Fansided

Ranking every World Series winners in history

By Staff

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Ryan Howard No. 6 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs with a “2008” championship flag as fans celebrate after the Phillies won 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 29: Ryan Howard No. 6 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs with a “2008” championship flag as fans celebrate after the Phillies won 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays during the continuation of game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

90. 2008 Philadelphia Phillies

92-70, NL East Champions, Won World Series 4-1 Over Tampa Bay

With a regular season record of 92-70, the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies won the National League East by three games over the New York Mets. Hardly a dominant record for most World Series winners, yet the Phillies cruised through the postseason with a 3-1 series win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, a five-game victory in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in the World Series to claim the second World Championship in franchise history.

Led by a potent, and largely homegrown, lineup, the Phillies ranked second in the National League in runs scored (799) and led the league in home runs (214). MVP runner-up Ryan Howard led the way with 48 homers and 146 RBI, though Chase Utley (.292/.380/.535, 33 HR, 104 RBI), Pat Burrell (.250/.367/.507, 33 HR, 86 RBI), Jimmy Rollins (.277/.349/.437, 38 2B, 47 SB), Jayson Werth (24 HR, 67 RBI) and Shane Victorino (.293/.352/.447) also gave National League pitchers trouble all season.

On the mound, 24-year old left-hander Cole Hamels blossomed as the team’s ace with a 14-10 record and a 3.09 ERA with 196 strikeouts in 227.1 innings across 33 starts, and the club boasted one of the best bullpens in baseball, led by Brad Lidge (1.95, 41 saves), who saved two of Philadelphia’s three one-game victories in the World Series, including a 4-3 win in Game 7.

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