As Phillies-Padres Series Begins, July 2 ‘Rings A Bell’

The Phillies and Padres made MLB history on this day in 1993.

One of the best teams in Major League Baseball will face the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend at Citizens Bank Park: the San Diego Padres, led by newly named first-time All-Star infielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

On Friday, July 2, likely the only Phillies player who will be named an All-Star — Zack Wheeler — will square off against fellow right-hander Chris Paddack.

If a Phillies-Padres game on July 2 “rings a bell” to you, it is because the only other time these two teams played each other on this date, history was made.

Nearly 30 years ago, as the Phillies were making their 1993 National League championship run, the Phillies and Padres played a historic doubleheader at Veterans Stadium.

The Padres won the first game, 5-2, which ended slightly after 1 a.m due to three rain delays totaling almost six hours (5 hours and 54 minutes). The second game started just before 1:30 a.m. and concluded at 4:40 a.m. on July 3 with a 6-5 Phils victory in extra innings — marking the latest ending time for any game in Major League Baseball history.

The Phils split the doubleheader thanks to closer Mitch Williams delivering a 10th-inning walk-off single. The victory improved the team’s record to 53-27, putting them well on their way to a deep postseason run.

This feat of a game-ending at almost 5 a.m. in the morning will likely never happen again, especially now that Major League Baseball has implemented seven-inning doubleheaders in an effort to speed up the games while keeping players healthy.

Fast-forward to 2021, and the Joe Girardi-led squad will take on a Padres opponent who are third in their division, but sit 15 games over .500, and just 2 1/2 games back of the Gabe Kapler-led San Francisco Giants. The Phillies, meanwhile, are fourth in the National League East, four games under .500 and 4 1/2 games back of the division-leading New York Mets.