Phillies: Power Ranking Players from the 2008 World Series Championship
Celebrating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies
Has it really been a decade since Brad Lidge lept into the air, since Shane Victorino flew onto a pile of players, since Chase Utley yelled that the Phillies were “World f’n Champions?”
Phillies fans waited 28 years between World Series and the city waited for a parade since the 76ers hoisted the trophy in 1983.
As we celebrate the anniversary of the 2008 World Series, we look back at the legends who built this team and made it a champion. From the MVP candidates to the scrubs who played a handful of games, we rate the most important players to the Phillies 2008 World Series championship.
Individual stats, leadership, awards, and other memorable moments helped solidify these rankings, from number 40 to number 1 in the greatest Phillies of the 2008 World Series championship.
1 game, 1 BB, 1 K. . Drew Carpenter. 36. team. 6. A second round pick by the Phillies in 2006 out of Cal State Long Beach Carpenter never got a hold of a major league job. Bouncing between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia from 2008-11 Carpenter made his major league debut with the 2008 club on Aug. 27 versus the Mets. Carpenter threw a shutout inning of relief in a 6-3 loss. Philadelphia waived him in September of 2011, and the young righty bounced between eight clubs in three years.
. Andy Tracy. 35. team. 6. A nine-year veteran playing for Montreal, Colorado, and Philadelphia in between minor league stints, Andy Tracy played just 13 games for the Phillies in two seasons as a bench player and infielder. His impact in 2008 was shortlived as a late August call-up at the age of 34. His lone RBI that season came on a sacrifice fly in second game of a double-header against the Mets on Sept. 7, which the Phillies dropped 6-3. Pinch-hitting for reliever Rudy Seanez, Tracy drove in Shane Victorino with a long fly ball to left field. Jimmy Rollins would strikeout with Tadahito Iguchi in scoring position to end the game. Tracy returned for nine games in 2009 and would later join the minor league coaching staff.. 4 games, 1 BB, 1 RBI
34. team. 6. R.J. Swindle was another minor league lifer who made his major league debut with the Phillies on July 7, which also happened to be his 25th birthday. Swindle avoided taking a loss on his birthday coming in as relief for Adam Eaton, who allowed eight runs off 10 hits in 2.2 innings to the Mets. After Clay Condrey stopped the bleeding for 2.1 innings Swindle came in to pitch three innings allowing two runs off four hits, the crusher being a solo home run by David Wright. Swindle would make two more appearances in July before leaving in free agency to pitch for Milwaukee and bouncing between five organizations until 2012.. 3 games, 7.71 ERA, 4 Ks, 2 BB. . RJ Swindle
6. Another less known name from the 2008 squad, Mike Cervenak appeared in 10 games for the Phillies collecting two hits and an RBI. Making his major league debut at 31 as a 43rd round draft pick out of The University of Michigan Cervenak got his first major league hit on August 6 in a 5-0 win over the Marlins. Pinch-hitting for Kyle Kendrick Cervenak drove in Eric Bruntlett for the final run of the game. His second and final major league hit came pinch-hitting for Ryan Madson in September against the 54-86 Nationals.. 10 games, 2 hits, 1 RBI. . Mike Cervenak. 33. team
6. <span style=. 1 game, 2 hits, 1 HR. . Lou Marson. 30. team
4-8, 5.80 ERA. . Adam Eaton. 29. team. 6. <p dir=
6. <span id=. 5-4, 5.16 ERA, 2 saves. . Tom Gordon. 28. team
6. <span style=. 88 games, .220 BA, 6 XBH, 3 SB. . So Taguchi. 27. team
Here’s a big triple from Taguchi against Washington that drove in Ryan Howard.
26. team. 6. <span style=. .246 BA, 9 hr, 29 rbi. . Geoff Jenkins
Here’s the clutch double against Tampa Bay from Jenkins
<span style=. .263 BA, 9 HR, 36 rbi,. . Chris Coste. 25. team. 6
Coste had his big games, including a four-hit game off the bench that included a walk-off.
