Revisiting opening month of 1983 and '93 seasons
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Throughout 2023 we’ll revisit the pennant-winning seasons of 40 and 30 years ago. It all begins with April memories from two seasons in which the Phillies won the National League pennant but lost the World Series.
1983
A bizarre season in which the Phillies changed managers while in first place in July. A hot September led to postseason baseball, the sixth time in eight seasons. A veteran-laden club is dubbed the “Wheeze Kids.”
Nugget: Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez, members of the Cincinnati “Big-red Machine”, were on the Phillies. 1983 was the last year that the trio was together.
Opening day lineup: Rose, RF; Morgan, 2B; Matthews, LF; Schmidt, 3B; Perez, 1B; Diaz, C; DeJesus, SS; Dernier, CF; Carlton, P.
April 3: Season opens with two losses against the Mets in New York, 2-0/6-2 followed by three games in San Francisco. Following another defeat (3-2), Phillies win first, 5-4, on April 9.
April 12: SS Larry Milbourne singles in the winning run in 10th inning, 4-3, over the Mets in the first mid-week day game opener in Vet history. Jim O’Brien, WPVI TV’s weatherman, led a Parachute team that brought in the first ball.
April 13: Four walks and C Bo Diaz’ grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifts Phillies to 10-9 win over the Mets.
April 16: Strike out by Steve Carlton in the 3rd inning moves him into third place on the all-time strikeout list, 3,463.
Month ends, 11-7, tied for first place.
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1993
Jim Fregosi managed a team put together by GM Lee Thomas mostly via trades and free agents. First team in franchise history to go from last place to first. “Misfits,” “throwbacks,” “rejects” go wire-to-wire in a magical season.
Nugget: After a sixth-place 70-92 season in 1992, the “misfits” post a 27-game turn-around, 97-65, Phillies' biggest jump ever.
Opening day lineup: Dykstra, CF; Morandini, 2B; Kruk, 1B; Hollins, 3B; Daulton, C; Thompson, LF; Eisenreich, RF; Bell, SS; Mulholland, P.
April 5: Phillies open season with 3-1 win in Houston, a complete-game 4-hitter by Terry Mulholland. Victory ended a streak of eight straight opening day defeats.
April 7: Milt Thompson’s three-run double gives the Phillies a 6-3, 10-inning win and sweep of a three-game series in Houston to start the season.
April 20: John Kruk’s 2-out homer in the 14th inning gives Phillies a 4-3 win over the Padres.
April 21: Postponed game vs. Padres is rescheduled for a July 2 twi-night doubleheader. That night will turn out like no other in Phillies history.
April 26: Second walk-off win of the month, 9-8, 10 innings vs. Giants. SS Juan Bell scores on a wild pitch with 3B Dave Hollins at-bat.
Month ends: 17-5, a 4.5 game lead. RH reliever Bob Ayrault makes four appearances in the month and wins two games.