1993 World Series

The 1993 World Series was the second Series in a row played outside the United States of America. (See 1992 World Series.) It pitted the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays of the American League against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. With Toronto ahead 3 games to 2 in the series, Joe Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 6 to win the series for Toronto, giving them their second consecutive championship. This was only the second Series concluded by such a home run (the first was in the 1960 World Series on a Bill Mazeroski home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates), and the first such occasion where a come-from-behind walk-off home run won a World Series.

The Series also created controversy in Canada when a Philadelphia newspaper columnist made fun of Rita MacNeil, who had been selected to sing "O Canada" at one game, by making a number of sarcastic comments about her weight.

Managers: Cito Gaston (Toronto), Jim Fregosi (Philadelphia)

Umpires: Dave Phillips (AL), Paul Runge (NL), Tim McClelland (AL), Charlie Williams (NL), Mark Johnson (AL), Dana DeMuth (NL)

Series MVP: Paul Molitor (Toronto)

Television: CBS (Sean McDonough and Tim McCarver announcing)

Game 1
Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome

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 5th 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 7th and held on to win 8-5. Al Leiter pitched 2 2/3 innings -- in relief of a sporadic Juan Guzman, who walked four in just five innings -- for his first World Series win. John Kruk had three hits for Philadelphia.

Game 2
Sunday, October 17, 1993 at SkyDome

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-centre. Toronto got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning courtesy of a Joe Carter two-run home run to left (his second most important home run of the series by a wide margin), 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 3 earned runs, for the win.

Game 3
Tuesday, October 19, 1993 at Veterans Stadium

For Toronto, Pat Hentgen faced off against Philadelphia starter Danny Jackson in Game 3. Hentgen pitched a strong 6 innings, allowing just 1 run, and the Toronto offense took care of the rest. Toronto won 10-3.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston was faced with an unusual and difficult decision prior to game time. As the series switched 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 firstbaseman John Olerud and place Molitor at first base. The decision was potentially controversial as Olerud led the American League in batting during the year with a .363 average and Molitor was the less sure-handed fielder. Molitor, however, put these concerns to rest, going 3 for 4, hitting a home run in the 3rd inning, and driving in 3 runs.

Game 4
Wednesday, October 20, 1993 at Veterans Stadium

In the fourth game of the series, Todd Stottlemyre started for Toronto while Tommy Greene started for Philadelphia. The starters are notable because neither lasted three innings.

In one of the more unusual plays in World Series history, Todd Stottlemyre, trying to go first to third on a Roberto Alomar single in the 2nd 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 Lenny Dykstra two-run home run. Stottlemyre was pulled after the second inning, having already given up six runs. (Tommy Greene fared little better, being pulled after giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.)

Philadelphia took a commanding 12-7 lead in the 5th inning, courtesy of two-run home runs from Darren Daulton and Dykstra, and a run-scoring double from Milt Thompson.

Toronto fought back from a 14-9 deficit in the 8th inning, scoring six runs on run scoring hits from Paul Molitor, Tony Fernandez, Rickey Henderson, and Devon White. Duane Ward pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, preserving the 15-14 victory. The aggregate score of 29 remains a World Series record.

Game 5
Thursday, October 21, 1993 at Veterans Stadium

The offenses were due for an off-day, and it came in game five 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. Guzman pitched well in a losing effort, allowing only two runs and five hits.

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.

Game 6
Saturday, October 23, 1993 at SkyDome

The sixth game in the series was a rematch between Game 2 starters Terry Mulholland and Dave Stewart, who would have similar results. Toronto opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first with a run-scoring Paul Molitor triple, Joe Carter sacrifice fly, and Roberto Alomar RBI single. Molitor added a solo home run in the 5th inning, bringing the score to 5-1 for Toronto.

In the 7th 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 Dave Stewart's night, leaving the game with 6 innings pitched and 4 runs given up.

Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams came on to the pitch the bottom of the 9th with Philadelphia clinging to a 6-5 lead. The inning began with a Rickey Henderson walk, followed by a Devon White fly out. Paul Molitor followed with a single. Joe Carter came up next and, on a two strike pitch, he hit an inside pitch just over the left field fence, giving the Blue Jays a come-from-behind 8-6 victory, and the World Series crown.

