Chase Utley was honored Friday night as the 51st person in Phillies history to be inducted into the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame. The six-time All-Star and 2008 World Series Champion will go down in history as one of the best players to wear a Philadelphia Phillies uniform.

The ceremony took place prior to the start of the Phillies’ series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays and was delayed due to inclement weather just like the ballgame.

Mattingly reflects

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly has been a coach in the Big Leagues since 2004. Naturally, he has crossed paths with Utley several times in his career.

Speaking with the media before the game, Mattingly recalled watching Utley early in his career, a young player with uncommon potential.

“Just the guy that you love on your team.” Mattingly reflected. “Just kind of pure baseball. Hard-nosed, straight ahead, no-fluff baseball.”

The hitting coach for the Dodgers in 2008 and 2009, Mattingly was on the losing end watching Utley and the Phillies take the National League title over the Dodgers two years in a row.

Later on, during Mattingly’s final year as manager of the Dodgers, Mattingly worked with Utley directly as the Phillies traded him to the Dodgers in August 2015.

Mattingly recalled a moment when Utley came to bat against southpaw Clayton Kershaw.

“He hit a pitch… and he hit it straight sideways. Like that late on it. Not really late, but like, ‘Let me get there.’ And the next pitch he wraps it around the pole in right field. And I was like, ‘This is different.’”

Mattingly later explained that the sideways foul ball just barely sailed over the protective fencing into one of the dugouts, causing the team to scatter.

While the current Phillies players seldom have time to mingle with the alumni during Alumni Weekend, Mattingly noted the special nature for some of the current players to have a chance to chat with a player like Utley or Jimmy Rollins, whom the players would have watched growing up. He compared it to himself looking up to Mike Schmidt or Steve Carlton in his youth.

Baseball is a form of poetry

In the 2008 World Series, the Phillies had a 3-1 advantage over the Tampa Bay Rays. With the series returning to Philadelphia, the game was tied at 2-2 when heavy rain forced the game to be suspended in the top of the sixth inning. Two days later, the game resumed. Thanks in no part to a special piece of fielding from Chase Utley, the Phillies held on to take the game 4-3.

Eighteen years later, as the Phillies prepared to enshrine Utley in the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame, Mother Nature once again had her say. A summer storm system blew through the Delaware Valley, forcing the Phillies into a pre-game rain delay that would last 95 minutes.

“I remember a lot of rain delays over the years,” Utley said after his speech. “That one was special.”

Pat the Bat takes the mic.

Eventually, the storm system passed, and it was time to honor Utley. After the introductions of several Wall of Famers were finished, Pat Burrell took center stage, giving an introductory speech on his friend and teammate.

“He did everything the way it’s supposed to be done,” Burrell explained. “Never made excuses. It was always about team, never about him.”

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Utley was a man known to do things the right way. Never taking a shortcut, Burrell explained that Utley spent more time in the video room than anyone.

“All the data and metrics are valuable,” Burrell described. “They only tell a part of that player’s story. They fail to identify what’s inside of the player: his character, what drives him, what motivates him, how tough is he mentally, physically, and ultimately, whether or not he’s a winning player.”

The Man

A tribute video then played on the Phanavision at Citizens Bank Park. During the video, Ryan Howard joked about how Utley, a man of few words, was likely to deliver a short speech.

Fifteen minutes later, Howard was proven wrong.

A good speech is not measured in length but in substance. Utley’s famous “World Champions” speech is one good example. Tonight, Utley proved he could do well in a longer form as well.

Throughout his speech, Utley took time to thank the people who helped shape his career and his life in Philadelphia. He recognized his parents; wife Jen, sons Ben and Max; along with members of the Phillies organization who influenced him along the way. Utley also singled out Charlie Manuel, Pat Gillick and Pat Burrell, crediting Burrell in particular with helping show him how to prepare, compete and carry himself as a major leaguer. Above all, he made clear that his career was shaped not only by the people around him but also by the organization and city that became home.

“For 13 years, I tried to play the game that this city expected me to play: hard, honest, no shortcuts, no excuses,” Utley described.

As Utley spoke, he repeatedly was greeted by shouts of “we love you” and “you’re the man” from the Philadelphia faithful who endured the rain delay for this moment.

“I will always be proud to be a Philadelphia Phillie,” Utley exclaimed.

After his speech, Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton presented Utley with his Wall of Fame ring. Rob Mack then made a surprise appearance to hand Utley a mini replica of his Wall of Fame plaque. Typically, the Wall of Fame inductee would then do a victory lap around the warning track in the back of a Toyota truck. Due to the delay, this was not an option.

Instead, Utley walked off the field to a standing ovation from the fans that adored him for 13 seasons and still adore him to this day.

The feeling is mutual.

“I adore this town,” Utley said to the media, reflecting on the night. “We had such amazing moments over the years. We created so many memories together… I’m as much obsessed with the fans as they seem to be.”