2008 World Series - wikipedia 2008 World Series 2008 World Series Team ( Wins ) Manager ( s ) Season Philadelphia Phillies ( 4 ) Charlie Manuel 92 -- 70,. 568, GA : 3 Tampa Bay Rays ( 1 ) Joe Maddon 97 -- 65,. 599, GA : 2 Dates October 22 -- 29 MVP Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Umpires Tim Welke ( crew chief ), Kerwin Danley, Fieldin Culbreth, Tom Hallion, Jeff Kellogg, Tim Tschida Hall of Famers Phillies : Pat Gillick ( GM ) Rays : None ALCS Tampa Bay Rays defeated Boston Red Sox, 4 -- 3 NLCS Philadelphia Phillies defeated Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 -- 1 Broadcast Television Fox ( English ) Fox Deportes ( Spanish ) TV announcers Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Chris Myers, Ken Rosenthal ( English ) Ángel Torres, Miguel Morales, Cos Villa ( Spanish ) Radio National : ESPN ( English ) ESPN Deportes Radio ( Spanish ) Philadelphia : WPHT ( English ) WDAS ( AM ) ( Spanish ) Tampa Bay : WHNZ ( English ) WGES ( AM ) ( Spanish ) Radio announcers National : Jon Miller, Joe Morgan ( English ) Philadelphia : Harry Kalas, Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Chris Wheeler ( English ) Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik, Juan Ramos ( Spanish ) Tampa Bay : Dave Wills, Andy Freed, Dewayne Staats, Joe Magrane ( English ) Ricardo Tavaras, Enrique Oliu ( Spanish ) ← 2007 World Series 2009 → The 2008 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball 's ( MLB ) 2008 season. The 104th edition of the World Series, it was a best - of - seven playoff between the National League ( NL ) champion Philadelphia Phillies and the American League ( AL ) champion Tampa Bay Rays ; the Phillies won the series, four games to one. 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 AL '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 to bring the city of Philadelphia its first championship in 25 years ( since the 1983 NBA Finals ). This was the first postseason series lost by a MLB 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 NL 's Divisional Series and Championship Series, respectively. The team won its position in the playoffs after its second consecutive NL East division 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 AL 's Division Series and Championship Series, respectively. The team earned its first trip to the postseason in franchise history after winning the AL East division title, only one season after finishing in last place. This was the first Series since 2001 without a wild - card team. Contents 1 Teams 1.1 Philadelphia Phillies 1.2 Tampa Bay Rays 2 Summary 3 Game summaries 3.1 Game 1 3.2 Game 2 3.3 Game 3 3.4 Game 4 3.5 Game 5 3.5. 1 Implications of the suspension 3.6 Composite score 4 Weather conditions 5 Broadcasting 6 Ratings 7 Umpiring 8 Impact and aftermath 8.1 Phillies 8.2 Rays 9 See also 10 References 11 External links Teams Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia left - hander Cole Hamels, pictured here during the 2010 regular season, won Game 1 and pitched six effective innings in Game 5, and was named the World Series MVP. Main article : 2008 Philadelphia Phillies season Philadelphia opened the season by posting a winning record in the opening month of April. The team scored 60 runs over a five - game span in late May and went 14 -- 4 into the beginning of June. The team lost 9 of 11 games to end June, but came out of the All - Star break with a 9 -- 6 record following the midseason hiatus. The Phillies posted the best road record in the National League, at 44 -- 37. Philadelphia traded sweeps with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August and went 13 -- 3 in their last 16 games, to win the National League East title for the second consecutive season. They defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series, 3 -- 1, and the Dodgers in the Championship Series, 4 -- 1, to book their place in the 2008 Fall Classic. This was the Phillies ' first World Series appearance in fifteen years. Tampa Bay Rays Main article : 2008 Tampa Bay Rays season The Tampa Bay Rays also began the season ( their first after dropping the `` Devil '' from their name ) with a winning record in the opening month of April. The Rays became the first team since 1903 to have the league 's best record on Memorial Day ( the last Monday in May ) after finishing in last place the previous season. The team went 16 -- 10 in June, but lost seven consecutive games leading up to the All - Star break. In August, the Rays lost seven games to finish out the month with an overall record of 84 -- 51. The team concluded the season, albeit with a 13 -- 14 record in September, by winning the American League East title for the first time in franchise history. As the Devil Rays, they had never finished with a winning record, nor finished higher than fourth in their division. The Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3 -- 1 in the American League Division Series. In the American League Championship Series, Tampa Bay defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games ( 4 -- 3 ), to advance to their first World Series in franchise history. The Rays became the