Phillies playoff appearances: Records, Series & Most Recent Berths

The Philadelphia Phillies are knocking on the door for their third straight postseason run. After 10 years of missing the playoffs between 2011 and 2022, it’s safe to say the years of mediocracy and losing seasons are behind.

The Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in professional sports. They were founded 141 years ago in 1883. The franchise has appeared in the postseason 16 times, with 2024 being the 17th time.

Phillies playoff appearances: Records, Series & Most Recent Berths

The Phillies have a 68-65 all-time postseason record. The first appearance was in the 1915 World Series against a young Babe Ruth and the Boston Red Sox. The Phillies lost that series 4-1.

It wasn’t until 1950 that the Phillies made their second postseason appearance in franchise history. Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts and the Phillies lost in four games to Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford and the New York Yankees in the World Series.

The Phillies had yet another long drought without making the postseason until Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and company led their teams to three straight NLCS appearances from 1976 to 1978. The Phillies lost each of those series in four games or less.

All hope wasn’t lost for that Phillies core group at the time. They made it to the World Series against George Brett and the Kansas City Royals. Tug McGraw recorded the final strikeout in front of the home crowd at Veterans Stadium to deliver the Phillies their first World Series championship in franchise history. The Phillies won the series in six games, and Schmidt was named World Series MVP.

The 1981 Phillies team looked to go back-to-back but lost to the Montreal Expos in the NLDS in five games. They missed the postseason the following year.

The Phillies made it back to the World Series in 1983 after winning it all three years prior. That team couldn’t get the job done and lost to a young Cal Ripken Jr. and the Baltimore Orioles in five games.

After 10 long years, the Phillies made it back to the World Series in 1993. The 1993 Phillies team had quite the character with nicknames such as misfits, rejects, outlaws and just being on the overall crazy side. Their run fell short to Roberto Alomar, Al Leiter and the Toronto Blue Jays in six games

Phillies playoff appearances this century

The Phillies didn’t make the postseason until the beloved teams managed by Charlie Manuel finished first in the NL East for five straight seasons from 2007 to 2011. The core group of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels fell short to Todd Helton and the Colorado Rockies in a three-game sweep in the NLDS.

The Phillies made it to the World Series the following year in 2008 for the first time since losing in 1993. All-Star closer Brad Lidge took the mound in Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park against the Tampa Bay Rays and struck out Eric Hinske for the final out to deliver Philadelphia its second World Series championship. It had been a moment 28 years in the making and was captured by legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas.

The Phillies looked to repeat in the 2009 World Series after a 93-win season. The New York Yankees were too much for them with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia leading the way. The Phillies lost that series in six games.

After winning the NL East for the fourth straight year, the Phillies looked to bounce back from a tough loss in the World Series the season prior. Manuel and the Phillies won 97 games and made it to the NLCS before losing to Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in six games. The Giants went on to win their first of three World Series in five years.

The Phillies assembled a dominant starting rotation known as the “Four Aces” in 2011. That team went on to win 102 games, the most a Phillies team has won in their long-standing history. The regular season success didn’t translate into the postseason, as they lost in five games in the NLDS to Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryan Howard grounded out for the final out and tore his Achilles while doing so. That was the end of the Phillies’ five-year dynasty.

Phillies most recent playoff berths

After many years of losing and constant change, the Phillies ended their playoff drought. They made the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the first year that Major League Baseball added an extra Wild Card team to each league. Bryce Harper and the Phillies made an improbable run to the World Series and fell one win short of forcing a Game 7 against the Houston Astros.

The Phillies had big expectations heading into the 2023 season with most of the team returning from the previous year and adding superstar shortstop Trea Turner in the offseason. The Phillies made the postseason as a Wild-Card team once again but lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games in the NLCS. The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 series lead but were unable to put the Diamondbacks away.

The expectations are larger than ever this year. The Phillies have the best record in baseball and have one of the most talented rosters in the majors. It’s the World Series or bust for the Phillies in 2024.

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