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Let's lead things off with a FIRST: Thursday night, Weston Wilson became the first Phillies rookie ever to hit for the cycle (and just the 10th player in franchise history to do so).  Less than a month from turning 30, the veteran of eight minor league seasons has become a useful spare part for the Phils -- hitting well over .300 -- especially after Whit Merrifield failed to produce in that spot earlier this year.  (In case you were curious who the previous Phillies player was that hit for the cycle… stick around).

(Below:) Here's another "different" look for Aaron Judge, who became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 300 career home runs last Wednesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.  The Yankee captain reached the milestone after just 955 games, overtaking the previous record-holder Ralph Kiner, who needed 1,087 games to get to 300.  I snapped this on August 4th, 2016, while Judge was with Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre -- just nine days when he made his big league debut by homering in his first at-bat.
From the Time Machine: he hit home runs lefthanded, but he's a righty when signing autographs.  Chris Chambliss, beloved in the Bronx for his pennant-winning, walk-off homer in the 1976 ALCS, making a fan happy at the BAT Dinner.

(Below:) There was only one way to enjoy a game at Candlestick Park -- go to a  matinee!  I was there on an August afternoon in 1988.

Finally, in case you wondered who the most recent Phillie to hit for the cycle before Weston Wilson, it was JT Realmuto, just over a year ago, on June 12th, 2023.

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