The Unsung Hero… Jamie Moyer

On Saturday, September 12, 2009, I was standing along the third base line at Citizens Bank Park. This is where I took in a Phillies-Mets game, and heard some of the most outrageous things I’ve ever heard in my life.

Jamie Moyer took the mound for the Phils, in place of injured starter J.A. Happ. It’s well known that Moyer has struggled this season, and was demoted to the bullpen. As the first inning went by, Moyer gave up four runs on four hits, including a home run to Mets CF Carlos Beltran. While Jamie was walking to the dugout, many fans cheered their native son. One fan next to me was not cheering.

“BOO! I WOULDN’T CARE IF YOU RETIRED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST INNING! YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING ANYMORE MOYER! BOOO! JUST RETIRE ALREADY!

After Moyer’s hard first inning, he pitched six more innings of one run ball, and only gave up three more hits. When Moyer was lifted in the seventh, the Phillies had the lead by a score of 9-5. The fan booing Moyer had slowly quieted during the game, but still gave a rousing chant of “LET’S GO PANTHERS!” (Of course, the Panthers lost to the Eagles 38-10 the next day.) Another fan asked our Moyer Hater if he had changed his opinion of Moyer throughout the game. Our Hater responded: “No sir. He’s still got nothing. I wouldn’t care if we cut ties with him right now.”

Ironically, it was the Phillies’ bullpen that blew this game, not Moyer, as the Mets won 11-10 in the ninth. Still, this leads me to Moyer, and what he has done for this Phillies team.

• Since being traded to Philadelphia in late 2006, Jamie Moyer has won a club leading 47 games.
• Even though Jamie has struggled this season, he still leads the Phillies in wins with 12.
• Jamie Moyer has won both NL East Division clinching games the past two years, and won Game 3 of the World Series.
• While young pitchers like Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ have come to the big leagues, they have come to Moyer for guidance and advice because of his immense amount of experience. He is like having a second pitching coach.
• Jamie Moyer was born in Sellersville, PA and went to St. Joseph’s University. This makes Moyer a hometown hero to many, and a great leader and role model.
• Every game that Moyer does not pitch, he is out signing autographs to every fan that asks, which has become a rare thing in today’s game.
• Jamie Moyer is not a power pitcher. He is all about control, and throwing different variations of pitches at different times. Moyer studies hitters and scouting reports, and is an overall student of the game.

All in all, Jamie Moyer has been one of the most integral parts of the Phillies’ recent success in the past couple years. His experience and clutch performances have been unbelievable, and any Major League Baseball team would be lucky to have a future Hall of Famer, such as Moyer, on their staff. Not to mention, Moyer is a true baseball player who is both kind and great to fans, and a true role model. While not a star, Jamie Moyer is one of my favorite players, and someone I will remember far after his playing days are done. Although, he plans on pitching until he is fifty, so his days aren’t quite numbered yet.

While Jimmy Rollins is getting base hits and stealing bases, while Chase Utley is hitting two run doubles, and while Ryan Howard is smashing home runs, Jamie Moyer is pitching, and teaching, which is just as valuable. Moyer quietly keeps winning and helping the Phillies win, which truly makes him the Phillies’ Unsung Hero.