The Phillies run for World Series championships were underway in 1980 and 2008 with key games for those teams. Plus, the Phillies forfeited a game on this date in 1909; remember that?

Key Phillies Events on October 4

  • On October 4, 1980, Mike Schmidt hit a game-winning 11th-inning home run against the Expos in Montreal, clinching the NL East title for the Phillies and sending them to the postseason.
  • October 4, 2008: The Phillies lost Game 3 of the NLDS to the Brewers 4–1 in Milwaukee, with Dave Bush outdueling Jamie Moyer. They rebounded to win the series in Game 4.
  • October 4, 2011: Cole Hamels pitched six shutout innings in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals. The Phillies won 3–2, taking a 2–1 series lead before ultimately losing the series.
  • October 4, 2022: The Phillies clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2011, defeating the Astros 3–0 behind Aaron Nola’s gem and Zach Eflin’s save.
  • October 4, 1909: The Phillies forfeited a game to the Giants after pitcher Lew Moren and two teammates were ejected and refused to leave the field, prompting the umpire to end the game.
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Phillies Birthdays on October 4

  • Edgar García (born 1996) – A right-handed reliever who pitched briefly for the Phillies in 2019. He appeared in 37 games that season, posting a 5.77 ERA.
  • Alec Asher (born 1991) – A starter acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, Asher pitched for the Phillies from 2015 to 2016. He had a 5.88 ERA in 12 starts with the club.
  • Carlos Crawford (born 1971) – Made one MLB appearance for the Phillies in 1996, allowing two runs in 3.2 innings. It was his only major league outing.
  • Tony Gwynn Jr. (born 1982) – Played for the Phillies in 2014 as a reserve outfielder. Known more for his defense and speed, he hit .163 in 80 games that year.
  • Kyle Lohse (born 1978) – Though better known for his time with the Cardinals and Brewers, Lohse pitched for the Phillies in 2007 after a midseason trade. He made 11 starts with a 4.72 ERA.

A Deeper Dive – The Phillies win in Montreal to clinch the east in 1980

On October 4, 1980, the Phillies clinched the National League East title with a dramatic 6–4 extra-inning win over the Montreal Expos, thanks to Mike Schmidt’s iconic 11th-inning home run. It was one of the most pivotal games in franchise history, setting the stage for their first World Series championship.

The Phillies and Expos entered the final weekend of the regular season tied atop the NL East with identical 89–70 records. The Expos had just taken two of three from the Phillies in Philadelphia the previous week, nudging ahead in the standings. But the Phillies responded by sweeping the Cubs, setting up a winner-take-all showdown in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.

The October 4 game was the second-to-last of the season, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. A Phillies win would clinch the division; a loss would force a decisive game the next day. The Expos, backed by a raucous crowd of 50,794, took a 4–3 lead into the ninth inning. With two outs and the season hanging in the balance, Bob Boone delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 4–4.

The game stretched into the 11th inning, and that’s when Mike Schmidt delivered one of the most memorable swings of his Hall of Fame career. With Pete Rose on base and a 2–0 count, Schmidt crushed a fastball from Stan Bahnsen deep into the left-field seats. The two-run blast gave the Phillies a 6–4 lead and marked Schmidt’s 48th home run of the season, breaking Eddie Mathews’ single-season record for home runs by a third baseman.

Tug McGraw, who had already pitched two scoreless innings in relief, returned to the mound in the bottom of the 11th and shut the door, securing the win and the division title. McGraw’s performance capped a brilliant late-season run in which he became the emotional anchor of the bullpen, famously reprising his “Ya Gotta Believe!” as the team surged toward October glory.

Schmidt’s heroics were emblematic of his MVP season. He finished 1980 with a .286 batting average, 48 home runs, and 121 RBI, leading the league in homers and RBI. His leadership and clutch hitting were instrumental in the Phillies’ success, and his October 4 blast remains one of the most celebrated moments in team history.

The box score reflected the intensity of the game. The Phillies racked up 17 hits, with Pete Rose and Bake McBride each collecting three. Greg Luzinski added two RBI, and Schmidt’s three-hit, two-RBI performance was the difference-maker. The Expos managed just eight hits and were undone by missed opportunities and the Phillies’ relentless pressure.

After the game, Schmidt told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Maybe we have more heart now than we used to have. If we lost that game today and lost Sunday, the critics could have had a field day – and justifiably so.” His words reflected the burden of past playoff failures and the determination to rewrite the narrative.

The win not only clinched the division but also eliminated the Expos from postseason contention. The Phillies went on to defeat the Houston Astros in a thrilling five-game NLCS and then captured their first World Series title by beating the Kansas City Royals in six games.

October 4, 1980, remains a defining date in Phillies lore—a day when grit, talent, and timing converged to change the course of franchise history. Schmidt’s home run wasn’t just a clutch hit; it was a statement that the Phillies were ready to win it all.