On This Day In History: The Phillies (And Joe Carter) Destroyed Our Souls
By John Stolnis
Let me prepare you now. I’m going to post the video.
Yes, it’s going to happen. So as you continue reading, realize it’s going to happen, and prepare yourself accordingly.
Today, October 23rd, 2012, is the 19th anniversary of Game 6 of the 1993 World Series.
The Joe Carter Game.
I was 17 the night Joe Carter, Mitch Williams and the rest of the 1993 Phils and Blue Jays teamed up to make a young teenager openly weep at the result of a sporting event.
Yes, that’s right. When Joe Carter went yard in the bottom of the 9th inning of Toronto’s 8-6, series-clinching win in Game 6, I cried like a small girl who just had her Strawberry Shortcake doll eaten by a dog.
And as if the memory of this event wasn’t bad enough, the good people at the MLB Network decided to torture all Phillies fans even further by producing an hour-long program devoted to the game that destroyed the souls of everyone watching.
OK, I’m warning you. I’m about to post the video.
Seriously, here it is. Be ready.
Hang on… no I’m not crying… I just thought of something else really sad.
What’s interesting is Mitch William’s comments about that inning. After walking Rickey Henderson on four pitches, Williams went into a slide-step, something he’d never done before in his career, in order to keep Rickey close. Mitch said it was the one regret he had from that inning.
And after hearing him say that, it makes me even madder.
How can you change your delivery in a situation like that? Especially when control is your biggest issue? And how are you not able to throw a strike to Henderson? Not one?
AND SERIOUSLY… WHAT WAS FREGOSI THINKING BRINGING IN MITCH IN THE FIRST PLACE? BRING SOMEONE ELSE IN! ANYONE ELSE!!!
AND JOE CARTER… AND PAUL MOLITOR… AND… AND… AND… AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!
Sorry… got sucked into a bit of a time warp there. Really, I’m OK. Does anyone know what an aneurism feels like?
Hey, you know what? To cheer us up, let’s remember some of the better times from that ’93 season. Yeah, that’ll make us all feel better! I think.
Man, I never liked Andy Musser or Kent Tekulve all that much in the broadcast booth. But after more than three years of McCarthy, Sarge and Wheels, I’m suddenly wistful for the Musser/Teke days.
I was sleeping over my buddy’s house when this one went down and actually watched the entire ballgame. Harry’s call of Mitchey-poo’s hit (and Whitey yelling “Ohhhhh, ohhhhhhh!!!!!) still gives me goosebumps.
Of course, for millions of Phillies fans in their teens, this was the greatest moment of their lives. This even made the Vet look like a fun place to be.
Hey, there was no bloody sock, but THIS was the game that made Curt Schilling. Too bad there’s nothing blood-soaked from this game he can sell, though.
There… now I feel better.
That is until next year, when Major League Baseball will probably celebrate the 20th anniversary of Game 6 of the ’93 Fall Classic with a celebration down Broad Street.
Awesome.