World Series Phlashback: 1993—Game Two

In 1993 the Phillies pulled off a miraculous worst-to-first season and stunned the baseball world by clinching the National League pennant in six games over the heavily favored Atlanta Braves.

Led my MVP candidate Lenny Dykstra, catcher Darren Daulton, first baseman John Kruk and an emerging ace pitcher in Curt Schilling the Phillies faced off with the defending World Series champions, the Toronto Blue Jays.

This World Series had a little bit of everything, from great hitting, clutch pitching (and not so clutch pitching) and of course, rain delays.

We continue our phlashback with a look at game two, played in Toronto.

Preview Game 62: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Since the beginning of inter league play in baseball the Phillies and Blue Jays have played the role of rivals. While the bitterness of the 1993 World Series is now old enough to apply for a learner’s permit, this series looks to be a pretty heated battle.

The Phillies are still looking for a spark at home, where they have a losing record. Toronto is coming off of being swept by the Marlins at home. The Phillies didn’t have the pitching advantage in the weekend Boston series, but they look to have the edge on the mound this week against Toronto. Cole Hamels gets the start tonight for the Phillies.

Hamels is coming off one of his poorest outings lately and figures to give a good rebound performance. This will be Hamels’ first career outing against the Blue Jays. Toronto will counter with rookie left hander Ricky Romero. Romero has allowed seven home runs in 16 1/3 innings so far this season. Look for the heavy hitters to pounce on the kid if he makes a mistake.

Don’t forget about two key Blue Jays players; Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas. Both are former Phillies players with somewhat of a tainted history.

Rolen was on his way a great third baseman who could have made a legitimate argument as the best third baseman in franchise history, but things soiled on his image as he never seemed to fit in with the fan base or his manager Larry Bowa.

Barajas on the other hand was a free agent acquisition that never met the slightest expectations behind the plate or offensively. Add in the fact that Phillies fans already had somewhat of a love fest with the feel good story that was Chris Coste and Barajas was in a tough situation.

Toronto is 13-18 on the road this season. The Phillies are 13-16 at home.

Phillies record: 36-25
Blue Jays record: 34-31

NL East Standings (Team, record, games behind)

1. PHILLIES 36-25, –
2. Mets 32-29, 4.0
3. Marlins 32-33, 6.0
4. Braves 30-32, 6.5
5. Nationals 16-45, 20.0

Pitching probables: Romero (3-3, 3.71 ERA) vs. Hamels (4-2, 4.62 ERA)

TV: Comcast Sportsnet

First pitch: 7:05pm EST

Season series: First meeting

Game open thread will be posted at 6:30pm. Game recap will be up tomorrow morning.

World Series Flashback: 1993—Game One

In 1993 the Phillies pulled off a miraculous worst-to-first season. They stunned the baseball world by clinching the National League pennant in six games over the heavily favored Atlanta Braves.

Led by MVP candidate Lenny Dykstra, catcher Darren Daulton, first baseman John Kruk, and an emerging ace pitcher in Curt Schilling, the Phillies faced off with the defending World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays.

This World Series had a little bit of everything, from great hitting to clutch pitching (and not so clutch pitching), and of course, rain delays.

We start our phlashback with a look at Game One, played in Toronto.

 

Macho Row Phillie Of The Week

There were a handful of worthy candidates for Phillie of the Week, but Chan Ho Park won the underdog vote from me this time.

Park is a man who is still trying to shed the image he has given himself from being a starter with the Phillies. In the past week Park has been called on in some crucial situations including extra innings. In three relief appearances Park pitched five quality innings. He allowed six hits but only allowed one run to score. Park walked just one batter and struck out seven, a team high on the entire Phillies pitching staff over the last week.

The highlight of Park’s week was two crucial innings of work in the ninth and tenth innings on the road against the New York Mets. Park allowed three hits and was saved by a nice catch from Jayson Werth, but the fact is he was clutch when called upon.

The thought when Park came to the Phillies was that he would be a nice asset to have in the bullpen. Perhaps he is finally contributing where he should have been all along.

World Series Flashback: 1915—Game Five

The Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance in the World Series in 1915, when they challenged a talented Boston Red Sox squad. The Phillies came in to their first Fall Classic as the clear underdogs as Boston was familiar with post season play.

Featuring pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and power hitter Gavy Craveth the Phillies would face a stiff test in the Red Sox, who were loaded with so much talent that young pitcher Babe Ruth made just one appearance in the Series—as a pinch hitter.

We continue our phlashback with a look at game five of the 1915 World Series, played in Philadelphia.

