1980 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1980 Philadelphia Phillies season was the team's 98th season in Major League Baseball (MLB) and culminated with the Phillies winning the World Series at home by defeating the Kansas City Royals in Game 6 on October 21, 1980.

The team finished with a regular-season record of 91 wins and 71 losses, which was good enough to win the National League East title by just one game over the division rival Montreal Expos. The Phillies went on to defeat the Houston Astros in the NLCS to gain their first NL title since 1950, and then defeated the Kansas City Royals to win their first World Series Championship. The 1980 Phillies became the first team in the divisional era (since 1969) to win the World Series despite having the worst record of all teams in the postseason.

The 1980 Phillies were known as "The Cardiac Kids" because of the many close games.

Beginning that year, following the lead of the Yankees of the AL, the Phillies joined cable station PRISM with game broadcasts on that station.

Off-season

 * December 13, 1978: Greg Gross was signed as a free agent by the team.
 * December 20, 1979: Jerry Willard was signed as an amateur free agent.
 * March 30, 1980: Dave Rader was traded by the Phillies to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later and cash. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Stan Papi to the Phillies on May 12.

Season standings
The Phillies won the National League East on the second-to-last day of the season with a 6–4 victory over the Expos in a game played in Montreal on October 4, 1980.

Notable transactions

 * April 7, 1980: Roger Freed was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.
 * April 29, 1980: Juan Samuel was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.
 * June 3, 1980: 1980 Major League Baseball draft
 * Steve Jeltz was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round.
 * Rocky Childress was drafted by the Phillies in the 21st round.
 * Darren Daulton was drafted by the Phillies in the 25th round.
 * Kevin Romine was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (21st pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.
 * July 17, 1980: Lerrin LaGrow was released by the Phillies.
 * September 13, 1980: The Phillies traded a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers for Sparky Lyle. The Phillies completed the deal by sending Kevin Saucier to the Rangers on November 19.

Game log

 * style="font-size:88%"|
 * undefinedThe May 4, 1980, game was protested by the Phillies in the top of the first inning. The protest was later denied.
 * undefinedThe August 11 game was suspended in the bottom of the 14th with the score 5–5 and was completed August 12, 1980.
 * undefinedThe August 24, 1980, game was protested by the Giants in the bottom of the fourth inning. The protest was later denied.
 * undefinedThe August 24, 1980, game was protested by the Giants in the bottom of the fourth inning. The protest was later denied.


 * · ·  · Bold: Phillies team member Source:
 * · ·  · Bold: Phillies team member Source:

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Game 1
October 7: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Game 2
October 8: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Game 3
October 10: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 4
October 11: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 5
October 12: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

World Series
When the modern-day World Series began in 1903, the National and American Leagues each had eight teams. With their victory in the 1980 World Series, the Phillies became the last of the "Original Sixteen" franchises to win a Series. The 1980 World Series was the first World Series to be played entirely on artificial turf. Prior to 1980, the Phillies hadn't won a World Series game since Game 1 of the 1915 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.

The series offered many intriguing storylines. Phillies pitcher Bob Walk became the first rookie to start the first game of a World Series since Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952. The 1980 World Series was the first of numerous World Series that journeyman outfielder Lonnie Smith (then with the Phillies) participated in. He was also a part of the 1982 World Series (as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals), 1985 World Series (as a member of the Kansas City Royals), and the and 1992 World Series as a member of the Atlanta Braves.

Game 6 would be the culmination for the Phillies' first championship. Philadelphia scored two in the third on a Mike Schmidt single. It was all that Steve Carlton and Tug McGraw would need for the 4–1 win. Kansas City threatened by loading the bases in the eighth and the ninth innings before Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson for the third out in the final inning.

While Mike Schmidt was the official MVP of the 1980 World Series, the Babe Ruth Award (another World Series MVP) was given to Tug McGraw. As of 2019, this is the last World Series in which both participating franchises had yet to win a World Series in their history. This was the first time that had happened since.

The entire state of Pennsylvania, not just Philadelphia, celebrated the Phillies' win. Minutes after the final out, Governor Dick Thornburgh declared the next day "Philadelphia Phillies Day."

Composite box score
 1980 World Series (4–2): Philadelphia Phillies (N.L.) over Kansas City Royals (A.L.)

Awards and honors
In 1980, Mike Schmidt won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in a unanimous vote. He led the league in home runs with 48 (by a margin of 13 over his nearest competitor). Schmidt was also selected as MVP of the World Series, after hitting two homers and driving in seven runs as his team won their first World Series Championship over the George Brett-led Kansas City Royals.

Steve Carlton received the National League Cy Young Award.

Tug McGraw received the Babe Ruth Award.

Manny Trillo was honored as the MVP of the National League Championship Series.

All-Stars
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
 * Steve Carlton, reserve
 * Pete Rose, reserve
 * Mike Schmidt, reserve

Farm system
* League Champions

Other Philadelphia sports teams of the same era
In the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals in May 1980 before losing four games to two to the New York Islanders.

In the National Basketball Association also in May 1980, the Philadelphia 76ers reached the NBA Finals before losing four games to two to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 1980 Philadelphia Eagles would qualify for Super Bowl XV, where they were defeated 27–10 by the Oakland Raiders.