Philadelphia Phillies: 20 Most Memorable Moments in Postseason History

Another October has come and gone for the Philadelphia Phillies, albeit much sooner than anyone outside of the St. Louis area expected.

After getting bounced from the 2011 NLDS by the Cardinals in five games, all fans can do is begin to pick up the pieces.

Perhaps just as disappointing as the team's finish itself is the vanishing opportunity to create any more October magic, playoff heroes or indelible moments in franchise history. No more games means no more drama for a team that seemed primed to win the World Series for the second time in four years.

But, after the Game 5 loss to St. Louis, the clock ran out on the Phillies' 2011 season.

Although there will be no additions to the growing list of the team's postseason war stories, the collection of events that helped shape the organization is permanent and frozen in time.

Looking back at almost a century of postseason play will provide its fair share of glorious memories and haunting visions. Beginning with the team's first NL Pennant in 1915, Philadelphia has given fans a database of thrillers that seem to come in bursts.

The ranking of each item on the list will always be up for debate, but one cannot deny that each of the following has left its mark on the franchise and its fans in some way.

Without further introduction, the top 20 postseason moments in Phillies team history.

20. Success Begins a Century Ago

When composing a list or competing in professional sports, the old adage holds the same value: you've gotta start somewhere. For the Philadelphia Phillies franchise, their postseason start came in 1915 behind some of the best over the past century.

Grover Cleveland Alexander led the charge for the team that piloted their way to their first National League pennant since the ballclub's establishment in 1883. Posting an outstanding 31-10 record with a 1.22 ERA, the Hall of Fame starter steadied the best rotation in baseball.

Gavvy Cravath provided the offensive punch by leading the MLB in home runs and RBIs in a time when runs were hard to come by. Though the team fell to the Boston Red Sox in five games, the World Series was incredibly dramatic, as four of the contests were decided by one run.

While there is no single moment in this run that matches the importance of the nineteen that follow, the Phillies' first appearance in the postseason stands as a landmark that frames all action over the next 100 years.

19. Mitch Williams Surrenders a Thriller

Best known for his unpredictable appearances and trademark hairstyle, 'The Wild Thing' Mitch Williams entered an unusual contest when he took the mound in Game 4 of the 1993 World Series. Living up to his reputation, Williams lost control at a crucial point in the series.

Entering the game with two runners on and one out in a 14-10 game, The Wild Thing couldn't hold the Phillies' lead. The knockout blow came in the form of a two-out triple off the bat of Devon White, scoring Ricky Henderson and Pat Borders, giving the Blue Jays a 15-14 lead.

With the Phillies trailing 2-1 in the series and attempting to knot the best-of-seven in front of a home crowd, Williams surrendered the advantage and changed the face of the series. The Wild Thing extinguished a great amount of hope when he allowed Toronto to erase a commanding late-inning lead, but it would not be the last time the Phillies would see the closer falter.

18. Ben Francisco Clubs the Cards

After a depressing Game 2 defeat in the 2011 NLDS, the Phillies traveled to St. Louis to take on Jaime Garcia and the red-hot Cardinals. With a 2-1 series advantage on the line and zeros mounting deep into the game, Charlie Manuel pulled the right string off of Philadelphia's bench.

Locked in a scoreless game with two outs in the seventh and a pair of runners on the basepaths, Ben Francisco picked up a bat and pinch hit for laboring starter Cole Hamels. With one swing, the benched outfielder put the Phillies ahead in the game and in the NLDS driver's seat, firing a shot out over the left-field fence.

Francisco's home run was as unlikely as it was impressive, as the much-maligned role player left the yard for the first time since May 25. It was just the third pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in Phillies' postseason history and came against a pitcher that had held Francisco to a 1-for-9 clip.

Though Philadelphia would go on to lose the series in five games, the unexpected blast will rank among the top playoff round-trippers in franchise history. Conjuring up memories of 2008, Francisco gave the team hope of moving on by pushing St. Louis to the brink of elimination.

17. Lidge Implodes in a Pivotal Game 4

In the 2009 World Series, the Phillies were locked in a battle with the New York Yankees as they attempted to repeat as champions. Down 2-1 in the series and just having tied the game with a dramatic home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Charlie Manuel summoned rebounding closer Brad Lidge to keep the game tied.

The 4-4 tie seemed to be preserved with two outs and two strikes on Johnny Damon, but Lidge allowed a single after a long at bat to the New York outfielder. Damon then stole second base and took third on the play when the entire left side of the infield was vacated, putting the go-ahead run on third base.

The collapse continued when the Phillies closer hit Mark Teixiera with a fastball and then allowed Alex Rodriguez to give the Yankees the lead with a double. Philadelphia fell further behind when Jorge Posada plated a pair with a single, dooming the Phils to a 7-4 loss.

