That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

A complete history of Philadelphia Phillies playoff runs

By Gabrielle Starr

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a ground ball during World Series game six between the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies on October 21, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Royals 4-1. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a ground ball during World Series game six between the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies on October 21, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Royals 4-1. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images) /
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Phillies John Kruk
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 6, 1993: John Kruk #29 of the Philadelphia Phillies slides into second base during the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 6, 1993 in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

1993 Philadelphia Phillies: Pennant

Whereas the American League had expanded in 1977, the National League waited until 1993 to add the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins, later the Miami Marlins.

It was also the Phillies’ first playoff appearance since Mike Schmidt had retired after the 1989 season, capping an incredible 18 years in the majors, all in a Phillies uniform. In fact, the only remaining members of the ’83 squad were Larry Anderson and Darren Daulton, who had debuted in September 1983, but hadn’t played in the postseason.

The Phillies hadn’t had a winning season since 1986 but finished the 1993 regular season 97-65, their first 90-win season in a decade, and the most wins by a Phillies team since their back-to-back 101-win seasons in 1976-77.

The 1993 squad was headlined by sluggers Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk, who each hit over .300 with double-digit home runs. A 26-year-old Curt Schilling led the rotation with 34 starts and 235 1/3 innings, a new career-high at that point.

For the first time in their postseason history, the Phillies faced the 104-win Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Phillies took Game 1 in extras, then lost the following two games, before the Phillies rebounded to win three straight and return to the World Series for the first time in a decade.

The Phillies, who had played a part in the very first all-artificial turf World Series in 1980, took part in the fourth one in 1993. Unfortunately, they were bested once again by an American League East team; this time, it was the Toronto Blue Jays, who had won their first championship the year before. The Jays outscored the Phils 45-36 and outhit them 64-58, but also made seven errors to the Phillies’ two.

Fun fact: it was the first World Series in which a come-from-behind walk-off home run clinched the championship, a three-run blast by Joe Carter.

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