Ryan Howard. Kyle Schwarber. End of list.
The Philadelphia Phillies have had two seasons of at least 50 home runs. Howard did it in 2006, when he won National League’s Most Valuable Player Award, and Schwarber clinched the achievement on Tuesday night against the rival New York Mets.
It was a milestone that was coming eventually for Schwarber, who hit 46 homers in 2022 and 47 in 2023. But he paid it off with time to spare this year, and though he might not overtake Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in this year’s MVP race, he’s making a compelling case.
Great moments deserve to be recognized, and Phillies manager Rob Thomson had a memorable way of immortalizing this one.
Thomson called for a toast in the home clubhouse after the game, and he had a simple, yet colorful message for Schwarber’s accomplishment.
“Fifty homers in a season,” Thomson said, per Paul Casella of MLB.com. “You’re the 34th person to hit 50 in the history of the (expletive) game.”
“That’s pretty sweet,” Schwarber responded, according to Casella.
There’s more out there for the Phillies in October. But Schwarber’s accomplishment also serves as a reminder: the only National League player with 50 home runs at the moment is available for anyone to sign this winter.
The Phillies may want to take note of that fact Thomson dispensed, because having one of those 34 players that have ever accomplished a feat of such impressive magnitude on your team is a pretty serious advantage.
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