View source for 2008 World Series

{{Short description|104th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox World Series Expanded
| country = World
| year = 2008
| image = 2008 World Series logo.svg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| champion = [[2008 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] (4)
| champion_manager = [[Charlie Manuel]]
| champion_games = 92–70, {{winpct|92|70}}, GA: 3
| runnerup = [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] (1)
| runnerup_manager = [[Joe Maddon]]
| runnerup_games = 97–65, {{winpct|97|65}}, GA: 2
| date = October 22–29
| venue = [[Tropicana Field]] (St. Petersburg)<br />[[Citizens Bank Park]] (Philadelphia)
| MVP = [[Cole Hamels]] (Philadelphia)
| FSA =
| OP =
| MOY =
| umpires = [[Tim Welke]] (crew chief), [[Kerwin Danley]], [[Fieldin Culbreth]], [[Tom Hallion]], [[Jeff Kellogg]], [[Tim Tschida]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Gilbert|title=Umpires for World Series announced|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081021&content_id=3635021&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|website=[[MLB.com]]|date=October 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105180338/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081021&content_id=3635021&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|archive-date=November 5, 2012|access-date=July 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| HOFers = '''Phillies:''' [[Pat Gillick]] (GM)<br />'''Rays:''' None
| ALCS = [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] over [[2008 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] (4–3)
| NLCS = [[2008 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] over [[2008 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] (4–1)
| television = [[MLB on Fox|Fox]] (United States – English)<br />[[Fox Deportes]] (United States – Spanish)<br />[[MLB International]] (International)
| announcers = [[Joe Buck]], [[Tim McCarver]], [[Chris Myers]] and [[Ken Rosenthal]] (Fox)<br />[[Ángel Torres (baseball)|Ángel Torres]], Miguel Morales and Cos Villa (Fox Deportes)<br />[[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|Dave O'Brien]] and [[Rick Sutcliffe]] (MLB International)
| radio_network = [[Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio|ESPN]]<br />[[WPHT]] (PHI – English)<br />[[WDAS (AM)|WDAS]] (PHI – Spanish)<br />[[WHNZ]] (TB – English)<br />[[WGES (AM)|WGES]] (TB – Spanish)
| radio_announcers = [[Jon Miller]] and [[Joe Morgan]] (ESPN)<br />[[Harry Kalas]], [[Scott Franzke]], [[Larry Andersen]] and [[Chris Wheeler]] (WPHT)<br />Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos (WDAS)<br />[[Dave Wills (sportscaster)|Dave Wills]], [[Andy Freed]], [[Dewayne Staats]] and [[Joe Magrane]] (WHNZ)<br />Ricardo Taveras and Enrique Oliu (WGES)
| image2 = 2008 World Series program.jpg
| image_size2 = 219px
| alt2 =
}}

The '''2008 World Series''' was the [[World Series|championship series]] of [[Major League Baseball]]'s (MLB) [[2008 Major League Baseball season|2008 season]]. The 104th edition of the World Series,<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2008_WS.shtml|title=2008 World Series|website=Baseball-Reference|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> it was a [[best-of-seven playoff]] between the [[National League (baseball)|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 World Series to involve a mid-game postponement and resumption (two days later).

The Series began on Wednesday, October 22, and concluded (after weather delays had postponed the end of Game 5) the following Wednesday, October 29. The AL's 4–3 win in the [[2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2008 All-Star Game]] gave the Rays [[Home advantage|home field advantage]] for the series, meaning no more than three games would be played at [[Citizens Bank Park]] (the Phillies' home ballpark).<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press|title= Young caps marathon goodbye to Yankee Stadium with sac fly in 15th|url= http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280715131|work= [[ESPN.com]]|date= July 15, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080914102247/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280715131| archive-date= September 14, 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> 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]]).<ref name=Octoberphest>{{cite news |first= Ken|last= Mandel|title=Octoberphest! Phillies win World Series|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650793&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb<!--|publisher=Major League Baseball-->|work= [[MLB.com]]|date= October 30, 2008|access-date=December 22, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090201201208/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650793&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= February 1, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=Sheridan>{{cite news|title=WORLD CHAMPS!&mdash;28 years later, Phillies again are baseball's best|date=October 30, 2008|first=Phil|last=Sheridan|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|page=A1|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20081030_Phil_Sheridan__Phillies_provide_a_season_of_memorable_moments.html?viewAll=y| access-date= February 28, 2011 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> This was the first postseason series lost by an MLB team based in the state of Florida; previously, the Rays and [[Florida Marlins]] were 8–0 in postseason series.<ref name="postseasonbref">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/|title=Playoff and World Series Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 17, 2009}}</ref><ref name="WorldAlmanac">{{cite book|first=C. Alan|last=Joyce|title=The World Almanac and Book of Facts|url=https://archive.org/details/worldalmanacbook00kenp|url-access=registration|location=New York|year=2008|isbn=978-1-60057-105-3|edition=2009 ed.; paperback|pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldalmanacbook00kenp/page/914 914–917]}}</ref> Additionally, both the Phillies' World Series wins have come against a team making their World Series debut (in [[1980 World Series|1980]], they beat the [[1980 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]]).

The Phillies advanced to the World Series after defeating the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the NL's [[2008 National League Division Series|Divisional Series]] and [[2008 National League Championship Series|Championship Series]], respectively. The team won its position in the [[Major League Baseball postseason|playoffs]] after its second consecutive [[National League East|NL East]] division title. This was the Phillies' first World Series appearance in [[1993 World Series|fifteen years]]. The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the World Series after defeating the [[Chicago White Sox]] and the [[Boston Red Sox]], the [[2007 World Series]] champion, in the AL's [[2008 American League Division Series|Division Series]] and [[2008 American League Championship Series]].

