Jun 29, 2007; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (7) is tagged out while attempting to steal by Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) in the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. The Mets defeated the Phillies 6-5 in the first game of a double header. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Howard Smith
The Phillies and Mets have a strange rivalry.
Most of the normal rivalry features are there: geographic proximity, familiarity, mutual disdain between fan bases, etc. But if you feel like there's something missing, you're right: the two franchises rarely field competitive squads at the same time.
The New York expansion team was established in 1962, but through 2023, the Phillies and Mets never topped 90 wins in the same season. They topped 85 wins in the same year just six times:
Moreover, even when both teams reached 85 Ws, one team was usually much better in the regular season than the other. Only in 2007 and 2008 did the teams truly battle for first place.
It's no surprise, then, that the Phillies winning the NL East on the last day of the 2007 season is the undisputed top moment in the rivalry's history. The Mets led the division by seven full games on September 12, but by the morning of September 30, the two teams were tied with 87 wins apiece. And by the time the Phillies took the field against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park that afternoon, the Mets were trailing the Marlins by seven runs in the first inning of their game.
The atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was electric from the jump. It only got wilder as the game went on and the Phillies built a lead. Yet, somehow, Jimmy Rollins took it to a whole new level when he smashed his 20th triple of the season in the sixth. The hit gave the '07 NL MVP a 20-20-20-20 season. (Doubles-Triples-Home Runs-Steals.)
Rollins hits 20th triple in final regular season game of 2007 pic.twitter.com/F73TRjSu9J
Rollins, of course, was simply following through on his preseason prediction that the Phils were "the team to beat," despite a 14-year postseason drought:
“I think we are the team to beat in the NL East. You know, finally.” #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/4OH1i1uVBu
Here's the final three outs from the clincher, called by Harry Kalas:
9.30.2007
Phillies were 7 games back in the NL East with 17 to play. Entered this final game of the season tied for 1st place. Here’s the top of the 9th inning. pic.twitter.com/sBH31uN6aN
The Phillies hunted the Mets down again the next year, en route to the second World Series championship in team history. It didn't come down to the season's final day, but the Mets did lead the Phillies by 3.5 games as late as September 10.
Earlier in the 2008 season, the Phils had fired a warning shot at New York with a seven-run comeback.
8.26.2008
Phillies come back from 7-0 to beat Pedro Martinez and the Mets. The win puts them in 1st place. pic.twitter.com/xPuWkLlCT3
And about a month before that, Shane Victorino hit a walkof single against the Metropolitans on the 4th of July:
7.4.2008 💥 🇺🇸 🍔 🌭
Shane Victorino with the walkoff single as the Phillies beat the Mets, 3-2. pic.twitter.com/qJwsrHllYo
Most other special Phillies / Mets moments tend to pop up in less-than-special seasons for one or both teams. For example, here's Von Hayes hitting two HRs in the first inning of a 26-7 rout in 1985.
6.11.1985
Von Hayes hits two home runs in the first inning as the Phillies beat the Mets, 26-7. pic.twitter.com/y8gkDvlOYA
Here's Aaron Nola striking out ten consecutive Mets batters in 2021.
6.25.2021
Aaron Nola strikes out 10 straight pic.twitter.com/vavD7x8F06
1964 was a special Phillies season in a way, I suppose. Not in a good way. But Jim Bunning hurled a perfect game on Father's Day against the New Yorkers:
Jim Bunning finishes off his perfect game on Father's Day.
June 21, 1964. pic.twitter.com/zmcHHbeyIu
Here's a pretty good Phillies / Mets brawl from 1990:
Phillies / Mets brawl 1990 pic.twitter.com/83Qu6s8mKL
And here's another one from 1989:
9/27/89: #MetsLegend Gregg Jeffries ignites a benches-clearing brawl in the team’s final home game of the season. The pitcher Jeffries charges at is his former teammate and fellow #MetsLegend Roger McDowell. pic.twitter.com/mDfUwBZmnt
Ok, enough violence. We'll end on a heartwarming note. This video is from the Phillies' 1980 championship parade. Long before Chase Utley took the mic in 2008, Tug McGraw had his own parade moment.
McGraw's message for NYC:
Here’s Harry Kalas and Tug McGraw closing out the 1980 Phillies parade. pic.twitter.com/OSOVwa6lPv