J.A. Happ. 24. team. 6. <span style=. 4 starts, 1-0, 26 Ks.
. Matt Stairs. 23. team. 6. <span style=. .294 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI
How can we talk about Matt Stairs and not include his legendary home run?
6. <span style=. 46 H, 2 HR, 9 SB. . Eric Bruntlett. 22. team
6. <span style=. 42 g, 3.53 era, 30 K. . Rudy Seanez. 21. team
20. team. 6. <span style=. 11-9, 5.49 ERA, 68 Ks. . Kyle Kendrick
team. 6. <span style=. 4-0, 4.20 ERA, 49 Ks. . Joe Blanton. 19
6. <p dir=. .249 BA, 14 HR, 58 RBIs. . Pedro Feliz. 18. team
Clay Condrey. 17. team. 6. Clay Condrey came over from the Padres in a conditional deal just before the 2004 season started. He pitched three seasons in Triple-A before coming to the majors in 2006. Condrey pitched in 56 games during the regular season, posting a 3.26 ERA and 1.507 WHIP in 69 innings. He recorded one save when he pitched three innings of shutout relief in a 12-2 win. Condrey pitched in Game Three of both the NLDS and NLCS that season but did not make an appearance in the World Series. He made 45 appearances in 2009, then didn’t pitch in the majors again.. 3-4, 3.26 era, 34 k.
6. When the Phillies needed a body in the bullpen with Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez on the disabled list Pat Gillick pulled off an underrated trade with the Cubs. Sending Brian Schlitter out to Chicago the Phillies received Scott Eyre, a 36-year-old lefty with postseason experience. Eyre was fantastic in the regular and postseason with a 1.88 ERA in 19 games in the regular season and only two runners allowed in four postseason appearances. He was a perfect addition to the team, and he was even better in 2009, his final season, with a 1.50 ERA in 42 games.. 3-0, 1.88 era, 18 k. . Scott Eyre. 16. team
6. <p style=. 10-13, 4.55 era, 163 k. . Brett Myers. 15. team
.301, 9 HR, 25 PH. . Greg Dobbs. 14. team. 6. <p style=
team. 6. <p style=. 4-4, 2.75 ERA, 52 k. . J.C. Romero. 13
6. Chad Durbin’s place in franchise history is a tough one, but he ultimately goes down as one of the most underrated relievers of the last decade. Acquired as a free agent in December 2007 Durbin led the Phillies bullpen with 87.2 innings and was third in strikeouts behind Lidge and Madson. With a 2.87 ERA Durbin worked as the primary middle reliever with 32 appearances in the seventh inning and 33 in the eighth. After struggling in game four of the NLCS, giving up two runs, he was limited to just four batters in the World Series. Durbin stuck with Philadelphia through the 2010 season and made a brief return in 2013 with 16 appearances.. 5-4, 2.87 ERA, 63 k. . Chad Durbin. 12. team
Carlos Ruiz. 11. team. 6. <p style=. 117 g, .219 ba, 70 h, 4 hr.
