Jimmy Rollins, the former shortstop, National League MVP and Phillies franchise icon, will be officially honored among other Philadelphia baseball greats this summer. The 2008 World Series champion will be inducted onto the Phillies Wall of Fame this year, the club announced Thursday.
The ceremony will take place on Aug. 1 prior to the Phillies’ game against the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park.
“A dynamic leadoff hitter who impacted the game with his glove, bat and speed for 15 seasons with the Phillies, Jimmy was the spark plug for five consecutive National League East titles, back-to-back National League pennants and a World Series championship from 2007 to 2011,” Phillies owner John Middleton said in a statement. “He is one of the most legendary players to wear pinstripes, and we are thrilled to celebrate No. 11 on August 1, as J-Roll officially takes his permanent place in club history, becoming the 49th inductee of our prestigious Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame.”
Former general manager Ed Wade will also be inducted onto the Wall of Fame as an executive. The Wall of Fame induction will happen during the opener of the club’s annual Alumni Weekend series from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3.
Rollins, 46, was a second-round draft pick by the Phillies in 1996 and played the first 15 of his 17 big-league seasons in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2014. He developed into a star player and one of the best shortstops in the majors at his peak. Rollins notoriously declared the Phillies “the team to beat” in 2007 and backed it up with an MVP season while helping lead the club to its first postseason berth since 1993 and the first of five consecutive NL East division crowns. He joined the exclusive 20-20-20-20 club in that 2007 campaign with 30 home runs, 38 doubles, 41 stolen bases and 20 triples.
In 2014, Rollins surpassed Mike Schmidt for the most hits in franchise history. He finished his time with the Phillies with 2,306 hits before finishing his career with the Dodgers and White Sox.
Wade, 69, was the club’s general manager and vice president from 1998 to 2005. His Phillies teams never qualified for the postseason, but he acquired many of the players that ultimately went on to help the Phillies win the World Series in 2008. Wade will be the sixth executive to be placed on the Phillies Wall of Fame.
