2007 through 2011 was a true golden era for the Phillies and their fans. The team made it back to the postseason for the first time since 1993, then won a World Series, then rolled through a few more incredible seasons before it all fell apart.
15 years ago Monday, we reached the absolute apex of the whole ride.
With the 2008 championship already in hand, the Phils kicked off their 2009 World Series matchup with the Yankees. Cliff Lee pitched a complete game, allowing just one run. Chase Utley hit two home runs. And the good guys won, 6-1.
2009 World Series Game 1
Cliff Lee: 9 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K, 122 pitches (80 strikes) pic.twitter.com/UfhXrKuD5c
“POWER AND GLORY” blared the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer the next day. “CHASE OVERTHROWS YANKS” trumpeted the Daily News. Phillies fans’ confidence levels were at an all-time high. The franchise was poised to win back-to-back titles and, hell, who knows, maybe a couple more.
© Eric Hartline | 2022 Nov 1
Deep sigh.
The Yankees, managed by Joe Girardi, won the 2009 series in six games. The 2010 Phillies won 97 games but the Giants bounced them from the NLCS. And the 2011 Phils, after securing a franchise-record 102 regular season victories, didn’t make it past the NLDS.
Ryan Howard fell to the ground, and the Phillies fell out of MLB postseason relevancy for the next decade or so.
The club may be in the middle of its next golden era right now, after three consecutive postseason appearances. They’ll need to win a championship, of course. But they should have a few more good shots to get one before their stars age out of their primes.
Should is the operative word. If the last golden era taught us anything, it’s that nothing can be taken for granted. Time will tell whether the Bryce Harper Phillies peaked in the 2022 World Series, or whether their ‘22 run merely served as a prelude to a parade or two.
But today? Enjoy some highlights from October 28, 2009. The day the Phillies were on top of the world.