Games 1 and 2 at [[Tropicana Field]] were the first World Series games played on [[artificial turf]] since the [[1993 World Series]] matched two teams, the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[Phillies]], which each played their home games on artificial turf at the time. However, 2008 is the first World Series ever played on second generation artificial turf. Ironically, the Phillies were in both Series, but they no longer use artificial turf since the end of 2003.

==Teams==

{{See also|2008 Major League Baseball postseason}}

===Philadelphia Phillies===
[[File:Cole Hamels pitching 2010.jpg|thumb|left|upright|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|2008 Philadelphia Phillies season}}

Philadelphia opened the season by posting a winning record in the opening month of April. The team scored 60&nbsp;runs over a five-game span in late May and went 14–4 into the beginning of June. The team lost 9 of 11&nbsp;games to end June, but came out of the [[2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star break]] with a 9–6 record following the midseason hiatus.<ref name=PHIgl>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/tgl.cgi?t=b&team=PHI&year=2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110180626/http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/tgl.cgi?t=b&team=PHI&year=2008|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2013|title=PHI 2008 Batting Gamelogs|publisher=BaseballReference.com|access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref> The Phillies posted the best road record in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], at 44–37.<ref>{{cite news |first= Jorge L.|last= Ortiz|title= Phillies assert themselves to take Game 1|url= https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/2008-10-23-asserting-phillies_N.htm|work=[[USA Today]]|date= October 25, 2008|access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref> Philadelphia traded [[List of baseball jargon (S)#sweep|sweeps]] with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in August and went 13–3 in their last 16&nbsp;games,<ref name=PHIgl/> to win the [[National League East]] title for the second consecutive season.<ref>{{cite news |first1= Gene|last1= Cherry|first2=Ed|last2=Osmond|title= Phillies claim NL East but wildcard spot up for grabs|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE48R09620080928?sp=true|work=[[Reuters]]|date= September 28, 2008|access-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> The second-seeded Phillies defeated the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] in the [[2008 National League Division Series|Division Series]], 3–1,<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press|title= Burrell's blasts help send Phils past Brewers, into NLCS|url= http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=281005108 |work= [[ESPN.com]]|date= October 5, 2008|access-date=October 16, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081013090102/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=281005108| archive-date= October 13, 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> and the Dodgers in the [[2008 National League Championship Series|Championship Series]], 4–1, to book their place in the 2008 Fall Classic.<ref name=Corner/><ref name="Mandel">{{cite news |first= Ken|last= Mandel|title= Phils reach first World Series since '93|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20081013&content_id=3617454&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|work= MLB.com|date= October 16, 2008|access-date=October 16, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081018201855/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20081013&content_id=3617454&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi| archive-date= October 18, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> This was the Phillies' first World Series appearance in fifteen years.<ref name=Corner>{{cite news |first=Jahmal|last=Corner|title=Phillies beat Dodgers to reach World Series|url= https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE49F0VR20081016|work= [[Reuters]]|date= October 16, 2008|access-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Mandel"/>

===Tampa Bay Rays===
{{Main|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.<ref name=TBgl>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TBR/2008_sched.shtml|title=Tampa Bay 2008 Game logs|publisher=BaseballReference.com|access-date=October 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917165852/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TBR/2008_sched.shtml|archive-date=September 17, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Kazmir Leads Rays Over Rangers 7-3 |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/26/kazmir-leads-rays-over-rangers-7-3/sports/ |publisher=TampaBayOnline.com |date=May 26, 2008 |access-date=November 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001215040/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/26/kazmir-leads-rays-over-rangers-7-3/sports/ |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> 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.<ref name=TBgl/> 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.<ref>{{cite news |first= Gene|last= Cherry|author2= Sonia Oxley|title= Rays claim AL East title to cap turnaround|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE48O9HL20080927|work=[[Reuters]]|date= September 27, 2008|access-date=September 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080930081055/https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE48O9HL20080927| archive-date= September 30, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> As the Devil Rays, they had never finished with a winning record, nor finished higher than fourth in their division. The second-seeded Rays beat the [[Chicago White Sox]] 3–1 in the [[2008 American League Division Series|American League Division Series]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press|title= Upton's two homers set tone as Rays wrap up spot in ALCS|url= http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=281006104|work= [[ESPN.com]]|date= October 6, 2008|access-date=October 17, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081010131210/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=281006104| archive-date= October 10, 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> In the [[2008 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]], Tampa Bay defeated the defending World Series champion [[Boston Red Sox]] in seven games after nearly blowing a 3-1 series lead, to advance to their first World Series in franchise history.<ref>{{cite news |first= Ian|last= Browne|title= Sox's playoff run ends with loss to Rays|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081019&content_id=3631477&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 19, 2008|access-date=October 19, 2008}}</ref> 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 season|1969 New York Mets]] and the [[1997 Florida Marlins season|1997 Florida Marlins]].
{{Clear}}

==Summary==
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary =
| winner = Philadelphia
| score = 4–1
| score1 = '''Philadelphia Phillies''' – 3, Tampa Bay Rays – 2
| date1 = October 22
| loc1 = [[Tropicana Field]]
| time1 = 3:23
| att1 = 40,783
| ref1 = <ref name="Game1">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10220TBA2008.htm|title=2008 World Series Game 1 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score2 = Philadelphia Phillies – 2, '''Tampa Bay Rays''' – 4
| date2 = October 23
| loc2 = Tropicana Field
| time2 = 3:05
| att2 = 40,843
| ref2 = <ref name="Game2">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10230TBA2008.htm|title=2008 World Series Game 2 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score3 = Tampa Bay Rays – 4, '''Philadelphia Phillies''' – 5
| date3 = October 25
| loc3 = [[Citizens Bank Park]]
| time3 = 3:41
| att3 = 45,900
| ref3 = <ref name="Game3">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10250PHI2008.htm|title=2008 World Series Game 3 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score4 = Tampa Bay Rays – 2, '''Philadelphia Phillies''' – 10
| date4 = October 26
| loc4 = Citizens Bank Park
| time4 = 3:08
| att4 = 45,903
| ref4 = <ref name="Game4">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10260PHI2008.htm|title=2008 World Series Game 4 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score5 = Tampa Bay Rays – 3, '''Philadelphia Phillies''' – 4
| date5 = October 27†/29
| loc5 = Citizens Bank Park
| time5 = 3:28
| att5 = 45,940
| ref5 = <ref name="Game5">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10270PHI2008.htm|title=2008 World Series Game 5 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
}}

† - Game suspended in the sixth inning due to rain.

