The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series six years ago today
Aug 1, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brad Lidge the Philadelphia Phillies closer from the 2008 World Series hugs catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) after he threw out the first pitch prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been six years to the day since the City of Brotherly Love went absolutely bonkers following the final strike by closer Brad Lidge in the 2008 World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies became champions of baseball over the Tampa Bay Rays after a 4-3 win in game five.
Series Most Valuable Player, Cole Hamels, went six innings and gave up two runs. He was supported by Shane Victorino who drove in two of the Phillies’ four runs.
Brad Lidge picked up his seventh save of the 2008 postseason and ran into the arms of catcher
immediately after doing so.
It didn’t take Philadelphia but a year to get back to the Fall Classic. They faced A.J. Burnett and the New York Yankees on October 29th, 2009 for game two of the World Series.
Game two, like the ’09 series on the whole, did not go the Phillies’ way. They fell 3-1 with Pedro Martinez taking the loss.
Also on this date in 1981, the Phillies were bought for $30 million by a group including Bill Giles.