Shane Victorino's Top Moments with the Phillies
Shane Victorino, the (former) Phillies centerfielder, has been traded to the Dodgers, the same team that left him unprotected in 2004, allowing the Phillies to claim him in the Rule 5 Draft.
While not all of his moments were highlights, Victorino certainly brought a certain energy to the Phillies. Here is a look at some of his top moments, both on and off the field, during his time in red pinstripes.
Home run vs. Dodgers in the playoffs (to set up Stairs' game-winner)
Matt Stairs' game-winning moonshot in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS may be one of the most memorable moments in Phillies history, but it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Victorino taking Dodgers reliever Cory Wade deep to tie the game in the top of the eighth.
Thanks to Victorino, fans will always have Joe Buck's memorable deep "into the night" call of the Stairs homer.
Beer shower in Chicago
Philadelphia fans always get a bad rap for throwing batteries and snowballs at visiting teams, but the shoe was on the other foot when a Cubs fan tossed a beer at Shane when he was trying to make a catch in the outfield. Vic tracked the ball all the way to the warning track when John Macchione, of Bartlett, Ill., dumped the rest of his nine-dollar stadium beer on the outfielder's head. In the ensuing confusion, Macchione initially ran away but later turned himself in to police after Victorino pressed charges for assault.
Assault? Maybe not. But Victorino gave fans the gift of one less city where they have to listen to the opposing fans tell them what horrible people they are.
Flying into the rightfield stands to catch a fly ball
It's July 3rd, 2007. The Astros are batting with the bases loaded, two outs, and a one-run lead. Eric Bruntlett, then playing for Houston, hits a foul ball that hooks towards the right-field stands. At full sprint, Victorino gives chase and dives head-first into the stands. He didn't catch the ball.
"When I was going after it, I wasn't thinking [about hurting myself]," Victorino said. "I was trying to make the catch. After I looked at it, it was a stupid play."
Oh well. It looked cool and it kind of epitomized Shane Victorino's play for the next five years: not always the smartest, but it sure looked fun.
Grand slam against Sabathia in 2008 NLDS
Shane Victorino helped the Phillies get off to a fast start in their run to the 2008 Word Series title by hitting a grand slam off then-Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia in Game 2 of the NLDS. It was another one of those moments from the '08 season that left fans believing it was the Phillies' turn for a parade.
"Not at my head, bro!"
During the 2008 NLCS against the Dodgers, some players took exception when Brett Myers played some chin music for Russell Martin and Manny Ramirez in Game 2. Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda wasted no time in Game 3, and threw a pitch that sailed over the head of Shane Victorino. What ensued was one of the greatest exhanges ever between a pitcher and a hitter.
Victorino signaled to Kuroda, apparently telling him that it was ok to hit him in the back, but not the head. Needless to say, the benches cleared and pleasantries were exchanged before the game resumed.
Really, the pictures say it all.
Brawl so hard
Game 3 of the 2008 NLCS wasn't the last time Victorino got involved in an on-field scrap. In August of 2011, Victorino took offense when Giants relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez plunked him in the sixth inning with the Phillies leading 8-2.
Victorino took a few steps towards the mound, but before he could even decide if he was going to rush the mound, Giants catcher Eli Whiteside ran between Victorino and Ramirez and begin jumping up and down like an over-excited boxer waiting for his oppenet in the middle of the ring. He was clearly looking for a fight.
(Video here)
The benches cleared, and while Shane Victorino certianly didn't help the situation - he was later suspended three games - it appears as though Whiteside's antics are what really escalated the incident.
Reopening Boys and Girls Club
Sometimes, athletes are just as incredible off the field as well. Last year, Victorino donated $1 million to help reopen the Nicetown Boys and Girls Club. Judging by the way Victorino broke down into tears during the dedication ceremony, it was clear that this was very important to him.
Hawaii Five-0
This past offseason, Victorino made his acting debut on CBS's Hawaii Five-0 reboot. He showed excellent acting range by playing, uh, a Hawaiian guy, I guess. Either way, it was really funny to follow the story and it was probably the only time anybody ever actually tuned into the show.