==Game summaries==

===Game 1===
[[File:October 22, 2008 World Series Game 1.jpg|thumb|right|The teams on the field before Game 1]]
{{Linescore|
|Date=October 22, 2008
|Time=8:37{{nbsp}}pm ([[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]])
|Location=[[Tropicana Field]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], [[Florida]]
|Road='''Philadelphia'''|RoadAbr=PHI
|R1=2|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=8|RE=1
|Home=Tampa Bay|HomeAbr=TB
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=1|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=5|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Cole Hamels]] (1–0)|LP=[[Scott Kazmir]] (0–1)|SV=[[Brad Lidge]] (1)
|RoadHR= [[Chase Utley]] (1)|HomeHR= [[Carl Crawford]] (1)
|BoxURL=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10220TBA2008.htm
|Other={{convert|73|F|C}}, dome}}
The national anthem was performed by [[Backstreet Boys]]. The Phillies scored the first runs of the Series when [[Jayson Werth]] walked and [[Chase Utley]] followed with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases off Tampa Bay starting pitcher [[Scott Kazmir]] with one out in the second, but Kazmir induced a fly ball from [[Jimmy Rollins]], which was too shallow to score [[Shane Victorino]], who was thrown out at home plate by [[B. J. Upton]] for a double play. The Rays loaded the bases off Phillies starter [[Cole Hamels]] with one out in the bottom of the third, but he also escaped this jam by getting Upton to ground into an inning-ending double play, and the score remained 2–0 in favor of Philadelphia. The Phillies extended their lead to 3–0 on [[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]]'s RBI groundout in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the inning, [[Carl Crawford]]'s solo home run pulled the Rays to within two runs. Tampa Bay added their second run the following inning on [[Akinori Iwamura]]'s RBI double. Kazmir was removed after six innings; four Rays relievers combined to shut out the Phillies for the last three innings. [[Ryan Madson]] relieved Hamels in the eighth, pitching a single perfect inning. In the top of the ninth, Philadelphia left two men on base, but [[Brad Lidge]] remained perfect in saves as he delivered a one-two-three inning to seal the 3–2 win.<ref>{{cite news |title= World Series Game one|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_22_phimlb_tbamlb_1|work= Box Score|publisher= MLB.com|date= October 22, 2008|access-date=October 22, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081026045113/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_22_phimlb_tbamlb_1| archive-date= October 26, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Game 2===
{{Linescore|
|Date=October 23, 2008
|Time=8:37{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida
|Road=Philadelphia|RoadAbr=PHI
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=1|R9=1|RR=2|RH=9|RE=2
|Home='''Tampa Bay'''|HomeAbr=TB
|H1=2|H2=1|H3=0|H4=1|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=x|HR=4|HH=7|HE=1
|WP=[[James Shields (baseball)|James Shields]] (1–0)|LP=[[Brett Myers]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=[[Eric Bruntlett]] (1)|HomeHR=
|BoxURL=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10230TBA2008.htm
|Other={{convert|73|F|C}}, dome}}
The national anthem was performed by [[Los Lonely Boys]]. Tampa Bay took a quick 2–0 lead in the first inning when [[Akinori Iwamura]] and [[B. J. Upton]] reached base with nobody out and scored on back-to-back groundouts by [[Carlos Peña]] and [[Evan Longoria]]. The next inning, Upton's RBI single scored [[Dioner Navarro]]. [[Rocco Baldelli]] attempted to score from second base, but was thrown out at home by [[Jayson Werth]], keeping the Rays' lead at 3–0. [[Cliff Floyd]] extended the lead to 4–0 after leading off the bottom of the fourth with a single, advancing to third base with assistance from Navarro and Baldelli, and scoring on a sacrifice bunt by [[Jason Bartlett (baseball)|Jason Bartlett]]. Tampa Bay starter [[James Shields (baseball)|James Shields]] shut out the Phillies through {{frac|5|2|3}}&nbsp;innings to earn the win, before being relieved by [[Dan Wheeler]] who pitched an additional scoreless inning. Philadelphia starter [[Brett Myers]] lasted seven innings, giving up four runs for the loss. The Phillies did not get on the board until the eighth when [[Eric Bruntlett]] hit a solo home run (his first since May 6) off [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]]. The Phillies added another run off Price in the ninth when [[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]] hit a leadoff double, then scored with one out on an error by Longoria. Despite this, Price retired the next two batters to end the game, and the Rays' 4–2 win tied the Series at one game apiece.<ref>{{cite web |title= World Series Game two |url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_23_phimlb_tbamlb_1 |work=Box Score |publisher=MLB.com |date=October 23, 2008 |access-date=October 23, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081027021725/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_23_phimlb_tbamlb_1| archive-date= October 27, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> For the rest of the Series, the Rays would not take the lead over the Phillies again.