third MLB team in the post-1969 `` Divisional Era '' to make the World Series in their first trip to the playoffs, joining the 1969 New York Mets and the 1997 Florida Marlins. Summary The Philadelphia Phillies ( 2008 champions of the National League ) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays ( American League champions ) four games to one, played in St. Petersburg and Philadelphia from Wednesday, October 22 to Wednesday, October 29, 2008. NL Philadelphia Phillies ( 4 ) vs. AL Tampa Bay Rays ( 1 ) Game Date Score Location Time Attendance October 22 Philadelphia Phillies - 3, Tampa Bay Rays - 2 Tropicana Field 3 : 23 40,783 October 23 Philadelphia Phillies - 2, Tampa Bay Rays - 4 Tropicana Field 3 : 05 40,843 October 25 Tampa Bay Rays - 4, Philadelphia Phillies - 5 Citizens Bank Park 3 : 41 45,900 October 26 Tampa Bay Rays - 2, Philadelphia Phillies - 10 Citizens Bank Park 3 : 08 45,903 5 October 27, 29 Tampa Bay Rays - 3, Philadelphia Phillies - 4 Citizens Bank Park 3 : 28 45,940 Game summaries Game 1 The teams on the field before Game 1 Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8 : 37 pm ( EDT ) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida Team 5 6 7 8 9 Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 WP : Cole Hamels ( 1 -- 0 ) LP : Scott Kazmir ( 0 -- 1 ) Sv : Brad Lidge ( 1 ) Home runs : PHI : Chase Utley ( 1 ) TB : Carl Crawford ( 1 ) The Philadelphia Phillies scored the first runs of the Series when Chase Utley hit a home run with Jayson Werth on base in the top of the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases in the second inning, but were unable to score when Shane Victorino was thrown out at home plate by B.J. Upton. The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning ; however, Upton grounded into an inning - ending double play and the score remained 2 -- 0. The Phillies extended their lead when Carlos Ruiz batted in Victorino in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the inning, a solo home run from Carl Crawford pulled the Rays within two runs. The Rays added their second run the following inning when a double by Akinori Iwamura scored Jason Bartlett. Tampa Bay starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was removed after six innings ; J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour combined to shut out the Phillies for 11⁄3 innings. Ryan Madson relieved Phillies ' starter Cole Hamels in the eighth inning, pitching a single perfect inning. In the top of the ninth inning, two Phillies ' runners reached base. Tampa Bay 's Trever Miller was brought on and threw four pitches -- striking out Ryan Howard -- before he was relieved. Philadelphia stranded two runners, on second and third base, and entered the bottom of the ninth inning ahead by one run. Philadelphia 's Brad Lidge struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third batter to get the save. Game 2 Thursday, October 23, 2008 8 : 37 pm ( EDT ) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida Team 5 6 7 8 9 Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 x 7 WP : James Shields ( 1 -- 0 ) LP : Brett Myers ( 0 -- 1 ) Home runs : PHI : Eric Bruntlett ( 1 ) TB : None Tampa Bay scored the first runs of the game in the first inning when Akinori Iwamura and B.J. Upton scored on consecutive ground outs by Carlos Peña and Evan Longoria respectively. The following inning Upton singled, scoring Dioner Navarro. Rocco Baldelli attempted to score from second base, but was thrown out by right fielder Jayson Werth, keeping the Rays lead at 3 -- 0. Cliff Floyd extended the Rays lead to four runs after leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, advancing to third base, and scoring on a Jason Bartlett sacrifice bunt. Rays starter James Shields shut out the Phillies through 52⁄3 innings, before being relieved by Dan Wheeler who pitched an additional scoreless inning. Eric Bruntlett hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to bring the score to 4 -- 1. The Phillies added a second run in the top of the ninth inning, but were unable to score any more runs ; Tampa Bay 's win tied the Series at one game apiece. Game two stands as the only World Series game ever won by Tampa Bay. Game 3 Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, pictured during 2007 spring training, hit his first home run of the postseason in Game 3. Saturday, October 25, 2008 8 : 37 pm ( EDT ) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team 5 6 7 8 9 Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 5 7 WP : J.C. Romero ( 1 -- 0 ) LP : J.P. Howell ( 0 -- 1 ) Home runs : TB : None PHI : Carlos Ruiz ( 1 ), Chase Utley ( 2 ), Ryan Howard ( 1 ) The third game of the Series was delayed for an hour and 31 minutes because of rain. Country music star Tim McGraw, son of Phillies reliever Tug McGraw, spread his father 's ashes on the pitching mound of Citizens Bank Park, prior to the game 's start. The Phillies scored in the bottom of the first inning after Jimmy Rollins led off with a single and eventually scored when Chase Utley grounded out. In the next half inning, Tampa Bay 's Carl Crawford doubled, stole third base and scored on a Gabe Gross sacrifice fly to center field. Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies their second lead of the night when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Starting pitchers Matt Garza and Jamie Moyer pitched six and 61⁄3 innings respectively. The 2 -- 1 score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit the 14th back - to - back home runs in World Series history. Crawford scored his second run of the game in the top of the seventh inning when he was batted in by Gross again. Dioner Navarro continued the rally by scoring on a Jason Bartlett ground out -- bringing the score to 4 -- 3. In the top of the eighth inning, B.J. Upton led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error to tie the game. Eric Bruntlett was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the ninth, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error. Tampa Bay intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases, creating a force play at the plate. They then brought the infield in ( including right fielder Ben Zobrist who was brought in to be a fifth infielder ) hoping to convert any groundball into a force out at home and preventing the game winning run. However, Bruntlett scored the winning run on Ruiz 's 45 - foot infield single, the first walk - off infield single in World Series history, giving the Phillies a 2 -- 1 lead in the series. Game 4 Sunday, October 26, 2008 8 : 29 pm ( EDT ) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team 5 6 7 8 9 Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Philadelphia 0 0 0 x 10 12 WP : Joe Blanton ( 1 -- 0 ) LP : Andy Sonnanstine ( 0 -- 1 ) Home runs : TB : Carl Crawford ( 2 ), Eric Hinske ( 1 ) PHI : Ryan Howard 2 ( 3 ), Joe Blanton ( 1 ), Jayson Werth ( 1 ) Philadelphia took a 1 -- 0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Jimmy Rollins led off with a double and scored when Pat Burrell later walked with the bases loaded. The Phillies doubled their lead in the third inning when Chase Utley reached base on a fielding error and scored on Pedro Feliz 's single. The Rays scored their first run when Carl Crawford hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Howard 's three - run home run in the bottom of the inning brought the score to 5 -- 1. Tampa Bay 's Eric Hinske hit a pinch - hit home run to bring the Rays within three runs, but Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton responded with a home run of his own to re-extend the lead to four ; it was the first time a pitcher hit a home run in the World Series since Ken Holtzman in game 4 of the 1974 World Series. Blanton pitched six innings, giving up two runs on four hits to acquire his first win of the Series. Jayson Werth hit a two - run home run in the eighth inning -- the Phillies ' third of the game -- to bring the score to 8 -- 2. Later in the inning, Ryan Howard 's second home run, and fifth RBI, increased the Phillies ' lead to eight runs. Philadelphia 's four relief pitchers combined for three shutout innings, giving up one hit. Due to the late completion of the previous game, Games 3 and 4 each ended on the same calendar day. Game 5 Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, pictured during the 2008 regular season, got his first hit in Game 5. Monday, October 27, 2008 ( started ) and Wednesday, October 29, 2008 ( completed ) 8 : 29 pm ( EDT ) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team 5 6 7 8 9 Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 x 8 WP : J.C. Romero ( 2 -- 0 ) LP : J.P. Howell ( 0 -- 2 ) Sv : Brad Lidge ( 2 ) Home runs : TB : Rocco Baldelli ( 1 ) PHI : None Philadelphia scored in the first inning for the third consecutive game, taking a 2 -- 0 lead when Shane Victorino batted in Jayson Werth and Chase Utley. Tampa Bay cut the lead in half in the fourth inning ; Carlos Peña doubled and was batted in on Evan Longoria 's single, both players ' first hits of the Series. The Rays then tied the game in the sixth inning when B.J. Upton scored from second base on a Peña single. The game was suspended after the top of the sixth inning due to rain, making it the first game in World Series history not to be played through to completion or declared a tie. Phillies starter Cole Hamels, making his fifth start, had pitched six innings when the umpires suspended play and received a no - decision as the game was tied 2 - 2 in the top of the 6th. After the game was suspended, umpiring crew chief Tim Tschida told reporters that he and his crew ordered the players off the field because the wind and rain threatened to make the game `` comical. '' Chase Utley agreed, saying that by the middle of the sixth inning, `` the infield was basically under water. '' Rain continued to fall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, further postponing the game to Wednesday, October 29. The game resumed with the Phillies batting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins led off with a double and was bunted to third by Rollins. Jayson Werth then batted in Jenkins to take the lead for the Phillies, 3 -- 2. In the top of the seventh inning, Rocco Baldelli re-tied