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Phillies Will Reportedly Honor Ryan Howard Sunday

By George Stockburger

May 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) waits in theon deck circle against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) waits in theon deck circle against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The longest tenured Phillie will reportedly be honored at the final home game

While Ryan Howard’s tenure was not as flashy as we’d hope down the stretch, he provided everlasting memories for Phillies fans.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Phillies will honor Howard in someway prior to the final home game of the season Sunday.

"The Phillies tried endlessly to move him, but it never worked out. The team plans to honor him next Sunday in what should be an awkward moment in some respects. Howard is basically being pushed out, and there’s no guarantee his career will resume elsewhere."

There were reports the team would honor both Howard and Carlos Ruiz over the summer, but those plans were cut short after Ruiz was traded to Los Angeles.

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I would expect the Phillies to present Howard with a couple of gifts, most likely a unique painting of his famous home run swing. It wouldn’t shock me to see them present him with first base, a jersey signed by current/former teammates, or some kind of bat.

A video tribute complete with kind words from Charlie Manuel, Jim Thome, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins bundled in would be a lock as well.

Ryan Howard is currently in the final year of the guaranteed portion of his contract, and the club is expected to formally decline his club option for 2017. If they were to retain him through that clause, they would be obligated to pay him $23 million. The Phillies will instead pay Howard a $10 million buyout.

Sitting second on the Phillies all-time home run list with 381, Ryan Howard holds a unique place in Philadelphia Phillies history. He won the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in consecutive seasons, and was a top 10 finalist for the MVP for six straight seasons.

Howard is seventh all-time in games played by a Phillie (1568), tenth in at-bats (5692), tenth in doubles (276) and third in RBIs (1191).

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Those numbers could have been exponentially higher for Ryan Howard if not for the achillies injury suffered in the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Howard currently sits just 19 home runs away from 400 in his career. With 24 this season, it is possible he could obtain 400 should an American League club sign him to be a DH.

Fan Appreciation Day will also be held this Sunday against the New York Mets at 3:05, “featuring plenty of surprises and prizes.”

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