Trivia

 * Game 4 set three (3) new World Series records: Longest World Series game ever at four hours fourteen minutes (4:14), most runs by both clubs with twenty-nine (29) and most runs scored by a losing team with fourteen (14).
 * Charlie Williams became the first African American to serve as the home plate umpire for a World Series game. Williams made his mark in history during the infamous fourth game.
 * Phillies manager Jim Fregosi would go on to manage the Toronto Blue Jays from 1999-2000.
 * World Series MVP Paul Molitor became the first man in World Series history to have at least two home runs, two doubles, and two triples.
 * This was the fourth World Series to be played entirely on artificial turf, following those in 1980, 1985, and 1987. It will likely be the last, considering that as of 2005, only three teams still play on turf, and all are in the American League: the Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
 * Whenever Mitch Williams was on the mound, his nervous teammate Curt Schilling was caught by CBS television cameras burying his face in a towel. Schilling's behavior not only irked Mitch Williams, but also fellow Phillies teammates like Larry Andersen and Danny Jackson, who accused Schilling of purposely trying to get more camera time.
 * 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 (the 15-14 game). Williams wasn't aware of the death threats until after Game 5. While at his Texas ranch (where he would stay during the offseason) a paranoid, gun-toting Williams paced the entire night.
 * After allowing Rickey Henderson to get on base in the 9th inning of Game 6, Mitch Williams tried to counter Henderson's speed by pitching out of 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. Many pundits believe that the slide-step cut back on the velocity of the hard throwing Williams.
 * Just like in 1992, American League president Dr. Bobby Brown presented the World Series Trophy instead of the Commissioner of Baseball.
 * Game 6 of the 1993 World Series is to date, the last Major League Baseball game that CBS televised.
 * Toronto became the first repeat champions since the 1977-78 New York Yankees.
 * Soon after the end of the 2005 season, the Philadelphia Phillies hired Pat Gillick to be their general manager. Pat Gillick was also the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays for their 1992-1993 championship teams.
 * Larry Andersen was the only member of the 1993 Phillies to also play for them in 1983 (the previous time they went to the World Series).
 * Following Game 6, a weary John Kruk sat in the Phillies' clubhouse with a beer in hand saying to himself "My God, it's finally over!" Kruk claimed that his emotions were in response to him coming to the conclusion that the overachiving 1993 Phillies (who against all odds, reached the World Series after being 25+ games out of first place in 1992) where going to come back to Earth in 1994.

“You Can’t Blame Mitch Williams”
On October 25, 2005, ESPN Classic aired "The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... Mitch Williams for the Philadelphia Phillies losing the 1993 World Series." Their reasons for exonerating Williams:


 * 5. Bud Selig. The Commissioner of Baseball, then also the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, let future Hall-of-Famer (and 1993 World Series Most Valuable Player) Paul Molitor get away to the Blue Jays.  Had this not happened, the Jays might not have even defeated the New York Yankees to win the American League East, much less the Chicago White Sox in the League Championship Series or the Phillies in the World Series.
 * 4. Williams was rattled by death threats over his previous late-game losses that season, including the fourth game of the 1993 World Series.
 * 3. Joe Carter. Unlike such unlikely postseason home-run heroes as Bill Mazeroski, Bernie Carbo, Bucky Dent, Jim Leyritz, Scott Spiezio, Scott Podsednik and Geoff Blum, Carter was a bonafide home run hitter, ending his career with 396 home runs, including 33 in the 1993 regular season.
 * 2. The other pitchers in the Phillie bullpen weren't very effective, either.
 * 1. The Blue Jays were better. Not only were the Jays the defending World Champions, with seven members of the American League All-Star Team on their roster (including Molitor, Carter, Roberto Alomar, John Olerud and Devon White), but the Phillies pulled a major upset over the Atlanta Braves just to get to the World Series. In the 1993 National League Championship Series, Mitch Williams was the winning pitcher in Games 1 and 5. In addition, Williams saved Game 4 and the clincher Game 6 for the Phillies.

Quotes of the Series
"Here's the pitch on the way, the swing, and a belt! Left field! Way back! Blue Jays win! Blue Jays win! The Blue Jays are World Series champions as Joe Carter hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning and the Blue Jays have repeated as World Series Champions! Touch 'em all Joe! You'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" - Toronto Blue Jays radio announcer Tom Cheek describing Joe Carter's World Series clinching home run. MP3 download of Tom Cheek calling the final play

"Now the 2-2...Well-hit down the left-field line, way back and...gone! Joe Carter with a three-run homer! The winners and still World champions, the Toronto Blue Jays!" - Sean McDonough of CBS calling Joe Carter's World Series winning home run.