Of course Chase Utley had the ball saved from his 200th career HBP
It didn’t receive the fanfare of a 3,000th hit or 500th homer, but Chase Utley entered a club even more exclusive during the second inning of the Dodgers’ game against the Padres.
The 39-year-old Utley notched his 200th career hit-by-pitch when he was plunked on the arm by Padres pitcher Bryan Mitchell, becoming the eighth player in MLB history to reach the mark. While you wouldn’t think a player would care too much about reaching that level of baseball pain, Utley sure seemed to. He even had the Dodgers bat-boy save the ball.
Best part about Chase Utley getting hit for the 200th time is he immediately pointed to get the ball and Yasmani Grandal did too. pic.twitter.com/EMBaqCDG7Q
— Ryan Walton (@RyanWaltonSBN) April 18, 2018
In case you’re wondering why a player would care so much more about one of the more unpleasant parts of the game, Utley’s intentions can be traced back to an exchange during a profile on the then-approaching milestone by Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. After learning of his place in history, Utley resolved to keep the historic ball.
“Is 200 a lot, compared to everybody else?”
Utley was informed where he ranked historically: Eighth all time.
“All time?” he said. “Like in history?”
Utley burst into laughter.
“Then I’m going to keep it,” he said. “Top 10, in the history of baseball? Hopefully it stays on the field, after it hits me.”
Utley is MLB’s active leader in career HBPs, but he has quite a ways to go before getting close to No. 1 in history. Deadball era player Hughie Jennings has the official record with 287, with Astros great Craig Biggio not far behind him at 285, which could be considered the modern record.
Utley, a clubhouse leader renowned across baseball, has at least managed to turn his HBPs into results for his team. According to Dodgers sideline reporter Alanna Rizzo, Utley has scored 57 runs off his 200 HBPs.
Like Futurama’s Old Man Waterfall, if you name a body part and a type of pitch, Utley has probably taken a ball on it, from it. Behold, this is what a decade of pain and on-base percentage boosting looks like.
Congratulations to Chase Utley for taking his 200th career HBP.
Here's a look at all of ones since 2008 (143 entering tonight). pic.twitter.com/hEJfQYxwdK
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) April 18, 2018
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