Showing shades of Mitch Williams in Game 4 of the 1993 World Series, Lidge sucked the life out of the crowd and handed New York three chances to close out the best-of-seven. Completely deflated, the Phillies would go on to lose the 2009 Series in six games.

16. "The Dude" Hits the Bomb

Starving for their first National League pennant in 10 years, the Phillies found themselves tied in Game 5 of the 1993 NLCS with the Atlanta Braves. After watching a three-run lead evaporate at the hands of the Wild Thing, the chance to take a 3-2 lead back to Philadelphia was slipping away as well.

That is, until the Dude earned his place in Phillies' postseason lore.

Lenny Dykstra, the team's stocky outfielder, crushed a 3-2 offering from Mark Wohlers over the fence in center to lift Philadelphia past the Braves. Believing that the Atlanta reliever would try to come back inside with a full count, Dykstra guessed right and carried the team to an important victory in 10 innings.

Following the extra-inning blast, the Phillies disposed of their rivals in six games and advanced to the World Series, where they fell to the Toronto Blue Jays. Dykstra's heroic at-bat is among the most exciting in franchise history.

15. Rose and Boone: Just Like They Planned

One inning. That was all that stood between the Philadelphia Phillies and their first World Series championship in the organization's long history. Even when the Kansas City Royals loaded the bases in the ninth, fans could still taste the sweetness of a World Series crown that was now within reach,

With one out and the bases packed with Royals, Frank White popped a foul ball over in front of the Phillies' dugout, sending catcher Bob Boone and first baseman Pete Rose sprinting after a valuable second out.

With booth arriving on the scene, Boone reached out to make the play, waiting for Rose to call him off. Unfortunately, the call never came, and the ball deflected off of his mitt.

Then came a bit of playoff magic. Rose finally did show up, bailing out Boone by catching the deflection for the second out of the inning, setting up Tug McGraw to finish the job. The play became an iconic reflection of the 1980 Phillies team and set off a wild celebration at Veterans Stadium,

If the ball finds the ground on that fateful October night, White gets another chance to drive in runs without sending his teammates to the plate to make the final out. The foul out was crucial in creating another unforgettable moment, one that was a century in the making.

14. Russell Delivers the Final Blow

After dropping the second game of the 1977 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies were poised to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Leading by two runs, dominant reliever Gene Garber had the Dodgers down to their last strike with the bases empty.

At that point, Philadelphia went from taking a commanding lead in the series to collapsing into "Black Friday," a situation that would cost the team a shot at their first World Series title.

The 0-2 count Garber had on Vic Davalillo turned into a surprising bunt single, which was followed by a string of hits and close plays in the field that allowed LA to tie the game. To make matters worse, an errant pick-off throw put the winning run on second base for shortstop Bill Russell.

Sure enough, Russell singled to bring home Davey Lopes and put the Dodges ahead to stay in the series. Deflated and behind, the Phillies would not win another game in the NLCS, falling in four games in front of a home crowd.

13. Jimmy Rolls Broxton, Dodgers

A year after Jonathan Broxton had broken down against the Phillies in the NLCS, he was about to put the finishing touches 'on a 4-3 win that would have evened the series at two games apiece.

Down to his last strike with two men on, Jimmy Rollins caught up to a Broxton heater and sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The emotional turnaround was indescribable for Phillies fans, going from simply looking for a base hit to tie the game to seeing Carlos Ruiz come all the way around from first on a Rollins' gapper. The shortstop delivered in a big way, as the Phillies beat Broxton for the second straight year in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Philadelphia would go on to win the series in Game 5 after crushing the Dodgers' hopes on that October night. Rollins walk-off hit came when he was just 3 for 18 in the series, making him an unlikely source to turn around Broxton's 99 mile-per-hour fastball and send LA packing.

12. Griffey's Bouncer Beats Philadelphia

In 1976, the Phillies faced off against the Bid Red Machine for the right to head to the World Series. Already down 2-0 in the five-game series, the Phillies clung to a two-run lead on the road heading into the bottom of the ninth.

The Big Red Machine would not go quietly.

With back-to-back solo homers, Cincinnati quickly tied the game and set the stage for a heart-breaker. The bases were loaded for Ken Griffey, Sr., who sent a high bouncer over the head of drawn-in first baseman Dave Tolan, scoring Dave Concepcion to sweep the Phillies.

Philadelphia would have to wait another three years to break through following the loss to the Reds, running into the Dodgers after finally ridding themselves of the Big Red Machine.

11. Charlie Hustle's Collision

On the magical run to a championship in 1980, the Phillies had their fair share of iconic moments.

