Today we tip our caps to Billy Williams, Wade Boggs, Boog Powell, Gates Brown, Roy Face, Joe Rudi, Amos Otis and others who have thrilled us over the years in No. 26 jerseys. And we replay what happened on Opening Day last April 1 in Atlanta, where Phillies second baseman Chase Utley not only scorched his 200th career homer over the wall in center but also tripled and added a two-run single. “That was classic chase,” teammate Ryan Howard said after the opener.

Utley, an All-Star each year from 2006-10, served notice that he was back, and indeed he was healthy enough to play his most games (139) since 2009, finishing strong with a .349 September and winding up with 18 homers and 69 RBIs.

We’re 26 days away from Major League Baseball’s Opening Series in Sydney, Australia, and the countdown will go on each day right here. Utley and the Phillies open their 2014 regular season March 31 at Texas and they open their home schedule April 7 against Milwaukee. MLB Schedule | Tickets

Who should be No. 25?