FOUR MORE and it's over.
With four more wins, the Phillies will capture Philadelphia's first major championship in 25 years. Since the Sixers won the 1982-83 NBA title, Philadelphia teams have gotten to the precipice on seven occasions and came up short each time.
While the opponent is still to be determined, here are 10 notable things now that the Phillies have made it to this year's October Classic:
1 The American League claimed homefield advantage in the World Series by winning the All-Star Game. Ironically, it was Phils closer Brad Lidge that surrendered the game-winning run in the 15th inning. The 4-hour, 50-minute marathon was the longest All-Star Game ever.
2 This is the sixth year baseball has designated the All-Star Game winner with homefield advantage in the World Series. Each time, it's been the American League, which has won three of the five Series under this format.
3 The Phillies did not play Tampa Bay this year and dropped two of three to visiting Boston in June. Tampa holds a 3-1 lead over Boston in the ALCS and can close it out with a win tonight.
4 If the Rays win the ALCS, look for James Shields to start Wednesday's Game 1 of the World Series and for the Phils to counter with Cole Hamels. Shields was 14-8 in 33 regular-season starts with a 3.56 ERA. He is 1-1, 3.29 in two postseason starts.
5 The Fightin's are 1-4 in World Series, with the only win coming over Kansas City in six games in 1980. Overall, the Phils are 8-18 in World Series games.
6 The Phillies lost the 1915 World Series to Boston in five games. Babe Ruth made his lone appearance as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 and Woodrow Wilson became the first sitting president to attend a World Series game. The Phils and Rays, who began play in 1998, have never met in the postseason.
7 Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria already has hit five home runs to establish a postseason record for rookies. Longoria, the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year, started the playoffs with homers in his first two at-bats.
8 The Rays were known as the Devil Rays until this year, when principal owner Stuart Sternberg decided a new identity was needed. Now, the Rays are "a beacon that radiates throughout Tampa Bay and across the entire state of Florida." They are not to be confused with Ray's Bar in South Philly.
9 Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Shane Victorino were not yet born when the Phillies won the World Series in 1980. Brett Myers and Ryan Madson were infants.
10 Finally, a little trivia: Mike Schmidt is the only Phillie to win World Series MVP and one of eight third basemen to win the award. The other seven: Brooks Robinson (Orioles, 1970), Pete Rose (Reds, 1975), Ron Cey (Dodgers, 1981), Ray Knight (Mets, 1986), Scott Brosius (Yankees, 1998), Troy Glaus (Angels, 2002), Mike Lowell (Red Sox, 2007). *