===Game 3===
[[File:Ryan Howard3.jpg|thumb|right|Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, pictured during 2007 spring training, hit his first home run of the postseason in Game 3.]]
{{Linescore|
|Date=October 25, 2008
|Time=10:08{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=[[Citizens Bank Park]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|Road=Tampa Bay|RoadAbr=TB
|R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=2|R8=1|R9=0|RR=4|RH=6|RE=1
|Home='''Philadelphia'''|HomeAbr=PHI
|H1=1|H2=1|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=2|H7=0|H8=0|H9=1|HR=5|HH=7|HE=1
|WP=[[J. C. Romero]] (1–0)|LP=[[J. P. Howell]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=[[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]] (1), Chase Utley (2), [[Ryan Howard]] (1)
|BoxURL=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10250PHI2008.htm
|Other={{convert|54|F|C}}, overcast}}
[[Steve Carlton]] threw out the Ceremonial First pitch while [[Taylor Swift]] sang the national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Steve+Carlton/World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia/F0pdLnIN24r|title = Steve Carlton Photostream}}</ref> The third game of the Series was delayed for an hour and 31 minutes because of rain.<ref>{{cite news |first= Mark|last= Newman|title= Rain doesn't dampen enthusiasm|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081025&content_id=3644569&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 25, 2008|access-date=October 25, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081027003254/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081025&content_id=3644569&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb| archive-date= October 27, 2008}}</ref> 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 on a [[Chase Utley]] groundout. In the top of the second, [[Carl Crawford]] doubled, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by [[Gabe Gross]] to tie the game at 1–1. [[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]] gave the Phillies their second lead of the night when he hit a home run in the bottom half. Starting pitchers [[Matt Garza]] and [[Jamie Moyer]] pitched six and {{frac|6|1|3}} innings, respectively. The score remained 2–1 in favor of Philadelphia until the sixth when Utley and [[Ryan Howard]] hit the 14th back-to-back home runs in World Series history, increasing their lead to 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alyson |last=Footer |title= Howard ends homerless drought|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081025&content_id=3643758&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 26, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081027003202/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081025&content_id=3643758&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb| archive-date= October 27, 2008}}</ref> The Rays rallied to cut their deficit back to one run in the seventh. Moyer surrendered back-to-back hits to Crawford and [[Dioner Navarro]] to start the inning, and Crawford scored on a groundout by Gross, prompting [[Charlie Manuel]] to go to his bullpen. [[Chad Durbin]] relieved Moyer and induced a groundout from [[Jason Bartlett (baseball)|Jason Bartlett]], scoring Navarro and trimming the Phillies' lead to 4–3. In the top of the eighth, [[B.J. Upton]] led off with an infield single, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error by Ruiz, tying the game at 4–4. [[Eric Bruntlett]] was hit by a pitch by [[J.P. Howell]] leading off the bottom of the ninth, moved to second on a wild pitch by [[Grant Balfour]] and to third on a throwing error by Navarro, putting the potential winning run on third with nobody out. Balfour intentionally walked the next two batters, [[Shane Victorino]] and pinch-hitter [[Greg Dobbs]], to load the bases, creating a force play at the plate. Tampa Bay then brought the infield in (including right fielder [[Ben Zobrist]] who was brought in to be a fifth infielder), hoping to convert any ground ball into a forceout at home and prevent the winning run from scoring.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQyPTtnvHcA YouTube video of the Rays' five-man infield in the bottom of the ninth</ref> However, Ruiz's 45-foot infield single brought in Bruntlett for the win. The hit was fielded by third baseman [[Evan Longoria]], who threw desperately to the plate in an attempt to keep the game going. However, any hope of an out vanished as Longoria's throw missed Navarro and Bruntlett scored (it would not be counted as an error). Ruiz's hit was the first [[Walkoff home run|walk-off]] infield single in World Series history, giving the Phillies a 5–4 victory and a 2–1 lead in the series.<ref>{{cite news |title= World Series Game three|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_25_tbamlb_phimlb_1|work= Box Score|publisher= MLB.com|date= October 25, 2008|access-date=October 25, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029033530/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_25_tbamlb_phimlb_1| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
Phillies reliever [[J. C. Romero]] earned the win and Howell took the loss.

===Game 4===
{{Linescore|
|Date=October 26, 2008
|Time=8:29{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|Road=Tampa Bay|RoadAbr=TB
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=2|RH=5|RE=2
|Home='''Philadelphia'''|HomeAbr=PHI
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=1|H4=3|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=4|H9=x|HR=10|HH=12|HE=1
|WP=[[Joe Blanton]] (1–0)|LP=[[Andy Sonnanstine]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=Carl Crawford (2), [[Eric Hinske]] (1)|HomeHR=Ryan Howard 2 (3), Joe Blanton (1), [[Jayson Werth]] (1)
|BoxURL=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10260PHI2008.htm
|Other={{convert|55|F|C}}, clear}}
[[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]] threw out the Ceremonial First pitch while [[Patti LaBelle]] sang the national anthem. Philadelphia took a quick 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 when [[Chase Utley]] reached base on an error by [[Akinori Iwamura]] and scored on [[Pedro Feliz]]'s RBI single. The Rays cut their deficit in half when [[Carl Crawford]] hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, but [[Ryan Howard]]'s three-run home run in the bottom half brought the score to 5–1. In the next inning, [[Eric Hinske]] hit a [[Pinch hitter|pinch-hit]] home run to bring the Rays within three runs, but Phillies starting pitcher [[Joe Blanton]] responded with a home run of his own to put his team back up by 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]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Matthew|last= Leach|title= Blanton picks right time for first homer|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081026&content_id=3646950&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 26, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008}}</ref> In addition to hitting his first career home run, Blanton pitched six innings, striking out seven batters while giving up two runs on four hits to acquire his first win of the Series. In the eighth, [[Jayson Werth]] and Howard each hit a two-run home run to cap off the scoring at 10–2. Philadelphia's four [[relief pitcher]]s combined for three shutout innings.<ref>{{cite web|title= World Series Game four|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_26_tbamlb_phimlb_1|work= Box Score|publisher= MLB.com|date= October 26, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081027163410/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_26_tbamlb_phimlb_1| archive-date= October 27, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Due to the late completion of the previous game, Games 3 and 4 each ended on the same calendar day.

