With less than 10 games left in Ryan Howard's career with the Philadelphia Phillies, Philliedelphia.com staffers were polled on their favorite moments of Ryan Howard's career. Here are the results:
Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly Editor
Though moments like him winning the 2006 Home Run Derby and MVP were tough to pass up because they represented the start of the Phillies most recent golden era, I selected Howard and Chase Utley going back-to-back in Game three of the 2008 World Series.
After stealing the first game of the series in Tampa Bay, the Phillies returned home to play the first home World Series game of my life. In the sixth inning, the duo went back-to-back, which proved to be crucial in a one-run Phillies win.
Though his poor performance in the 2009 World Series watered it down a bit, it's also hard not to remember how dominant Howard was during the 2009 NLCS, when he hit .333, slugged two home runs and drove in eight runs in a series that was just five games long.
Brian Startare, Sports Talk Philly Owner
To me, it's not sad that the career of Ryan Howard in Phillies pinstripes is coming to close as much as it is just simply the time for change and new beginnings. I'll always remember Howard for his MVP season in 2006, a World title in 2008 and his "just get me to the plate boys" in the 2009 Divisional Series vs. Colorado just prior to his game-tying double with two outs in the top of the ninth off of closer Houston Street.
When I think of Ryan Howard, I think of an all-time great Phillie. It's not about the contract, the strikeouts, the Achilles injury, but rather a man who represented his team and his city well and will always be a World Champion, a title only a handful of Phillies can claim.
Thank you Big Piece, thanks for the memories.
Matthew Shinkle, Sports Talk Philly Staff Writer
During the summer after my senior year of high school, I was just a week away from starting my freshmen year of college. I went to my last Phillies game of the season before only being able to listen to them over the radio until seasons end.
Going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Phillies trailed the Astros 5-1. After Cody Asche singled in Carlos Ruiz, Howard came to the dish with the bases loaded, down 5-2.
The count ran full, and then Howard fouled back yet another pitch.
“High fastball, Howard swings and misses,” I said, leaning over to my friend at the game with me. We’ve seen it happen to him all too many times.
It was high, and it was a fastball.
But it was crushed, and the eighth pitch of the intense at-bat turned into a 405-foot home run to center field to put the Phillies ahead, which ultimately won the game 6-5.
Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly Editor
For me, the Ryan Howard I'll always remember is the one that took the league by storm in 2005 and for a good five years was a 50-home run threat every time out. He was Rookie of the Year in 2005, MVP in 2006 with a franchise record 58 home runs and that only was the beginning of the team's success for five years as NL East Champions.
Theo DeRosa, Sports Talk Philly Staff Writer
For me, Howard's most memorable shot came in the heat of 2012’s “wild card fever”—the playoff race that truly captivated me.
On September 19 of that year, Cole Hamels and the Phillies, needing a win to stay level in the race for the second wild card (in its first year of existence), took on rookie Matt Harvey and the Mets at Citi Field. The Mets took a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth and it seemed like the game, and the season, were over.
Ryan Howard, though, had something to say about that.
Chase Utley worked a walk out of a two-strike count with two outs against lefty reliever Josh Edgin, bringing Howard to the plate. Howard took a strike, then delivered a two-run homer into what’s now known as “Utley’s Corner” in right field, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead and, once Jonathan Papelbon had closed out New York, the much-needed win.
While Howard circled the bases, I went with him, excitably doing a lap or two around the circular kitchen island in my house. It was certainly a joyous experience, a reminder that sometimes teams — and players — can come through for you.
