On this day... Pat the Bat

On this day in 2000 at Enron Field in Houston, #1 overall pick from the Miami Hurricanes Pat Burrell makes his much anticipated big league debut for the Phillies. He starts at first base and facing Astros starter Octavio Dotel pops out to second base in his first big league at bat. Later in the game, Burrell collects his first two major league hits, including an RBI triple in the ninth inning off Billy Wagner. The Phils win 9-7.

Pat goes on to play in another 1305 games over the next nine years with the Phillies, blasting 20 or more home runs for eight straight years (2001-2008). His 251 home runs ranks him fourth in franchise history (Schmidt @548, Howard @286, and Ennis @259).



He was a solid player. I expect someday he will be honored with a plaque on the Phillies Wall of Fame... but somehow, in my eyes, Pat never quite achieved the all-star potential that was predicted when he was originally drafted.