SI's Best World Series Shots

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 30, 2008

SI's Best World Series Shots

Brad Lidge

Brad Lidge was lights-out in the postseason for the Phillies. In all, the Philadelphia closer pitched 9.1 innings, gave up one earned run, and struck out 13. He was seven-for-seven in save opportunities, including the World Series-clinching save in Game 5.

Brad Lidge

Brad Lidge, the stand-up closer with a painful postseason past, put an emphatic end to his season of redemption with a nearly perfect ninth inning to seal the win -- the Phillies first world title since 1980.

Pedro Feliz

With the score tied at 3 in the eighth, Feliz ripped Chad Bradford's pitch back through the box, and past the drawn-in infield. Eric Bruntlett walked home from third base with the go-ahead run -- the last run the Phillies would need with Brad Lidge ready for the ninth.

Jason Bartlett

With the score tied, two out in the seventh and Jason Bartlett on second, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz paired up for the biggest defensive play of Game 5. Utley gloved Akinori Iwamura's groundball, realized he didn't have a play at first and threw home to Ruiz, who dove to tag Bartlett.

Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard hoists the Commissioner's Trophy after the Phillies 4-3 victory Wednesday night. Howard struggled against lefties during the World Series, but he exploded for two home runs and five RBI in his club's 10-2 Game 4 win.

Jamie Moyer

At 45, Jamie Moyer was the oldest player ever to start a World Series game when he pitched 6.1 strong innings in Game 3. Moyer didn't get the win in the game, but he took home one of the biggest prizes after the World Series...the pitching rubber from Citizens Bank Park.

Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins gets a champagne shower from right fielder Jayson Werth. The team's vocal leader, Rollins hit .227 in the World Series. Werth, on the other hand, hit .444 with a home run and three RBI.

Brad Lidge

With a slider to Eric Hinske, Brad Lidge completed his own perfect season, and gave the Phillies their first World Series championship in 28 years. Lidge finished the World Series with two saves and three strikeouts in two innings pitched.

Ryan Howard

After a tough start to the postseason, Howard hit .286 with three home runs and six RBI against the Rays. Surrounded by photographers and soaked by champagne, he celebrates the Phillies' win in the clubhouse.

B.J. Upton scores past Carlos Ruiz

B.J. Upton's baserunning has produced some big runs during the World Series, none bigger than the tying run in Game 5. After stealing second, he scored on an RBI single by Carlos Pena.

Carlos Pena

Hitless going into Game 3, Pena came through when the Rays needed him the most. In a driving rain, he stroked the game-tying single into left to plate B.J. Upton.

Chase Utley

When Game 5 was suspended, Utley and the rest of the Phillies were just nine outs away from their city's first World Series title since 1980.

Cole Hamels

Series MVP Hamels entered Game 5 with a 1.55 ERA and four wins in the postseason. Even as the field puddled around him, he held the Rays in check.

Cole Hamels

His final line for the suspended game: 6 IP, 5 Hits, 2 earned runs and 3 strikeouts.

Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth put the Phillies out of reach in the eighth inning with a two-run home run off Dan Wheeler. It was Werth's first home run of the World Series, and it gave Philadelphia an 8-2 lead.

Joe Blanton

In addition to tossing six strong innings of four-hit ball, Joe Blaton connected for his first career home run Sunday. His fifth inning shot off Edwin Jackson was the first by a pitcher in the World Series since 1974.

Ryan Howard

Howard came out of a postseason-long slump in Game 4, connecting for two homers. The slugging first baseman drove in five runs on homers in the fourth and eighth innings.

Jimmy Rollins

Caught in a run-down, Jimmy Rollins races back to third. Replays appeared to show that he was tagged before he made it to the base, but Rollins was called safe, loading the bases. He scored the game's first run when the next hitter, Pat Burrell, walked.

Eric Bruntlett

With the bases loaded in the ninth, Evan Longoria did everything he could to get the ball to Dioner Navarro for the force out. As his throw went over the catcher's head, Eric Bruntlett scored the game-winning run, giving the Phillies a 2-1 series lead.