the game at three runs with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Utley faked a throw to first, then threw Bartlett out at home for the third out in a play later described as having saved the Series for the Phillies. In the bottom of the seventh, Pat Burrell led off with a double. Eric Bruntlett, pinch - running for Burrell, scored on a single by Pedro Feliz to put the Phillies up by a run again, 4 -- 3. In the top of the ninth, Brad Lidge gave up a single and a stolen base, but was able to strike out Eric Hinske to win the World Series for the Phillies. The Phillies won the Series despite committing at least one error in each game. This game also marked only the second time in MLB history that 1st inning runs were scored in the first 5 games played in a World Series ( the first being in 2003 ). Implications of the suspension The grounds crew covers the field with a tarpaulin during the Game 5 rain delay. Under normal conditions, games are considered to be official games after five innings, or four and a half if the home team is leading at that point. However, post-season games are operated by the Commissioner 's Office, thus are subject to the Commissioner 's discretion of how to handle the scheduling of the games. So, with rain in the forecast for Philadelphia, Commissioner Bud Selig informed both the Rays and the Phillies management before the game began that a team would not be allowed to clinch the Series in a rain - shortened game. Because of the rainfall, Game 5 was suspended after the top of the sixth inning. Rain continued to fall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 28, and the game ultimately resumed on Wednesday, October 29, at Citizens Bank Park. Official MLB records will show that even though the game was finished on October 29, the game was officially played two days earlier, and was completed on that date. This was the first game in World Series history to be suspended. There had been three tied games in the history of the World Series : 1907, 1912, and 1922, all of them called due to darkness. In general, no ties would be needed under modern rules, which provide for suspension of a tied game and resumption of it at the next possible date. Weather has caused numerous delays and postponements in Series history ( notable postponements beforehand coming in 1911, 1962, 1975, 1986, 1996 and 2006 ), but never any suspended games before 2008. Although not officially a suspended game, the most notorious postponement of a World Series was the 1989 World Series in which the start of Game 3 was delayed ten days, the longest in World Series history, due to the Loma Prieta earthquake striking the San Francisco Bay Area. Several Nevada sports betting agencies treated the suspended game as a completed game and a win for the Phillies on Monday, October 27. Under Nevada house rules, the final score of a baseball game is determined by reverting to the last completed full inning, and the Phillies led 2 -- 1 at the end of the fifth inning. Game 5 side bets on Philadelphia were paid off while bets on totals and run - line bets were refunded. During the following offseason, Selig 's interpretation of the rules became codified, as the 30 Major League Baseball club owners approved a rule change stipulating that all `` postseason games and games added to the regular season to determine qualifiers for the postseason '' become suspended games if they are called before nine innings are played, regardless of whether the game would otherwise qualify as an official game, or the score at the time the game is called. The game is resumed when conditions permit at the same location from the point of suspension. Composite score Team 5 6 7 8 9 Philadelphia Phillies 6 5 24 44 6 Tampa Bay Rays 0 0 15 33 5 Total attendance : 219,369 Average attendance : 43,874 Winning player 's share : $351,504 Losing player 's share : $223,390 Weather conditions Games 3 and 5 of the World Series were delayed by rain storms in Philadelphia, with the start of Game 3 on Saturday, October 25 being delayed an hour and 31 minutes ( with that game ending at 1 : 47 am EDT Sunday, October 26 ). Game 5, begun on Monday, October 27, was suspended after the top of the 6th inning and resumed Wednesday, October 29. Wet weather which affected Game 5 continued into Tuesday in the Philadelphia area, as Major League Baseball officials studied radar data to determine when Game 5 of the World Series would continue under conditions deemed `` appropriate. '' Up to this point, there had never been a rain - shortened game in Series history, and this was the first suspension. As a result, had it been necessary to play them, Games 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg, originally scheduled for October 29 and 30, were postponed until a later date. With temperatures plummeting towards 40 ° F ( 4 ° C ) and with a cold rain falling at Citizens Bank Park, some of the Phillies and Rays players opted for an `` Elmer Fudd '' look, wearing specially made caps with built - in ear flaps. The caps, manufactured by New Era, were introduced during this year 's spring training but were not used on the field until Game 5. New