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Phillies legend Chase Utley to announce retirement after 16th season

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 29: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets ready infield in a game against the Florida Marlins on April 29, 2007 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 6 to 1. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 29: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets ready infield in a game against the Florida Marlins on April 29, 2007 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 6 to 1. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images) /
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It’s the end of an era for the former Phillies second baseman

Former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley plans to announce he will retire at the end of this season from professional baseball at the age of 39, according to reports. A press conference is being held Friday afternoon.

Drafted in the first round by Philadelphia in 2000 out of the University of California, Utley made his major league debut in grand fashion with a grand slam as his first major league hit on April 24, 2003.

It was the start of a career that should have led straight to Cooperstown, but injuries stood in the way of Utley reaching historic numbers in his 16-year career.

Utley retires with 259 home runs, 409 doubles, drove in 1,025 runs, and a .276 batting average. He’s second all-time in WAR among Phillies position players, fourth in WAR, second in dWAR, ninth in hits, fifth in doubles, sixth in home runs, seventh in RBI, and first in fans hearts.

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A gritty, hard-nosed player who played the game with everything he had, Utley endeared himself with the city. Hard slides were a part of his game because he did everything to ensure his team would win. The only thing he considered dirty in his game was how his uniform looked at the end of the game.

Utley is the third member of the 2008 World Series team to announce retirement plans this summer, following Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. Utley, Cole Hamels and Ryan Madson remain the only active players from the championship club.

Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Carlos Ruiz have not played this season, though their official retirements have not been made.

Next: Top 5 second basemen in franchise history

Utley will be in Philadelphia with the Dodgers from July 23-25 for a three game series.

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