B.J. Upton and Pedro Feliz

B.J. Upton single-handedly manufactured the tying run in the eighth. After a leadoff single, the centerfielder swiped second and third base. He scored the Rays' fourth run when Carlos Ruiz's throw got away from Pedro Feliz.

Jamie Moyer and Ryan Howard

Moyer left everything on the field in Game 3. Here he's lying on the turf after diving to field Carl Crawford's drag bunt in the seventh inning. Crawford was called safe, but replays appeared to show the ball beat him to the bag.

Jamie Moyer

Forty-five-year old Jamie Moyer became the second-oldest pitcher ever to start a World Series game. He turned in a gem, tossing 6.1 innings, striking out five and allowing three earned runs. He turned the ball over to the bullpen with a lead.

Akinori Iwamura

Akinori Iwamura and Carlos Pena celebrated the Rays' Game 2 win. The duo teamed to score the Rays' first run in the game, when Pena drove in Iwamura on a groundout. The normally potent Tampa lineup used small ball to even the series.

David Price

David Price wasn't as electric as he was in Game 7 of the ALCS, but he recorded the final seven outs of the game to pick up the Game 2 save. The rookie out of Vanderbilt gave up two hits, including an eighth inning home run by Eric Bruntlett.

Chase Utley

Philadelphia's Game 1 offensive hero was stymied by James Shields and the Rays' bullpen in Game 2. The second baseman finished the night 0-4 and left four men on base.

James Shields

With just 32 big league wins under his belt, James Shields probably hasn't earned the nickname "Big Game" James yet. He pitched a big game Thursday night, though, when he tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings to help the Rays even the Series at one game apiece.

Carlos Ruiz

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz turned in a solid all-around game, going two for two with a pair of doubles, scoring a run and stealing a base.

Rocco Baldelli

With the bases loaded in the second inning, B.J. Upton came through with an RBI single. The hit scored Dioner Navarro, but a strong throw by Jayson Werth cut down Baldelli at the plate, keeping the Rays' lead at 3-0.

Rocco Baldelli

Rocco Baldelli was frequently in the spotlight during Game 2. He was at the center of a controversial check swing call, picked up an outfield assist, and was on the giving end of a home plate collision with Carlos Ruiz.

The Phillies celebrated their 3-2 win. The team that won the opener has captured the Series 63 of 103 times, including 10 of the last 11. But the team with home-field advantage has taken 18 of the last 22 titles.

Brad Lidge

Lidge was a perfect 41 for 41 in save chances during the regular season. With his 1-2-3 ninth in Game 1, he improved to a perfect six for six in the postseason.

Scott Kazmir

Scott Kazmir got off to a rocky start, giving up a two-run home run to Chase Utley in the first inning, but he settled down to toss six solid innings, giving up just one more run.

Ryan Howard

Howard reaches into the stands to catch a foul ball, but his postseason struggles at the plate continued with an 0-4, three strikeout performance in the Series opener.

Akinori Iwamura

The Rays mounted a threat of their own in the bottom of the second, but the Phillies turned a smash by B.J. Upton into a 5-4-3 double play.

Shane Victorino

Although Victorino was tagged out in the second inning (pictured), he later scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a groundball by Carlos Ruiz in the fourth.

Shane Victorino

Up 2-0 in the second inning, Victorino tried to pad the Phillies lead, tagging up on a short fly ball to center field. However, B.J. Upton threw a one-hop strike to Dioner Navarro, who applied the tag and ended the threat.

Chase Utley

Chase Utley got the Phillies off to a quick start in Game 1, smashing a Scott Kazmir fastball into the right field seats. Kazmir allowed just one homer to left-handed hitters in 131 regular season at-bats.

Cole Hamels

In Game 1 of the World Series, NLCS MVP Cole Hamels tossed another gem, giving the Phillies seven strong innings on their way to a 1-0 lead and a 3-2 victory.<br><br>Text by Josh Zembik.