Phillies announce Wall of Fame honor for beloved 2008 champion

In the 145 year history of the Philadelphia Phillies organization, there have been 50 inductees into the Wall of Fame. The long history of Philadelphia's first full-time professional baseball team has eight former players who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The 51st member of the Wall of Fame is arguably one of the most important players in the history of the Phillies Franchise

A member of the 2008 World Series Championship team, and the Phillies First Round Draft Pick in the 2000 MLB Draft, Chase Utley is one of the most popular and famous Philadelphia sports athletes of the 21st Century.

On Thursday morning, Phillies Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer John Middleton announced that Utley will his former teammates Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, and Manager Charlie Manuel with a bronze plaque on the prestigious Wall of Fame.

Utley played 13 seasons with the Phillies organization, finishing his career with the second-highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in Franchise History (62). The six-time All-Star selection also has the ninth-most Hits in Phillies History (1623), fifth-most Doubles (346), and the seventh-most Runs Batted In (916).

The UCLA Baseball product was one of the most clutch postseason performers in Major League Baseball History. In 46 career postseason games for the Phillies, Utley hit 10 Home Runs, with seven World Series home runs, which is still the most by any second baseman. Also, Utley's five home runs in the 2009 World Series is tied with Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a single World Series.

Chase Utley's induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 7th, and will be the "leadoff event" of this year's Phillies Alumni Weekend. The Phillies will be playing the Toronto Blue Jays that weekend at Citizens Bank Park.