PHOTO: Chase Utley thanks Philadelphia with full-page ad

For more than a decade, he was known in Philadelphia simply as "The Man."

Chase Utley, surrounded by a litany of All-Stars for much of his tenure with the Phillies, spent the last 13 years as the consensus fan favorite in Philadelphia, earning widespread adoration for his productivity and integral role in the club's 2008 World Series championship.

On Monday, five days after his decorated tenure with the club ended with a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the beloved 36-year-old showed his appreciation for the city whose name adorned his jersey 1,551 times in the majors leagues.

"(Thank you) for taking me under your wing 12 years ago," Utley wrote in a full-page ad featured in the Philadelphia Daily News. "It has been an honor and a dream come true to play for a city with so much passion. I feel extremely lucky to have played for an organization with so many incredible people."

Utley, a first-round pick by the Phillies in 2000, repeatedly etched his name into the franchise record books. A six-time All-Star, Utley compiled more wins above replacement than every player in club history except for Mike Schmidt, while cementing his status as one of history's greatest second basemen.

From 2005 to 2009, Utley hit .301/.388/.535 while averaging 29 home runs, 39 doubles, and 15 stolen bases per season, trailing only Albert Pujols for the MLB lead in WAR over that span.