That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies Franchise History: Greatest Player to Wear Each Number

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 09: Former Philadelphia Phillies greats, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt were among many on hand to honor former manager Charlie Manuel who was to be inducted to the Phillies Wall of Fame during a ceremony before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 09: Former Philadelphia Phillies greats, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt were among many on hand to honor former manager Charlie Manuel who was to be inducted to the Phillies Wall of Fame during a ceremony before the start of a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
27 of 56
Next
SAN DIEGO – AUGUST 16: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the San Diego Padres in the first inning during the game on August 16, 2008 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. The Padres beat the Phillies 8-3. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO – AUGUST 16: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the San Diego Padres in the first inning during the game on August 16, 2008 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. The Padres beat the Phillies 8-3. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) /

. . Chase Utley. 26. team. 6.

Chase Utley was the embodiment of what it meant to be a Philadelphia Phillie and a baseball player.  He was a California kid, born in 1978 in Pasadena, California.  By the time he was traded back out west in 2015, most people would say he was a Philly guy, through and through.

Utley’s incredible run in a Phillies uniform from 2003-2015 was a heck of a ride.  Six All-Star appearances, four consecutive Silver Slugger Awards from 2006-2009, and a championship in 2008.

In that magical 2008 season, he hit .292 with 33 home runs and 104 RBI.  In the first inning of game one of the World Series, Utley hit a two-run homer that all but cemented his legacy as a Philadelphia sports legend.

He also uttered the words that most fans will remember from the celebration at Citizen’s Bank Park: “World F***ing Champions.”

He is a career .275 hitter in 16 seasons with the Phillies and Dodgers with 233 home runs and 916 RBI in a Phillies uniform.  He is also the club’s all-time leader in stolen base percentage at 88.36% (129 for 146) and owns a career fielding percentage of .982, though he was robbed of a Gold Glove several times.

From Utley’s silky smooth swing, to his quirky, but precise, fielding, he became a fan favorite and a true leader of the clubhouse.  Most fans would probably agree that, on those mid 2000’s teams that we all fell in love with, he was almost everyone’s favorite player.  He may be ending his career with the Dodgers, but he is a Phillie for life.

As Harry Kalas famously said, “Chase Utley, you are the man.”

Home/Phillies All-Time Lists