Ryan Howard – Phillies/1B (2004-16) Ryan Howard was a three-time NL All Star and was NL MVP in 2006. The slugger known as “the Big Piece” twice led the NL in HR’s (2006, 2008) and was a three-time RBI leader (2006, 2008, 2009). Howard also won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2005. The Big Piece was truly a big piece of the puzzle that led to the Phillies 2^nd World Series Championship in 2008. Howard was the fastest in MLB history to reach both 100 HR’s and 200 HR’s. He is the first player in Phillies history to knock 50 HR’s in a single season hitting 58 in 2006. His 85 HR’s in his first 1,000 AB’s is also an MLB record. 

Brent Celek – Eagles/TE (2007-18) Brent Celek was a hard-nosed, durable tight end who spent 11 seasons with the Birds. Celek is 4^th all-time on the Eagles list for receptions (398) and games played (175). Celek only missed one game in his entire 11-year career with the Eagles. Celek had the 8^th most receiving yards and 11^th most receiving TDs in team history. Celek had the 2^nd best season receiving yards total of any Eagle TE in team history (Pete Retzlaff). Celek’s 19 receptions during the 2008-09 playoff season were third most for any TE in NFL history. Celek was a member of the Eagles Super Bowl LII Championship team.  Celek was the longest tenured athlete in Philly sports at the time of his release in March 2018. Celek announced his retirement on August 31, 2018 in a letter to fans saying “When i thought long and hard about the prospect of putting on another uniform, it just seemed wrong.” Celek went out on his own terms and on top. An Eagle forever!

Jake Diekman – Phillies/P (2012-15) Jake Diekman was a hard-throwing lefty reliever that was part of an exciting young Phillies bullpen. That bullpen did not stay together long as Ken Giles was traded for Vince Velasquez and four minor leaguers, and Diekman was traded along with Cole Hamels to Texas in a move that brought several top prospects (Jorge Alfaro, Jerad Eickhoff, Jake Thompson, and Nick Williams). Diekman’s 96+ mph fastball is among the best of all MLB lefty relievers.

Garry Maddox  – Phillies/CF (1975-86)   Garry Maddox was an 8-time Gold Glover and one of the game’s greatest-fielding centerfielders. Legendary voice of the Phillies, Harry Kalas nicknamed Garry Maddox the Secretary of Defense. He also said of Maddox, “Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Garry Maddox.”  While Maddox was known for his defensive exploits, he had some success with the bat as well. Maddox drove in the winning run in the deciding game five of the NLCS in 1980 vs Houston Astros, and then caught the final out sending the Phillies to the World Series vs Kansas City Royals.  In 1973, Maddox finished 3^rd in hitting (.319 avg) and 2^nd in triples (10). In 1976, Maddox again finished 3^rd in hitting (.330 avg), and finished 3^rd in doubles (37). The fleet-footed Maddox stole 20+ bases 9 consecutive seasons. Maddox won the World Series with the Phils in 1980, won the Roberto Clemente Award in 1986 and entered the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2001.     

John LeClair – Flyers/LW (1995-04)   Big “Johnny Vermont” was a high-scoring winger on the Flyers famed Legion of Doom line. LeClair had three consecutive 50-goal seasons (51 in 1995-96, 50 in 1996-97, and 51 in 1997-98). He was the first American-born NHL player to accomplish this.  LeClair was awarded the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy in 1995, the Bobby Clarke Trophy in 1997, 1998, and the NHL Plus/Minus Award in 1997, 1999. The 5-time NHL All Star was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

Cole Hamels – Phillies/P (2006-2015) Cole “Hollywood” Hamels was an important piece to the Phillies late 2000’s dominance. Hamels was an NL All Star in 2007, 2011, and 2012.  Hamels was both the NLCS and World Series MVP in 2008 en route to the Phillies 2008 World Series Championship. “Hollywood” also won the Babe Ruth Award in 2008.  Hamels pitched a combined no-hitter vs. Atlanta Braves on September 1^st, 2014.  Hamels then pitched a no-hitter in his Phillies farewell game on July 25^th, 2015 vs. Chicago Cubs, becoming only the 5^th pitcher with a no-hitter and a combined no-hitter.