Top 5 Players of the 2008 World Series

Originally published on Jul. 25, 2019

By Zane Miller

On Monday, October 27th, 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to win the 104th World Series four games to one. It was the second World Series championship for the Phillies franchise, as well as the ninth that was won in Pennsylvania. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #56 Joe Blanton (Phillies)- P

Blanton earned the win in game four, as he went six innings while allowing just two earned runs on four hits and a pair of walks as the Phillies claimed the 10-2 win.

4. #33 James Shields (Rays)- P

Shields got player of the game in game two, going five and two thirds innings with no earned runs allowed on seven hits and a pair of walks in the Rays’ 4-2 victory, their only World Series game win in franchise history.

3. #51 Carlos Ruiz (Phillies)- C

Ruiz was game three’s player of the game, as he hit a pair of RBIs with one run, two hits and a walk in the Phillies’ 5-4 victory.

2. #6 Ryan Howard (Phillies)- 1B

Howard earned player of the game honors in game four, knocking in five RBIs along with two runs, three hits and one walk as the Phillies claimed the 10-2 victory.

1. #35 Cole Hamels (Phillies)- P

Hamels picked up player of the game honors in games one and five, as game one saw him pitch seven innings while allowing just two earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks as the Phillies won it 3-2, followed up in game five with six innings pitched as he allowed a pair of earned runs on five hits and one walk as the Phillies went on to win 4-3 to take the series championship.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

 

Link to stats database: https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2008_WS.shtml