1993 World Series

Summary

AL Toronto Blue Jays (4) vs. NL Philadelphia Phillies (2)

Game 1

The Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.

The deciding plays came in the middle innings. With Toronto behind 4–3 in the fifth inning, Devon White hit a solo home run to tie the game. The next inning, John Olerud hit a solo home run of his own to put Toronto on top. Toronto added three insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and held on to win 8–5. Al Leiter pitched  2 ²⁄₃ innings—in relief of an erratic Juan Guzman, who walked four in just five innings—for his first World Series win. John Kruk had three hits for Philadelphia.

Also of note, Roberto Alomar made an amazing diving catch on a Lenny Dykstra looper behind first in the top of the fifth.

Game 2

In the second game of the Series, Dave Stewart was on the mound for Toronto and Terry Mulholland started for Philadelphia. Philadelphia jumped out to an early lead: in the third inning, Jim Eisenreich followed John Kruk and Dave Hollins RBI singles with a three-run home run to deep right-center. Toronto got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning courtesy of a Joe Carter two-run home run to left, but the Jays were unable to mount a significant offensive push later in the game. Philadelphia held on to win 6–4. Terry Mulholland pitched  5 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing three earned runs, for the win.

Game 3

For Toronto, Pat Hentgen faced off against Philadelphia starter Danny Jackson in Game 3. Hentgen pitched a strong six innings, allowing just a single run, and the Toronto offense took care of the rest. In Jackson's last postseason start against the Blue Jays, he had recorded a shutout (in the 1985 American League Championship Series), but he was not nearly as effective in this game as he was rocked for three runs in the first. In the end, Toronto prevailed, 10–3.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston was faced with an unusual and difficult decision prior to game time. As the Series switched to the National League ballpark, Gaston was forced to sit one player from his regular line-up as the designated hitter (DH) would not be allowed to play. As regular DH Paul Molitor had been a hot hand in the line-up, Gaston elected to sit first baseman John Olerud and position Molitor at first base. The decision was potentially controversial as Olerud had led the American League in batting over the season with a .363 average; moreover, Molitor was the less sure-handed fielder. Molitor, however, put these concerns to rest, going 3-for-4, hitting a home run in the third inning and driving in three runs, while playing adequately at first base.

Game 4

In the fourth game of the Series, Toronto sent Todd Stottlemyre to the mound while Philadelphia countered with Tommy Greene. It had been a rainy day in Philadelphia, which water-logged the aging turf at Veterans Stadium, making for particularly slippery conditions.

Early in the game, Stottlemyre, trying to go first to third on a Roberto Alomar single in the second inning, did a bellyflop diving into third base, where he was called out. Todd's awkward dive resulted in an abrasion on his chin and appeared to shake him up in the next inning, during which he surrendered a two-run home run to Lenny Dykstra. Stottlemyre was pulled after the second inning, having already given up six runs. Tommy Greene fared little better for the Phillies, being pulled after giving up seven runs in three innings.

Philadelphia took a commanding 12–7 lead in the fifth inning, courtesy of two-run home runs from Dykstra and Darren Daulton, and a run-scoring double from Milt Thompson. Toronto fought back from a 14–9 deficit in the eighth inning, scoring six runs on hits from Paul Molitor, Tony Fernández, Rickey Henderson, and Devon White. Duane Ward earned the save, retiring the last four Phillies batters.

Three new World Series records were set, including the longest game (4:14), most total runs scored in a single game (29), and most runs scored by a losing team (14). Also, Charlie Williams became the first African American to serve as the home plate umpire for a World Series game.

Two death threats directed towards Mitch Williams were phoned into Veterans Stadium as soon as it became evident that Williams was going to be the losing pitcher of Game 4. Williams wasn't aware of the death threats until after Game 5.

Game 5

The offenses were due for an off-day, and it came in Game 5 courtesy of a Curt Schilling (Philadelphia) and Juan Guzman (Toronto) pitching duel. Schilling shut down the previously unstoppable Toronto offense, limiting the team to just five hits and no runs. It was only the second time all season that Toronto had been shut out. Guzman pitched well in a losing effort, allowing only two runs and five hits in seven innings of work.

The two runs scored as a result of scrappy play from the Philadelphia offense. In the first inning, Lenny Dykstra walked, stole second, moved to third on a Pat Borders throwing error, and scored on a John Kruk ground out. In the second inning, Darren Daulton opened with a double, took third on a ground out, and scored on a Kevin Stocker single.

As it turned out, it was the final postseason baseball game in Veterans Stadium. It was demolished after the 2003 season.

Game 6

The sixth game in the Series was a rematch between Game 2 starters Terry Mulholland and Dave Stewart, who would have similar results. Toronto scored in the bottom of the first with a run-scoring Paul Molitor triple, Joe Carter sacrifice fly, and Roberto Alomar RBI single. Paul Molitor added a solo home run in the fifth inning while the Toronto fans were chanting "MVP" for Paul, bringing the score to 5–1 for Toronto. Ultimately, Molitor became the first player in World Series history to have at least two home runs, two doubles, and two triples.

