November 19th has a Phillies Phlavor

It's the 40th birthday of Ryan Howard, the star-crossed first baseman who, after four great seasons and two more very good ones, appeared to be on a path leading to Cooperstown. Then came game five of the 2011 NLDS, an ugly swing, a crushing fall and the achilles injury that changed the course of his career and the phranchise's destiny for the rest of the decade. The St. Louis native played another five years but was never the same player, while the Phils never again saw the post-season. He finished his career with 382 home runs, which, leave him second on the Phils' alltime list behind....
The greatest Phillies player ever. Mike Schmidt owns a piece of November 19th as well. On this date in 1986, he earned his third National League MVP award, joining fellow Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Roy Campanella as the only three-time NL winners up to that point. Ironically, the honor came on Campy's birthday. And while he made his mark in Brooklyn, the beloved catcher was born and raised in Philadelphia.

One more Philadelphia name on today's ledger: Bob Boone, the catcher on five Phillies division winners during the '70s and early '80s, including the 1980 World Champions. This four time all star is also the middle man in a three-generation baseball dynasty that began with his father Ray and continued with his sons Bret and Aaron.

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