Each game of the 1915 World Series was a tight contest. Neither team truly pulled away from the other. Game Five in Philadelphia was no different, but this game had the biggest offensive outburst from both sides.

Facing elimination, the Phillies sent their Game Two starter, Erskine Mayer, to the mound. After giving up a leadoff hit to Red Sox right fielder Harry Hooper, Mayer shut down the Red Sox, giving the Phillies some early momentum.

Phillies third baseman Milt Stock was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot and Dave Bancroft followed up with a single. Center fielder Dode Paskert was able to put down a nice bunt for a single to put two runners in scoring position, and have the bases loaded, with zero outs.

This was a situation that came back to haunt the Phillies in Game Four in the third inning. Craveth hit in to what could have been a momentum killing double play in the next at-bat.

Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster fielded the ball, threw home for a tag out of Stock, and catcher Pinch Thomas threw to first base for the force out of Craveth. There were still two runners in scoring position. Fred Luderus came through with a double to left-center to score the two base runners, giving the Phillies a crucial 2-0 lead.

Boston would tie the game up with a pair of single runs in the second and third innings. In the third inning, Hooper hit a controversial home run. Playing in the Baker Bowl, the Phillies brought in extra stands to seat more fans. These imported bleachers were placed in center field and by the rules at the time any ball that bounced in to them was considered a home run. No ground rule double rule was used at the time.

Hooper took advantage of this and tied the game in the third inning with his home run.

Fighting back to regain the lead, Luderus put the Phillies back in front with a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Phillies added another run in the inning when Ed Burns singled and scored Bert Niehoff. The Phillies took a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning.

Then everything fell apart.

The Red Sox’ left fielder, Duffy Lewis, took advantage of the home run rule with the imported bleachers, similar to teammate Hooper. The home run was a two-run shot that tied the game up at four runs each. Then in the ninth inning Hooper struck again, hitting one more controversial ground rule home run to give the Red Sox a 5-4 lead.

Foster sealed the deal in the bottom of the ninth inning, retiring the three Phillies batters and clinching the 1915 World Series in the process.

For the Red Sox, this was their third World Series championship, but certainly not their last. Boston would repeat in 1916 by defeating the Brooklyn Robins, who would go on to become the Dodgers.

For the Phillies, it would be a long time until a return trip to the World Series came their way. The Phillies waited 35 years until their next trip, where they faced the New York Yankees in the 1950 World Series.

World Series Flashback: 1915, Game Four

The Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance in the World Series in 1915, when they challenged a talented Boston Red Sox squad. The Phillies came in to their first Fall Classic as the clear underdogs, as Boston was familiar with postseason play. Featuring pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and power hitter Gavy Craveth, the Phillies would face a stiff test in the Red Sox, who were loaded with so much talent that young pitcher Babe Ruth only made one appearance in the Series—as a pinch hitter.

We continue our flashback with a look at game four of the 1915 World Series, played in Boston.

A day after going down two games to one in the World Series to the Boston Red Sox, the Phillies sent George Chalmers to the mound. His offense did not do a great job of backing him up though.

In the first inning, the Phillies probably ran themselves out of a good start. After Milt Stock singled to left field to lead the game off, he was out at second as he tried to stretch a double out of the line drive. Dave Bancroft then walked in the second at-bat for the Phillies. He, too, should have been out at second, but reached on an attempted steal thanks to an error. Bancroft remained at second though, as the next two batters struck out.

The Red Sox put themselves on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Boston second baseman Jack Barry drew a lead-off walk off of Chalmers. A bunt single moved him to second base, and a sacrifice bunt sent him to third. Harry Hooper’s one-out single scored Barry, but the Red Sox failed to score the runner at third with one out before the inning ended.

In the sixth inning, the Red Sox expanded their lead to two runs. Dick Hoblitzel hit a one-out single and scored on a double by Duffy Lewis. Trailing 2-0 things started to look bleak for the Phillies as they were starting to run out of at-bats.

But the game was not over yet. In the eighth inning Craveth hit a two-out triple to deep center field. Craveth would score on a a single by Fred Luderus. Luderus was replaced by pinch runner Oscar Dugey, who successfully stole second base. Left fielder Possum Whitted though grounded out to end the inning, killing the rally.

Boston retired the Phillies batters in 1-2-3 fashion and took a commanding three games to one lead. The World Series headed back to Philadelphia for game five the very next day.

World Series Flashback: 1915 – Game Three

The Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance in the World Series in 1915, when they challenged a talented Boston Red Sox squad. The Phillies came in to their first Fall Classic as the clear underdogs as Boston was familiar with post-season play.

