For the second time in franchise history the Philadelphia Phillies immortalized one of the members of the 2008 World Series champions. Pat Burrell joined manager Charlie Manuel on the wall Friday evening prior to the Phillies 9-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Burrell is the first player from the 2008 team to be added to the Wall of Fame, but he clearly will not be the last. So who else will be joining him, and in what order?
First we should take into consideration the basic guidelines for eligibility and the Phillies Wall of Fame. Players must have played in a Phillies uniform for at least five years and must be retired from the game for three years before being eligible to be on the Wall of Fame ballot. The Phillies have been known to make exceptions and adjustments to the Wall of Fame, including the addition of Manuel last season despite not being retired long enough and the posthumous addition of Harry Kalas, a broadcaster. But if the Phillies stand by the rules for players, we can unfortunately come to grips with the fact that Brad Lidge will never be eligible. While not 2008-related, neither will Roy Halladay (but Kyle Kendrick will!).
The most obvious pick to be the next player enshrined is shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is making the final turn around third base in his baseball career out in Los Angeles with the Dodgers. Rollins will return to Philadelphia this week when the Dodgers come to town, but he will be a lock to be on the Phillies Wall of Fame as soon as his eligibility begins. I don’t even care who else will be on the ballot in 2020 or 2021 or whenever, because Rollins will be a shoe-in.
Unless, of course, Chase Utley happens to retire first. Utley is every bit a lock for the Wall of fame as Rollins. It would be fitting if the two happen to be added to the Wall of Fame side by side, because that is how a generation of fans now have come to know Rollins and Utley.
After Rollins and Utley, the other locks have to be Ryan Howard and, eventually, Cole Hamels. there is no debate on these two, Rollins and Utley. They might as well start making the plaques now for all four. The two Phillies that should also have a strong chance to be added to the wall are catcher Carlos Ruiz (who now has won a World Series and caught four no-hitters, including a perfect game, in a Phillies uniform) and outfielder Shane Victorino. Personally, I would throw Brad Lidge in the mix as well even though he was not in town long enough. Without Lidge, there may not have been a World Series to be won. Unless the backlog of Wall of fame players isn’t already long enough to kill time before the 2008-stretch to come, there may be some slight room to sneak Jamie Moyer into the conversation, although that is not an argument I would want to make.
Locks: Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels
Likely at Some Point: Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino
On the Radar: Jamie Moyer
In the Air: Brad Lidge
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