In the seventh inning, Philadelphia fought back with five runs to take a 6–5 lead. Lenny Dykstra hit a three-run home run, Dave Hollins had an RBI single and Pete Incaviglia hit a sacrifice fly. The inning brought an end to Stewart's night, leaving the game with six innings pitched and four runs given up.

Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth with his team clinging to a 6–5 lead. After beginning the inning by walking Rickey Henderson, Williams tried to counter Henderson's speed by using a slide-step style of pitching delivery. Prior to Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Williams never used the slide-step delivery in his career, and this may have cut back on his velocity. The walk to Henderson was followed by a Devon White fly out and a single by Paul Molitor that moved Henderson to second.

Joe Carter came up next and, with the count 2–2, he hit a three-run home run to win the game and the World Series crown. Just before the fifth and final pitch to Joe Carter, CBS Sports announcer Tim McCarver commented that Carter (relatively unproductive in the Series to date) looked awkward and uncomfortable at the plate. The same pitch allowed Blue Jays radio announcer Tom Cheek the opportunity to utter his famous "Touch 'em all, Joe" quote, when Joe Carter clinched the series. Carter joined Bill Mazeroski as one of the only two players to win a World Series with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding game.

Carter was actively involved in the final play of the World Series for the second year in a row. In the previous year, Carter caught the final out as first baseman after relief pitcher Mike Timlin fielded Otis Nixon's bunt. Furthermore, taking the 1993 ALCS into account (where he caught the final out in the outfield), he had been involved in the final play of three straight postseason series.

American League president Dr. Bobby Brown presented the World Series Trophy instead of the Commissioner of Baseball; this event also occurred in the year before.

Aftermath

The Blue Jays became the second expansion team to win two World Series championships, following the New York Mets in 1986. With the Montreal Canadiens winning the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals five months earlier, it marked the only time Canadian teams won multiple league championships among the four major North American team sports in a calendar year.

Mitch Williams later placed the blame on himself for what happened in the 1993 World Series, adding that he had put the ordeal behind him:

Both teams would experience long absences from the postseason; the Phillies did not return to the postseason until 2007, or appear in another World Series until their championship season of 2008, bringing the city of Philadelphia its first championship since the 76ers swept the 1983 NBA Finals. The general manager of the Blue Jays, Pat Gillick, was general manager of the Phillies team that won the 2008 World Series. The Blue Jays did not qualify for the playoffs again until the 2015 season.

Composite box

1993 World Series (4–2): Toronto Blue Jays (A.L.) over Philadelphia Phillies (N.L.)

Broadcasting

Game 6 (October 23) is to date, the last Major League Baseball game to be televised on CBS. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Tim McCarver (color commentary and himself a former Phillies broadcaster) called the action for CBS. The following season, Major League Baseball entered into a revenue sharing joint venture with ABC and NBC called The Baseball Network, but that joint venture was cancelled after two seasons, and by 1996, Fox took over the broadcasting rights to MLB games. CBS' Andrea Joyce became the first woman to co-host (alongside Pat O'Brien) a World Series. Serving as field reporters for CBS were Lesley Visser (in the Blue Jays' dugout) and Jim Gray (in the Phillies' dugout)

The national radio broadcast was also provided by CBS, with Vin Scully and Johnny Bench on the call. Locally, the Series was called on WOGL-AM in Philadelphia by Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Chris Wheeler, Andy Musser, and Garry Maddox and on CJCL-AM in Toronto by Jerry Howarth and Tom Cheek. Cheek's call of the Carter home run ("Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!") lives on in Blue Jays folklore.

The 1993 series was Richie Ashburn's last as a Phillies broadcaster, as he died in 1997. Andy Musser also called his last World Series as a member of the Phillies' broadcast team; he retired in 2001 and died eleven years later. Tom Cheek never called another postseason game in his role as voice of the Blue Jays, from which he retired in 2005 prior to his death from brain cancer. Game 6 also marked Johnny Bench's final broadcast for CBS Radio after nine years (he would be replaced on CBS Radio's World Series broadcasts by Jeff Torborg), while Harry Kalas would not call another World Series until 2008. Kalas later died in 2009 prior to a game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. Chris Wheeler continues to call games for the Phillies on TV and Jerry Howarth has continued to call Blue Jays games, moving into the primary play-by-play position following the death of Cheek.

The Joe Carter home run calls

Music

95 South Remixed their local hit "Whoot There It Is" turning into a special tribute to the Phillies. It is often confused with "Whoomp There It Is" by Tag Team; however, the songs are distinctly different.

Toronto rapper Choclair refers to Joe Carter's walk-off home run in his 1999 song, "Let's Ride".

On July 29, 2015, Toronto rapper Drake released a diss track against Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill entitled "Back to Back". The cover of the diss track features a picture of Joe Carter, just after hitting the series-clinching home run.

Other media

Roger Angell's review of the Series in the New Yorker was entitled "Oh, What A Lovely War".