The Curse of Billy Penn was extended not with another loss, but instead, raindrops. The sporting deities were not satisfied that the City of Philadelphia had waited 9,282 days between championships. Another two days were added to the ledger for good measure.
At 8:30 p.m., first pitch of 2008 World Series Game 5, a crisp autumn night brought a brisk 47-degree chill to Citizens Bank Park. Five innings later, temperatures had plummeted, the infield was soaked, puddles dotted the grass, and monsoon conditions had encroached upon Philadelphia.
In the top of the sixth inning, home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg began changing out the baseball after what felt like every pitch. With Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels still in the game and under 60 pitches, the Phils were ready to ride him to victory with a 2-1 lead.
Instead, his fastball lost velocity, and his change-up lost its bite. A two-out groundball ate up Gold Glove winner Jimmy Rollins and let B.J. Upton reach on what was called a single. The field mics echoed on throw-overs and slides as they fell below the water level.
Upton stole second and scored on Carlos Peña’s single to left.
That was all Major League Baseball’s executives needed to see. With the game tied, 2-2, they could suspend play without the controversy of potentially having to call a World Series game in the 6th inning.
MLB president and COO Bob DuPuy came on FOX’s broadcast minutes later to make the announcement. The game would be suspended until the rain stopped.
Now we play the waiting game...
So after everyone filed out of the ballpark, Phillies fans tried to resume their normal lives. Philadelphians went to school and shuffled off to work; they ate meals joylessly and slept nervously. For 48 hours, the city was on edge.
Would the morrow bring clear skies, or more rain? How long would the nightmare last?
Fans leaving town worked frantically to sell their tickets in an era before digital marketplaces were common. Some attendees lost their stubs and couldn't re-enter for the resumption.
Debates around the water cooler and in the halls raged on. Who would be the Phillies' pinch-hitter when Cole Hamels' spot came up to lead off the bottom of the sixth after the game resumed? Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins, and Matt Stairs were all lefties, so what would happen if Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon countered with his southpaw relief ace, J.P. Howell? Would Phillies manager Charlie Manuel be comfortable burning backup catcher Chris Coste, or would he go to .217-hitter Eric Bruntlett?
There was no way to settle the endless debate but to stare at the sky and wait.
Add us as a preferred source on Google