That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies announce retirement ceremonies for three franchise legends

By John Town

DENVER - OCTOBER 11: (L-R) Jimmy Rollins #11, Chase Utley #26 and Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies wait for a pitching change after an injury to Scott Eyre (not pictured) against the Colorado Rockies in Game Three of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 11, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
DENVER - OCTOBER 11: (L-R) Jimmy Rollins #11, Chase Utley #26 and Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies wait for a pitching change after an injury to Scott Eyre (not pictured) against the Colorado Rockies in Game Three of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 11, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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The Phillies announced the dates of retirement ceremonies for Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins, integral players from the 2008 World Series.

The Phillies announced Tuesday the dates for retirement ceremonies for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins. They will be honored in their own individual ceremonies as opposed to as a group.

In conjunction, the team announced a ticket package for all three games as well as three additional games. The available additional games include Alumni Weekend against the White Sox, featuring the Wall of Fame induction Aug. 3 and a reunion for the 2009 NL Champions Aug. 4.

Rollins’ ceremony will take place Saturday, May 4 prior to the team’s 7:05 game against the Nationals. Utley’s retirement will occur before a 7:05 game against the Marlins Friday, June 21. Finally, Howard’s will also take place before a Nationals game at 1:05 pm on Sunday, July 14.

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Rollins hasn’t played in the league since 2016 after being released by the White Sox after 41 games. He was in spring training with the Giants the following year but didn’t make the team and was released.

Howard’s last major-league came on the last day of the 2016 season. The team had a farewell ceremony with him before declining their club option on his contract. He played in Triple-A with the Braves and Rockies in 2017 but never made it back to the majors. Howard could soon be joining ESPN as they shake up their baseball coverage for the 2019 season.

Utley was traded to the Dodgers during the 2015 season.

He managed to stick around with the Dodgers for three more years but announced his retirement earlier this year. Utley spent the last two years largely in a reserve role, not even making their playoff roster this year.

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Last year, Shane Victorino, another member of the 2008 World Series team, retired with the team during Alumni weekend. Roy Halladay was posthumously inducted into the Wall of Fame and the entire 2008 team reunited for that Sunday’s game, minus Utley, who was still playing.

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