Relive The Best April Fools Joke In Philly Sports

Let me take you back to a simpler time. Its spring training 2008. A time when people didn't nitpick the difference between a "prank" and an "april fools joke" they would just let it slide and get ready to smile at another's expense. The Phillies were fresh off their first division title since 1993. And a big part of that was 23 year old pitcher Kyle Kendrick

Kendrick was called up straight from AA Reading in 2007 to just pitch a spot start. But he pitched well enough to stay in the rotation. So you can imagine his surprise when he was called into the manager's office. But he wasn't told he was getting sent down....he was told he was going to Japan.

Its clear that Ruben Amaro combined Takeru Kobayashi, the famous hot dog eater, and Akinori Iwamura who had just come over from Japan to play for the Rays. But Kendrick didnt know any of this. He just figured he should get his passport.

The clincher for the prank was definitely the media. When youve got 10 reporters at your locker asking "have you ever been to Japan?!" you tend to think youve actually been traded. But this wasnt the first time the Phillies messed with one of their own. They pranked Chase Utley when he came up and he bought it hook line and sinker

Hopefully we dont get fooled by a revamped bullpen. Go Phillies.