The thing about Ryan was he was a really good dude too. Never bad mouthed the fans even when they booed him in later years. Always had class and respect. Miss the Big Piece in the middle of the lineup.
This Phillies era was the greatest era of any philly sports team of my lifetime. My father will always talk about the bullies. And o understand that. Back to back cups and years of being elite. But this Phillies era was incredible. We may have only won it all in 2008. But this team was fun a couple years before and a powerhouse through 2012 when it fell apart. I never watched a philly team before knowing we were better than everyone else. It was awesome. I’m forever grateful. Chase, Jroll, Howard, hamels, chooch, lidge, victorino, Moyer, doc, cliff, madsen, werth, and let’s not forget PAT THE BAT. I wish I could tell that whole group of guys how much they mean to me.
People sleep on Ryan Howard’s 2006 season. Low key might be one of the most under-appreciated forgotten offensive seasons in modern baseball history.. .313/58/149 As an aside, through the first 6 seasons of his career as a full-time player, he was on an historic pace (*averaging* .275/46/133). So it’s not like it was a small sample size. I often wonder how different his career would have been had he not torn his Achilles in the last AB of the season in 2011. That same statement can be made about the Phillies as an organization as well.
The Philies didn't even respect his production enough to offer him a contract initially. He had to take them to arbitration to get his 1st big payday. ROY, MVP, world series title, 175hr, 494rbi in his 1st 4 years = 3 year contract. Almost better power numbers in 4 years than Bryce Harper had in 7 years for the Nationals, and we all know what the Phillies gave him.
Phillies should have never missed with his swing. Was hitting .300 with a great eye, 50+ home run power to all fields probably half of them to the opposite field...once the Phillies started working with him on pulling the ball his average plummeted and he was never the same. Still had MVP type numbers but wasn't a Triple Crown threat after they did what they did. In 2006, he was an absolute STUD to watch though.
Absolutely insane in his prime. Loved watching Ryan Howard come to the west coast during those summers in the last 2000's and just tear up the Padres and LA. He homered in about 5 straight games that I saw him play on the west coast over the years.
I went to a Phillies game the day after this one against the Astros with Roger Clemens starting for Houston. I didn't follow the team and really didn't know much about Howard at the time. When he came to bat for the first time he got the loudest ovation I've ever heard. I now realize the 3 HRs he hit the previous day were a big part of it. He went on to hit #53 that day and Chase Utley won it with a walk off HR.
I'm lucky to have a very good life and be a happy man, but darn if I don't miss those days so much. I know all the standard caveats and arguments when it comes to nostalgia and I respectfully don't give a hoot about any of them: late 90s through the 2000s were the best. Watching the Big Piece absolutely wallop the ball into the stands was one great pleasure among many from that time!
I was at this game. What an incredible memory. Me and my friend were like 12 years old and moved from 3rd base line to right field cuz we wanted to catch Howards third home run. Then he bombs oppo. Crowd was insane
I might have been at this game. I remember in Howard’s 4th at-bat a fan ran onto the field, got to within 5 feet of Howard, fell to his knees and bowed repeatedly.
+Philly0024 my goodness. I think I remember this though. I blank out shit games against our rivals. like that last game of the season against yall in 2012. when yall kept in your starters to make us lose a playoff berth lol.
