Whiz Kids, Macho Row, other special Phillies teams and how they fared their first 60 games
It’s a 60-game schedule for the 2020 Phillies. Here’s a look at how some of the memorable teams in franchise history were doing after 60. Man, that 2011 team was something.
With the Phillies set to begin an unprecedented shortened schedule, here’s a look at how some of their notable (and notorious) clubs were faring at the 60-mile mark of what is usually a 162-mile grind.
1915 (90-62-1) — Started 32-27-1 (.542), finished 58-35-0 (.624). Notable: Made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, losing to the Red Sox in the World Series, 4-1. Babe Ruth, a 20-year-old pitcher, grounded out as a pinch-hitter in his only appearance in the series.
1941 (43-111-1) — Started 17-43 (.283), finished 26-68-1 (279). The 111 losses that year are the most in franchise history.
1950 (91-63-3) — Started 35-24-1 (.592), finished 56-39-2 (.588). Lost in all the love for the Whiz Kids was that they nearly blew a 7.5-game, mid-September lead.
» READ MORE: Whiz Kids cast a spell on Phillies fans that endures 60 years later (from 2010)
1964 (92-70) — Started 37-23 (.617), finished 55-47 (.539). Went 2-12 in the last half of September in an epic collapse.
1976 (101-61) — Started 42-18 (.700), finished 59-43 (.578). First 100-win season in franchise history; swept by Big Red Machine in LCS.
1977 (101-61) — Started 32-28 (.533), finished 69-33 (.676). Another 100-win season, another LCS loss — this time to the Dodgers.
1978 (90-72) — Started 31-29 (.517), finished 59-43 (.578). Third consecutive LCS loss. The Phillies franchise, then 95 years old, had never won a postseason series.
» READ MORE: Dallas Green’s tirade ignited the 1980 Phils (from 1980)
1980 (91-71) — Started 33-27 (.550), finished 58-44 (.569). Manager Dallas Green’s tirade Aug. 10 is often cited as a catalyst. The Phillies closed 36-19 and went on to win the first championship in team history.-
1993 (97-65) — Started 43-17 (.717), finished 54-48 (.529). Opened the season with a sweep in Houston and met only token resistance. Until they met Toronto in the World Series.
2007 (89-73) — Started 31-29 (.517), finished 58-44 (.569). Won the division by erasing a seven-game Mets lead with 17 to go. No one celebrated more than those who witnessed the horror of 1964.
2008 (92-70) — Started 35-25 (.583), finished 57-45 (.559). Then went 11-3 in the postseason for the second title in club history.
2009 (93-69) — Started 35-25 (.583), finished 58-44 (.569). Consecutive World Series trips for the first time in team history, this one a loss to the Yankees in six.
2010 (97-65) — Started 31-29 (.517), finished 66-36 (.647). Lost to Giants in LCS.
2011 (102-60) — Started 36-24 (.600), finished 66-36 (.647). The greatest era in franchise history ended with a whimper in a 1-0 loss to the Cardinals in Game 5 of the LDS.
» READ MORE: Current Phillies who start hot — and some who don’t
2017 (66-96) — Started 21-39 (.350), finished 45-57 (.441). The only team worse than the Phillies was the Giants (64-98).
2018 (80-82) — Started 32-28 (.533), finished 48-54 (.471). Break out the coconut oil. New manager Gabe Kapler guides a 13-game improvement.
2019 (81-81) — Started 33-27 (.550), finished 48-54 (.471). Another limp to the finish. So much for the Gabe Kapler experiment.