Era also supplied regular ball caps to both teams, which some players continued to wear despite the cold weather. Broadcasting Harry Kalas, pictured at the World Series parade, called the World Series as a Phillies broadcaster, and got to call a Phillies World Series win, something he could n't do in 1980, while his son, Todd, called the series for the Rays. The games were televised on Fox in the United States with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver ( himself a former Phillies broadcaster ) as booth announcers and Chris Myers and Ken Rosenthal as field reporters. Jeanne Zelasko hosted the pre-game and post-game show with Kevin Kennedy and Mark Grace ( Games 1, 2 ) or Eric Karros ( Games 3, 4, 5 ). Fox Sports en Español did the simulcast of the Series in Spanish - language with Ángel Torres, Miguel Morales and Cos Villa behind the microphones. Fox 's broadcasts were also streamed online at MLB.com. On radio, the Series was broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan announcing, and a Spanish broadcast on ESPN Deportes Radio. Locally, Dave Wills, Andy Freed, Dewayne Staats and Joe Magrane called the Series in English for the Rays on WHNZ - AM in Tampa, with Ricardo Tavaras and Enrique Oliu working the Spanish broadcast on St. Petersburg 's WGES - AM. Harry Kalas, Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, and Chris Wheeler called the Phillies ' English broadcasts on WPHT - AM in Philadelphia, with Spanish announcers Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos on WUBA. Following their contractual obligations, the non-flagship stations on the teams ' radio networks carried the ESPN Radio broadcasts. MLB.com also carried the local radio broadcasts for online streaming, while XM Satellite Radio aired the local and national feeds to its subscribers. For Harry Kalas, this series brought together a father and son calling the series for different teams, with his son, Todd, calling the Series in English for the Rays. For international viewers, MLB International televised the game with commentators Rick Sutcliffe and Dave O'Brien. This feed was also carried to U.S. service personnel stationed around the globe via the American Forces Network. This World Series win had significance for McCarver and Harry Kalas. Both had been Phillies broadcasters in 1980, but neither had gotten to call that year 's World Series. McCarver was a backup commentator for Game of the Week on NBC, but he was not part of the network 's Series announcing team. For Kalas, MLB radio - broadcasting regulations forbade local stations from producing live coverage of World Series games, instead forcing them to air the national CBS Radio feed of the games. Philadelphia fans were so outraged about this afterward that they started a letter - writing campaign to the Commissioner 's Office, demanding a change to the rule. The following year, MLB amended its broadcasting contracts to allow World Series teams ' flagship radio stations to air the games with local announcers, due at least in part to this outcry from Philadelphia fans. In 2008, both called the Phillies ' World Series win. Ratings The ratings for the 2008 World Series are among the worst in Major League Baseball 's history. The 8.4 rating set a record low, sinking below the 10.1 set two years earlier in 2006. 2008 bears the distinction of being the first World Series to draw fewer than 10.0. Game three 's 6.1 rating also set a record for the lowest rated individual game. In fairness, the Series suffered from factors beyond MLB 's control. Game 3 was delayed 1 : 31 for weather and, consequently, ended at 1 : 47 am. Game 5 was also suspended after 5.5 innings and resumed two days later. These factors likely brought the ratings down. Today, the ratings for 2008 are tied for second worst. The 2010 World Series also generated an 8.4, and the 2012 World Series set a fresh record low with 7.6 ( though this was a sweep, which usually draws lower ratings ). The 6.1 in game 3 of the 2008 World Series is currently tied with Game 3 of the 2012 World Series for the lowest rated individual game in World Series history. Game Ratings ( households ) Share ( households ) American audience ( in millions ) 9.2 15 14.6 8.1 13 12.8 6.1 13 9.8 9.3 15 15.5 5 9.6 14 15.8 Umpiring The scoreboard at Citizens Bank Park immediately following Game 5 In Game 2, home plate umpire Kerwin Danley appealed a call to the first base umpire after calling strike three ; the first base umpire called ball four to award the Rays ' Rocco Baldelli a walk. Baldelli indicated that the calls did not come up in the locker room, and he did not believe they had an effect on the results. In Game 3, Phillies ' pitcher Jamie Moyer threw the ball to Ryan Howard to force out the Rays ' Carl Crawford at first base, despite umpire Tom Hallion calling Crawford safe in the game. In Game 4, Evan Longoria tagged Rollins at third base, though umpire Tim Welke had ruled Rollins safe. The league admitted these errors between Games 4 and 5. Impact and aftermath Phillies President Barack Obama meets with the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies at the White House -- May 