Utley the quintessential inductee for Phillies' Wall of Fame
How would you describe Chase Utley? Intense, heady, super-prepared, never-ease-up-hustler, hard-nosed, consummate professional, leader, winner, best second baseman in Phillies history.
Honors
Six-time All-Star ... Four Silver Slugger Awards.
51st member of the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame (2026)
Scouting Report
Phillies scout Paul Scott saw Utley play three games in 2000 when Utley, a junior at UCLA, was eligible for the Draft. Scott filed this May 31 report: “Live, athletic body. Long arms, small waist. Quiet, but aggressive. Quick bat. Sneaky power. Good, soft hands. Good instincts and good baserunner. Active, moves around a lot. Can drive the ball the other way. Hitch in swing, but hands and bat are in good position at trigger. He will be a starting second baseman on a pennant winner. Top of the order hitter. Should move through the system quickly.”
The Phillies selected him in the first round, 15th overall, in 2000. Three years later, Utley made his Major League debut.
Signature Plays
“Chase is going to keep going and he’s safe at home plate! Chase Utley, you ... ARE ... the man!” was the call by Phillies Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas when Utley scored from second base on a routine groundout against the Atlanta Braves on August 9, 2006. ... Two years later, in the clinching World Series Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park, Utley fielded a ball behind second base and threw out Jason Bartlett at home plate in the seventh inning. Bartlett tried to score from second base on an infield hit in a 3-3 game.
Firsts
His first Major League hit was a grand slam at Veterans Stadium (2003) ... First hit at Citizens Bank Park, an RBI single (2004) ... First World Series at-bat (2008), a two-run home run at Tropicana Field . . . First World Series Game at Yankee Stadium (2009), two home runs ... First game back at Citizens Bank Park with the Dodgers, two home runs, including a slam; two standing ovations; two curtain calls (2016).
Streaks
His 35-game hitting streak (2006) is second longest in team history ... He had a streak of reaching base in 26 consecutive postseason games, a club record ... He’s the only Phillies player to homer in 5 straight games, twice, both in 2008.
Numbers
Career .276 hitter, 259 home runs, 1,885 hits in 1,937 games over 16 seasons ... Hit by a pitch 204 times ... 4 Silver Sluggers, 6-time All-Star, top-10 in NL MVP voting 3 times.
Phillies career: Among 20 top-10 offensive categories, he ranks in 13, leading in HBP.
Among Phillies second basemen, he holds single-season records for most doubles (48, 2007), home runs (33, 2008) and RBIs (105, 2005).
He stole 154 bases and was caught just 22 times, an amazing 87.50% success rate.
Twice hit 2 home runs in a World Series game (2009) ... 5 HR that fall matched a single WS record ... Seven career WS home runs are the most for any second baseman.
Dubious Distinction
Chase had the final game-winning RBI in the history of Veterans Stadium, 10th-inning walk-off single (9/27/03) ... He grounded into a game-ending double play for the stadium’s last out (9/28/03).
Final Day
Even though he wasn’t activated for any postseason series, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported Chase took batting practice and ground balls at second base before World Series game 5 on October 28, 2018. As a kid growing up in L.A., Utley saw many a game at Dodger Stadium. Only fitting his final day in uniform was at Dodger Stadium.