It’s the final day of September which means that Red October officially begins tomorrow. Here is a look back at some big events in Phillies history and a list of some players born on September 30th.

Notable Phillies Events on September 30

  • 1978 – Phillies clinch NL East title
    Philadelphia defeated the Pirates 10–8 at Three Rivers Stadium to secure their third straight division crown. Randy Lerch not only earned the win but hit two home runs, helping snap Pittsburgh’s 24-game home win streak.
  • 2007 – Phillies win NL East after Mets collapse
    The Phillies beat the Nationals 6–1, completing a stunning comeback to win the division. Jimmy Rollins tripled in the game, becoming the fourth player in MLB history with 20 doubles, triples, homers, and stolen bases in a season.
  • 2009 – Phillies clinch third straight division title
    A 10–3 win over the Astros at Citizens Bank Park sealed the NL East again. The team finished the day with a 92–66 record and a six-game lead over Atlanta.
  • 1979 – Pete Rose caps strong September
    Rose finished his first season with the Phillies by hitting .421 in September, collecting 51 hits in 29 games. His final batting average was .331, the highest by a Phillie that year.

Phillies Birthdays on September 30

  • Robin Roberts (born 1926)
    Hall of Fame right-hander and cornerstone of the “Whiz Kids” era. Roberts pitched for the Phillies from 1948 to 1961, leading the NL in wins four times and complete games five times. He remains the franchise leader in innings pitched and complete games.
  • Jesús Luzardo (born 1997)
    Left-handed pitcher who joined the Phillies via trade in 2025. Though his MLB career began with the Athletics and Marlins, Luzardo is now part of the Phillies rotation and known for his high-velocity fastball and strikeout ability.

A Deeper Dive on Jimmy Rollins‘ 2007 Season

Jimmy Rollins’ 2007 season stands as one of the most electrifying and complete campaigns in Philadelphia Phillies history. It wasn’t just the numbers that earned him the National League MVP award – it was the swagger, the leadership, and the clutch performances that defined a franchise turning point.

Before the season even began, Rollins made headlines with a bold proclamation: “We’re the team to beat.” The Phillies hadn’t reached the postseason since 1993, and the Mets were coming off a dominant division title. Many scoffed at Rollins’ confidence, but he backed it up with a season that combined durability, power, speed, and defense in rare form.

Rollins played all 162 games in 2007, becoming the first player in MLB history to record at least 200 hits, 15 triples, 25 home runs, and 25 stolen bases in a single season. He finished with 30 homers, 41 stolen bases, 20 triples, 139 runs scored, and 212 hits. His .296 batting average and .875 OPS were impressive, but it was his ability to impact every facet of the game that made him invaluable. He led the National League in runs, triples, and at-bats, and was second in hits and total bases.

Defensively, Rollins was a rock at shortstop, anchoring a young infield that included Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. His range, arm, and instincts helped solidify the Phillies’ up-the-middle defense, and his leadership in the clubhouse was just as vital. Rollins was the emotional engine of a team that refused to quit, even when the odds were stacked against them.

That resilience was never more evident than in the final weeks of the season. On September 12, the Phillies trailed the Mets by seven games with just 17 to play. New York collapsed, losing 12 of their final 17, while Philadelphia surged. Rollins was at the heart of the comeback, delivering big hits, stealing bases, and setting the tone at the top of the lineup.

Everything came down to Game 162 on September 30, 2007. The Phillies and Mets were tied atop the NL East, and both teams had home games. The Mets hosted the Marlins, while the Phillies faced the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Early in the day, the scoreboard showed the Marlins jumping out to a 7–0 lead over New York, sending the Philadelphia crowd into a frenzy. But the Phillies still had to win.

Veteran Jamie Moyer took the mound for Philadelphia, and Rollins wasted no time making an impact. He led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second base, and scored the game’s first run. Later, in the sixth inning, Rollins delivered the signature moment of his MVP season: a rousing triple to right-center field, his 20th of the year. That hit made him just the fourth player in MLB history to record 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in a single season – a feat that underscored his rare versatility.

The Phillies won the game 6–1, clinching the NL East and completing one of the most dramatic comebacks in baseball history. Rollins finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base, capping off a season in which he had carried the team with both his bat and his voice.

When the MVP votes were tallied, Rollins edged out Matt Holliday of the Rockies, earning 16 first-place votes. It was a fitting reward for a player who had declared his team’s destiny and then delivered it. His 2007 season wasn’t just statistically brilliant – it was emotionally resonant, historically significant, and foundational to the Phillies’ rise to prominence in the years that followed.

Rollins was officially added to the Phillies Wall of Fame on August 1, 2025.