===Game 5===
[[File:Evan Longoria Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, pictured during the 2008 regular season, got his first hit in Game 5.]]
{{Linescore|
|Date=October 27, 2008 <small>(started)</small> and October 29, 2008 <small>(completed)</small>
|Time=8:29{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|Road=Tampa Bay|RoadAbr=TB
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=1|R7=1|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=10|RE=0
|Home='''Philadelphia'''|HomeAbr=PHI
|H1=2|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=1|H8=0|H9=x|HR=4|HH=8|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[J. C. Romero]] (2–0)|LP=[[J. P. Howell]] (0–2)|SV=[[Brad Lidge]] (2)
|RoadHR=[[Rocco Baldelli]] (1)|HomeHR=
|BoxURL=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B10270PHI2008.htm
|Other={{convert|45|F|C}}, light rain/{{convert|43|F|C}}, partly cloudy}}
The national anthem was sung by [[John Oates]]. Philadelphia scored in the first inning for the third consecutive game, taking a 2–0 lead when they loaded the bases with two outs off Rays starter [[Scott Kazmir]], who then gave up a two-run single to [[Shane Victorino]]. Tampa Bay cut the lead in half in the fourth; [[Carlos Peña]] doubled with one out and scored on [[Evan Longoria]]'s RBI single, both players' first hits of the Series. The Rays then tied the game in the sixth when [[B. J. Upton]] singled, stole second, and scored on Peña's RBI single.<ref name=5box>{{cite news |title= World Series Game five|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_27_tbamlb_phimlb_1|work= Box Score|publisher= MLB.com|date= October 27, 2008|access-date=October 27, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081031063722/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2008/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_10_27_tbamlb_phimlb_1| archive-date= October 31, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

The game was [[Suspended game|suspended]] after the top of the sixth because of 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. The Phillies [[Pinch hitter|pinch-hit]] for Hamels in the bottom of the sixth inning. By retaking the lead in that half-inning, the Phillies put Hamels in line for the victory, which would have been his fifth win in the postseason, tying an MLB record. However, when Tampa Bay again tied the game in the seventh, Hamels was left with a [[no decision]].<ref name=delay>{{cite news |first= Bryan|last= Hoch|title= In a first, World Series game suspended|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081027&content_id=3649539&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 28, 2008|access-date=October 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081028203316/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081027&content_id=3649539&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= October 28, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

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."<ref name=ESPNdel>{{cite news |first= Gene|last= Wojciechowski|title= Selig made correct call in suspending Game 5|url= https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3668142&sportCat=mlb|work= ESPN.com|date= October 27, 2008|access-date=October 30, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081031103756/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3668142&sportCat=mlb| archive-date= October 31, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> [[Chase Utley]] agreed, saying that by the middle of the sixth, "the infield was basically under water."<ref name=ESPNdel/> 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 scored on [[Jayson Werth]]'s single to retake the lead for the Phillies, 3–2. In the top of the seventh, [[Rocco Baldelli]] re-tied the game at three runs with a one-out solo home run. [[Jason Bartlett (baseball)|Jason Bartlett]] then followed with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by relief pitcher [[J. P. Howell]]. Bartlett then attempted to score the go-ahead run from second when [[Akinori Iwamura]] hit a ground ball to Utley, who faked a throw to first, then threw Bartlett out at home for the third out to keep the score tied. This play was later described as having saved the Series for the Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20090213_How_the_defining_play_unfolded_for_the_Phillies.html |title=How the defining play unfolded for the Phillies |date=February 13, 2009 |first1=Frank |last1=Fitzpatrick |first2=Jim |last2=Salisbury |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319054617/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20090213_How_the_defining_play_unfolded_for_the_Phillies.html |archive-date=March 19, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Because Bartlett was on second instead of third before he got thrown out at home, Iwamura was credited with an infield single, instead of Utley being credited with a [[fielder's choice]] out. In the bottom of the seventh, [[Pat Burrell]] led off with a double off Howell for his only hit of the Series. [[Eric Bruntlett]], pinch-running for Burrell, scored on a single by [[Pedro Feliz]] to put the Phillies up by a run again, 4–3. This gave Howell his second relief loss in the Series. In the top of the ninth, [[Brad Lidge]] gave up a one-out single to [[Dioner Navarro]] and a stolen base to pinch-runner [[Fernando Perez (baseball)|Fernando Perez]], but was able to retire [[Ben Zobrist]] and [[Eric Hinske]] to complete his perfect season of save opportunities and secure the World Series for the Phillies.<ref name=Octoberphest/> Phillies reliever [[J. C. Romero]] got his second win of the Series.

Cole Hamels was named the World Series MVP after winning one of his two starts with eight strikeouts, four earned runs off 10 hits, and a 2.77 ERA in 13 total innings pitched.

====Implications of the suspension====
{{see also|Suspended game}}
[[File:2008 world series rain delay.JPG|thumb|right|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, postseason games are operated by the [[Commissioner of Baseball|Commissioner's]] Office, thus are subject to the Commissioner's discretion of how to handle the scheduling of the games.<ref name=delay/> 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.<ref name=delay/><ref>{{cite news |first= Larry|last= Fine|author2= John O'Brien|title= Suspension leaves World Series in the balance|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSN2646794520081028?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&sp=true|work=[[Reuters]]|date= October 28, 2008|access-date=October 28, 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|first= Bryan|last= Hoch|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650918&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title= Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday|date=October 28, 2008|access-date=October 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029181417/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650918&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Official MLB records and statistics for a suspended game reflect the start date of the contest; October 27 for this game.