For the constantly hustling Pete Rose, it was his effort and willingness to put the body on the line that would will the Phillies to an extra-inning victory. 

Game 4 of the NLCS saw Philadelphia surrender a lead in the ninth and head to the extra frame trying to stay alive in the series. With Rose on base, Greg Luzinski doubled to set up a play at the play at the plate as Charlie Hustle came flying around third.

With the ball arriving just before him, Rose lowered his shoulder and threw his forearm high, jarring the ball from Astros catcher Bruce Bochy to give the Phillies the lead. The team would go on to win 5-3 and force a decisive Game 5, a contest that would prove to be just as thrilling.

10. Eddie Murray Ushers in a 25-Year Wait

In the 1983 NLCS, the Phillies were struggling mightily at the plate and were staring at a Game 5 elimination at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles. With the team hitting a helpless .176, Philadelphia doomed itself to a quarter century of waiting for another opportunity.

Eddie Murray was the man who put the final nail in the coffin, smashing two home runs and driving in three en route to a demoralizing 5-0 beating of the Phillies in the clincher.

Looking back in team history, the defining moment proved to be the final out recorded by Cal Ripken, Jr., as Philadelphia would have to wait another 25 years for postseason glory.

The "Wheeze Kids" could not put together enough offense to put up a fight in the series, falling in five games. This ballclub was just three years removed from a World Series title, but an aging roster was not the same as the team of destiny from 1980.  

9. Maddox Sends Phillies to World Series

Climbing out of a 2-1 hold in a best-of-five series is a never an east task, but winning the final two games of the series in extra innings is something truly special.

In 1980, the Phillies went on the road for Games 4 and 5, setting the scene for a dramatic finish to the NLCS against the Astros.

Having won a ten-inning thriller the night before, Philadelphia had already shown the ability to emerge victorious from a pressure situation. After mounting a comeback late in Game 5, one last rally would send the Phillies through to the World Series.

Tied at 7 in the tenth, Garry Maddox doubled home Del Unser for what would prove to be the winning run in the top half of the inning, putting the finishing touches on a heart-stopping NLCS. The team would go on to face the Kansas City Royals in search of the first title in franchise history after an unexpected comeback in Houston.

8. Burrell's Swan Song Sets Up a Title

At the tail end of a storied Phillies career, Pat Burrell found a way to reverse all of the criticism and misfortune that had found him.

After the Tampa Bay Rays had tied Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, Burrell's final at bat as a Phillie would be the difference.

Leading off in the bottom of the seventh inning, "Pat The Bat" crushed a JP Howell offering to left-center field, a bomb that resembled Lenny Dykstra's shot off Mark Wohlers. Narrowly missing a home run, the ball clanked off the small fence at the top of the wall and allowed Burrell to roll into second with a double.

The slow-footed Phillies outfielder was pinch-run for after he revived a nervous home crowd. Eric Bruntlett would come around to score after replacing Burrell, putting Philadelphia ahead by one and in prime position to finish off its first World Series victory in 28 years.

7. The Phillies' Achilles Heel

Though it is still fresh in the mind of Phillies fans and serves as a painful reminder of what could have been, the 2011 October failure ranks among the worst in franchise history.

The defining moment in their NLDS loss to the St. Louis Cardinals came in their final at bat, adding insult to injury for the favored Phils.

Down to their last out and needing a hero after blowing a 2-1 series lead, Ryan Howard stepped to the plate amid an 0 for 14 drought since his single in Game 2. A year after striking out looking against Brian Wilson to end the Phillies' season, it was poetic justice that he be the man to falter this year as a representation of the team's play.

A worse ending could not have been written for Philadelphia, as they watched in horror as their star first baseman continued his futility by sending a weak grounder to second base. As Howard broke out of the box, he tore his Achilles tendon and ended the playoff run lying on the ground, writhing in pain.

This loss will affect the Phillies in more ways than one. The titanic letdown will be on the shoulders of the squad next season, a group of players that will now be without Howard when spring training kicks off late in the winter.

The timetable for the return of the Big Piece is massive question mark, leaving a great amount of doubt on the team's future.

6. Shane Shows CC the Door

Following their early exit in 2007, the Philadelphia Phillies could not afford to stumble early against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 NLDS. Already up 1-0 in the series, the Phillies found a way to break through against the game's most dominant pitcher down the stretch.

Shane Victorino stepped up the plate with two outs and the bases loaded after an epic at bat by pitcher Brett Myers against big lefty CC Sabathia. The newly acquired Brewers ace had carried the team into the playoffs on a string of starts on three-days rest. On this evening in Philadelphia, it all caught up to the untouchable starter.

