Philadelphia Phillies' Win Arguably Most Improbable National League Pennant

Baseball is a great game filled with emotional memories. This sport is played in backyards, on city streets, and in ballfields across the world. 

As someone who has followed the Philadelphia Phillies since the 1970's, this season's improbable turnaround, through a tough September, is particularly special. 

The Phillies have enjoyed four club house celebrations since Monday, October 3. Their trip to the 2022 World Series is stunning, with the triumphs over the St. Louis Cardinals, reigning World Champion Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres all being impressive. 

What comes next is also unpredictable, with a strong Houston Astros team likely primed to secure its fourth American League pennant (2018, 2021) since also winning its first-ever World Series championship in 2017. 

The then five-game maximum Phillies-Astros 1980 National League Championship Series (when Houston was still in the NL) ranks with or is the greatest championship series of all-time. The last four games all went extra innings, with the Phillies emerging victorious and then defeating a good Kansas City Royals team in six games to earn Philadelphia's first-ever title. 

While the Phillies have gone to the World Series in 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, and 2009, the franchise has only ever been awarded one other trophy. The 2008 championship team was part of a run (2007-2011) of five consecutive playoff appearances. The 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1983 playoff teams represent the only other great era in team history.

The 1993 run to the World Series (verses the Toronto Blue Jays) has since been seen as the most improbable playoff run in franchise history. The 2022 season arguably tops it. 

 

Can the Philadelphia Phillies Continue Their Pace?

Headline Topic I:  Phillies current pursuits

It would be too easy to say that every  game is a must-win for the Phillies, but most are. Stomping the Astros last night needs to lead to another win tonight. 

The Dodgers victory over the Cards allowed the  Phils to pull back within 3 games of the Wild Card Spot, to pass the Brewers, and to tie the Pirates in this supplemental playoff race.

With 17 games to go, Philadelphia is attempting to gain postseason access in a manner in which it hasn't before. I truly don't know if they can do it, but hope to see pressured action until the very end.  

If you have read it, or choose to open this link now, I hope that a recent Yahoo Sports feature adds to your baseball experience:  Philadelphia Phillies Pressured by Time 

Classic Headline Topic: The anniversary of Pete Rose's 4,192 hit.

Pete broke Ty Cobb's hit record on 9/11/85. The man was unique in the annals of baseball history. 

For those who are interested, my recent feature comments on Rose's time with the Phillies and the complex feelings that many of us have about his gambling issues:
Phillies' great Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, and baseball justice


Classic Headline Topic: Three Flyers' Legends

I enjoyed writing two features this week about Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, and Tim Kerr. 
These three Flyers are among the best in team history, so it was natural to pass my 'writing puck' from Propp, to Poulin, and then to Kerr (on the power play of course) during the past three days.

It was great to see both Propp and Poulin at the Winter Classic Alumni game last New Year's Eve Day and to be with them in the locker room after the game. Both are classy gentleman.

Kerr wasn't involved with the game, but it was interesting to learn that he has done some marvelous charity work for children since retiring. 

Here is a link to the story about Propp: 

Philadelphia Flyers' Legend Brian Propp was Magnificent

The link to Poulin's piece: 
Philadelphia Flyers' Captain Dave Poulin Earned Permanent Respect

Last, but not least, Kerr's link became available today:
Philadelphia Flyers' Tim Kerr Was a True Power Forward

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Thank You to over ---3.7 Million Readers---of my Yahoo Sports, Interview and News articles since 2/1/11. Every click has helped my freelance position to be a better one. If there is any way that you feel I could be of help to you, feel free to get in touch with me:

I've enjoyed connecting with many people through social media. Feel free to click on the links below if you would like to:

Add me on Facebook 

Follow me on Twitter  @SeanyOB

Connect to my Yahoo: Featured Contributor Page

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Thank you for reading any of my Yahoo Voices features that might interest you:

A model's life: An interview with Kourtney Reppert

Model Management Agency - MMA Has Another Rising Star in Megan Irminger

Behind the scenes of the modeling world: An interview with Ellen Wasser-Hrin - MMA/Model Management Agency

An Actor's life: An interview with Mary Frick

An Artist's life: An interview with Adrienne Trafford

The always fashionable Biana DeMarco

Rising star Erin Como reveals her model for success

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Baseball cards

For those of us who are old enough to remember
When Baseball Cards were King, the spring is always a special time of year.

Bygone days spent with elementary school days and family members opening packs of Topps cardboard gold never truly fade away.

Hockey

Here is a hockey story that all ice fans will like:
The mystery behind these 1970s Topps hockey cards is revealed

Lesson Learned During the Philadelphia Phillies' Current Run

Headline Topic I:  The Phillies' current late-season run 

Written off for dead by almost everyone, the Phillies have made a late-season Wild Card run. Despite losing Game 1 to the Houston Astros last night, the Phillies still are in the thick of Wild Card race. 