This was the first game in World Series history to be suspended.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web| url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650971&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | title=FAQs on the suspended Game 5 | work=Major League Baseball | access-date=October 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029181422/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650971&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> There had been three [[Tie (draw)|tied games]] in the history of the World Series: [[1907 World Series|1907]], [[1912 World Series|1912]], and [[1922 World Series|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 longest postponement for a World Series was during the [[1989 World Series|1989 edition]] in which the start of Game 3 was delayed 10 days, due to the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake|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 [[sports betting#Types of bets|run-line bets]] were refunded.<ref name="vegas">{{cite web| url=http://www.lvrj.com/sports/33433179.html | title= Sports books pay as if Phillies won | access-date=October 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029073327/http://www.lvrj.com/sports/33433179.html| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

During the following offseason, Selig's interpretation of the rules became codified, as the 30 MLB 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090115&content_id=3745318&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Ownership approves two major rules amendments|date=January 15, 2009|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 2, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090121182633/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090115&content_id=3745318&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= January 21, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> The first usage of that policy occurred during [[2011 American League Division Series#New York vs. Detroit|Game 1 of the 2011 ALDS]], which was suspended after two innings because of rain and was resumed the following day.

===Composite line score===
2008 World Series '''(4–1): [[2008 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] (NL)''' beat [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] (AL).
{{Linescore
|Road='''[[Philadelphia Phillies]]'''
|R1=6|R2=1|R3=1|R4=4|R5=1|R6=3|R7=1|R8=5|R9=2|RR=24|RH=44|RE=6
|Home=[[Tampa Bay Rays]]
|H1=2|H2=2|H3=0|H4=4|H5=2|H6=1|H7=3|H8=1|H9=0|HR=15|HH=33|HE=5
|TotalAttendance=219,369 |AveAttendance=43,874
|WinPlayerShare=$351,504 |LosePlayerShare=$223,390<ref name="wsshares">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wsshares.shtml |title=World Series Gate Receipts and Player Shares |access-date=June 14, 2009 |publisher=Baseball Almanac |author=Geisler Young, LLC - |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714082217/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wsshares.shtml |archive-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>
}}

==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 [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]] on Sunday, October 26). Game 5, which began on Monday, October 27, was suspended after the top of the 6th inning and resumed Wednesday, October 29.<ref name="will not resume">{{cite news |first= Bryan|last= Hoch|title= Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650918&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work= MLB.com|date= October 28, 2008|access-date=October 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029181417/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650918&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= October 29, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> 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."<ref name="will not resume"/> Up to this point, there had never been a rain-shortened game in Series history, and this was the first suspension.<ref name="will not resume"/> 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.<ref name="will not resume"/>

With temperatures plummeting towards {{convert|40|F|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.<ref name="Elmer Fudd">{{cite news |author='Duk |title= 'Elmer Fudd' caps become hip during cold and wet World Series
|url= https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/-Elmer-Fudd-caps-become-hip-during-cold-and-wet?urn=mlb,117761|work= Yahoo! Sports|date= October 27, 2008|access-date=October 28, 2008}}</ref> The caps, manufactured by [[New Era Cap Company|New Era]], were introduced during this year's [[spring training]] but were not used on the field until Game 5.<ref name="Elmer Fudd"/> New Era also supplied regular ball caps to both teams, which some players continued to wear despite the cold weather.<ref name="Elmer Fudd"/>

==Broadcasting==
[[File:Phillies-Parade Harry-K crop.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Harry Kalas]], pictured at the World Series parade, called the series for Phillies radio and got to call a World Series win for the team, something he couldn't do in 1980.]]
The games were televised on [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] in the United States with [[Joe Buck]] and [[Tim McCarver]] (himself a former [[List of Philadelphia Phillies broadcasters|Phillies broadcaster]]) as booth announcers<ref name=TentSch>{{cite web |url= http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp|title= Tentative 2008 MLB Postseason Schedule|access-date=September 16, 2008 |work= World Series|publisher= MLB.com| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080914075014/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp| archive-date= September 14, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Chris Myers]] and [[Ken Rosenthal]] as field reporters.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120910235215/http://www.salon.com/sports/daily/feature/2008/10/23/game_1_notes/index.html?source=rss&aim=/sports/daily/feature Tim McCarver's flying start]. Salon.com. October 23, 2008.</ref> [[Jeanne Zelasko]] hosted the pre-game and post-game show with [[Kevin Kennedy (baseball)|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 (baseball)|Ángel Torres]], Miguel Morales and Cos Villa behind the microphones. Fox's broadcasts were also streamed online at [[MLB.com]].

This was also the last World Series to air on analog television, as the [[Digital television transition in the United States]] required all full-power stations to convert to digital beginning on June 12, 2009.

On radio, the Series was broadcast nationally by [[Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio|ESPN Radio]] with [[Jon Miller]] and [[Joe Morgan]] announcing, and a Spanish broadcast on [[ESPN Deportes Radio]]. Locally, [[Dave Wills (sportscaster)|Dave Wills]], [[Andy Freed]], [[Dewayne Staats]] and [[Joe Magrane]] called the Series in English for the Rays on [[WHNZ|WHNZ-AM]] in Tampa, with Ricardo Tavaras and Enrique Oliu working the Spanish broadcast on St. Petersburg's [[WGES (AM)|WGES-AM]]. [[Harry Kalas]], [[Scott Franzke]], [[Larry Andersen]], and [[Chris Wheeler]] called the Phillies' English broadcasts on [[WPHT|WPHT-AM]] in Philadelphia, with Spanish announcers Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos on [[WDAS (AM)|WUBA]]. Following their contractual obligations, the non-[[flagship (broadcasting)|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; his son [[Todd Kalas|Todd]] worked as a pregame announcer for the Rays, and joined his father in the WPHT booth for an inning of Game 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2008/10/22/worst-matchup/|title=WORST MATCHUP?|last=Jones|first=Tom|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=October 22, 2008}}</ref><ref name=KalasFamily>{{cite news|title=In 78 Minutes, Not Much to See or Say|date=October 30, 2008|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|page=B17|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/sports/baseball/30sandomir.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print| access-date= October 14, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref>

For international viewers, MLB International televised the game with commentators [[Rick Sutcliffe]] and [[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|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 {{wsy|1980}}, but neither had gotten to call that year's World Series.<ref name=HarryKalasAndMcCarver>{{harvnb|Miller|2010|pages=169&ndash;173}}</ref> McCarver was a backup commentator for ''[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|Game of the Week]]'' on [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]], but he was not part of the network's Series announcing team.<ref name=HarryKalasAndMcCarver/> For Kalas, MLB radio-broadcasting regulations forbade local stations from producing live coverage of World Series games, instead forcing them to air the national [[Major League Baseball on CBS Radio|CBS Radio]] feed of the games.<ref name=KalasFamily/> Philadelphia fans were so outraged about this afterward that they started a letter-writing campaign to the [[Commissioner of Baseball|Commissioner's Office]], demanding a change to the rule. The [[1981 World Series|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.<ref name=HarryKalasAndMcCarver/> In 2008, both called the Phillies' World Series win.

