And so it went. In a town better known for a different type of feedback, Utley stepped into the on-deck circle and, though it was warm and muggy that night, was immediately wrapped in an applause blanket collectively knitted for him by the fawning crowd. People were so happy to have him back, no one seemed to care that he went 0 for 5 in that first game. You get the sense that he could almost go 0 for the rest of the season and still get a pass from a faction of the fan base.
It's good to be Utley. Always has been. The second baseman was long ago admitted into Philly's Untouchables Club, an exclusive society with a handful of members from various sports.
While all inductees are given what amounts to a lifetime pass from the fans and press, entrance qualifications vary greatly. Some players - such as Utley, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee - are wildly talented. Others - such as Mike Sweeney and pretty much everyone on the 2001 Sixers except for Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo - were fan favorites even though they were essentially bit parts while in town. Some guys were talkers and/or characters with oversize personalities to complement their skills - the '93 Phils and Bernie Parent, for example - while others were beloved even though they were far more reserved. (Brian Westbrook, Brian Dawkins, Jamie Moyer, and Mo Cheeks come to mind.) Some were Hall of Famers - Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Reggie White, Richie Ashburn - while others became local icons despite their inability to win anything significant. That last category should have its own wing in the Untouchables Club, and it should be named after Buddy Ryan and every backup quarterback to play here.
