Ryan Howard's career as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies is over, Howard a Phillie for 13 years will not be resigned in the upcoming offseason. Howard's career has had many ups and downs more downs of late due to the injuries that have affected him over the years. Many in Philadelphia turned on him during these injury prone years and thereafter showing their disrespect for all that Howard has done for Philadelphia and the Phillies organization. Ryan Howard has and will always be my favorite Phillies player. During his prime, no one could knock a homerun out of the park like Howard and this ode to Howard will celebrate five of his top moments with the Phillies in no order.
5. Howard Belts A 505 Foot Bomb
Known for his power, Ryan Howard belted the longest home run in the history of Citizens Bank Park at 505 feet. At this time there was no more feared hitter in baseball than Ryan Howard.
4. " Get Me To The Plate Boys"
Down two runs with two outs this playoff game was on the line when Howard came up to bat. Howard went up to the plate and smacked a two-run double that tied the game up, this came as no surprise to Howard who had told his team the previous inning to just get me to the plate. They got him to the plate and he delivered like he had so many times in his career.
3. Howard Wins The Home Run Derby
2006 was arguably the greatest single season for a Philadelphia Phillies player ever. We will get to Howard's other accomplishments during this season later on but for now ,we will settle on his Home Run Derby victory. Howard won the Derby and it meant so much more because he beat the Mets to do it.
2. Howard Wins Rookie of The Year
Ryan Howard burst onto the scene in 2005 and shocked Phillies fans after hitting 22 home runs and supplanting fan favorite Jim Thome at first base. After this season the Phillies realized they had no choice to start Howard but good thing they did.
1. Ryan Howard Wins MVP
A year after winning his rookie of year, Howard in his first full season unleashed his fury upon the league. Howard broke the Phillies all-time single-season home run record this was Howard's greatest season and showed us what Howard's true power was.
Honorable Mention: Howard Homer Twice During The World Series
In Game 4 of the 2008 World Series Howard blasted two home runs and knocked in 5 RBI's . This was the greatest game of Howard's postseason career and it helped the Phillies take a 3-1 series lead.
These are only five or Howards best career accomplishments, I use them to underscore a point. Howard is one of the 5 greatest Phillies ever and we took him for granted and mistreated him. The second there was a sign of decline Philadelphia fans turned on him booed him even threw beer bottles at him. This is sadly how Philadelphia seems to treat some of there it's legends. Just ask Donovan Mcnabb the greatest Quarterback in Eagles History. Mcnabb was constantly hated and derided throughout his career and even when he was playing. When Mcnabb left the Eagles they fell into a deep Quarterback hole from which they are just now emerging.
Ryan Howard's final season with the Phillies has ended, Howard will leave the Phillies and sign with some other team and play out the rest of his career there. As a Phillies fan, I thank Ryan Howard for everything he has done for the organization and the city of Philadelphia. I hope when the next Phillies legend comes around we'll treat him like he deserves.
