Pair of legendary Phillies to be inducted into Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

The Man and The Big Piece. Two of not only the Philadelphia Phillies' most iconic players to ever step foot in both the Vet and the Bank, but two of the city's most iconic athletes as a whole.

Lots of fans have tried to copy Ryan Howard's iconic stance where he holds the bat out, then waves it up and down behind him for him to smack a no-doubter, drop the bat down and admire the beauty he created. And what about Chase Utley, his demeanor and how he explicitly stated at the end of his career that, yes, he does hate the New York Mets.

Legendary Phillies Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to be inducted into Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

But now, those ideals and more can finally be appreciated by all Philadelphia fans for years and centuries to come. As announced earlier this week, Utley and Howard are being included alongside a number of legends from the city as inductees into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame for the Class of 2024.

The event will take place at the Event Center at the Live! Casino and Hotel near Citizens Bank Park on Nov. 7. If you sat near the Hall of Fame club, you've seen it in the iconic Philadelphia skyline.

Last year, Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz was inducted. The year before that, J-Roll himself, Jimmy Rollins was inducted. In 2016, Uncle Chuck Charlie Manuel was inducted as well. This year, another notable name among everyone is Jameer Nelson, who played for Saint Joseph's University and led a 15-year NBA career into being the general manager of the 76ers G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.

How did these two ball players get to this point in their careers? A whole novel could be written on that, but let's keep it to the best of the best, starting with the man who just recently swung a bat for the Savannah Bananas in September.

Ryan Howard lived up to his nickname

Playing close to 1,600 games for the Phillies and only the Phillies, Howard was collecting awards in his first year as he won the 2005 Rookie of the Year, hitting 22 home runs and 63 RBI on a just under .290 batting average. The next year, The Big Piece truly lived up to his namesake. Howard had what would become the best year of his career in 2006, with 58 home runs and 149 RBI, his first All-Star appearance, led the league in total bases, and won the coveted NL MVP Award. And yes, those 58 home runs remain the Phillies all-time single-season home run record.

Over the next few years, Howard led the league in home runs, hitting 40 of them in the next four seasons from 2006, as well as lead in RBI, leaving out 2007 in that respect but also gaining at least 100 or more RBI from 2006 through 2011. In 2008, everyone knows what other coveted trophy both he and Utley won on that historic night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Howard is second all-time in home runs for the franchise along with intentional walks, third in RBI and sacrifice flys, fourth in extra-base hits, fifth in total bases, seventh in walks and slugging percentage, and just making the top 10 in doubles. Does more need to be said about this legendary power hitter?

And with recent appearances like with the Bananas on his old stomping grounds, which now includes his own restaurant, and in Cooperstown last year, dare to say he still has it. Would have been great to have instead of half of the lineup during the 2024 NLDS.

Chase Utley was The Man for the Phillies

Chase Utley, The Man as the late and great Harry Kalas called him, has his own list of accolades that helped propel his career and the Phillies as a whole. Utley did eventually finish out his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but as you're getting older, who wouldn't want to go to Los Angeles? There were even rumors he might come back.

Utley spent 13 years of his career at second base with the Phillies, and in that time became an All-Star six times starting in 2006, as well as a four-time Silver Slugger. A World Series champion, with his run-saving throw in Game 5 of that series and his speech during the parade after they won proving how much the Philly faithful cherished The Man. In the next World Series appearance, Utley knocked five home runs for the Phillies.

He also won the NL Pennant twice and the NL East five times in his career, that drought finally being broken this year. Utley on the Phillies is fifth all-time in doubles, sixth in home runs and total runs scored, seventh in RBI, total bases and extra-base hits, and ninth in hits, at-bats and games played. He is first, and in the top 10 all-time in the entire league, in hit-by-pitches. It goes to show how many players loved Utley as much as the fans did.

Two icons among legends in the same place. Nov. 7 will sure to be a day to remember. And in the coming years, hopefully, players like Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola and who knows who will join them in Philadelphia immortality.

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