Emotions flow as Howard bids Philly farewell

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard saved the tears for last.

Howard broke into the big leagues as a 24-year-old in 2004. The Phillies were rebuilding then. He ended his time in red pinstripes at Citizens Bank Park as a soon-to-turn-37-year-old. The Phillies are rebuilding again.

Ah, but what wonders were packed into the years between. There were unbelievable highs. The National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2005. The franchise-record 58 home runs and NL MVP in 2006. The string of five straight division titles that began the following year, including that championship season of 2008.

And yes, there were lows. Making the final out of the 2011 NL Division Series against the Cardinals, crumpling to the ground as his Achilles popped. He would never again be the player he was while averaging 44 homers and 133 RBIs with a .927 OPS for the six previous seasons.

What if, indeed.

Through it all, Howard was constant. He showed joy and elation when the occasion called for it and stayed on an even keel, at least publicly, when things weren’t going as well.

They played a baseball game at the intersection of Broad and Pattison on Sunday. The regular season ended with a 5-2 win over the Mets, and that’s all well and good. The crowd totaled 36,935, a good number helped along by the Fan Appreciation Day promotions and the fact that the Eagles had a bye and the rain that stayed away, but in large part, too, because it was the last chance to see Howard in a Phillies uniform.

This didn’t officially end the long goodbye, of course. That won’t happen until the announcement is made that the franchise will pay a $10 million buyout to the best first baseman it has ever employed and extends best wishes in all his future endeavors.

Everybody knew, though. The air was thick with sentiment. The front office tacitly acknowledged the obvious by honoring Howard before the game. In the days leading up to these sepia-toned moments, the man of the hour remained outwardly unmoved. He betrayed little emotion as a video of his career highlights played on the giant board high above left field and when his charitable works — the Phillies’ Urban Youth Academy bears his name — were mentioned.

He didn’t blink when it was announced that a marker commemorating his 58th home run a decade ago would be placed where the record-breaker landed — Section 145, Row 7 — even when presented a replica by Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. He stayed calm when owner John Middleton and chairman David Montgomery presented him with a first baseman’s glove hand-painted with scenes depicting some of his greatest moments.

Then he walked onto the field with a microphone. And the longer he spoke, the harder it was for him to maintain his composure.

“We …

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