Phillies Red October Memories: Kyle Schwarber NLCS Moonshot
After the Philadelphia Phillies broke a long playoff drought with a wild card berth in the MLB Playoffs in 2022, the city suddenly remembered the euphoria of Red October at Citizens Bank Park.
The Golden Era of Phillies baseball took a sharp turn after a disappointing playoff exit in 2011, but the expectation of an annual playoff appearance is back.
The rally towels at Citizens Bank Park in Red October create some of the best memories in the history of Philadelphia sports.
- #1 Comeback Over Cardinals Sparks Momentum
- #2 NLDS 2022: Ambushing the Atlanta Braves
- #3 Kyle Schwarber NLCS Moonshot at Petco Park
- #4 Harper Homer Clinches World Series Berth
- #5 World Series Game 1 Forces Sleepless Night Before 97.5 The Fanatic Fan Fest
- #6 John Kincade Intro Begins World Series Game 3 Slugfest
October 18, 2022
National League Championship Series Game 1 at Petco Park
Phillies 2, San Diego Padres 0
Game 1 of the NLCS
The momentum was in full swing. The Eagles improved to 6-0 with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The Union were entering the postseason with sights on the MLS Cup.
The 76ers and Flyers were both in action on October 18 to coincide with Game 1 of the NLCS at Petco Park.
Bryce Harper got the Phillies on the board first with a solo home run, but Kyle Schwarber somehow upstaged him. Philadelphia’s unconventional leadoff man stepped to the plate against Yu Darvish in the sixth inning.
Schwarber pulled the first pitch with power that left no viewers in doubt. His home run came off the bat at 120 miles per hour and traveled 488 feet into the upper deck in right field.
The 2-0 cushion proved plenty for Zack Wheeler. The staff ace threw seven scoreless innings and handed the ball to Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado to slam the door.
Confidence in the Phillies to steamroll any opponent suddenly grew within a euphoric fan base experiencing the best month in Philadelphia sports history.
Home field advantage took over in a Game 3 victory. Not even a 4-0 deficit in the first inning of Game 4 could stunt the momentum of Red October.
The Eagles will always captivate the city of Philadelphia. The Sixers and the Flyers have the loyalty of the most passionate sports city in America, and the Union even drew their largest pool of support in a city on an unprecedented collective hot streak. It was the baseball team that had everyone’s attention, however.
The Phillies were one win away from a return to the World Series.
