Kevin Frandsen (R) pictured here at a Jimmy Rollins charity event, will broadcast 81 Phillies games this coming season. (Brian Michael/Phillies Nation)
Roy Halladay was one of four elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Jan. 22. While he only had four seasons in a Phillies uniform, he certainly left his mark … a Cy Young Award, a perfect game, and baseball’s second postseason no-hitter.
He and catcher Carlos Ruiz had a special bond. It was only fitting that Halladay became a Hall of Famer on Ruiz’s 40th birthday.
Retirements
Last season saw four 2008 World Champion Phillies announce their retirements: Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard. Three are still active: pitchers Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Ryan Madson.
Victorino kicked off the annual Toyota Alumni Weekend by ceremoniously retiring as a Phillie prior to the Friday night game. He joined Doug Glanville (2005), Mike Lieberthal (2008), Pat Burrell (2012) and “Polly” — Placido Polanco (2016) — in similar pregame ceremonies.
That number will increase by three in 2019: Jimmy Rollins will ceremoniously retire as a Phillie on May 4, Chase Utley on June 21 and Ryan Howard on July 14.
Honors
Jamie Moyer, Gavvy Cravath and Danny Murtaugh were 2018 inductees into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame … Victorino was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, the highest honor given to an athlete from that state … Charlie Manuel was listed among 10 candidates eligible on the “Today’s Game Era” ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame … Larry Bowa was inducted into the LaSalle Club Baseball HOF in his hometown, Sacramento, Calif. … Jim Lonborg received the Baseball Legacy Award from The Sports Museum in Boston.
Jim Thome and Moyer were honored at the 16th annual In The Spirit of The Game Awards dinner of the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation in Los Angeles. Pat Gillick was one of the presenters.
Elsewhere
Kevin Frandsen will be on 81 radio broadcasts with Scott Franzke this season … David Bell (Reds) becomes the third alumnus to be a current Major League manager, joining Terry Francona (Indians) and A.J. Hinch (Astros). Turner Ward joined Bell’s coaching staff … Rod Barajas the bench coach for the Padres and Steve Scarsone is third-base coach for the A’s … Ruben Amaro Jr. is a member of the Mets’ baseball operations front-office staff (Mets) … C Daulton Varsho is one of the Diamondbacks’ top prospects. He’s the son of Gary Varsho and was named after Darren Daulton … Darin Ruf, Tommy Joseph and Jake Thompson are playing pro ball in Korea … John Russell is the technical director of baseball at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. … Larry Christenson, Doug Clemens, Tommy Hutton, Jim Poole, Desi Relaford and Brad Mills attended the Legends of Youth Dinner in New York.
Larry Shenk is author/editor of the Phillies.com Alumni section. Articles re-printed at Phillies Nation by permission of MLB and the Philadephia Phillies.Â
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