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When my father and I stood in the right field nosebleed seats at the old Vet Stadium in 1980, watching closer Tug McGraw strike out the Royals’ Willie Wilson to capture the Phillies first and, until last night, only World Series title, we had no idea it would be 28 years before the team would taste such victory again.
But last night it happened, finally, after the historic suspended game-five resumed in the bottom of the 6th inning. Here are 5 cool coincidences worth noting between the only two World Series the Phillies have ever won.
1) Let’s start off easy: ’80 flipped is ‘08
2) Tug McGraw, who insisted ”You Gotta Believe” (never mind that he said it first with the Mets), wore the number 45 on his jersey. Brad Lidge, the present Phillies’ closer who didn’t blow a save all season, and who recorded the final out in last night’s game by striking out Eric Hinske, wears the number 54 on his jersey – 45 flipped.
3) Third baseman Mike Schmidt drove in the winning run in the final game of the series in 1980. Third baseman Pedro Feliz (“You Gotta Feliz!”) drove in the winning run in last night’s final game.
4) Jamie Moyer, one of the Phillies best pitchers, grew up in the Philly area and skipped school to attend the only parade the city has ever thrown for its baseball team in 1980. In a matter of days, he will not only attend the only other parade, but he’ll be on one of the floats.
5) To get to the ‘08 World Series, the Phillies had to beat the Dodgers to claim the National League pennant. One of the Dodgers’ base coaches is Larry Bowa, who played for the ‘80 Phillies. One of the Phillies’ ‘08 base coaches is Davey Lopes, who was on the Dodgers team when they won the World Series in 1981.
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Another one I heard today, is that there was a statue of William Penn that was the tallest thing in philly in 1980. But since then, no…so they erected a statue on the tallest building in town, and….world series winner! Go figure!
posted by Brian S on 10-30-2008 at 9:32 am
So what. Move along. Nothing more to see here.
posted by Mike on 10-30-2008 at 10:01 am
Yeah, the little William Penn was put at the top of the Comcast Center last year, thus ending the “Curse of Billy Penn”, which is something that I heard about every time something bad happened to a Philadelphia team. I’m not sure that most people are quite sure how to deal with the championship here in the city, but I’m definitely looking forward to the parade tomorrow!
posted by James on 10-30-2008 at 10:17 am
Now all we have to do is sit back and wait for the son of Brad Lidge to start his singing career.
posted by Craig on 10-30-2008 at 10:37 am
I didn’t know the Royals won the pennant in 1980. That is pretty amazing! Different team, different time, but I also thought it was neat that when the Red Sox beat the Cardinals to break the curse of the Bambino, the last Card to get out was Renteria who wore #3…the same as the Babe.
posted by Marty on 10-30-2008 at 10:41 am
People forget about those great Kansas City teams of the late-1970s, early 1980s. From 1976-1985, the Royals won 7 division titles and made it to the World Series in 1980 (loss to Philly) and 1985 (beat the Cardinals, with some help from the umpires).
Feels like a looooooong time ago.
posted by John in KC on 10-30-2008 at 10:49 am
Oh, and I was so hoping for a Ray’s come-from-behind win. Not because I’m a fan, but because I cannot stand Philly fans and would have loved to see them cry in the streets the next day.
posted by Jenna on 10-30-2008 at 11:10 am
Living right outside of Philly, I’d heard all of these but it’s great that they got some national recognition on this site. The rest of the country might not care (it was one of the lowest-rated Series ever), but for those of us loyal Phillies Phans who’ve suffered for YEARS, we’re enjoying absolutely every second of this. The Rays played a great game, but THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!
Special note to Jenna: BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
posted by Pete on 10-30-2008 at 12:05 pm
Jenna, why do you hate Philly fans? Just curious….
posted by timb on 10-30-2008 at 12:12 pm
Mike and Jenna must be Mets fans!
I’ll be at the parade tomorrow and I can’t wait! Don’t know if the tiny Billy Penn statue at the top of the Comcast Building helped with the turn around or not, but my hat off to the guy who thought to weld Billy up there!
posted by Mavis on 10-30-2008 at 1:12 pm
i’m a mets fan! but that didn’t stop me from watching the fans of philly hang from street signs and vandalize their city. besides the vandalization it was a great night. freezing and fun.
posted by erin on 10-30-2008 at 1:56 pm
I beleive that no one is remembering the save that Brad Lidge blew this season which allowed the Phils to win the Series at home……The All Star Game. Without that blown save the Pillies would have been in Tampa instead of Philadelphia last night, so way to go Brad, it work out perfectly
posted by barney on 10-30-2008 at 2:58 pm
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in 1983 to make the playoffs. They beat the Astros in 1980.
posted by Eric on 10-30-2008 at 3:07 pm
Congrats. 72 more years till the next WS win!
posted by Vibius on 10-30-2008 at 5:45 pm
This is dumb.
posted by Me on 10-30-2008 at 6:01 pm
My Dad and I were in the bleachers in left field (Section 729).
I’m somewhat sad that I’m not anywhere near Philly right now and can’t get to the parade. Of course I’m not at all sad that they won!!!
posted by Stewart on 10-30-2008 at 6:12 pm
Brad Lidge didn’t blow the save in the All-Star game, Billy Wagner did. Lidge lost the game in the 15th when he gave up a sac fly that scored the winning run.
But Wagner came into the game in the 8th win a one run lead and gave up a run to tie it.
posted by alex on 10-30-2008 at 6:14 pm
seriously weak coincidences
posted by jon on 10-30-2008 at 6:36 pm
Another coincidence: Both Phillies wins occurred during a nasty recession.
posted by ac on 10-30-2008 at 8:01 pm
Another coincidence: Phillie fans sucked then and they still suck today.
posted by rq on 10-30-2008 at 8:27 pm
Another coincidence: The “party music channel” on cable played Motown Philly by boys II men. That’s a little TOO crazy.
posted by Zombie Kid on 10-31-2008 at 6:11 am
Mike Schmidt’s number was 25. Pedero Feliz’s number is 7. 2+5=7 Coincidence?
posted by King of Karaoke on 10-31-2008 at 9:31 am
Actually, Schmidt’s number was 20.
posted by me on 10-31-2008 at 2:27 pm
Great article. Thanks for the information.
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