No game in Philadelphia Phillies history is as meaningful as Game 6 of the 1980 World Series. 46 years ago today, in front of nearly 66,000 fans at Veterans Field, Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Royals, 4-1, to clinch the first World Series in franchise history.
The scuffling bunch of Phillies went through hell in the regular season. They hated their manager, Dallas Green. Arguments were common in the clubhouse. They had to erase a six-game deficit to clinch the NL East.
But after overcoming one of the most grueling Championship Series in MLB history, the team was closer than ever, and the Phillies banded together nine days later to erase a 97-year championship drought.
A 35-year-old Steven Carlton capped his third Cy Young Award season by delivering a gem in Game 6. Over seven innings, he allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. Carlton had a 2.30 ERA in 27.1 playoff innings.
Mike Schmidt's historic 1980 season finished with a World Series title and MVP honors
Mike Schmidt got the Phillies on the scoreboard in the third inning, plating two runs on a single. In 1980, Schmidt won the National League MVP, the Gold Glove Award at third base, and the Silver Slugger Award. During the 1980 postseason, he collected 13 hits in 11 games, including two World Series home runs. He was a shoo-in for World Series MVP.
Others to contribute in Game 6 of the World Series were Bob Boone and Bake McBride, who each logged an RBI. Pete Rose picked up three hits, Garry Maddox two of his own, and Lonnie Smith scored twice from the leadoff spot.
In the eighth inning, Tug McGraw came in to relieve Steve Carlton with runns on first and second, and none out.
After allowing one of those runs to score in the top of the eighth and escaping a bases-loaded jam with two outs, McGraw faced the same problem again in the ninth, but now the bases were loaded with one out and the tying run was at the plate.
Frank White popped a foul ball down the right field line near the Phillies dugout, and with catcher Bob Boone moving toward the ball, first baseman Pete Rose closed in as well. The ball clanked off Boone's glove but Rose was there to snag it before it hit the ground. It was the sort of moment that makes you believe in destiny.
Finally, on a 1-2 count, McGraw threw a fastball past Willie Wilson, and the city celebrated a Phillies title for the first time.
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