Presented by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
What an exciting night at Xfinity Mobile Arena! The Sixers came back from 29 points down to beat the Cavaliers, and the place was rocking. This team is going to be fun to watch! The Eagles also received some encouraging injury news, as Saquon Barkley appears poised to play Monday night.
October 23 has seen the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in Phillies postseason lore, along with a unique family milestone.
A City First
On this day in 1910, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game 5 of the World Series, clinching the first World Series championship in franchise history. The victory also marked a historic first for the city, as the A’s became the first Philadelphia baseball team to win a World Series title.
Trivia – How many World Series title has the City of Philadelphia won? (Answer below)
A Family Affair
On this day in 1983, the Flyers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-5 at the Spectrum. Eight different Flyers scored goals, including brothers Ron and Rich Sutter.
For Rich, a rookie, it was his first career NHL goal, making him the sixth Sutter brother to score in the league. The Sutters became the first family in NHL history to have six brothers score at least one goal.
A Childhood Ruined
On this day in 1993, the Phillies found themselves trailing the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 after six innings in Game 6 of the World Series. Lenny Dykstra changed the game with a three-run blast, his fourth home run of the series, as part of a five-run inning that gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead.
The lead held into the ninth, and manager Jim Fregosi called on the Wild Thing to close it out and force a decisive Game 7. The Blue Jays were ready for Mitchie Poo and were actually looking forward to facing him.
Rickey Henderson led off with a walk that proved fatal for the Phillies. Although Henderson never attempted to steal a base, his presence on the basepaths was a distraction. Williams altered his delivery to use a slide step, and on a pitch to Joe Carter, missed his spot. Carter launched it over the left-field fence at the SkyDome, giving Toronto a walk-off World Series championship—the second walk-off home run to end a World Series in MLB history.
After the game, Fregosi was asked why he chose Williams over a fresher, potentially more effective Roger Mason. His answer became infamous: he went with the guy who got them there.
One decision. One pitch. One dream dashed.
For many kids around my age, Joe Carter effectively ruined our childhoods.
Bedlam
On this day in 2022, the Phillies and Padres met for Game 5 of the NLCS, with a trip to the World Series on the line. Rhys Hoskins got the scoring started with a two-run homer in the third inning, but San Diego battled back to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
J.T. Realmuto singled, bringing Bryce Harper to the plate with a chance to become a hero—29 years to the day after Joe Carter’s World Series-winning home run. Harper delivered, launching a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. It was bedlam at the Bank, as Phillies radio broadcaster Scott Franzke famously called it.
David Robertson and Ranger Suárez shut down the Padres in the ninth, sealing the victory and sending the Phillies to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The celebration was on, and the Phillies were dancing on their own!
Trivia Answer – Philly baseball has seven championships. Five by the A’s (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929 and 1930) and two by the Phillies (1980 and 2008).
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