PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia, where in the world did 20 years go?
Citizens Bank Park, the majestic and extraordinarily popular home of the Phillies, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season. As the late, great Harry Kalas would say, can you believe it?!
Kalas, like many other outstanding broadcasters the Phillies have employed, called historic moments at 1 Citizens Bank Way. So in honor of this milestone anniversary, KYW Newsradio put together an informal poll on social media to see what some of your favorites have been over the years. Based on your responses, these are the top five moments at CBP.
Hello, Red October
In the ’90s and early 2000s, playoff baseball was uncommon territory for the Phils. After the magical run of 1993, the club went on a nearly decade-and-a-half postseason drought with, frankly, terrible seasons and some that fell just short of playing beyond 162 games.
In 2007, with a young nucleus ready to burst onto the scene of MLB, Charlie Manuel’s Phils erased a historic seven-game deficit to the Mets in the National League East with 17 games to play.
Tied for first on the last day of the regular season, the Mets were blown out by the Marlins at Shea Stadium in Flushing, while the Phillies took care of business against the Nationals — to the delight of the Delaware Valley.
Phillies hit king Jimmy Rollins famously said before that season that the Phils were the team to beat in the NL East. He was right. He backed up his words and won the National League MVP that season.
This would be the first of five division titles in a row for the franchise.
‘Jimmy Rollins has made his mark!’
A common thought throughout Rollins’ legendary career with the Phillies was, the Phils go as J-Roll goes. In other words, if Rollins is delivering, his teammates will follow his lead.
One of the prime examples was Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS. Rollins was struggling, 3 for 18 in the series, but the Phils had a 2-1 series lead with a chance to break things open at the Bank.
Trailing in the bottom of the ninth against Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton — who gave up a dramatic home run to Phils slugger Matt Stairs in the 2008 NLCS — the Phils got a couple of runners on for Rollins, who stepped up to the plate with two outs. Rollins hit one into the gap to walk the Phillies off and send Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy.
Scott Franzke said on the Phillies Radio Network that night, “Jimmy Rollins has made his mark in this series!”
Two nights later, the 2009 Phils clinched back-to-back NL pennants.
A Doc-tober no-no
Despite playing only four seasons in Philadelphia, the late, great Roy Halladay holds a special place in the hearts of Phillies fans. One reason was Oct. 6, 2010 — Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds. It was Halladay’s postseason debut. After years of never pitching in the playoffs with the Blue Jays, “Doc” got his opportunity in his first year with the Phils.
He delivered — and then some — with the second postseason no-hitter in MLB history and the first-ever no-no, altogether, at Citizens Bank Park.
Bedlam at the Bank
The story of Bryce Harper’s Phillies career still needs a conclusion. Fortunately, with his contract and hopes for an extension, there are many more chapters left.
So far, his most memorable moment happened on Oct. 23, 2022, when Red October returned following a decade-long drought. In Game 5 of the NLCS against the Padres, the Phils had a chance to win the pennant, but they were also at risk of getting on an undesirable flight back to San Diego for Game 6 if they lost.
Trailing in the bottom of the eighth inning amid gloomy weather conditions, Harper sent a Robert Suarez pitch the opposite way, clearing the fence and sending the ballpark into absolute pandemonium — appropriately described by Scott Franzke’s iconic call on the Phillies Radio Network.
Phils pitcher Aaron Nola was in the dugout when it happened, while fellow ace Zack Wheeler was on the trainer's table in the clubhouse following his outing.
“He said the windows were shaking,” Nola said. “The glass was shaking in there.”
An inning later, Phillies’ Ranger Suarez closed it out — and they were World Series-bound.
‘World f***ing champions’
The Phillies have been around for a million years. Well, 141, to be accurate. They have only won two world championships — and one of them happened at CBP.
You could argue this was Citizens Bank Park’s debut party. Yes, it was a popular place from 2004-2007, but the 2008 postseason run put it on the national stage as a dominant home-field advantage for the red-and-white pinstripes.
The Phils went 7-0 that postseason at home, capped by Game 5 of the 2008 World Series — a game that spanned three nights.
Phils ace Cole Hamels threw the first pitch of the Oct. 27 game, but consistent rain dampened the field and made it unplayable. After the Rays tied the game at 2 in the top of the sixth amid very soggy conditions, the game went into a long delay. Tom Maloney — the late, legendary KYW Newsradio sports anchor — went off on Major League Baseball in an epic criticism of the decision to play the game in the first place, despite the weather.
The game was suspended and resumed two nights later in the bottom of the sixth. The sprint-like three-and-a-half innings went back and forth with big hits from Geoff Jenkins, Jayson Werth, Pat Burrell and Pedro Feliz. It also included a run-saving defensive play from Chase Utley. Ultimately, the Phils led 4-3 heading to the ninth — setting up closer Brad Lidge to complete his perfect season of 48 saves in as many opportunities.
Kalas poetically called the final out. He wasn’t able to in 1980, when the Phils won their first championship, due to broadcast restrictions. Kalas died the following April, making this moment on Oct. 29 all the more meaningful.
Two days later, Utley put a bow on the season by surprisingly shouting “world f***ing champions” at the parade.
Honorable mentions
Oct. 14, 2022
Rhys Hoskins’ bat spike home run in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. Atlanta
Oct. 2, 2008
Shane Victorino’s grand slam vs. CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the NLCS vs. Milwaukee
May 11, 2006
Aaron Rowand bangs his face into the center field wall to make a catch
May 1, 2011
Phillies and Mets fans Chant ‘USA’ after learning Osama bin Laden had been killed
Sept. 27, 2008
Phillies clinch NL East on a Rollins-Utley-Ryan Howard double-play