The Man: Chase Utley’s top 10 moments
A model of this story initially ran in December 2021.
Ryan Howard joked in September 2021 that he, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley would all be on the Hall of Fame poll for the primary time that yr, if Utley had not tousled every little thing and performed two extra seasons with the Dodgers.
Plenty of tales will probably be written about Utley’s Hall of Fame candidacy then. In the meantime, here’s a look again at 10 of his biggest moments with the Phillies and Dodgers.
1. Utley’s first hit
April 24, 2003
In his first profession begin in his second profession recreation, Utley hit a grand slam in opposition to Colorado’s Aaron Cook at Veterans Stadium. If you look intently you will note the ball crusing over Gabe Kapler’s head.
It was the primary of Utley’s 5 grand slams with the Phillies.
2. The Streak
June 23- Aug. 3, 2006
Utley had a 35-game hitting streak, which is tied for the eleventh longest in AL/NL historical past. He slashed .405/.452/.699 with 14 doubles, two triples, 9 house runs and 30 RBIs in that stretch.
3. The Speech
Oct. 31, 2008
The usually reserved Utley gave one of the vital memorable speeches in Philadelphia historical past — not simply Philadelphia sports activities historical past — following the crew’s World Series championship parade. He introduced to the group at Citizens Bank Park that the Phillies had been “world [expletive] champions” to intensify the exuberance of a fanbase that had not loved a championship from considered one of its skilled sports activities groups in 25 years.
Utley will hear that line from that well-known speech for the remainder of his life.
“I hear it here at this stadium,” Utley mentioned at Dodger Stadium in 2016. “There are Phillies fans all over the country. I see at least one or two Phillies jerseys every game, to be honest, and occasionally they say that statement. That was a good time back in 2008, for sure.”
4. Beat the Mets, beat the Mets
Aug. 30, 2007
Utley tormented the Mets all through his profession, however this one stands out as a result of it contributed to the Mets’ notorious collapse because the Phillies received their first National League East title since 1993. The Phils trailed the Mets by one run within the ninth, however with the sport tied, Utley ripped a single in opposition to Mets nearer Billy Wagner to proper subject to attain Tadahito Iguchi from second base.
It was the fourth of Utley’s 5 walk-off hits with Philadelphia.
5. Five homers in 2009 World Series
Many Phillies followers keep in mind Game 1 of the 2009 World Series for Cliff Lee’s excellence, however Utley hit two house runs within the 6-1 victory. Utley hit 5 house runs within the Series, matching Reggie Jackson (1977) and George Springer (2017) for essentially the most homers in a single Fall Classic.
Is there any query that if the Phillies received the Series that Utley’s efficiency could be remembered extra as one of many biggest postseason performances in historical past? Utley’s 1.448 OPS within the ’09 World Series is tied with Babe Ruth within the 1926 World Series for Twelfth-best amongst all hitters in Fall Classic historical past (minimal 20 plate appearances).
6. Game 1 of 2008 World Series
Oct. 22, 2008
Utley hit a two-run house run within the first inning in opposition to Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir to provide the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Remember, Phillies followers had been anxious heading into the Series. Philly sports activities followers had suffered so many dangerous losses through the years. Would one thing dangerous occur to them once more? But Utley’s blast reassured them.
This was lastly going to be their yr.
7. ‘Chase Utley, you’re the man!’
Aug. 9, 2006
Utley made loads of hustle performs in his profession, however this one is immortalized due to Harry Kalas’ name. Utley was on second base when Howard chopped a ball into the air. Braves pitcher Macay McBride caught the ball and tossed it to first baseman Scott Thorman. Utley by no means stopped working and scored from second. The greatest a part of the play moreover Utley’s hustle and Kalas’ name? Charlie Manuel smiling as he stored trying into the dugout as if to say, “Can you believe he just did that?”
8. Utley outsmarts the Rays
Oct. 29, 2008
In a decisive Game 5, the Phillies and Rays had been tied at 3 within the seventh inning. Jason Bartlett stood on second when Akinori Iwamura hit a floor ball up the center. Utley fielded the ball together with his momentum carrying him towards left subject. He had no play at first, however he pump-faked a throw there anyway. It satisfied Rays third-base coach Tom Foley to ship Bartlett house. Utley threw a one-hopper to Carlos Ruiz, who utilized the tag for the out to finish the inning. It was classic Utley, at all times considering one step forward of the motion on the sector.
9. Grand slam in first recreation again in Philly
Aug. 16, 2016
The Phillies traded Utley to the Dodgers in August 2015. He performed his first recreation at Citizens Bank Park as a member of the Dodgers the next yr. Echoing his first hit at Veterans Stadium in 2003, he hit a grand slam to proper subject and sprinted across the bases.
10. Quintessential Chase
May 28, 2016
Utley’s laborious takeout slide of the Mets’ Ruben Tejada within the 2015 NLDS made the Mets and their followers livid as a result of Tejada broke his leg on the play. The slide sparked a lot controversy that it spawned a rule change the next yr.
Utley returned to Citi Field in May 2016. Noah Syndergaard threw a 99-mph fastball behind Utley’s again in his first plate look within the third inning on May 28. Utley by no means reacted. He knew why Syndegaard did what he did. Besides, Utley was by no means afraid of bodily baseball. He obtained hit by a pitch 204 occasions in his profession, which ranks eighth in baseball historical past.
But Syndergaard obtained ejected for the aim pitch. Terry Collins obtained ejected, too.
Predictably, Mets followers went nuts.
Utley rubbed their noses in it a bit. He ripped a solo homer within the sixth to interrupt a scoreless tie. He then hit a grand slam — the sixth of his profession — within the seventh to show a 2-0 lead right into a 6-0 lead. Utley completed his profession with 39 profession homers in opposition to the Mets, which ranks eighth all-time in opposition to them.
