Utley was traded last August 19 and never got a chance to acknowledge the fans because the trade wasn’t finalized until after the game that night.
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With hair slicked back and shirtsleeves pulled down to mid-forearm and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” echoing through Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park during his 13 years as a member of the Phillies, Chase Utley served as a staple of summer for baseball fans in Philadelphia.
Utley homered against the Phillies in his first game.
Utley doing the same tomorrow night will be no different.
But it’s not the first time one of the most beloved athletes in Philadelphia sports history returns to take on the team he became legendary playing his heart out for.
“This guy is as focused as any player I’ve ever seen”, said Mackanin. “He’s not outspoken, but he’s a winning player”.
Utley ranks in the top 10 of several Phillies offensive categories – fifth in doubles (346), sixth in home runs (233) and runs scored (949), seventh in RBI (916), eighth in games (1,551), ninth in hits (1,632), and 10th in walks (625) – which is especially impressive since the franchise has been in the National League since 1883.
Rollins was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before last season and the club’s all-time hit king received a rousing ovation before each of the three games in Philadelphia. He hit a homer off his former team when the Phillies were in Los Angeles last week.
If you are looking to sum up what the fans’ collective cheer for Utley was trying to say, look no further than the words of the late Harry Kalas who said “Chase Utley, you are the man”.
Utley was on a rehab assignment when Rollins returned but said he talked to his former teammate about what the response meant to him.
With his walk-up song from his days as a Phillie blaring, Led Zepplin’s “Kashmir”, Utley received a standing ovation that lasted almost a minute and half.
“I’m hoping for a positive (response from the crowd)”, said Utley.
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“We had a lot of great times here at this stadium”, Utley said prior to the game. “But in that 5-year run, it was pretty special”.
