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
51 of 56
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 15: Luis Garcia #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies and Carlos Ruiz #51 celebrate after the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on May 15, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-3. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 15: Luis Garcia #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies and Carlos Ruiz #51 celebrate after the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on May 15, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-3. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /

. . Carlos Ruiz. 51. team. 6.

Carlos Ruiz, more commonly known as Chooch, is among the greatest catchers to ever play in Philadelphia.

In his 11 years wearing the red pinstripes, he hit .266/.352/.393 with 68 home runs and 401 RBI.  Ruiz hit for extra bases in 32.2% of his 934 hits with the Phils, including the postseason. His best offensive season came in 2012, when he hit .325 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI., and earned his lone All-Star appearance that year.

Ruiz also came up clutch in the post-season, driving in the game-winning run in game three of the World Series.

But it was not necessarily the offense that made Chooch a favorite in the clubhouse and fanbase alike.  Carlos Ruiz was a wizard behind the plate.  He was the catcher of four no-hitters, tying the MLB record set by Jason Varitek.

One perfect game by Roy Halladay in the 2010 regular season against the Marlins, followed by a no-hitter in Halladay’s first postseason appearance against the Reds that year, a combined no-hitter which Cole Hamels started in 2014 against the Braves, and Cole Hamels’ no-hitter at Wrigley Field in 2015.

Ruiz was probably the most highly regarded player from the Phillies core that won five straight division titles and a World Series among the fans.

He told MLB.com in an interview following his trade in 2015 to the Dodgers that “My heart and everything was in Philly.  I’m definitely going to miss the fans, the city, my teammates, the organization.”

We miss you too, Chooch.

Home/Phillies All-Time Lists