Phillies: Power Ranking Players from the 2008 World Series Championship
George Stockburger
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 29: The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate with their fans after they won 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Catcher Carlos Ruiz #51 and Brad Lidge #54 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after recording the final out of their 4-3 win to win the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
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.
PHILADELPHIA – JULY 25: Relief pitcher Drew Carpenter #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during a game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on July 25, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Padres won 5-4. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
MARYVALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 19: R.J. Swindle of the Milwaukee Brewers poses during photo day at the Brewers spring training complex on February 19, 2009 in Maryvale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Watch Snelling’s home run off Valverde below with the great Harry Kalas on the call.
DUNEDIN, FL – MARCH 5: Catcher Lou Marson #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks for a foul ball against Team USA March 5, 2009 at Bright House Field in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Tom Gordon #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses during Photo Day on February 24, 2007 at Brighthouse Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Here’s a big triple from Taguchi against Washington that drove in Ryan Howard.
MILWAUKEE – APRIL 24: Geoff Jenkins #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies swings at a pitch during the MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 24, 2008 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Here’s the clutch double against Tampa Bay from Jenkins
Coste had his big games, including a four-hit game off the bench that included a walk-off.
DENVER – APRIL 10: J.A. Happ #43 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in relief against the Colorado Rockies during MLB action on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 10, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 10-3. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
How can we talk about Matt Stairs and not include his legendary home run?
NEW YORK – MAY 24: Eric Brunlett #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the field against the New York Yankees on May 24, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Kyle Kendrick #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park September, 18, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – NOVEMBER 01: Pedro Feliz #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the New York Yankees in Game Four of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 1, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 26: Scott Eyre
ATLANTA – APRIL 22: Greg Dobbs #19 of the Philiadelphia Phillies reacts after scoring the first run against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on April 22, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 18: Chad Durbin #37 and Carlos Ruiz #51 the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate their 11-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 18, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 07: Ryan Madson #46 of the Philadelphia Phillies throwsa a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the National League Divisional Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 7, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 27: Jamie Moyer of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates clinching the National League EasT title after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on September 27, 2010 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Phillies won 8-0. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Jayson Werth #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Yankees in Game Two of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell waves to the crowd as he arrives at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – APRIL 08: Shane Victorino #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 31: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Yankees in Game Three of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 31, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Brad Lidge #54 (L) and Carlos Ruiz #51 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate the final out of their 4-3 win to win the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 25: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates his sixth inning homerun against the Tampa Bay Rays during game three of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 25, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 30: Jimmy Rollins
SAN DIEGO – AUGUST 16: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the San Diego Padres in the first inning during the game on August 16, 2008 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. The Padres beat the Phillies 8-3. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
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.
George Stockburger
Graduate of Penn State University, Executive Digital Producer for WETM 18 News, Former Editor for NFL Mocks and That Ball's Outta Here
