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2008 Major League Baseball postseason

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2008 Major League Baseball postseason
Tournament details
DatesOctober 1–29, 2008[1]
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsPhiladelphia Phillies
(2nd title)
Runner-upTampa Bay Rays
(1st World Series appearance)
Tournament statistics
MVPCole Hamels
(PHI)
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 2008 season. The winners of the Division Series would move on to the League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series.

In the American League, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim returned to the postseason for the fifth time in seven years, the Boston Red Sox returned for the fifth time in six years, the Chicago White Sox made their third appearance in the past nine years, and the Tampa Bay Rays made their postseason debut. This was the first postseason since 1993 to not feature the New York Yankees, who had previously made thirteen straight appearances from 1995 to 2007.

In the National League, the Chicago Cubs returned for the third time in six years, marking the first time since 1906 that both Chicago teams made the postseason. The Cubs had Lou Pinella leading them to the division title. The Philadelphia Phillies made their second straight appearance, the Los Angeles Dodgers made their third appearance in the past five years, and the Milwaukee Brewers made their first postseason appearance since 1982 (first as a member of the National League).

The postseason began on October 1, 2008, and ended on October 29, 2008, with the Phillies defeating the Rays in five games in the 2008 World Series. It was the first championship won by the Phillies since 1980.

Playoff seeds

The following teams qualified for the postseason:

American League

  1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – AL West champions, 100–62[2]
  2. Tampa Bay Rays – AL East champions, 97–65[3]
  3. Chicago White Sox – AL Central champions, 89–74[4][5]
  4. Boston Red Sox – AL Wild Card qualifier, 95–67[6]

National League

  1. Chicago Cubs – NL Central champions, 97–64[7]
  2. Philadelphia Phillies – NL East champions, 92–70[8]
  3. Los Angeles Dodgers – NL West champions, 84–78[9]
  4. Milwaukee Brewers – NL Wild Card qualifier, 90–72[10]

Playoff bracket

Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS) 		League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS) 		World Series
         
1 LA Angels 1
4 Boston 3
4 Boston 3
American League
2 Tampa Bay 4
2 Tampa Bay 3
3 Chicago White Sox 1
AL2 Tampa Bay 1
NL2 Philadelphia 4
1 Chicago Cubs 0
3 LA Dodgers 3
3 LA Dodgers 1
National League
2 Philadelphia 4
2 Philadelphia 3
4 Milwaukee 1

Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.

American League Division Series

Main article: 2008 American League Division Series

(1) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. (4) Boston Red Sox

Boston won the series, 3–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 1 Boston Red Sox – 4, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1 Angel Stadium of Anaheim 3:14 44,996[11] 
2 October 3 Boston Red Sox – 7, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 5 Angel Stadium of Anaheim 3:51 45,354[12] 
3 October 5 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 5, Boston Red Sox – 4 (12) Fenway Park 5:19 39,067[13] 
4 October 6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 2, Boston Red Sox – 3 Fenway Park 2:50 38,785[14]

In a rematch of the previous year's ALDS, the Red Sox again defeated the Angels to advance to the ALCS for the second year in a row. The Angels would sweep the Red Sox in the ALDS the next year.

(2) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (3) Chicago White Sox

Tampa Bay won the series, 3–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 2 Chicago White Sox – 4, Tampa Bay Rays – 6 Tropicana Field 3:10 35,041[15] 
2 October 3 Chicago White Sox – 2, Tampa Bay Rays – 6 Tropicana Field 3:10 35,257[16] 
3 October 5 Tampa Bay Rays – 3, Chicago White Sox – 5 U.S. Cellular Field 3:07 40,142[17] 
4 October 6 Tampa Bay Rays – 6, Chicago White Sox – 2 U.S. Cellular Field 3:13 40,454[18]

In their postseason debut, the Rays defeated the White Sox in four games to advance to the ALCS for the first time in franchise history. The White Sox would not return to the postseason again until 2020.

National League Division Series

Main article: 2008 National League Division Series

(1) Chicago Cubs vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles won the series, 3–0.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 1 Los Angeles Dodgers – 7, Chicago Cubs – 2 Wrigley Field 3:10 42,099[19] 
2 October 2 Los Angeles Dodgers – 10, Chicago Cubs – 3 Wrigley Field 3:10 42,136[20] 
3 October 4 Chicago Cubs – 1, Los Angeles Dodgers – 3 Dodger Stadium 3:03 56,000[21]

This was the first postseason meeting between the Cubs and Dodgers. The Dodgers swept the Cubs to return to the NLCS for the first time in two decades.

Both teams would meet again in the NLCS in 2016 (won by the Cubs), and 2017 (won by the Dodgers).

(2) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (4) Milwaukee Brewers

Philadelphia won the series, 3–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 1 Milwaukee Brewers – 1, Philadelphia Phillies – 3 Citizens Bank Park 2:39 45,929[22] 
2 October 2 Milwaukee Brewers – 2, Philadelphia Phillies – 5 Citizens Bank Park 3:00 46,208[23] 
3 October 4 Philadelphia Phillies – 1, Milwaukee Brewers – 4 Miller Park 3:31 43,992[24] 
4 October 5 Philadelphia Phillies – 6, Milwaukee Brewers – 2 Miller Park 2:53 43,934[25]

The Phillies defeated the Brewers in four games to return to the NLCS for the first time since 1993. The Brewers would return to the postseason again in 2011, where they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games in the NLDS before falling in the NLCS to the St. Louis Cardinals.

