The sports memorabilia world can be transactional, but Carl Henderson navigated it with warmth and integrity.<\/p>\n
Henderson opened Carl\u2019s Cards in 1995, and it has since become a staple in the Havertown<\/a> community. He was a lifelong fan of the area\u2019s sports teams, and that passion showed in his work. <\/p>\n Carl\u2019s Cards has something for everyone \u2014 and his daughter, Lauren Henderson-Pignetti, is determined to keep it that way. <\/p>\n On the morning of Jan. 31, Carl Henderson died unexpectedly in his sleep. He was 69 when he passed. He was a beloved figure at his shop and beyond. <\/p>\n About 400 people gathered together during a memorial service last week in Bryn Mawr<\/a>. Former Phillies pitcher Dickie Noles read a passage from the Old Testament. Members of the Broad Street Bullies sat among the crowd.<\/p>\n His shop looks a little different now. There\u2019s sympathy cards pinned along the walls and a sign sits in the front window to commemorate the longtime owner. But the character remains the same. <\/p>\n Henderson-Pignetti sees Carl\u2019s Cards as a way to honor her late father, because, \u201cHe spent 31 years building this place. He would have wanted everything to stay the way it was.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753Do you have a sports card or any memorabilia that is meaningful to you and why? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rob Thomson<\/a> hasn\u2019t settled on the order but wants Trea Turner<\/a>, Kyle Schwarber<\/a>, and Bryce Harper<\/a> to bat in the first inning. <\/p>\n Alec Bohm<\/a> was the Phillies\u2019 most frequent cleanup hitter over the last two seasons and is the leading candidate to reprise the role in his last year before free agency. He said that his game was \u201cdown last year,\u201d but is confident that his ability to \u201cput the ball in play\u201d will be an asset in the cleanup spot.<\/a><\/p>\n And Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/a> is starting to ramp up after an 80-game suspension and a forearm injury limited him to 28 appearances last season.<\/a><\/p>\n What we\u2019re \u2026<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd3c Preparing: Major League Wrestling will return to Philadelphia to host two nights of action at the 2300 Arena this summer.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc8 Learning: The name of the Eagles\u2019 headquarters is changing from NovaCare Complex to Jefferson Health Training Complex.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 Wondering: VJ Edgecombe<\/a> opened up about his rookie year with the Sixers. Here\u2019s what the young star said on the Club 520 Podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n \u26f8\ufe0f Following: South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito is in eighth place after the women\u2019s short program at the Winter Olympics.<\/a><\/p>\n Next week, 319 college football prospects will descend on Indianapolis for the annual NFL scouting combine. The Eagles\u2019 needs are well-known, but how do they match up with the available talent in this draft? <\/p>\n Here is how we\u2019re ranking the combine position groups from strongest to weakest \u2014 and how they could help the Eagles address some roster needs.<\/a><\/p>\n After 11 days, the Flyers were back on the ice Tuesday in Voorhees. The common theme: the playoffs are still within reach.<\/p>\n With 26 games left on the schedule, and just five until the trade deadline, time is ticking on the season. Will the Flyers be buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between? A lot will be determined by their first five games.<\/a><\/p>\n Carver Engineering & Science\u2019s buzzer-beating attempt to overturn a ban from the Public League boys\u2019 basketball playoffs was swatted away on Tuesday.<\/a><\/p>\n A judge denied the team\u2019s plea for an emergency injunction to stop Tuesday night\u2019s semifinal game between Constitution High School and Imhotep Charter. This comes after the Engineers were disqualified from the Public League playoffs following a skirmish in the quarterfinals with Constitution. The student athletes of E&S are \u201cdisappointed\u201d in the decision.<\/p>\n Sports snapshot<\/p>\n \ud83e\udde0 Trivia time answer<\/p>\n Who was the last Sixer to win the MVP award in the NBA All-Star Game?<\/p>\n A) Allen Iverson in 2005.<\/p>\n What you\u2019re saying about Phillies\u2019 outfield<\/p>\n We asked: How will the Phillies\u2019 outfield stack up to last year\u2019s version? Among your responses: <\/p>\n Let\u2019s see now! The Phillies just let the best centerfielder they\u2019ve had since the Flyin\u2019 Hawaiian just walk away. To top that off they also let one of best pitchers in baseball just walk away. Just to prove they\u2019ve totally lost their mind, why not just cut the right fielder and give him a $19,250,000 bonus? The Mets got better. The Braves got better. The Marlins got better. The Nationals got better and our fightins got worse. \u2014 Ronald R.<\/p>\n Why the Phillies would risk a World Series<\/a> run with such a questionable outfield is beyond amazing to me. I like Marsh alot but he has proven that he seriously struggles against lefties. I love giving young players a chance but with this team\u2019s roster and playoff expectations this seems to be a tremendous amount of pressure to put on Crawford. And Garcia \u2026 I\u2019m sorry but I just can\u2019t get excited about a .227 batting average. Letting Bader go is baffling considering the expectations for this team. I believe there will be an outfield shakeup early in the season unless Phillies Management is quietly trying to rebuild the team and is willing to miss the playoffs. Letting Ranger Suarez go as well as Bader makes me suspicious this is the case. \u2014 Bob A.<\/p>\n Three question marks! Marsh did rebound in 2025 but was platooned. Crawford is a rookie and Garcia is a low risk, high potential project. Otto Kemp (one of the best names in baseball!), if healthy, could provide much needed punch to the offense – but can he field?? \u2014 Bob C.<\/p>\n Lots of questions re the outfield. Can Ott handle the role of right handed hitting left fielder? Can Crawford hit MLB pitching and cover CF as well as Bader who never should have been let go. And although Garcia will be an improvement over Nick, will he be good enough to carry this group. We will certainly not be seeing Delahanty, Thompson, & Hamilton out there, nor Burrell, Victorino, and Werth, but let\u2019s hope for the best. Guarded optimism at best. \u2014 Everett S.<\/p>\n Adolis Garcia is a career .237 hitter, averaging 30 HRs and 97 RBIs for his 7-year career.That is not substantially different than who he replaces, Castellanos, except for his superior defense.Crawford has more upside than Bader and Rojas in center field.Combined, they offer more offensive and defensive potential than last year\u2019s outfield.With that upgrade, and an improved bullpen, the Phillies should be a stronger contender in 2026. \u2014 John W.<\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Devin Jackson, Matt Breen, Jackie Spiegel, Ariel Simpson, Gabriela Carroll, Ellen Dunkel, Brooke Ackerman, and Katie Lewis.<\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n As always, thanks for reading. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. Kerith will catch back up with you in Thursday\u2019s newsletter. \u2014 Bella<\/p>\n