==Ratings==
{{See also|World Series television ratings}}

In both [[Nielsen ratings]] and total viewership, the 2008 edition of the Fall Classic set record lows for a televised World Series. 2008 bears the distinction of being the first World Series to draw an average rating lower than 10.0, with its 8.4 rating falling below the 10.1 record set [[2006 World Series|two years earlier]].<ref name=ESPN-ratings>{{cite news|title=World Series draws record-low ratings|website=ESPN|via=Associated Press|date=October 30, 2008|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3673696|access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> The 6.1 rating of Game 3 also set a record, since surpassed, for the lowest rated individual game.<ref name=ESPN-ratings/><ref name=ESPN-game3>{{cite news|title=Rain causes late start and ratings well below previous worst for World Series|website=ESPN|via=Associated Press|date=October 26, 2008|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3665791|access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>

The low numbers were partially attributed to factors beyond MLB's control, including the length of the series and the market size of the participating teams.<ref name=ESPN-ratings/> Game 3 was delayed for over 90 minutes due to weather and, consequently, ended at 1:47 AM [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]].<ref name=ESPN-game3/> Game 5 was suspended after 5.5 innings and resumed two days later. However, ratings for the conclusion of the game were notably higher than the game's average and drew praise from [[Bud Selig]].<ref name=ESPN-ratings/>

In subsequent years, as part of a long-term trend of declining World Series ratings, several series surpassed 2008's ratings lows. The [[2010 World Series]] also generated an 8.4 rating, and the [[2012 World Series]] set a new record low of 7.6.<ref name=Almanac-ratings>{{cite web|title=World Series Television Ratings|website=Baseball Almanac|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wstv.shtml|access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> Each World Series from [[2018 World Series|2018]] through [[2023 World Series|2023]] generated a lower rating than 2008, with the 2023 edition currently holding the distinction for having the lowest World Series rating.<ref name=Almanac-ratings/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Game !! [[Nielsen ratings|Ratings]]<br>(households) !! [[Share (television)|Share]]<br>(households) !! American audience<br>(in millions)
|-
! 1
| 9.2 || 15 || 14.63
|-
! 2
| 8.1 || 13 || 12.78
|-
! 3
| 6.1 || 13 || 9.84
|-
! 4
| 9.3 || 15 || 15.48
|-
! 5
| 9.6 || 14 || 15.79
|-
|}

==Umpiring==

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Umpires in Spotlight For the Wrong Reasons |last=Robinson |first=Joshua |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/sports/baseball/28baseball.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin |date=October 28, 2008|access-date=November 1, 2008|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090417112405/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/sports/baseball/28baseball.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin| archive-date=April 17, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Not Blind, but Human">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3667915&type=story |title=Umpires admit second missed World Series call in as many games |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN |date=October 27, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Not Blind, but Human" />

==Series overview and aftermath==
The Phillies won the Series in five games despite committing at least one error in each game. This also marked only the second time in MLB history that first-inning runs were scored in each of the first five games played in a World Series (it had previously occurred in 2003).
===Phillies===
[[File:Philadelphia Phillies Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|right|President [[Barack Obama]] meets with the 2008 World Series champion [[Philadelphia Phillies]] at the [[White House]]&mdash;May 15, 2009]]
The Phillies' second World Series championship brought about a series of firsts, not just for them, but for Philadelphia.<ref name=Octoberphest/> In winning their first championship since {{wsy|1980}}, the Phillies brought the city of [[Sports in Philadelphia|Philadelphia]] its first major professional sports championship since the [[Philadelphia 76ers|76ers]] swept the [[1983 NBA Finals]],<ref name=Octoberphest/> 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 (baseball)|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.<ref name=Octoberphest/><ref name="Video">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?mid=200810293653581|title=Phillies receive trophy|date=October 29, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2011|work=MLB.com}}</ref> Manuel also dedicated the championship to his mother, who died on the day of Game 2 of the [[2008 National League Championship Series|NLCS]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thrilla in Phila: Game 5 unforgettable|url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081029&content_id=3653812&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|date=October 30, 2008|access-date=February 21, 2011|first=Mark|last=Newman|work=MLB.com|publisher=phillies.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100320054422/http://mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081029&content_id=3653812&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|archive-date=March 20, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> 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,"<ref name=Sheridan/> and said that the fans "waited forever and a day."<ref name=Sheridan/>

