Phillies receive 2009 NL championship rings

The Phillies received their 2009 National League championship rings before yesterday's game.

Nineteen current Phillies took part, along with Washington Nationals pitcher Tyler Walker, who was with the Phillies last year. The remaining players will receiving their rings in the next few weeks, the Phillies said.

Here are some details of the rings:

* "National League Champions 2009" is prominently displayed on the top of the 14-carat white gold ring, with two rubies on either side of "League" to signify back-to-back championships. The top of the ring, consistent with the team's 1983 and 1993 National League championship rings, reflects a baseball diamond with the basepaths done in rubies and the bases in diamonds.

* The Phillies script logo for the top of the ring was used rather than the club's signature Phillies "P". The ring committee felt that the signature "P" should be reserved for years in which the team wins a World Championship.

* The top of the ring contains two baguette diamonds in the 2009 date to signify the two world championships in the Phillies' history, to date.

* The right shank, in addition to the player's name and number, also displays overlapping pennants for 2009 and 2008. The left shank reflects the National League championship Warren C. Giles Trophy with the League Championship Series result in games won displayed on either side of the trophy – Phillies 4, Dodgers 1.