American League Championship Series

Main article: 2008 American League Championship Series

(2) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (4) Boston Red Sox

Tampa Bay won the series, 4–3.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 10 Boston Red Sox – 2, Tampa Bay Rays – 0 Tropicana Field 3:25 35,001[26] 
2 October 11 Boston Red Sox – 8, Tampa Bay Rays – 9 (11) Tropicana Field 5:27 34,904[27] 
3 October 13 Tampa Bay Rays – 9, Boston Red Sox – 1 Fenway Park 3:23 38,031[28] 
4 October 14 Tampa Bay Rays – 13, Boston Red Sox – 4 Fenway Park 3:07 38,133[29] 
5 October 16 Tampa Bay Rays – 7, Boston Red Sox – 8 Fenway Park 4:08 38,437[30] 
6 October 18 Boston Red Sox – 4, Tampa Bay Rays – 2 Tropicana Field 3:48 40,947[31] 
7 October 19 Boston Red Sox – 1, Tampa Bay Rays – 3 Tropicana Field 3:31 40,473[32]

This was the first postseason meeting between the Rays and Red Sox. Despite blowing a 3–1 series lead, the Rays managed to hold on and advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history, denying the Red Sox a shot at back-to-back titles.

The Red Sox would return to the ALCS in 2013, where they defeated the Detroit Tigers in six games to capture the pennant. The Rays would win their next AL pennant in 2020 against the Houston Astros in seven games.

The Rays and Red Sox would meet again in the ALDS in 2013, and 2021, with both being won by the Red Sox.

National League Championship Series

Main article: 2008 National League Championship Series

(2) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers

Philadelphia won the series, 4–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 9 Los Angeles Dodgers – 2, Philadelphia Phillies – 3 Citizens Bank Park 2:36 45,839[33] 
2 October 10 Los Angeles Dodgers – 5, Philadelphia Phillies – 8 Citizens Bank Park 3:33 45,883[34] 
3 October 12 Philadelphia Phillies – 2, Los Angeles Dodgers – 7 Dodger Stadium 2:57 56,800[35] 
4 October 13 Philadelphia Phillies – 7, Los Angeles Dodgers – 5 Dodger Stadium 3:44 56,800[36] 
5 October 15 Philadelphia Phillies – 5, Los Angeles Dodgers – 1 Dodger Stadium 3:14 56,800[37]

This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Phillies and Dodgers. They had previously met in the NLCS in 1977, 1978 and 1983, with the Dodgers winning the former two and the Phillies winning the latter. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers in five quick games to return to the World Series for the first time since 1993.

The two teams met again in next year's NLCS, with the same result as this series.

2008 World Series

Main article: 2008 World Series

(AL2) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (NL2) Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia won the series, 4–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 22 Philadelphia Phillies – 3, Tampa Bay Rays – 2 Tropicana Field 3:23 40,783[38] 
2 October 23 Philadelphia Phillies – 2, Tampa Bay Rays – 4 Tropicana Field 3:05 40,843[39] 
3 October 25 Tampa Bay Rays – 4, Philadelphia Phillies – 5 Citizens Bank Park 3:41 45,900[40] 
4 October 26 Tampa Bay Rays – 2, Philadelphia Phillies – 10 Citizens Bank Park 3:08 45,903[41] 
5 October 27†/29 Tampa Bay Rays – 3, Philadelphia Phillies – 4 Citizens Bank Park 3:28 45,940[42]

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

This was the first World Series since 2003 to feature a team from Florida, and the first since 1993 to feature a team from Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Rays in five games to win their first championship since 1980. This was the first championship of the four major North American sports leagues won by a team from Philadelphia since 1983, when the Philadelphia 76ers won the 1983 NBA Finals.

The Rays would return to the World Series again in 2020, but were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. The Phillies returned to the World Series the very next year in hopes of defending their title, but fell to the New York Yankees in six games.

References

  1. ^ "2008 Major Leagues Schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. ^ "2008 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "2008 Tampa Bay Rays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Chicago (AL) clinched the AL Central and the American League third seed by virtue of winning the 2008 American League Central tie-breaker game against the Minnesota Twins 1–0, eliminating Minnesota from postseason contention.
  5. ^ "2008 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "2008 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "2008 Chicago Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "2008 Philadelphia Phillies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "2008 Los Angeles Dodgers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "2008 Milwaukee Brewers statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. ^ "2008 ALDS - Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  12. ^ "2008 ALDS - Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "2008 ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "2008 ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "2008 ALDS - Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "2008 ALDS - Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  17. ^ "2008 ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "2008 ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  21. ^ "2008 NLDS - Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  25. ^ "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  26. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 1 – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 2 – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 3 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 4 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  30. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 5 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  31. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 6 – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  32. ^ "2008 ALCS Game 7 – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  33. ^ "2008 NLCS Game 1 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  34. ^ "2008 NLCS Game 2 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  35. ^ "2008 NLCS Game 3 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  36. ^ "2008 NLCS Game 4 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  37. ^ "2008 NLCS Game 5 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  38. ^ "2008 World Series Game 1 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  39. ^ "2008 World Series Game 2 - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  40. ^ "2008 World Series Game 3 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  41. ^ "2008 World Series Game 4 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  42. ^ "2008 World Series Game 5 - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
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