KYW Newsradio Team Coverage
The Phillies are going back to the World Series.
They beat the LA Dodgers 10-4 in game five of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night to clinch the series four games to one. Ryan Howard (right), whose bat has been red hot, was named series MVP.
Read game recap
Now the Phillies await the winner of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angels. The Yankees had a three games to one lead in that series with game five being played on Thursday night.
Complete coverage of the Phillies in the playoffs
KYW's Matt Leon reports that Phillies Nation rejoiced in a second straight National League pennant.
The fans were enjoying their status as the cream of the National League, but many say two straight pennants is a bit hard to believe:
"Back to back is wild. I never thought I'd see it, let alone be here."
"I can't express it, you want me to scream and holler? It comes from within, man. It's the greatest thing I've ever seen."
While enjoying the pennant, all the fans I spoke with already know who they hope claims the American League title:
"The Yankees, baby, there is nobody else. To be the best, you beat the best. That's how it works."
The Phillies will be making their seventh World Series appearance.
KYW's David Madden reports that the phan-damonium was running amok at a favorite championship gathering spot, Frankford and Cottman in Northeast Philadelphia.
Traffic was blocked long before the final pitch, and by the time that came, thousands were letting it all hang out -- a few women literally.
And while a couple of revelers couldn’t help but get themselves arrested (right), most were like Bucky Straub from Kensington. He was a little drunk, but hey...
"Kensington’s too crazy when we party. This is more calm."
I tend to doubt it.
But the moment was a little bittersweet for Jessica Rash, who grew up around the corner and came here because a beloved relative couldn’t:
"My uncle Hugh was the biggest Phillies fan in the world. He just passed away last week. He’s a big Yankees fan. He would have died to see this."
But she’s confident he’d root for the Phillies in the World Series, assuming the Yankees get there.
KYW's Paul Kurtz reports that If the Phillies meet the Yankees in the World Series it won't be the first time.
The Whiz Kids were swept by the Yankees in 1950, but the games were close, with the Phils losing by one run three times.
It was a disappointing end to a magical summer for fans like Ernie Montella, who was 15 at the time, and remembers a young team that captured the hearts of a city.
"In 1950, if you went to the ballpark and you took the subway out of Center City, go to Broad and Lehigh, if you walked down Lehigh Avenue from Broad Street, there was a row of houses seven blocks long and you could listen to the game without missing a pitch because everybody sat on the porch with their radios on."
The 1950 Phillies turned out to be a one-hit wonder and went on a gradual slide to the National League basement while the Yankees were just cranking up a dynasty that would last more than a decade.
"That's why it means a lot to the people today to see the Phillies finally beat these teams that walked all over them all these years, and it would be sweet if they could do it in four straight."
(Photo #3 by KYW's Tony Hanson. Photo #4 by KYW's David Madden)
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