Any traditionalist who believes that the Wild Card isn't good apparently doesn't want people to be happy. The purpose of any professional sport is to attract fans, not to meet the intellectual needs of a small group of elitists. The second Wild Card spot gives many teams, including the Phillies hope and that is a great thing. 

With however this season ends, I remain on board with extra playoff teams. 

If you have read it, or choose to open this link now, I hope that today's Yahoo Sports feature adds to your baseball experience:  Philadelphia Phillies Pressured by Time 

Classic Headline Topic: The anniversary of Pete Rose's 4,192 hit.

Pete broke Ty Cobb's hit record on 9/11/85. The man was unique in the annals of baseball history. 

For those who are interested, my recent feature comments on Rose's time with the Phillies and the complex feelings that many of us have about his gambling issues:
Phillies' great Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, and baseball justice


Classic Headline Topic: Three Flyers' Legends

I enjoyed writing two features this week about Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, and Tim Kerr. 
These three Flyers are among the best in team history, so it was natural to pass my 'writing puck' from Propp, to Poulin, and then to Kerr (on the power play of course) during the past three days.

It was great to see both Propp and Poulin at the Winter Classic Alumni game last New Year's Eve Day and to be with them in the locker room after the game. Both are classy gentleman.

Kerr wasn't involved with the game, but it was interesting to learn that he has done some marvelous charity work for children since retiring. 

Here is a link to the story about Propp: 

Philadelphia Flyers' Legend Brian Propp was Magnificent

The link to Poulin's piece: 
Philadelphia Flyers' Captain Dave Poulin Earned Permanent Respect

Last, but not least, Kerr's link became available today:
Philadelphia Flyers' Tim Kerr Was a True Power Forward

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank You to over ---3.7 Million Readers---of my Yahoo Sports, Interview and News articles since 2/1/11. Every click has helped my freelance position to be a better one. If there is any way that you feel I could be of help to you, feel free to get in touch with me:

I've enjoyed connecting with many people through social media. Feel free to click on the links below if you would like to:

Add me on Facebook 

Follow me on Twitter  @SeanyOB

Connect to my Yahoo: Featured Contributor Page

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading any of my Yahoo Voices features that might interest you:

A model's life: An interview with Kourtney Reppert

Model Management Agency - MMA Has Another Rising Star in Megan Irminger

Behind the scenes of the modeling world: An interview with Ellen Wasser-Hrin - MMA/Model Management Agency

An Actor's life: An interview with Mary Frick

An Artist's life: An interview with Adrienne Trafford

The always fashionable Biana DeMarco

Rising star Erin Como reveals her model for success

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baseball cards

For those of us who are old enough to remember
When Baseball Cards were King, the spring is always a special time of year.

Bygone days spent with elementary school days and family members opening packs of Topps cardboard gold never truly fade away.

Hockey

Here is a hockey story that all ice fans will like:
The mystery behind these 1970s Topps hockey cards is revealed

Phillies: Ed Wade's rehire was predicted

TY to over ---1,000,000 people---who have read my Yahoo Sports, News and Voices articles since 2/1/11. http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/977720/sean_obrien.html

Follow me on Twitter @SeanyOB

Phillies 

One of the feature articles that I wrote this past summer that received the some of the strongest reaction was when I suggested that Ed Wade should be rehired if he was let go by the Houston Astros as their GM when the season ended.

Wade was fired by the Astros when the season ended and the Phillies have rehired him as a Special Consultant to their Baseball Operations Department.

The former GM's greatest success was evaluating talent. Over the course of time he didn't develop the Pat Gillick-like ability to pull off enough of the right offseason/in-season transactions to put his team over the hump. As a result he never took the Phillies to the playoffs during his tenure and was called out for it.
 
As Gillick noted in the past, Wade was key to the team drafting many of the core players that won the 2008 World Series.

To bring him back reveals a lot about the Phillies organizational strengths and Ruben Amaro's personal character.

Click on one, or more, of my Yahoo news articles below:

An Actor's life: An interview with Mary Frick

An Artist's life: An interview with Adrienne Trafford

The always fashionable Biana DeMarco

Rising star Erin Como reveals her model for success

A model's life: An interview with Kourtney Reppert

Click on one, or more, of my Yahoo sports articles below: 

The mystery behind these 1970s Topps hockey cards is revealed

When Baseball Cards were King

My interview with Flyers' Hall of Famer Bernie Parent

Unique sports talk show goes global

Five incredible Phillies pitching performances

These six NHL legends would start on any all-time team

How concussions may be linked to ALS: An interview with former NFL player Kevin Turner

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick stands on the goal line