Phillies: What will it take to see more numbers retired?

The Phillies are teasing fans with something that may never happen

When the Phillies tweeted the numbers of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard and announced retirement ceremonies, fans were left confused for a brief moment. Had a franchise that held strict standards for number retirement finally let up in order to honor three of the greatest players in franchise history?

Alas, the tweet was purely for promotion of three separate career retirement ceremonies for the three pillars of Philadelphia’s 2008 World Series championship. Each player will have a day in the spotlight in correspondence with the 10th anniversary of the 2009 National League pennant club.

Of course, the ceremonies can be bought as a six-game ticket package that ensures seats at all three ceremonies and three additional games throughout the year.

Perhaps the tweet was simply crafted with poor judgment. For a team that only retires the numbers of Hall of Fame players, it felt like a demand of the fanbase to retire these three numbers was finally heard.

After all, Rollins is the franchise’s all-time hits leader, Howard is second in home runs, and Utley has the second-highest WAR in team history behind Mike Schmidt, but Cooperstown isn’t guaranteed.

A Hall of Fame debate can be made for each of those players, but it’s likely none of them are enshrined into Cooperstown. Some have championed for Utley to get in as one of the greatest second basemen of all-time despite not having the all-around numbers of some, but instead, for having a remarkable peak spanning six years that’s widely unmatched in the history of baseball.

Rollins is the likeliest to enter Cooperstown with 2,455 hits and an MVP award, but he’s not a lock. Had Howard not torn his achillies and hit 18 more home runs to eclipse 400 he would have a stronger argument.

The earliest Rollins or Howard could receive consideration for the Hall of Fame is 2022, and Utley will have to wait until 2024 for first ballot consideration. It could be a decade until one of them makes it to Cooperstown, and that estimation might be conservative.

However, if none of these players makes it in, would the Phillies really hold off on officially retiring 11, 26, and 6 just because they aren’t in the Hall of Fame?

That begs the question, what’s the historical precedent for a team to retire a jersey number?

According to the Wikipedia page for retired numbers in Major League Baseball, there are 194 numbers currently retired. That includes Jackie Robinson’s #42 across the entire league, managers such as Don Zimmer and Bobby Cox, and three owners; Bud Selig, Gene Autry, and August Busch.

This does not include retired initials like the Phillies have for Harry Kalas (HK) or Grover Cleveland Alexander (GA) or similar honors spread across the sport.

Additionally, 54 numbers retired in baseball are for players not in the Hall of Fame, and that number will decrease once Roy Halladay, Derek Jeter, Edgar Martinez, Todd Helton, and David Ortiz are inducted into Cooperstown.

Pete Rose, Don Mattingley, and Barry Bonds are three others who could potentially enter Cooperstown at some point who’ve had their numbers retired.

This still leaves about a quarter of numbers retired across baseball that were held by players not in the Hall of Fame.

I understand the sanctity of the Phillies’ number retirement process, but if their all-time hits leader doesn’t make it to the Hall of Fame, are they really going to hold out on retiring his number?

The Phillies are among the leaders in retired numbers across baseball with five: Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, and Robin Roberts. Eleven teams have fewer than five numbers retired, which doesn’t include the aforementioned initials and Jackie Robinson’s number.

Among those teams are including expansion franchises Colorado, Miami/Florida, Washington, and Arizona. Those teams have been around for a couple decades, let alone the Phillies, who have been around since 1890.

I’m not asking for the Phillies to retire numbers like the Yankees have, but their standards should be broadened. It’s likely someday the numbers 6, 11, 26 and others will join the ranks of 1, 14, 20, 32, and 36. It’s arguable that Larry Bowa’s #10, Charlie Manuel’s #41, or Cole Hamels’ #35 should be retired.

Just don’t taunt the fanbase with cheap tickets flaunting ceremonies that are nothing but money grabs from a starving city.