Featuring pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and power hitter Gavy Craveth, the Phillies would face a stiff test in the Red Sox, who were loaded with so much talent that young pitcher Babe Ruth only made one appearance in the Series, as a pinch hitter.

We continue our phlashback with a look at game three of the 1915 World Series, played in Boston.

When you think of the Boston Red Sox and the World Series you probably try to picture the scene. That image probably consists of Fenway Park and the green monster, right? In the 1915 World Series though that image would be incorrect.

Fenway Park had been open for four seasons but the Red Sox opted to leave their own stadium and play their home games in Braves Field, home of the Boston Braves.

The Braves had a larger stadium capacity, so the Red Sox could make more money away from Fenway Park. The field dimensions were different in Braves Field, though, and those differences may have come in to play.

The Phillies sent Grover Cleveland Alexander back to the mound for his second start of the World Series. Alexander had won game one just three days earlier and seemed poised to earn his second victory to regain the lead in the Series.

Catcher Ed Burns put the Phillies on the scoreboard first in the third inning against Red Sox pitcher Dutch Leonard. Burns led off with a single to right field and reached second base on a fielding error on a bunt attempt by Alexander.

Alexander was safe at first base. After a bunt ground out by third baseman Milt Stock moved the base runners into scoring position, shortstop Dave Bancroft hit a single to center field, scoring Burns.

Alexander held at third and Bancroft moved to second on the throw home. The Phillies though failed to capitalize with two men in scoring position and only one out.

Center fielder Dode Paskert and right fielder Gavvy Craveth both hit pop fly outs to end the inning and leave the base runners stranded.

Craveth’s pop fly to end the inning though was made at the deep part of left field. With the game being played in Braves Field, nobody gave it too much thought, but if the game had been played in Fenway Park the ball likely would have been an extra base hit, if not a home run.

The Phillies would have scored one run for sure, possibly two, and may have been able to take control of the game. Who knows?

Those stranded runners would come back to haunt the Phillies.

Boston tied the game at one in the bottom of the fourth inning. Boston center fielder Tris Speaker hit a one out triple and scored on a Dick Hoblitzel sacrifice fly.

Philadelphia failed to get anything going offensively the rest of the way, failing to reach base for the rest of the game. The game was tied entering the ninth inning.

Red Sox right fielder Harry Hooper lead off the ninth inning with a single to right field off of Alexander. Hooper moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and Alexander intentionally walked Speaker to set up a double play possibility.

Hoblitzel grounded out, but the only play available was at first. Boston put two runners in scoring position, but the only one that mattered in the 1-1 game, with two outs, was Hooper’s potential game-winner sitting at third base.

Left fielder Duffy Lewis stepped to the plate for the Red Sox, and quickly became the hero. Lewis slapped a single to right field, scoring Hooper and giving the Red Sox a tight 2-1 victory. The win also gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the series.

World Series Flashback: 1915, Game Two

The Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance in the World Series in 1915, when they challenged a talented Boston Red Sox squad. The Phillies came in to their first Fall Classic as the clear underdogs as Boston was familiar with post season play.

Featuring pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and power hitter Gavy Craveth the Phillies would face a stiff test in the Red Sox, who were loaded with so much talent that young pitcher Babe Ruth who only made one appearance in the Series, as a pinch hitter.

We continue our phlashback with a look at game two of the 1915 World Series, played in Philadelphia.

After the Phillies took game one of the 1915 World Series the Red Sox were looking to respond and respond they did. They did so in front of President Woodrow Wilson (pictured above), who was the first President to attend a World Series game.

Boston sent Rube Foster to the mound. Foster was 19-8 in the regular season and continued his brilliance in the World Series. Philadelphia countered with Erskine Mayer, who was 21-15 in the regular season in 1915.

The Red Sox continued to hit the Phillies. After sprinkling eight hits in game one the Red Sox put together 10 hits in game two. Boston wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early, taking the lead on a crazy sequence in the first inning.

Harry Hooper lead the game off with a walk from Mayer. Boston shortstop Evertt Scott popped up on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and failed to move Hooper to second base. Hooper did advance, reaching third base, on a single by Tris Speaker.

Speaker attempted to steal second base but was thrown out. As Speaker was attempting to steal second Hooper attempted to steal home. The play at the plate should have been made but Phillies catcher Ed Burns committed an error and Hooper was safe.

The Phillies tied the game at one in the bottom of the fifth inning when Gavy Craveth scored on a Fred Luderus single, but the Phillies were unable to continue the momentum swing and never took the lead in game two. The Red Sox took the 2-1 lead when pitcher Foster knocked an RBI single to center field, bringing home Larry Gardner, who lead the inning off with a single.