On [[Halloween]], October 31, approximately two million fans lined [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad Street]] for a ticker-tape parade,<ref>{{cite news|quote=Some in the news media guessed two million, about the same number long tied to Flyers parades in '[[1974 Stanley Cup Finals|74]] and '[[1975 Stanley Cup Finals|75]], and more than the current population of Philly.|title=A party for, oh, 2 million of their closest friends|date=November 1, 2008|first=Derrick|last=Nunnally|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|page=F2}}</ref> making it the largest gathering for a championship parade in Philadelphia since the [[Philadelphia Flyers|Flyers]] won the [[1974 Stanley Cup Finals]].<ref>{{cite news |quote=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. |title=Parade for the Champs; Noon High: Million-plus expected at celebration |date=October 31, 2008 |first1=Jennifer |last1=Lin |first2=Allison |last2=Steele |author3=Dwight Ott |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |page=A1}}</ref> This parade had significance for Phillies pitcher [[Jamie Moyer]] and Phillies broadcaster [[Harry Kalas]], as they both were at the 1980 parade.<ref name=HarryKalasAndMcCarver/><ref name="Moyer"/><ref name=Parade>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/Watch_Phillies_Speak_From_the_Parade_of_Champions.html|title=Watch: Phillies Speak From the Parade of Champions|date=November 1, 2008|first=Dan|last=Stamm|work=NBCPhiladelphia.com|access-date=February 7, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Moyer"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/phillies/2007-07-02-Loser-Phillies_N.htm|title=Phillies are No. 1 in loss column|date=July 16, 2007|first=Mel|last=Antonen|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|quote=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.| access-date= January 25, 2011 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> He was at both of the Phillies' World Series parades, skipping school to attend in 1980, and as a pitcher in 2008.<ref name=Sheridan/><ref name="Moyer">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2008Oct31/0,4675,BBNPhilliesParade,00.html|title=Fans roar as Phillies parade through city|date=October 31, 2008|first=Michael|last=Rubinkam|agency=Associated Press|work=FOXNews.com|access-date=January 25, 2011}}</ref> Kalas was at both parades, as a broadcaster for the Phillies.<ref name=HarryKalasAndMcCarver/><ref name=Parade/> When comparing the parade to the one in 1980, he told [[WCAU|WCAU-TV]] that "this is bigger...the biggest I've ever seen."<ref name=Parade/>

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.<ref name=GreatestMoments>{{cite news|title=Fans pick 2008 World Series as top Philadelphia sports moment|date=May 6, 2010|first=Mark|last=Kram|newspaper=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-05-06/news/24959019_1_philadelphia-fans-philadelphia-sports-phillies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502170901/http://articles.philly.com/2010-05-06/news/24959019_1_philadelphia-fans-philadelphia-sports-phillies|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2011| access-date= March 4, 2011 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref>

The Phillies returned to the World Series in {{wsy|2009}}, the first defending champion to return to the Series since the [[2001 New York Yankees season|2001 New York Yankees]]. During [[2009 Major League Baseball season|that season]] they finished first in the National League East with a 93–69 mark, and eliminated the [[2009 Colorado Rockies season|Rockies]] and the [[2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season|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.

Phillies left field [[Jayson Werth]] horse [[Dornoch]] won the [[Belmont Stakes]] in [[2024 Belmont Stakes|2024]], the final leg of the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)|Triple Crown]]. Upon winning he told reporters, winning the Belmont felt comparable to when he won a World Series in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glasspiegel |first1=Ryan |title=Jayson Werth: Winning Belmont ‘Comparable’ to World Series |url=https://frontofficesports.com/jayson-werth-winning-belmont-stakes-comparable-emotions-to-world-series/ |website=Front Office Sports |access-date=9 May 2025 |language=en |date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

===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, Florida|St. Petersburg]], celebrating their 2008 season.<ref name="RaysRally">{{cite web|url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3658769&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106034416/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3658769&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2008|title=Rays' fans celebrate at rally|date=October 31, 2008|access-date=March 4, 2011|first=Brittany|last=Ghiroli|work=TampabayRays.MLB.com}}</ref>

Mayor [[Rick Baker (mayor)|Rick Baker]] said that the rally "really needed to be done. There was so much demand in the community. They didn't win the World Series but they won the AL. And we want to celebrate that and thank them."<ref name="RaysRally"/> He and Tampa Mayor [[Pam Iorio]] addressed the fans during the rally.<ref name="RaysRally"/>

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. From 2010-2013, the Rays won at least 90 games each season, a remarkable feat for a team with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. The 2008 Rays were covered in depth in the book ''The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First'' by [[Jonah Keri]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-03-10|title=Overthinking It: A Review of Jonah Keri's The Extra 2%|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/13178/overthinking-it-a-review-of-jonah-keris-the-extra-2/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Baseball Prospectus}}</ref>

The Rays returned to the World Series in {{wsy|2020}}, but lost to the [[2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in six games.

Several Rays players from 2008 later won a World Series with other teams. [[Jonny Gomes]], who was not on the Rays' postseason roster, played on the [[2013 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]'s {{wsy|2013}} championship team. [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]] won a World Series ring in {{wsy|2018}} with the [[2018 Boston Red Sox season|Red Sox]], but opted out of playing during the Dodgers' 2020 championship run due to [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|COVID-19 concerns]]. [[Edwin Jackson (baseball)|Edwin Jackson]] won a ring in {{wsy|2011}} with the [[2011 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]], and [[Ben Zobrist]] won two World Series in {{wsy|2015}} and {{wsy|2016}} as a key member of the [[2015 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] and [[2016 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] (where he won World Series MVP) respectively. Rays manager [[Joe Maddon]] was also the manager of the 2016 Cubs, while the architect of the 2008 team, GM [[Andrew Friedman]], would win a World Series in [[2020 World Series|2020]] and [[2024 World Series|2024]] with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. [[Evan Longoria]] was a member of the [[2023 Arizona Diamondbacks]] who lost that year's [[2023 World Series|World Series]] to the [[2023 Texas Rangers|Texas Rangers]]; Longoria's 15 year gap between World Series appearances is the longest for any position player in MLB history.

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[2008 Asia Series]]
*[[2008 Japan Series]]
*[[2008 Korean Series]]

==References==
;Inline citations
{{reflist|2}}

;Bibliography
*{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Randy|title=Harry the K: The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas|year=2010|publisher=Running Press|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0-7624-3896-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{WSExtLinks|year=2008}}
*[https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2008/series?series=phitam ESPN - MLB Playoffs - 2008 World Series - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies]
*[http://www.mlb.com/phi/history/championship08.jsp Phillies Championship page]

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