June (their two worst months) while going 19-32. In their two best months (May and September), pitchers had a 3.84 ERA and the team went 35-21. 
TSN Player Of The Year Award Winners 
Former Phillies INF Placido Polanco was named ALCS MVP. 
The Phillies unveiled a historic marker in Yeadon, Pa., on Saturday to commemorate the exploits of the 1925 Negro League World Series champion Darby Hilldales. There were more than 500 in attendance, including four former Philadelphia Stars. 
With 58 home runs this season, Ryan Howard posted the second-biggest one-season home-run jump in history for players who had at least 100 at-bats in each season. Howard's home runs increased by 36 from his total of 22 in 2005. Davey Johnson had the biggest jump, increasing his output by 38, from five in 1972 to 43 in 1973. 
Phillies Prospects in Winter Ball 
But Burrell has 61 homers and 212 RBIs the last two seasons (32 and 117 in 2005; 29 and 95 this year). 
1B Ryan Howard and 2B Chase Utley are among the major-leaguers headed for Japan to play the Nippon all-stars in a best-of-five series from Nov. 3-8. Bullpen coach Ramon Henderson will be one of the coaches. 
The Phillies recently held their annual organizational meeting in Clearwater, Fla., and they were believed to have interviewed several coaching candidates, including former Astros and Mets manager Art Howe. 
John Russell, who managed the Phillies' AAA team to a first-place finish in 2006, also remains a coaching candidate. 
Former Phillies 2B Juan Samuel told the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal that he doesn't expect to be named to the Phillies'
coaching staff in 2007. Samuel is seeking a multiyear contract, and the Phillies are reluctant to give coaches more than one season because manager Charlie Manuel's contract expires after next season. 
A memorial service for Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle will be held on Tuesday in his hometown of Covina, California. The service is to start at 9 a.m. PT at Forest Lawn of Covina. In lieu of flowers, Lidle's family requested that donations be made to Tyler Stanger's family. 
Former Phillies pitcher Adam Bernero has elected to become a free agent after the Royals outrighted him to Triple-A Omaha. 
Cory Lidle went 26-20 for the Phillies after being traded to the team on August 9th, 2004. 
The Phillies will prioritize finding a third baseman, a catcher, a setup man for closer Tom Gordon, a starting pitcher, and a big bat to hit behind Ryan Howard. 
Phillies free agents: OF David Dellucci, LHP Randy Wolf, LHP Jamie Moyer, C Mike Lieberthal, INF
Jose Hernandez, LHP Aaron Fultz, LHP Arthur Rhodes, RHP Rick White. 
Arbitration Eligible Phillies: 2B Chase Utley, CF Aaron Rowand, RHP Brett Myers, RHP Ryan Madson, RHP Geoff Geary, 1B Randall Simon. 
RHP Scott Mathieson (reconstructive right elbow surgery) is expected to miss all or most of the 2007 season. PHILLIES DID YOU KNOW? In 1975 Garry Maddox was dealt to the Phillies for Willie Montanez. Maddox won the first of eight straight Gold Gloves that year. Only Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays won more in the OF. His 10th-inning, game-winning double in Game Five of the 1980 LCS put the Phillies in the World Series for the first time since 1950. Injuries, particularly a bad back, curtailed his playing time beginning in 1982. He retired in May 1986. 2006 PHILLIES DRAFT PICKS Phillies
2006 Player Contracts - Courtesy Cot's Baseball Contracts MLB STANDINGS - Courtesy Sports Illustrated PHILLIES 2006 SCHEDULE/RESULTS - Courtesy USA Today UP-TO-DATE PHILLIES TRANSACTIONS - Courtesy Fox Sports PHILLIES 2005 SCHEDULE - Courtesy MLB and The Phillies BASEBALL STATISTICS 101 - Courtesy Baseball Almanac NL TEAM STATS - Courtesy USA Today PHILLIES FARM REPORT - Courtesy PhillyBurbs  THE PFU FEATURE OF THE WEEK - JOHNNY CALLISON
 FORMER PHILLIES OF JOHNNY CALLISON GET THE FOTW HERE! 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION: 
 Tony Gonzalez.
 
 
 
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