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Phillies: Best/Safest Phillies Jersey to Buy for Christmas

By George Stockburger

May 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) waits on deck against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) waits on deck against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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With a Phillies roster being turned over, buying a jersey or shirt can be tough

Philadelphia fans are always looking for one thing during the holiday season: the newest jersey featuring their favorite player. Problem is for this Phillies team, anyone can be traded at any time.

For that reason, I’ve broken down which jerseys are the safest option for you to gift in just two weeks (!!!) time.

For obvious reasons, let’s eliminate people not worth having a jersey for. Guys like Hector Neris, Cesar Hernandez, and Freddy Galvis are nice players who could be here for a while. At the same time, they’re most likely to be moved as more talent trickles through the system.

Plus, who would honestly want a Neris jersey?

Then, there’s the group of players who could be boom or bust when it comes to paying $100 for a jersey. Aaron Nola would be the perfect option, if not for being a walking Tommy John surgery. Odubel Herrera is another one of those players, but I fear his liabilities may make him extendable once the abundance of prospects arrive and produce.

Jared Eickhoff has proven to be a workhorse, but ho one owns a Brett Myers jersey, so why get anything other than an Eickhoff shirt.

Finally, Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph are potential middle of the order sluggers who could be key pieces to the next era of Philadelphia baseball. However, I would wait to buy either of their jerseys until after the season.

Ultimately, what does any of this mean? Like most purchases, risks are involved. With something like a jersey that will either become a precious item or a decoration on a hanger, it can be tough to decide. At one point, the Eagles moves under Chip Kelly became so ridiculous one local retailer started offering insurance for jerseys should the player be moved.

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Here’s my list for the best/safest Phillies jerseys to buy this holiday season:

  1. Maikel Franco
  2. Vincent Velasquez
  3. Odubel Herrera
  4. Aaron Nola
  5. Jorge Alfaro
  6. Jared Eickhoff
  7. Freddy Galvis
  8. Tommy Joseph
  9. Cesar Hernandez
  10. Jeremy Hellickson

There’s no safe bet with any of those players, but when you look towards the future, they are our future.

Players such as J.P. Crawford, Mickey Moniak, Nick Williams, Franklyn Kilome, and Jake Thompson could one day be worth the jersey. But for now, stick with the aforementioned names when you start checking off your holiday shopping list.

Even better, go with the classics you can always wear. Utley, Rollins, Schmidt, Carlton, and Howard will never go bad in this town.

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