2008 World Series | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Dates | October 22–29, 2008 | ||||||||||||
MVP | Cole Hamels, Philadelphia | ||||||||||||
Umpires | Tim Welke (crew chief), Tim Tschida, Jeff Kellogg, Tom Hallion, Kerwin Danley, Fieldin Culbreth | ||||||||||||
Hall of Famers |
Phillies: Pat Gillick (GM). Rays: None. |
||||||||||||
ALCS | Tampa Bay Rays over Boston Red Sox (4–3) | ||||||||||||
NLCS | Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers (4–1) | ||||||||||||
Broadcast | |||||||||||||
Television | Fox | ||||||||||||
TV announcers | Joe Buck, Tim McCarver | ||||||||||||
Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
Radio announcers | Jon Miller, Joe Morgan | ||||||||||||
Team (Wins) | Manager | Season | |
---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia Phillies (4) | Charlie Manuel | 92–70, .568, GA: 3 | |
Tampa Bay Rays (1) | Joe Maddon | 97–65, .599, GA: 2 |
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The National League champions Philadelphia Phillies and the American League champions Tampa Bay Rays competed to win four games out of a possible seven. The 2008 World Series is notable because it is the only Fall Classic to involve a mid-game suspension and resumption (two days later).
The Series began on Wednesday, October 22, and (after weather delays had postponed the end of Game 5) concluded the following Wednesday, October 29. The American League's 4–3 win in the 2008 All-Star Game gave the Rays home field advantage for the series, meaning no more than three games would be played at the Phillies' stadium Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won their second championship in their 126-year history, taking the series four games to one and brought the city of Philadelphia a championship after 25 years. This was the first postseason series lost by a Major League Baseball team based in the state of Florida; previously, the Rays and Florida Marlins were 8–0 in post-season series.
The Phillies advanced to the World Series after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League's Divisional and Championship Series, respectively. The team won its position in the playoffs after its second consecutive National League East title. This was the Phillies' first World Series appearance in fifteen years. The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the World Series after defeating the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox in the American League's Division and Championship Series, respectively. The team earned its first trip to the postseason in franchise history after winning the American League East title, only one season after finishing in last place. This was the first Series since 2001 without a wild-card team.