The postseason is a great time for adding new items to your collection. At the least there are programs and pennants that are produced in limited quantities for each round and World Series appearances can yield t-shirts, pictures and various trinkets for years after. Some items like last year's 1st edition NLDS program are only available for sale during one game and will continue to demand prices two and three times. Others are mass produced to the point where retail value doesn't hold beyond the close of the series. Win or lose, one postseason collectible that is sure to stay in your collection is your game ticket.

In general I don't consider myself a ticket collector - but, like most people I have a box with ticket stubs from games I have attended. The "collection" spans three decades, and many tickets are from games whose scores I don't remember, that featured players who I have either forgotten, or wish I could (the late '90's were brutal). Others instantly trigger memories such as the one from August 13, 1993 that ended with Kim Batiste's 9th inning grand slam or April 27, 2003 when Kevin Millwood pitched his no-hitter against the Giants. Among the most memorable are the playoff tickets that I have accumulated over the years.

Through the years, although postseason appearances have been sparse, the Phillies have produced memorable tickets for their Playoff and World Series games. The team seemed to sense the ticket's place in the collectibles world making sure to feature unique designs and logos. A well designed ticket from a memorable/meaningful postseason game can hold value on the secondary market or find a place as a display piece for years after the event. Unfortunately, like their play on the field, the Phillies' design for this season's playoff tickets were bland, and non-distinctive. If only I could stuff the memories of the NLDS into that box of old tickets, too.

Memorable dates in Phillies history worth collecting:

No-Hitters -

June 21, 1964 at NYM – Jim Bunning
June 23, 1971 at CIN – Rick Wise
August 15, 1990 at PHI – Terry Mulholland
May 23, 1991 at MTL – Tommy Greene
April 27, 2003 at PHI – Kevin Millwood
May 29, 2010 at FLA – Roy Halladay
October 6, 2010 at PHL – Roy Halladay

History Making Accomplishments -

Steve Carlton’s 3,000th Strikeout – April 29, 1981
Pete Rose Breaking the NL Hits Record – August 10, 1981
Steve Carlton’s 300^th Win – September 23, 1983
Mike Schmidt’s 500^th Homerun – April 18, 1987

Pennant Clinching Dates -

October 1, 1950 at BKLN
October 8, 1983 at PHL
October 12, 1980 at HOU
October 13, 1993 at PHL
October 15, 2008 at LAD
October 21, 2009 at PHL

World Series Winning Dates -

October 21, 1980 at PHL (Game 6)
October 29, 2008 at PHL (Game 5)