Skip to content
Sports
Link copied to clipboard

Chase Utley, you are still the man

How do you sum up the career of a Phillies legend in a single cartoon?

On mobile? Click here to enlarge cartoon

How do you sum up the career of a Phillies legend in a single cartoon?

Once I heard the news Wednesday night that Chase Utley was being traded to the Dodgers, my mind started to wander through his iconic moments in Philadelphia.

The first, and most obvious, was a moment caught live by most news organizations. During the championship parade after the Phillies World Series win, Utley proudly proclaimed that the Phillies were "World Champions . . . World F------ Champions."

But since I'd never get a cartoon using such eloquent language past my editors, I thought about other great moments during Utley's storied Phillies career. The walk-off home run against the Mets in August 2007 that help push the team to an NL East title. The 35-game hitting streak in 2006. His game-saving throw to home plate during the 2008 World Series His five home runs during the 2009 World Series.

Then I remembered a play that still seems to sum up everything about Utley's time in Philadelphia. The Phillies were down 3-2 against the Braves at Turner Field in August of 2006. With the bases loaded and one out in the 7th inning, Utley hits a base-clearing double that gives the Phillies the lead. Then, as Ryan Howard hits an infield chopper and is thrown out at first base, a hard-running Utley rounds third and beats a throw to the plate, putting the Phillies up 6-3. Utley's efforts were summed up by legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas: "Chase Utley, you are the man."