![10 October 2015: Los Angeles Dodgers Infield Chase Utley (26) [3234] lies on the ground after colliding with New York Mets Infield Ruben Tejada (11) [8250] during game 2 of the NLDS between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. The Dodgers defeated the Mets 5-2. (Photo by Chris Williams/icon Sportswire) (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/25e41fafba6a66f43e43db4b66f4da79e272c5dc1bbe51eff855ca32d41e4220.jpg "10 October 2015: Los Angeles Dodgers Infield Chase Utley (26) [3234] lies on the ground after colliding with New York Mets Infield Ruben Tejada (11) [8250] during game 2 of the NLDS between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. The Dodgers defeated the Mets 5-2. (Photo by Chris Williams/icon Sportswire) (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)")
After accidentally breaking New York Mets infielder Ruben Tejeda’s leg in the 2015 postseason, former Philadelphia Phillies legend Chase Utley has been a reviled figure in the Big Apple. On Wednesday, he faced those fans.
It was seemingly an innocent play, one that had happened thousands of times before in baseball history. Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley slid aggressively into second attempting to break up a double play during Game Two of the NLDS, and took out New York Mets infielder Ruben Tejeda. Unfortunately, the slide ended up with Tejeda landing awkwardly and breaking his leg, ending his season and leading to a change in the rules governing slides into second.
With that slide, the former Philadelphia Phillies legend became Public Enemy #1 amongst Mets faithful, a designation he carried for the rest of his career with the Dodgers. On Wednesday, he faced the music, going on New York radio and taking calls from Mets fans.
Best radio I have heard in a long time. Chase Utley takes calls from bitter @Mets fans who still hate him all these years later for tormenting them as a player and breaking Ruben Tejada’s leg. Utley reveals Tejada wouldn’t accept his apology, or tequila. Hilarious @WFAN660
— Eric Flack (@EricFlackTV) May 1, 2019
Even before that infamous slide, it is easy to see why Utley was reviled by Mets fans. He tormented the franchise throughout his career, posting a lifetime .281/.374/.526 batting line in 815 plate appearances. He belted 39 homers and 46 doubles, drawing 80 walks and striking out only 117 times.
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Naturally, when Utley faced the Mets following that incident, he heard the boobirds en masse. Although he was nearing the end of his illustrious career by that point, Utley had the last laugh in 2016. He had a .308/.345/.731 batting line, hitting three homers and two doubles, driving in ten runs, in 29 plate appearances.
Utley did attempt to make amends with Tejeda after that slide. However, he would not accept the apology offered, or the bottle of tequila that Utley purchased to make amends. It is certainly understandable as Tejeda would be upset, especially as the Mets made several moves in the middle of their infield, costing him his role on the roster.
Now that Utley is enjoying retirement, it was the perfect time to face the music from Mets fans. Even if it was a chance for the fanbase to unleash some vitriol at a long time rival, one still had to respect that he would willingly subject himself to that potential abuse.
Philadelphia Phillies legend Chase Utley may still be hated by New York Mets fans, but his time on New York radio today had to, at the very least, earn him respect.