CLEARWATER, Fla. -- With last year's National League Championship Series tied at a game apiece, Doug Glanville stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter for the Cubs in the top of the 11th inning of game three.
The pride of Chicago was tied with the Marlins at four as the Penn grad dug in. Kenny Lofton, who had singled in the previous at bat, watched from first base.
Glanville worked the count in his favor before pulling Marlins reliever Braden Looper's 2-1 pitch to left centerfield for the game-winning triple that elated the many Cubs fans in attendance at Pro Player Stadium.
Despite the fact that the Cubs famously dropped the series in seven games, Glanville was left enraptured by his playoff experience -- the first postseason outing in his eight-year major league career.
"That was incredible," Glanville said. "Playing this game long enough and really not having that experience, something was missing. To be a part of that, especially in Chicago where they were unbelievable there, there's nothing like it."
In the offseason, Glanville wanted the opportunity to play for a team that could get to the playoffs. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, returning to the city where he played five full seasons from 1998-2002 and played at Penn from 1989-91.
The early years
In high school, Glanville knew that he wanted to stay on the East Coast for college, relatively close to his Teaneck, N.J., home. He also was committed to going to the best school possible, as he wanted to study engineering.
After a visit from Penn coach Bob Seddon and a positive recruiting trip to the campus, his decision to come to Penn became an easy one.
During his freshman year, Glanville caught the eye of the pro scouts on a spring trip to Florida with the Quakers. The rookie powered a home run 420 feet off his image on the jumbotron in centerfield in a game against Notre Dame.
"The scouts came running down the stands," Seddon said. "I can still hear them running down the aluminum seats, saying, 'Who's that guy, who's that guy?'"
During his time at Penn, Glanville kept things in perspective. Academics were so important to him that he missed the final game of his sophomore season against Temple because he had a group project. The scouts who had traveled to see him were none too pleased, though.
"I was coaching third and [the scout] came running on down the leftfield line and says 'Where's Glanville?'" Seddon said. "I said, 'He didn't make it today because he has a class,' and the guy was off the wall. That came first for Doug."
Breaking in
After his junior season, Glanville was drafted by the Cubs in 1991 with the 12th overall pick -- no Ivy Leaguer has been selected in the first round since.
"When I was about to be drafted, the Phillies had the 10th pick, so I was kind of rooting for the Phillies to pick me, but they picked Tyler Green that year," Glanville said. "I always thought it would be a great place to play."
After spending nearly five years in the Cubs minor league system in locales such as Geneva, N.Y., Winston-Salem, N.C., and Des Moines, Iowa, he was called up for a stint with the northsiders in 1996. He played his first full season with the Cubs in 1997 before being traded to the Phillies that winter.
Glanville manned centerfield for the Phillies for five seasons, including a banner year in 1999 when he batted .325 with 11 home runs and 73 RBIs as the leadoff hitter.
As a veteran, Glanville helped guide the Phillies' current starting centerfielder Marlon Byrd during his first year in the majors.
"He taught me anything and everything," Byrd said. "How a pitcher is going to work me, knowing where to play hitters, positioning in the outfield and anything I needed he told me."
Before the 2003 campaign, Glanville wanted an opportunity to play someplace where he could start everyday. With Byrd locking up the centerfield spot for the Phillies, he decided to sign with the Texas Rangers.
"It was sort of like a renewal experience for me," Glanville said. "I felt pretty good about my chances with Texas and they spoke highly about my chances to lead off. Unfortunately, I got hurt, but when I got healthy I played pretty well and then I got traded to the Cubs and made it to the playoffs and that was amazing."
Coming full circle
After signing with the Phillies this offseason, Glanville called to ask a favor of Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. He wanted to have his old uniform number six back. Rollins admits it took a couple of phone calls, but he eventually gave Glanville his old number out of respect.
"Just when you sit next to Doug Glanville, he's more than a baseball player," Rollins said. "You recognize that, and I think that's rare that you see guys who you respect that if baseball wasn't here tomorrow, you know he was going to be alright."
Phillies manager Larry Bowa is happy to have the 34-year-old veteran back in his clubhouse.
"He can still do a lot of things for you," he said. "He plays great defense, still runs good. You can play him in left, pinch run, pinch hit. In case Byrdy struggles, you can put him in center.
"We wanted him last year. He's a great kid, he's the kind of kid that you want your daughter to marry."
More than just baseball
Glanville has remained in connection with Philadelphia since his graduation from Penn with his work through the board of the Engineering School at charities such as Philadelphia Futures, which helps disadvantaged Philadelphia teenagers with their studies and prepares them for college.
He also has not lost his love for learning. In the recent offseason, Glanville traveled to Capetown, South Africa with Penn Engineering professor Vukan Vuchic to help him with his classes at Stellenbosch University.
As he works to make the opening day roster in spring training, it definitely seems that if baseball wasn't here tomorrow, Doug Glanville would be alright.
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