This Date in Phillies History: January 24

Phillies Events on January 24
January 24, 2018: Jim Thome, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2003–2005 and again in 2012, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Thome hit 251 home runs with the Phillies and won the 2004 NL East title during his tenure in Philadelphia.
January 24, 2023: Scott Rolen, the Phillies’ second-round draft pick in 1993 and their primary third baseman from 1996–2002, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Rolen won the 1997 NL Rookie of the Year Award with Philadelphia and was a cornerstone player during a difficult rebuilding era for the franchise.

Elsewhere…
January 24, 1900: Officials from the National League hold a secret meeting in Cleveland to discuss dropping the Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville and Washington, DC franchises from the league roster. Indeed, the four teams will be contracted before the start of the season.
January 24, 2001: In what is believed to be an historical first, 68 major league umpires participate in a pre-season session to practice calling strikes as defined by the rule book. With the help of minor league players wearing tapes nine inches above their belts, the men in blue get a good look at pitches, normally called balls, which now will considered a strike as the correct interpretation of the zone will be enforced in the upcoming season.

Phillies Birthdays on January 24
Cliff Heathcote (born 1898): Outfielder who appeared with the Philadelphia Phillies for 30 games during the 1932 season, his 15th and last in the majors. Heathcote had been released by Cincinnati and would be released by Philadelphia just prior to the 1933 season. Heathcote was known for his speed and defensive play.
Flint Rhem (born 1901): Born in Rhems, SC, a right-handed pitcher who played for the Phillies during the 1932 and 1933 seasons. Rhem previously enjoyed significant success with the St. Louis Cardinals before joining Philadelphia late in his career.
Neal “Mickey” Finn (born 1902): A middle infielder who appeared in 51 games for the Phillies in 1933, his last in the majors. Finn was also a member of the 1932 USA bobsled team that won silver in the 1932 Olympics.
Whit Merrifield (born 1989): Utility player who signed with the Phillies as a free agent prior to the 2024 season. Merrifield hit .199 in 53 games and was released in July. He then signed with Atlanta and hit .248 over the rest of the season, which was his last in the majors.

A DEEPER DIVE… So, what is this thing called a strike zone?

In the very early days of baseball, the strike zone barely resembled what fans recognize today. In the mid-19th century, a “strike” was less about a defined physical space and more about intent. Pitchers were expected to deliver hittable balls, not deceive batters, and umpires judged strikes largely by whether a pitch was fair to hit. Batters even requested high or low pitches, and if the pitcher failed to comply, the umpire would call balls until the pitcher adjusted. The strike zone was essentially negotiated in real time, which made it fluid, subjective, and wildly inconsistent from game to game.

As pitching became more competitive in the late 1800s, baseball realized it needed clearer boundaries. The introduction of called strikes in the 1860s and the eventual legalization of overhand pitching forced the league to define where a pitch had to pass to be considered a strike. Even then, the zone was described vaguely, often referencing a batter’s waist or shoulders, and enforcement depended almost entirely on an umpire’s personal interpretation.

Formal Definitions and Constant Tweaks

By the early 20th century, the rulebook finally attempted to lock the strike zone into something measurable. The zone was described as the area over home plate between the batter’s shoulders and knees. In theory, this should have created consistency. In practice, it did not. Umpires still interpreted height differently, batters crouched or stood tall to manipulate calls, and pitchers learned quickly which umpires favored high strikes or wide corners.

The league periodically adjusted the written strike zone to influence offense. After the pitcher-dominated seasons of the late 1960s, most notably 1968, MLB lowered the mound and shrank the strike zone to restore balance. In the 1990s, as offense surged, the rulebook zone expanded again, at least on paper. Enforcement, however, lagged behind. Umpires continued to call strikes based on tradition and comfort rather than strict adherence to the written definition.

This disconnect between the rulebook and reality became one of baseball’s quiet open secrets. Everyone knew the low strike was inconsistently called, especially breaking balls that clipped the bottom of the zone. The high strike nearly vanished at times, even though it technically remained legal.

Attempts to Rein in the Umpires

As television, pitch tracking, and data analysis improved, the gap between perception and reality became impossible to ignore. When fans were able to see a digital strike zone on broadcasts, missed calls were no longer abstract complaints. They were visible, measurable, and endlessly replayable.

MLB responded by increasing evaluation and accountability for umpires. The league began using pitch tracking systems internally to grade accuracy. Umpires who consistently missed calls were disciplined or denied postseason assignments. Training emphasized calling the rulebook zone rather than inherited habits. Over time, accuracy improved, especially on horizontal boundaries, but the bottom of the zone remained stubbornly inconsistent.

One challenge was human limitation. Calling a pitch traveling 95 miles per hour while factoring in late movement, catcher framing, and a batter’s stance is an incredibly difficult task. Even the best umpires miss calls, and the margin for error at the professional level is razor thin.

Framing, Data, and the Modern Zone

Catcher framing added another wrinkle. As teams realized that subtle glove movements were able to steal strikes, the effective strike zone expanded and shifted based on who was behind the plate. Some catchers built careers on presentation skills rather than throwing or hitting. MLB tolerated this for years, even as it distorted the zone, because framing was viewed as a skill rather than manipulation.

Data eventually exposed just how much framing influenced outcomes. Combined with public frustration, it pushed baseball toward technological solutions. The goal was not to eliminate umpires, but to reduce their burden and bring consistency to the most fundamental call in the game.

The ABS System and What’s Coming in 2026

The Automated Ball-Strike system, or ABS, represents the biggest change to the strike zone since it was first defined. After years of testing in the minor leagues, MLB will introduce ABS in the majors beginning in 2026 through a challenge-based system rather than full automation. Human umpires will still call pitches, but teams will have two challenges per game to appeal ball or strike calls. A computerized zone will make the final ruling almost instantly.

This approach reflects baseball’s preference for evolution over revolution. It preserves the rhythm of the game, keeps umpires involved, and limits disruptions. At the same time, it corrects the most egregious misses and forces closer alignment with the rulebook zone.

The broader impact could be significant. Pitchers may lose the benefit of generous framing. Hitters can gain confidence knowing obvious mistakes can be corrected. Umpires should feel less pressure on borderline calls, allowing them to focus on game management.

The strike zone has always been a reflection of baseball’s values at a given time. From negotiated pitches to data-driven precision, it continues to evolve. ABS is not the end of that evolution, but it will finally bring the rulebook zone and the real one closer together than ever before.

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