PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies played the first game in their inaugural season on May 1, 1883.
A lot has happened since then.
I’ve been covering the Phillies since 2003, so I’ve seen a few things -- but I’ve also missed most of it.
So, I made a point to learn as much as possible about the organization when I got my first job covering the team for "The Philadelphia Inquirer." I remember going to the bookstore and buying a stack of books to learn as much as possible about the franchise. If somebody mentioned Dick Sisler or Dickie Thon, Del Ennis or Del Unser; Whitey, Lefty, Bull, Wild Thing, Sarge, Dutch, Puddin’ Head, Crash, Skates, Old Pete and Losing Pitcher, I wanted to know who the heck they were talking about.
Having said that, here are my personal top 10 moments in Phillies history -- which will be different than your personal top 10 moments:
The Phillies had been playing baseball for 97 years when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson swinging in Game 6 of the 1980 World Series to clinch the franchise’s first championship. There had been so much heartbreak and bad baseball before that. The Phillies won the NL pennant in 1915 and 1950, but they lost the World Series each time. They won the NL East from 1976-78, but they lost the NLCS each time. They blew a 6 1/2-game lead with 12 games to play to lose the NL pennant in 1964. They lost 100 or more games 12 times in 25 seasons from 1921-45, and they had one winning season in a 31-year stretch from 1918-48.
Everybody talks about the lengthy World Series droughts for the Cubs, White Sox and Red Sox, but everybody forgets how long it was before Phillies fans celebrated their first championship.
The Phillies didn’t have to wait as long for their second World Series championship, but the city hadn’t won a title in any pro sport since the 76ers won the 1983 NBA championship. So, when Tampa Bay’s Eric Hinske swung and missed at Brad Lidge’s 0-2 slider in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series at Citizens Bank Park, the city erupted as Lidge fell to his knees and raised his arms into the air.
The Phillies hadn’t made the postseason since 2011 when they earned the final spot in the 2022 postseason field. They swept the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Series, then thumped the NL East-winning Braves in the NLDS. Then it was Bryce Harper's turn to have the swing of his life in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park, sending a Robert Suarez pitch into the left-field seats to give the Phillies the lead over San Diego.
Scott Franzke exclaimed, “It’s bedlam at the Bank!” and the rest is history.
I’ve seen a lot of big-time home runs over the years, but this was the biggest in my first six years covering the team. It remains etched into my brain. It’s difficult to describe how high into the sky that ball traveled before falling deep into the right-field bleachers at Dodger Stadium.
It broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning, propelling the Phils to the World Series.
Rollins had so many memorable moments in his Phillies career, but this hit ranks at the top. The second consecutive year Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton gave up a huge late-inning hit to the Phillies in the NLCS.
It’s hard to forget Carlos Ruiz sliding enthusiastically across home plate, and Rollins fist pumping as he rounded the bases.
Schmidt’s gesticulations running up the first-base line and Harry Kalas’ perfect call make this one of the most memorable highlights, not only in Phillies history, but baseball history.
The Phillies had a 7 1/2-game lead with 11 games to play, when they lost eight of their next 10 to take a one-game lead over the Brooklyn Dodgers into the final game of the season against Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. Robin Roberts allowed one run in 10 innings, and Sisler hit a three-run homer in the 10th to win it.
8. Roy Halladay’s perfect game and no-hitter in 2010
Halladay not only lived up to the hype in his first season with the Phillies, but he exceeded it. He tossed a perfect game in Miami in May, then threw a no-hitter against the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds. It was the first postseason start of Halladay’s career.
Hoskins’ homer against the Braves didn’t propel the Phillies to a World Series championship, so other clutch hits and pitching performances could be on this list. But Hoskins’ epic bat spike was such a fun, emotional moment for Hoskins, the Phillies and Phillies fans.
It’s going to be one of those moments played on highlight reels forever.
Most baseball fans might not remember it, but it’s one of the greatest League Championship Series ever played. The Phillies won Game 1 of the best-of-five series against Houston, then lost Game 2 in 10 innings, 7-4.
The Phillies played the final three games of the series at the Astrodome. They lost Game 3 in 11 innings, 1-0. They won Game 4 in 10 innings, 5-3. They won Game 5 in 10 innings, 8-7. Go back and watch the highlights from Games 4 and 5. It was some of the wildest, craziest postseason baseball you’ll ever see.