Chase Utley

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Utley's career was defined by a unique blend of understated leadership and aggressive play. While known for his meticulous work in the video room and batting cage, he faced criticism as a "dirty" player due to an overly aggressive baserunning style. This culminated in a notorious 2015 incident where he intentionally slid into New York Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada, breaking his leg. Despite this, his offensive production was historic; Utley holds the record for seven career World Series home runs by a second baseman and shares the single-series record of five home runs with Reggie Jackson and George Springer. His partnership with Jimmy Rollins was legendary until Rollins's trade to the Dodgers in the winter of 2014, ending their run as one of the NL's premier middle-infield duos.

In Their Own Story

Utley's journey began at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where his coach praised his "fastest hands" and he hit over .500 with a slugging percentage exceeding 1.000. After turning down an $850,000 offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 1997 draft to attend UCLA, he moved from shortstop to second base due to arm strength concerns. Drafted by the Phillies in the first round (15th pick) of 2000, he made his debut on April 4, 2003, striking out swinging against Jeff Suppan. His first start came on April 24 against the Colorado Rockies, where he hit a grand slam off Aaron Cook. By June 2005, after trading Plácido Polanco to Detroit, Utley became a full-time starter, hitting .291 with 28 home runs and earning co-recipient of the Mike Schmidt MVP Award. In 2006, he maintained a 35-game hitting streak, tying Luis Castillo for the longest by a second baseman, and combined with Rollins to become the first NL middle-infield pair to hit 25 home runs each in a season.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Utley's peak should focus on his 2008 season. Through April, he hit a league-leading 11 home runs, including seven in just seven games from April 17–23, tying the franchise record for consecutive games with a homer. He broke the Phillies record for home runs before June and received an unexpected endorsement from President George W. Bush. On May 13, he was named one of "fittest guys in the country" by Fitness Magazine. His consistency earned him back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, despite breaking his fourth metacarpal bone on July 26 from a pitch by John Lannan, he returned on August 27 to hit a home run and an RBI double. His leadership was instrumental as the Phillies clinched their first playoff appearance in fourteen seasons that year.

Did You Know?

• Utley hit over .500 his senior year of high school with a slugging percentage over 1.000.
• He scored the final game-winning RBI in Phillies history at Veterans Stadium on September 27, 2003.
• In 2006, he became part of the first pair of National League middle infielders to hit 25 home runs each in the same season alongside Jimmy Rollins.
• Utley shares the record for most home runs (five) in a single World Series with Reggie Jackson and George Springer.