10. team. 6. Dubbed the “Bridge to Lidge” Ryan Madson was the perfect setup man for the Phillies 2008 bullpen. Drafted by the organization in the ninth round in 1998 out of high school Madson is one of four members of the 2008 team still on a major league roster, with Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, and J.A. Happ being the others. 40 of his 82 appearances in 2008 were in the eighth inning where he allowed 10 extra-base hits the entire season en route to Lidge. Madson also finished 14 games and saved one with an ERA a hair over three. During the 2008 playoff run he pitched with a 2.13 ERA in 11 games and allowing zero of nine inherited runners to score.. 4-2, 3.05 ERA, 67 k. . Ryan Madson
6. A Philadelphia native who attended St. Joes and 1980 World Series parade Jamie Moyer was the grizzled veteran on the staff who lead the team with 16 wins. Drafted by Chicago in 1984 Moyer pitched for six teams over 20 years before joining the Phillies. Acquired from the Mariners at the age of 43 in 2006 for prospects Andrew Baldwin and Andy Barb (neither of whom ever reached the major leagues) Moyer became the unheralded ace of the rotation and helped grow Cole Hamels into that role. After two poor starts leading up to the World Series allowing eight runs in 5.1 innings, Moyer pitched a strong game three against Tampa Bay going 6.1 innings allowing three runs with five strikeouts. Philadelphia kept Moyer through the 2010 season at the age of 47 with a record of 56-40 in 123 games, including a two-hit shutout on May 7 against the Braves.. 16-7, 3.71 ERA. . Jamie Moyer. 9. team
8. team. 6. Another unheralded member of the 2008 squad became enemy number one when he left for the Washington Nationals in 2010 as a free agent. Werth established himself as one of the more complete corner outfielders in the game after signing prior to the 2007 season as a minor league free agent. Over four years with Philadelphia Werth went from a spring training invitee to an MVP candidate in 2010. Appearing in just 94 games in 2007 Werth battled for playing time with Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, and Michael Bourn. When Bourn was traded for Lidge and Rowand left in free agency that offseason Werth established himself as the starter in 2008 over Geoff Jenkins. Werth went on to hit 95 home runs with 300 home runs and a .282 batting average in four years with Philadelphia. During the 2008 playoffs, he hit .309 with two home runs and 17 hits in 14 games, including a home run in game four and an RBI single in game five that put the Phillies up 3-2 in the sixth inning.. 24 hr, 67 rbi, 20 sb. . Jayson Werth
6. Pat “The Bat” Burrell is folklore in Philadelphia sports and the first player from the 2008 squad to be inducted onto the Phillies Wall of Fame. Pressure was put on Burrell from day one as the first overall pick in 1998 out of Miami, the first ever number one pick in franchise history. Arriving to the big leagues less than two years later Burrell finished fourth in Rookie of the Year balloting behind Rafael Furcal, Rick Ankiel, and Jay Payton despite hitting more home runs than each of them in more than a dozen fewer games. Burrell was one of many faces of the franchise through nearly a decade of rebuilding, and played under four managers in eight years, one being Gary Varsho for two games. Burrell was third in home runs and RBIs on the 2008 team, his final year with the club before riding off into the sunset on a carriage pulled by Clydesdales. After the two day rain delay in game five Burrell hit a long double to right field in his final at-bat for the Phillies. Eric Bruntlett pinch-ran for Burrell and scored the game-winning run. Burrell’s final hit with the Phillies was almost improbable as he was hitting .071 in the World Series. He’s fourth on the all-time home run list with 251.. 33 2b, 33 hr, 86 rbi. . Pat Burrell. 7. team
team. 6. Twice a Rule 5 selection Shane Victorino’s career was obsolete before he found himself in Philadelphia during the 2005 season. After earning a starting job the following season Victorino became the everyday center fielder when Aaron Rowand was granted free agency in 2007. In 2008 he won his first of four Gold Gloves while setting career highs at the plate across the board. Three times he received MVP consideration and twice he led the league in triples with lightning speed. That combination of speed and defense led to him being dubbed “the Flyin’ Hawaiian.” Victorino’s bat became folklore after hitting a grand slam off C.C. Sabathia in game two of the NLDS against Milwaukee. He’d hit .269 during the 2008 playoffs and added five hits in the World Series.. .293, 52 XBH, 36 SB. . Shane Victorino. 6
