Kruk almost convinced Utley his 1st MLB HR (a slam!) didn’t count
Brent Maguire
As Chase Utley’s illustrious career with the Phillies began, he was involved in a rookie prank that many first-time players have become accustomed to.
In the latest episode of the 6-1-1 Podcast, hosted by Phillies greats Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, Utley remembered when he was called into the manager’s office a day after hitting his first big league home run (a grand slam) to find former Phillie and future Philadelphia broadcaster John Kruk waiting for him.
“You know, as a 10-year Major League vet, I’m a member of the Major League Baseball Rules Committee,” Kruk told Utley and others in the room. “We had some problems with you. They didn’t put you on the roster. They’re going to fine the Phillies $250,000. You have to forfeit every game Chase has participated in this year.”
As Kruk continued his prank, he asked Utley specific questions about whether he’d flown or driven when he was promoted to the Majors and where he was staying in Scranton (formerly the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate) and Philadelphia. You can imagine the nerves running through Utley, who wasn’t sure if this was a prank.
“You know what the biggest problem is with this whole thing?” Kruk asked Utley near the end of the prank. “Do you honestly think that Major League Baseball would make me a member of the Rules Committee?”
Utley recalled this experience with Howard and Rollins and what was going through his head at that moment.
“Think about that. I’m 24 years old. I get to the big leagues. I hit a grand slam and I’m so excited,” Utley said. “I get calls from everyone and then the next day, they tell me that my home run didn’t count, the Phillies get fined and we have to forfeit the games. Like, what is going on? But looking back on it, I should have known better.”
The 6-1-1 Podcast is available on MLB.com, MLB.TV, all podcast platforms and YouTube.
