The Phillies announced Thursday that Rollins will be enshrined as part of Toyota Phillies Alumni Weekend on August 1 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,” said Phillies Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer John Middleton.
“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.”
It’s a fitting honor for the best shortstop in team history, a Gold Glove wizard with 2,455 career hits, an MVP trophy, a ring, and more swagger than a Vegas card shark. But if you’re looking for the definitive moments that defined J-Roll, well, you’ve come to the right place.
The Hit King
June 14, 2014. You knew it was going to happen eventually. Rollins steps in against Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson and laces a single to right. Just like that, he’s got hit No. 2,235—one more than Mike Schmidt. Schmidt himself was waiting on the top step of the dugout, giving the all-time franchise hit leader the moment he deserved. And, of course, there was a twist: Rollins had been candid that he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause before breaking the record. He got the hit, and that winter, he was off to L.A.
The Statement
Spring Training, 2007. "I think we’re the team to beat in the National League East." A lot of guys make bold predictions. Very few take the heat and then deliver. Rollins did both. His Phillies trailed the Mets for most of the season, but his words hung in the air like a warning shot. New York collapsed. The Phillies stormed back. Rollins put together a season for the ages—30 homers, 20 triples, 94 RBIs, and an MVP award to go with the division title.
The Leadoff Spark
September 30, 2007. One game left. Tied with the Mets for the division. The Phils needed a win, and J-Roll wasted no time. He singles, steals second, steals third, then scores on a sac fly. Later, he rips his 20th triple of the season, making him the first player ever to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers, and steal 20 bases in the same year. The Phillies win, the Mets lose, and just like that, Rollins is right. The Phillies are the team to beat.
The Broxton Moment, Part II
October 19, 2009. Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton still had nightmares about Matt Stairs from the previous postseason. Turns out, he should’ve been worried about J-Roll. Phillies down 4-3, two outs, two on, bottom of the ninth. Broxton fires a 1-1 fastball, and Rollins absolutely hammers it to right-center. The ball splits the outfielders. Eric Bruntlett scores. Carlos Ruiz scores. The stadium shakes. The Phillies win. Rollins punches their ticket to another World Series.
The Play That Changed Everything
September 27, 2008. The Phillies are this close to clinching the division, but nothing comes easy. Up 4-3 in the ninth, the Nationals load the bases with one out. Ryan Zimmerman smokes a grounder up the middle. Looks like two runs. Looks like disaster. Then, out of nowhere, Rollins dives, gloves it, flips to Chase Utley, and the relay to Ryan Howard beats the runner by a step. Game over. Division clinched. And here’s the kicker: That one play set up the entire Phillies postseason rotation. Cole Hamels stayed on track to start Game 1 of the NLDS, then Game 1 of the NLCS, then Game 1 of the World Series. He won all of them. The Phillies won the title.
And it all started with Jimmy Rollins doing what he always did—making plays, setting the tone, and making history. So, yeah, Wall of Fame? This was never a question.
The Hit King
June 14, 2014. You knew it was going to happen eventually. Rollins steps in against Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson and laces a single to right. Just like that, he’s got hit No. 2,235—one more than Mike Schmidt. Schmidt himself was waiting on the top step of the dugout, giving the all-time franchise hit leader the moment he deserved. And, of course, there was a twist: Rollins had been candid that he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause before breaking the record. He got the hit, and that winter, he was off to L.A.
The Statement
Spring Training, 2007. "I think we’re the team to beat in the National League East." A lot of guys make bold predictions. Very few take the heat and then deliver. Rollins did both. His Phillies trailed the Mets for most of the season, but his words hung in the air like a warning shot. New York collapsed. The Phillies stormed back. Rollins put together a season for the ages—30 homers, 20 triples, 94 RBIs, and an MVP award to go with the division title.
The Leadoff Spark
September 30, 2007. One game left. Tied with the Mets for the division. The Phils needed a win, and J-Roll wasted no time. He singles, steals second, steals third, then scores on a sac fly. Later, he rips his 20th triple of the season, making him the first player ever to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers, and steal 20 bases in the same year. The Phillies win, the Mets lose, and just like that, Rollins is right. The Phillies are the team to beat.
The Broxton Moment, Part II
October 19, 2009. Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton still had nightmares about Matt Stairs from the previous postseason. Turns out, he should’ve been worried about J-Roll. Phillies down 4-3, two outs, two on, bottom of the ninth. Broxton fires a 1-1 fastball, and Rollins absolutely hammers it to right-center. The ball splits the outfielders. Eric Bruntlett scores. Carlos Ruiz scores. The stadium shakes. The Phillies win. Rollins punches their ticket to another World Series.
The Play That Changed Everything
September 27, 2008. The Phillies are this close to clinching the division, but nothing comes easy. Up 4-3 in the ninth, the Nationals load the bases with one out. Ryan Zimmerman smokes a grounder up the middle. Looks like two runs. Looks like disaster. Then, out of nowhere, Rollins dives, gloves it, flips to Chase Utley, and the relay to Ryan Howard beats the runner by a step. Game over. Division clinched. And here’s the kicker: That one play set up the entire Phillies postseason rotation. Cole Hamels stayed on track to start Game 1 of the NLDS, then Game 1 of the NLCS, then Game 1 of the World Series. He won all of them. The Phillies won the title.
And it all started with Jimmy Rollins doing what he always did—making plays, setting the tone, and making history. So, yeah, Wall of Fame? This was never a question.