6. It’s a surprise the World Series and NLCS MVP would finish fifth on the list of most important members of the Phillies 2008 World Series. Hamels should have received Cy Young votes that season, but regardless, 2008 was Hamels coming out party as one of the best pitchers in baseball. The 24-year-old lefty won 14 games in the regular season and tacked on a perfect 4-0 record in the playoffs. With a 1.56 ERA in the playoffs, Hamels mowed down the Brewers, Dodgers, and Rays en route to a ring. His performance in the playoffs one of the greatest in post-season history, and his legacy in Philadelphia has him among the greats. Hamels pitched parts of two no-hitters, one with three relievers and the second in his final start as a Phillie. His 114 wins are the sixth-most in franchise history and 1,844 strikeouts are the third-most behind Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Robin Roberts.. 14-10, 3.09 era, 196 k. . Cole Hamels. 5. team
6. It’s rare to see a closer receive first place votes for MVP and finish in the top-four for the Cy Young in the same season. That’s what happens when you go 48-48 in save opportunities in your first season pitching for a team and win them a World Series. Philadelphia needed a lights-out closer, and that’s exactly what Brad Lidge brought them. Acquired in a five-player trade Lidge earned his 1st of 41 regular season saves in the seventh game of the year. With an ERA of 1.95 over 72 games Lidge earned the Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year award. Most importantly, he sealed the final save and game of the season with a strikeout of Eric Hinske on the wideout slider that kept him perfect the entire season.. 72 games, 41 sv, 92 k. . Brad Lidge. 4. team
6. The Big Piece nearly earned his second MVP in three seasons with a dominant performance throughout the 2008 season, leading baseball with 48 home runs and 146 RBI. Howard received six fewer first place votes than Albert Pujols, who hit .357 that season for St. Louis. Howard had already cemented himself as one of the more fearful sluggers in baseball with 58 home runs in 2006, and no player hit as many home runs as him in his prime. In a borderline Hall of Fame career on the tail end of the PED era Howard led the Phillies in multiple offensive categories and was the only player to appear in all 162 games of the regular season. During the playoffs Howard hit .269 with three home runs, all coming in the World Series. If not for an achillies injury in 2012 Howard was on a ride straight to Cooperstown. Instead, he sits on the doorstep with 382 home runs (2nd in club history) 1,194 RBI (3rd), and 277 walks (10th) in 1,572 career games.. 48 home runs, 146 RBI. . Ryan Howard. 3. team
6. “I think we are the <em>team to beat</em> in the NL East — finally.” Those words from Jimmy Rollins kicked off the first of five consecutive division titles in Philadelphia. Rollins’ bold claim in 2007 that the Phillies could beat teams such as the Braves and Mets may have taken some aback, but he held true to his word. Rollins became the fourth player in baseball history to join the 20-20-20-20 club with 20 doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in a season. He also became the second Phillie to ever reach the 30-30 club with 30 home runs and stolen bases in a year. Production dipped in 2008 coming off the MVP season, but Rollins picked up his second consecutive Gold Glove with 57 extra-base hits and a career-high 47 stolen bases. Rollins averaged a hit a game during the playoffs with five between games three and four. J-Roll would play 15 seasons in Philadelphia and become the franchise’s all-time hits leader, passing Mike Schmidt in 2014 before being traded the following offseason. A Hall of Fame case will be made for Rollins, but as the franchise hit leader he’s destined to have his number 11 officially retired in Philadelphia.. 154 hits, 57 XBH, 47 SB. . Jimmy Rollins. 2. team
6. No one defined the Phillies better than Chase Utley, perhaps the most beloved athlete in the history of the city. More than Allen Iverson, Brian Dawkins, Dr. J, or Bernie Parent. Chase Utley was Philadelphia. It’s a crime he never won a Gold Glove or even an MVP, but during the golden years of Phillies baseball he was one of the most consistent players in the game. The leader of the 2008 squad Utley hit .292 with 104 RBI and a career-high 33 home runs. He led the league with 27 hit by pitches, and still played 159 games. Utley failed to hit for a tremendous average during the playoffs hitting .220 in 14 games with three home runs, two against Tampa Bay. He’d save his postseason magic for 2009 when he hit five home runs against the Yankees and hit .300 through the playoffs.. 177 hits, 33 HR, .292 BA. . Chase Utley. 1. team
Next: Phillies: 5 trades that won the 2008 World Series
To be fair, any of the final five players on the list could have been number one on this list because that team was so balanced and fit perfectly with each other. Whether it was the consistent hitting, home runs, or clutch pitching, this team had it when they needed it most.