With one two-strike swing, Victorino began constructing the 2008 fairy tale, launching a grand slam down the left-field line. Citizens Bank Park erupted in celebration in a moment that seemed to end the Brewers' season. The first slam in franchise postseason history put the Phillies ahead by four, giving them a lead that stood through Game 2. 

5. Matt Stairs' Moonshot

October often yields the most unlikely heroes, delivering opportunities to role players and emphasizing the importance of situational hitting. Batting in must-have Game 4 at Dodger Stadium in the 2008 NLCS, Matt Stairs followed Shane Victorino's tying home run with a swing that will go down as one of the biggest in Phillies' history. 

With a runner on and flamethrower Jonathan Broxton on the hill, Stairs was looking for a fastball to untie the 5-5 game in the 8th. On a 3-1 count, the pinch-hitter found what he was looking for in a 98-mile-per-hour fireball that stayed middle-in. With one powerful swing, Stairs sent a shot deep into the LA night, making solid contact on a ball that may not have landed yet.

The Phillies would not relinquish the lead that they were given by the veteran's first postseason home run, putting the Dodgers away in five games and moving on to their first World Series since 1993. Stairs home run epitomized the team's ability to hit at vital points that season, leading them to face the Tampa Bay Rays.

4. Doc Prescribes a No-No

Roy Halladay had waited his entire career for this start against the Cincinnati Reds, his first playoff appearance after spending so much time with the lowly Toronto Blue Jays. While many expected to see the same dominant force that would go on to win a Cy Young, no one predicted the level of brilliance Doc would show in Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS.

With two outs in the ninth, Carlos Ruiz picked up a Brandon Phillips' bouncer in front of the plate and fired to Ryan Howard to complete the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history. Halladay needed just 104 pitches to navigate his way through 28 Reds' hitters, walking just one early in the game.

In front of a home crowd, Doc replicated a feat only accomplished by Don Larsen back in the 1956 World Series. He set the tone for the Phillies to sweep the Reds out of the playoffs before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.

3. Tug Brings Home a Title

After a wild comeback in the NLCS, an unusual out in the ninth inning and a century of waiting for the crown, it was finally time for the Philadelphia Phillies to celebrate. Tug McGraw stepped onto the rubber with the bases loaded and a three-run lead in front of a home crowd, ready to close the book on the final inning of a magical playoff run.

McGraw reached back, fired and got a swing-and-miss from Willie Wilson to bring a long-awaited World Series championship to Philadelphia. The 65,838 fans at Veterans Stadium celebrated in a way unlike any other since the organization was formed in 1883. Mike Schmidt was given World Series MVP honors, perpetuating the party at the Vet.

For the first time, there was no next series to gear up for and no more preparations to be made. It marked the end of a roller-coaster journey that finished with a long-overdue parade down Broad Street. 

2. Joe Carter Crushes Championship Hopes

Thirteen years after their first World Series championship, the Phillies were on the verge of another as they began mounting a comeback against the Toronto Blue Jays. Mitch Williams came on to pitch what would become the most memorable inning of his career, serving up an infamous blast to the series hero.

Joe Carter stepped up with one out in the bottom of the ninth and two men on base. The Blue Jays trailed by one in Game 6 of a World Series they led 3-2. Using a newfound slide-step delivery, Williams fired onto the barrel of Carter's bat, ending the Phillies' hopes of another title. Carter's drive landed on the wrong side of the left-field fence, sending the crowd into a raucous celebration.

The Wild Thing will always be tied to this moment in postseason history, slipping off the mound and watching in horror as Carter circled the base path. The Phillies would have to wait 15 years before an event that would erase the pain from 1993.

1. 'Lights Out' on the Drought

Philadelphia was a tortured sports city for a quarter century. Unable to win a title in a major sport over the course of 25 years, the city caught Phillies fever and looked to the team of destiny to bring home a championship. With one pitch, decades of demons and frustration were replaced by a victory that delivered glory to a deprived generation.

In the second half of a rain-delayed Game 5, Brad Lidge entered the ninth with a perfect saves record still intact. After allowing a runner to reach second base with two outs, Lidge settled down to face Eric Hinske of the Tampa Bay Rays. And using his patented slider, he got the Rays' pinch-hitter to swing over top of a biting breaking ball.

The scene, the emotion, the release—all of it make the final out of the 2008 World Series the most memorable moment in Phillies postseason history. The win was larger than one title in a single sport; it was about a city starving to celebrate after so many close calls.

Even after this year's stumble against the Cardinals, fans can still look back and remember where they were when the Phillies won it all and relieved years of near-misses.

It's that feeling that keeps fans coming back in droves for more, even when things seem dark and hopeless.