Foster finished off the Phillies in the eighth and ninth innings for the complete game victory. The World Series was now tied at one game a piece and heading back to Boston.

Phillies-Mets: Raul Ibanez Homer Sinks New York

When is the appropriate time to start an MVP campaign?

Whenever the time is, Raul Ibanez will surely be a frontrunner. Thursday night Ibanez  willed the Phillies to a second-straight victory in extra innings against the Mets. His three-run home run in the 10th inning gave the Phillies a comfortable three-run lead, and Ryan Madson picked up his second save in two nights as the team’s closer.

Jamie Moyer gave the Phillies a solid start, as his outing seemed like a record that was skipping. Luis Castillo lead off the game with a double and advanced to third on an Alex Cora sacrifice bunt. Carlos Beltran then brought him home to give the Mets a quick and efficient 1-0 lead.

Castillo hit a single in the third inning, moved to second on a Cora sacrifice bunt, and Beltran knocked him in.

Then in the fifth inning, Castillo hit a lead off double, advanced to third on a Cora ground out, and Beltran knocked in Castillo for his third RBI of the night. Fortunately for the Phillies, the rest of the Mets’ offense was non-productive the entire night.

Moyer went six innings and allowed just the three runs by Castillo on eight hits. He struck out three batters and walked none. Clay Condrey pitched two rock-solid innings of relief in the seventh and eighth innings. Chad Durbin and Scott Eyre teamed up for a lock-down ninth inning, and Madson piked up the save in the 10th.

For the night, the Phillies were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, with Ibanez’s homer being the lone hit. Jimmy Rollins, though, hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score Pedro Feliz. A Chase Utley double in the fifth inning scored Rollins from first base, bringing the Phillies to within one run of the Mets, who had a 3-1 lead. Matt Stairs hit a ground-ball out in the seventh inning, which scored Feliz to tie the game in the seventh inning.

Last night was Eyre’s 600th career game. He was credited with the win.

The Phillies are now four games in front in the NL East on a night when they beat the Mets and the Braves lost as well. On the road this year, the Phillies are a remarkable 23-9. No other team in baseball has more than 19 wins on the road.

World Series Flashback: 1915 – Game One

The Philadelphia Phillies made their first appearance in the World Series in 1915, when they challenged a talented Boston Red Sox squad.

The Phillies came in to their first Fall Classic as the clear underdogs, as Boston was already familiar with post season play.

Featuring pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and power hitter Gavy Craveth, the Phillies would face a stiff test in the Red Sox, who were loaded with so much talent that young pitcher Babe Ruth who only made one appearance in the Series, as a pinch hitter.

We start our phlashback with a look at game one of the 1915 World Series, played in Philadelphia.

 

The Phillies were awarded home field advantage by winning a coin flip. Phillies owner William F. Baker opted to host the first two games of the World Series in the Baker Bowl, which seated about 20,000 fans.

The Red Sox organization had requested 400 tickets in addition to the 200 that were normally allotted for visiting teams. Baker refused to give more tickets to the Red Sox fans that would come to Philadelphia, but the National Commission, the predecessor to the commissioner of baseball’s current office and title, chose to settle the dispute between the teams by offering some tickets from their allotment.

Grover Cleveland Alexander (seen pictured with Boston starter Ernie Shore) took the mound for the Phillies in game one. He was the ace of the Phillies, so it was only fitting that manager Pat Moran would hand Alexander the ball. The Hall of Fame pitcher came through with a brilliant performance.

After Boston right fielder Harry Hooper lead off the game with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Alexander got out of the inning unscathed. He would not allow a run to score until the eighth inning when a Duffy Lewis single scored center fielder Tris Speaker, who had walked earlier in the inning. It was the only run allowed by Alexander, giving the Phillies the edge.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when center fielder Dode Paskert scored on a single by left fielder Possum Whitted. After the Red Sox tied the game in the eighth inning, the Phillies quickly responded to regain the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Leadoff hitter and third baseman Milt Stock drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth. Stock advanced to second on a single by Dave Bancroft. Paskert then walked to load the bases. Stock would then score on a ground out by Gavy Cravath and Bancroft would score on a single by Fred Luderus to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.

The most notable at bat, though perhaps not at the time, was when a young Babe Ruth stepped to the plate for his only appearance in the 1915 World Series. Ruth had won 18 games that season as a pitcher, yet was known for his monster home runs. Ruth was sent in to pinch hit for Boston starting pitcher Ernie Shore with one out and a runner on first base. Alexander won the battle, getting Ruth to ground out to first base, although the runner did advance to second.

Alexander finished off the complete game to give the Phillies a 3-1 win and a 1-0 lead in their first World Series.

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