This is the second time the Phillies have made this list, and the first time that they have done so at the expense of the Mets. Back in 2006, the Phils were just hoping that they could hang with New York, and a certain slick fielding center fielder happened to make a sacrifice that would make him a fan favorite for the rest of his time with the Phillies.
Moment #21: Aaron Rowand sacrifices his face-May 11, 2006
The Philadelphia Phillies were a team in transition during the 2006 season. Jim Thome had been brought in to be the star of an up and coming team, but by the end of the 2005 season, he was suffering from injuries, and a first baseman by the name of Ryan Howard was ready to take over the starting job. So, on November 25, 2005, the Phillies traded Thome to the Chicago White Sox. The main player that the White Sox sent back was a center fielder named Aaron Rowand, who was a decent offensive player that was willing to do go as far as he could on defense. Considering the Phillies had dealt with Kenny Lofton and his defense the year before, actually having someone that would play up to the wall was a welcome sight for most Phillies fans. Little did we know what we were getting into.
Coming into the 2006 season, the New York Mets were the favorite to win the National League East, and they had started well, winning 22 of their first 33 games. The two teams had split the first two games of a three game series in Philadelphia in early May, and on May 11, they faced off once again. It didn't take long for the number 21 moment to take place.
Gavin Floyd started the game for the Phillies, and after striking out Jose Reyes and getting Cliff Floyd to line out to Rowan, he ran into some trouble. Carlos Beltran walked and stole second, and Floyd then walked Carlos Delgado and David Wright to load the bases for Xavier Nady. Floyd struggled against Nady as well, running the count full, before laying a pitch right over the plate that the New York right fielder drove into deep center field. Rowand kept running back to track the ball, and was getting closer and closer to the fence. Eventually, he made an amazing over the shoulder catch that became part of Philadelphia lore when he couldn't stop in time, and smashed right into the uncovered, metal fencing at the top of the fence.
Somehow, Rowand held onto the ball, and held it up for both the umpires, and the fans to see. His catch had saved three runs from crossing the plate, and he did it at the expense of his face. What made the catch even more ironic was the fact that Rowand himself had asked that the top of the fence in center field get more padding on it, since he would be running towards it often. The Phillies would add the padding during their next road trip, and there have been no issues since. As for the game, the Phils took the lead in the bottom the first inning on a home run by Chase Utley, and added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a David Bell double. Rain set in after that, and the Phillies won the game 2-0. Had Rowand not made that catch, it's likely that the Mets would have won that game.
Though Rowand was only in Philadelphia for two seasons, his running catch into the centerfield wall has made him a part of Phillies lore forever. He always played with a full motor, and didn't care what happened to him, as long as the team came out on top. After his catch against the Mets, he underwent five hours of surgery to repair the damage that he did, and wouldn't play again until May 27. He would break his ankle later in the season while he was attempting to make another catch, but his second year in Philadelphia was the best of his career. He finished with a .309 batting average and made his only All Star team. After the 2007 season, Rowand left the Phillies and signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants, who are now enjoying his defense in center field. The Phillies would finish the year above .500, but 12 games behind the Mets. Things would get better for the Phils after that, and you have to look back at Rowand's catch as a possible starting point for everything that has happened over the last three years.
Here's Rowand's catch, in all it's glory. It's not embedded, so all you have to do is click here. I remember watching this catch in a bar in South Jersey, and the first thing that came out of my mouth was "Oh my God, Aaron Rowand's dead." I couldn't make that up if I tried.
We crack the Top 20 next. The Flyers make their second showing, and actually manage to survive a team coming back from 3-1 down against them. It was a welcome change than the last time it happened.
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