Chase Utley Moments of All Time

Last week showed how much Philadelphia fans actually care about their teams and the players on those teams.  If you watched or listened to bottom of the first in the Phillies vs. Reds game on May 23rd  from Citizens Bank Park, you know what I mean.  In the bottom of the first, Chase Utley came to the plate for the first time this season.  After missing 46 games because of knee problems, "The Man," as the late Harry Kalas tagged him, was back.  What followed next? A rousing standing ovation from the home faithful.  The crowd was loud even as Chase came to the plate 0 for 4 later in the game.  After the game, Chase said after the game, “I tried to tune it out, but it was a little too loud, I’ll take that any time. The crowd was outstanding, as usual.” (compliments of csnphilly.com)  In honor of my favorite Phillie of all time coming back to the lineup, I've decided to put together:

The Top 5 Chase Utley Moments of All Time:   
(photo courtesy of si.com)

5 - May 23, 2011: Utley returns to the lineup after missing 46 games.
I think I pretty much covered what happened last week, but just in case you missed it, here is the clip. (compliments of crossingbroad.com)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQAKTtP8HDs&feature=player_embedded

4 - April 15, 2003: Utley hits a grand slam as his first Major League hit. 
 Because of a defunct lineup and Placido Polanco getting injured by a pitch, Chase Utley was finally in the major leagues.  During a 2-0 game against Colorado at the Vet...(pause for a moment for the Vet)...Chase stepped to the plate without a hit in the majors.  The bases were loaded, and the rest is history.  Harry Kalas makes a great call, so I won't ruin it.  I remember watching this game and being excited because Utley came from UCLA, a school I always dreamed of attending.  This was a great moment, and the first of many major league gems that Chase Utley has put together.
 http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/flashback-chase-utleys-first-career-hit-is-a-grand-slam/

3 - "Chase Utley, you are the man!".
 Down one run in the Top of the 7th at Atlanta, Chase stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a clutch three run double to left-center field.  Other than the fact that he came up huge in that at-bat, what he did next was even more impressive.  Macay McBride, already pouting like a fat kid who dropped a cupcake, wasn't ready for what was next.  He throws a ball in the dirt and Ryan Howard chops it down the first base line.  McBride slowly gets to the ball, jogs a few steps, and tosses it to first.  Little did he know, Chase was flying around third and coming home.  The throw home wasn't in time, and Chase gave the Phils a 6-3 lead.  This is just a great head's up play by a smart baseball player.  Not to mention the fact that this inspired one of Harry Kalas' greatest lines, "Chase Utley, you are the man!"  You were right Harry, Chase IS the man.
http://vimeo.com/9341292

2 - Game 5, 2008 World Series, Top of the 7th.  
This is the moment that I knew we were going to win the World Series.  With the clinching game of the World Series tied at three in the Top of the 7th inning with two outs and a man on second, Akinori Iwamura hit a 92 mph pitch from JC Romero to the right of Chase Utley.  Utley darted to his right and scooped up the ball.  Being the smart ball player he is, Utley decides to fake the throw to first, because he had no shot at getting Iwamura at first.  Seeing that Jason Bartlett had rounded third slowly, Utley throws home and with a beautiful tag by Carlos Ruiz, gets Bartlett at the plate.  This was another amazing head's up play.  After this play, I started to feel like we were actually going to win a championship in this town.  The rest is history...
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2008/tyib/index.jsp 

 


1 - October 31, 2008: World Ph**king Champions. 
Yea, that's right, I said it.  Chase has made some of the biggest plays in the field and at-bats in Phillies history, but what he said at the parade on Halloween Day, 2008 was brilliant.  Not because Philadelphia fans are bad people, not because of the curse word itself.  The reason why this is my favorite moment is because I am part of a generation of Philadelphia faithful  who were thinking the same exact thing!  This was the first championship I had ever seen in this city, and I think that it finally sunk in when Chase put it into those three words that will live forever in the hearts of fans.  We were finally the "World Ph**king Champions", and it felt great! (video courtesy of YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKSYf48ulIY&feature=player_detailpage


Well, that's it, so far.  Chase Utley has provided Phillies fans with some of the greatest baseball moments of our lives.  Hopefully, his knee is fully recovered.  This way, I can put together a more extensive Top 10 a few years down the line, and hopefully there are a few more World Series rings attached to those stories.  The Phillies are in Pittsburgh tonight, so kick back, sip some beers, and enjoy the weekend!