On April 3, 2006, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies hits a double on opening day to extend his hitting streak. Rollins had hit safely in his final 36 games of the 2005 season. Two days later, Rollins extends the streak (the longest in franchise history) to 38 games, before it is ended.
Oakland Athletics reliever Huston Street and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard are rewarded for their efforts by being named the American League and National League rookies of the year, respectively. Street became Oakland’s closer when incumbent Octavio Dotel went down in May with an elbow injury that required surgery. Street saved 23 games in 27 chances to go along with a 5-1 record and a 1.72 ERA. Only Mariano Rivera’s 1.38 ERA for the Yankees was better among AL relievers. Street had 72 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings pitched, and opposing hitters batted only .194 against him. Howard became the Phillies’ everyday first baseman in early July when slugger Jim Thome was sidelined for the season with an elbow injury. Howard, who led all major league rookies with 22 home runs, also posted a .288 average and 63 RBI in 312 at bats. He had 11 homers and 27 RBI in September and October as the Phillies battled the Houston Astros for the NL wild card until getting eliminated on the last day of the season.
Pat Gillick signs a three-year deal, becoming the Phillies’ general manager. The 68 year-old, who has held the same position with the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Mariners, has led his teams to two World Series titles and nine playoff appearances.
2005 – Craig Biggio blasts a dramatic three-run homer off ex-Astro Billy Wagner with two outs in the ninth to stun the Phillies, 8-6. Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb had previously gone deep. It’s the second night in a row the Astros tag their former closer for the winning run, extending Houston’s mastery over Philadelphia to 12 straight, not having lost to them since May of 2003. The Astros maintain a one-game lead over Florida in the wild card chase.
2005 – The New York Mets establish a club record for most home runs hit in a game with seven. At Citizens Bank Park, the Mets go deep with Jose Reyes (2), Victor Diaz (2) David Wright (grand slam), Mike Piazza and Doug Mientkiewicz connecting as they rout the Phillies, 16 – 4.
2005 – The Washington Nationals franchise, formerly the Montreal Expos, lose their inaugural season opener bowing to the Philadelphia Phillies, 8 – 4. The franchise, which played its initial 36 years in Canada, becomes the first team to represent the nation’s capital since the Washington Senators left to become the Texas Rangers after the 1971 season.
In front of a sellout crowd of 41,626 fans, the Phillies play their first game in their $458 million Pattison Avenue ballpark. On a cloudy day, the Citizens Bank Park history begins with a 4-1 loss to the Reds with right fielder Bobby Abreu hitting the park’s first homer, accounting for Philadelphia’s only run.
A ten-foot bronze statue of Richie Ashburn is unveiled at Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies. Zenos Frudakis’s work of the five-time All-Star, located behind centerfield in Ashburn Alley, which features the team’s Walk of Fame.
On March 22, 2004Veterans Stadium is imploded early on a Sunday morning in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The Stadium was home to the Phillies from April 10,1971 to September 28, 2003. One of the most notable events in the stadium’s history was Game 6 of the 1980 World Series on October 21. In that game,…
On January 5, 2004, former reliever Tug McGraw dies at the age of 59. One of the most popular players in Phillies’ history, McGraw recorded the final out in Philadelphia’s first World Series title in 1980. He also served as the cheerleader and reliever for the 1973 “You Gotta Believe” New York Mets. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@…