15, 2009 The Phillies ' second World Series championship brought about a series of firsts, not just for them, but for Philadelphia. In winning their first championship since 1980, the Phillies brought the city of Philadelphia its first major professional sports championship since the 76ers swept the 1983 NBA Finals, breaking the alleged Curse of Billy Penn. In summing up the firsts and given how long the city 's sports fans have waited, Phillies President David Montgomery said that `` our first name is Philadelphia '', and he and manager Charlie Manuel dedicated the championship to the city of Philadelphia and the fans. Manuel also dedicated the championship to his mother, who died on the day of Game 2 of the NLCS. Phil Sheridan of The Philadelphia Inquirer said that the 25 years without a championship `` helped define this city as a sports town for way too long. It was long enough to turn passion too often to anger. Maybe this championship will turn the vinegar back into wine, '' and said that the fans `` waited forever and a day. '' On Halloween, October 31, approximately two million fans lined Broad Street for a ticker - tape parade, making it the largest gathering for a championship parade in Philadelphia since the Flyers won the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals. This parade had significance for Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer and Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, as they both were at the 1980 parade. Moyer grew up in the Philadelphia area as a Phillies fan and whose childhood hero was Steve Carlton, a member of the 1980 team, and whom he won against in his first Major League start. He was at both of the Phillies ' World Series parades, skipping school to attend in 1980, and as a pitcher in 2008. Kalas was at both parades, as a broadcaster for the Phillies. When comparing the parade to the one in 1980, he told WCAU - TV that `` this is bigger... the biggest I 've ever seen. '' In 2010, Philadelphia sports fans picked both of the Phillies ' World Series wins as the two greatest moments in Philadelphia sports, picking the 2008 championship as the greatest moment. The Phillies returned to the World Series in 2009, the first defending champion to return to the Series since the 2001 New York Yankees. During that season they finished first in the National League East with a 93 -- 69 mark, and eliminated the Rockies and the Dodgers in the NL playoffs. They would lose to the Yankees in six games. Subsequent regular season meetings between the Rays and the Phillies would be relatively uncommon. The Rays only visited Philadelphia twice within the next seven years ( in 2012 and 2015 ). This would be the last professional sports championship for the city of Philadelphia until the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41 - 33 in Super Bowl LII in 2018. Rays For the Rays, at the same time the ticker - tape parade went down Broad Street in Philadelphia, thousands of Rays ' fans attended a rally at Straub Park in St. Petersburg, celebrating their 2008 season. Mayor Rick Baker said that the rally `` really needed to be done. There was so much demand in the community. They did n't win the World Series but they won the AL. And we want to celebrate that and thank them. '' He and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio addressed the fans during the rally. Though the Rays missed the playoffs in 2009, they earned a winning record of 84 -- 78, placing them third behind the Red Sox and eventual champion Yankees. 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Jump up ^ Browne, Ian ( October 19, 2008 ). `` Sox 's playoff run ends with loss to Rays ''. MLB.com. Retrieved October 19, 2008. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series Game 1 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays ''. Retrosheet. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series Game 2 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays ''. Retrosheet. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series Game 3 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies ''. Retrosheet. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series Game 4 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies ''. Retrosheet. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series Game 5 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies ''. Retrosheet. Jump up ^ `` World Series Game one ''. Box Score. MLB.com. October 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008. Jump up ^ `` World Series Game two ''. Box Score. MLB.com. October 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Jump up ^ Newman, Mark ( October 25, 2008 ). `` Rain does n't dampen enthusiasm ''. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008. Jump up ^ Footer, Alyson ( October 26, 2008 ). `` Howard ends homerless drought ''. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2008. Jump up ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQyPTtnvHcA YouTube video of the Rays ' five - man infield in the bottom of the ninth Jump up ^ `` World Series Game three ''. Box Score. MLB.com. October 25, 2008. