Starting tonight, Chase Utley will play his final series in Philadelphia, where he spent the first 13 years of his major-league career and won a World Series in 2008. There will certainly be standing ovations and loud cheers for one of the most-beloved athletes in Philadelphia sports history throughout the three-game series versus the Dodgers.
One day, Utley will be in the Phillies Wall of Fame. If he ever wants to pop in for an appearance at Citizen’s Bank Park, he’ll be welcomed with open arms. This won’t be the last celebration for Utley as a player, but it could be the biggest depending on how things turn out in the years after Utley’s career.
The big question is: Will Chase Utley get into the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Second base is a tough position to consider for the Hall of Fame, as it’s typically been a bit of a light-hitting position compared to some of the other spots on the diamond—and offensive numbers are unfortunately used as the key criteria for Hall of Fame worthiness.
In his prime, Utley certainly matched and exceeded the offensive numbers expected from most Hall of Famers. From 2005 through the Phillies ascension to two World Series appearances in 2008 and 2009, Utley was undoubtedly one of the best players in baseball, with a .300 average and 146 home runs in those five years. Here are his stat lines from 2005-2009:
-2005: .291 AVG | 28 HR | 105 RBI | 93 R | .376 OBP
-2006: .309 AVG | 32 HR | 102 RBI | 131 R | .379 OBP
-2007: .332 AVG | 22 HR | 103 RBI | 104 R | .410 OBP
-2008: .292 AVG | 33 HR | 104 RBI | 113 R | .380 OBP
-2009: .282 AVG | 31 HR | 93 RBI | 112 R | .397 OBP
Those numbers are insane, and they are arguably the best five-year stretch of any second baseman in MLB history—especially when you throw in the world championship.
Utley was an All-Star from in the final four years of that stretch, and then again in 2010 when he played 115 games. After his scorching level of play for a handful of years, injuries started to get Utley off track, but he battled through his chronic knee issues and remained a productive player.
Battling is all a part of Utley’s game, which is easy to see if you watch just one game of his—or more appropriately, one routine ground ball which he runs out 100% every single time. Utley puts his body on the line unlike most professional athletes.
From 2007-2009, Utley led the major leagues in hit by pitch each season. His 201 career hit by pitch are eighth in the history of baseball.
Also, we cannot forget about Utley’s baserunning and fielding. He isn’t and never was the fastest guy in the world, but he makes smart decisions on the basepaths. Defensively, his baseball IQ again helps make him one of the best fielding second baseman of the last 20 years. (Remember his play in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series?)
Utley has a true all-around game that makes it easy to simply classify him as a great baseball player.
Utley’s effort, leadership, and consistency sets the tone for his team and is an example for younger players everywhere—from his teammates to kids learning the game. Think about it: Is there someone you’d rather a kid model their game after than Chase Utley? No disrespect to the other amazing baseball players that play the game extremely hard, but I think the answer is no.
Utley also showed up in the biggest moments. We already went over his superb defensive play against the Rays in the World Series, and he didn’t have a great offensive series overall against Tampa Bay; but his two home runs were big, and he hit .353 in the NLCS to help them win the National League.
In a losing effort in the 2009 Fall Classic against the Yankees, Utley had five home runs, which tied Reggie Jackson’s World Series record. He also set a record for consecutive games reaching base safely in the postseason (26).
Having a stacked lineup that included Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard certainly helped, but Utley still went out there got it done every time he stepped on the field.
The numbers are there, the all-around game is there, the intangibles are there, and the clutch play is there. With all them, it’s a home run.
One day, Chase Utley belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
GOAT
Easy HOF
In his prime one of the best players since 2000