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008. Jump up ^ Leach, Matthew ( October 26, 2008 ). `` Blanton picks right time for first homer ''. MLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2008. Jump up ^ `` World Series Game four ''. Box Score. MLB.com. October 26, 2008. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2008. Jump up ^ `` World Series Game five ''. Box Score. MLB.com. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on October 31, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Hoch, Bryan ( October 28, 2008 ). `` In a first, World Series game suspended ''. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Wojciechowski, Gene ( October 27, 2008 ). `` Selig made correct call in suspending Game 5 ''. ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2008. Jump up ^ Fitzpatrick, Frank ; Salisbury, Jim ( February 13, 2009 ). `` How the defining play unfolded for the Phillies ''. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009. Jump up ^ Fine, Larry ; John O'Brien ( October 28, 2008 ). `` Suspension leaves World Series in the balance ''. Reuters. Retrieved October 28, 2008. Jump up ^ Hoch, Bryan ( October 28, 2008 ). `` Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday ''. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008. Jump up ^ `` FAQs on the suspended Game 5 ''. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Sports books pay as if Phillies won ''. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Ownership approves two major rules amendments ''. MLB.com. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009. Jump up ^ Geisler Young, LLC -. `` World Series Gate Receipts and Player Shares ''. Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Hoch, Bryan ( October 28, 2008 ). `` Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday ''. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008. ^ Jump up to : ' Duk ( October 27, 2008 ). `` ' Elmer Fudd ' caps become hip during cold and wet World Series ''. Yahoo ! Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Tentative 2008 MLB Postseason Schedule ''. World Series. MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008. Jump up ^ Tim McCarver 's flying start. Salon.com. October 23, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Sandomir, Richard ( October 30, 2008 ). `` In 78 Minutes, Not Much to See or Say ''. New York Times. p. B17. Retrieved October 14, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Miller 2010, pp. 169 -- 173 Jump up ^ Robinson, Joshua ( October 28, 2008 ). `` Umpires in Spotlight For the Wrong Reasons ''. New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Umpires admit second missed World Series call in as many games ''. ESPN. Associated Press. October 27, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Phillies receive trophy ''. MLB.com. October 29, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2011. Jump up ^ Newman, Mark ( October 30, 2008 ). `` Thrilla in Phila : Game 5 unforgettable ''. MLB.com. phillies.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011. Jump up ^ Nunnally, Derrick ( November 1, 2008 ). `` A party for, oh, 2 million of their closest friends ''. Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F2. Some in the news media guessed two million, about the same number long tied to Flyers parades in ' 74 and ' 75, and more than the current population of Philly. Jump up ^ Lin, Jennifer ; Steele, Allison ; Dwight Ott ( October 31, 2008 ). `` Parade for the Champs ; Noon High : Million - plus expected at celebration ''. Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. In the annals of Philadelphia sports parades, the biggest crowd turned out for the 1974 celebration of the Flyers ' Stanley Cup. More than two million fans flocked to Broad Street. ^ Jump up to : Rubinkam, Michael ( October 31, 2008 ). `` Fans roar as Phillies parade through city ''. FOXNews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 25, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Stamm, Dan ( November 1, 2008 ). `` Watch : Phillies Speak From the Parade of Champions ''. NBCPhiladelphia.com. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ Antonen, Mel ( July 16, 2007 ). `` Phillies are No. 1 in loss column ''. USA Today. Retrieved January 25, 2011. Current Phillies starter Jamie Moyer grew up in ( Philadelphia )... In 1986, as a member of the Cubs, Moyer beat the Phillies and his boyhood hero, Steve Carlton... for his first big - league win. Jump up ^ Kram, Mark ( May 6, 2010 ). `` Fans pick 2008 World Series as top Philadelphia sports moment ''. Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved March 4, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Ghiroli, Brittany ( October 31, 2008 ). `` Rays ' fans celebrate at rally ''. TampabayRays.MLB.com. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Bibliography Miller, Randy ( 2010 ). Harry the K : The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas. Philadelphia : Running Press. ISBN 0 - 7624 - 3896 - 7. 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Question: who did the phillies beat in the 2008 world series
Answer: Tampa Bay Rays