October brings out the Phillies nostalgia, and one of the brightest flashes came 17 years ago on October 19, when Jimmy Rollins delivered a finish that still stands out in franchise history.
With Philadelphia down to its final out in Game 4 of the NLCS, Rollins came through with a walk-off two-run double to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-4. Jonathan Broxton left a fastball over the plate, and Rollins made him pay, driving in Eric Bruntlett and Carlos Ruiz to give the Phillies a 3-1 series lead.
That swing was only the third postseason walk-off hit in Phillies history, and the first since Kim Batiste won Game 1 of the 1993 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves.
The timing made it even bigger. The Dodgers were one out from pulling closer in the series, but Rollins shut the door and pushed Philadelphia to the brink of the 2009 National League pennant. Two days later, the Phillies finished the job in Game 5.
Jayson Werth set the tone early in that clincher with a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Phillies kept pouring it on from there, eventually scoring 10 runs.
Rollins was already having a strong October, with 15 hits in 15 playoff games in 2009. But when people look back on his Phillies career - 15 seasons, 2,306 regular-season hits, the most in franchise history, plus 47 more in the playoffs - that Game 4 double has a strong case as the signature hit.
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Phillies Outfield Search May Come Down To One Winter Trade Dilemma
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For a front office working within payroll limits, that kind of fit can be attractive, especially if the goal is to patch together a more workable platoon rather than chase a bigger splash. The question now is whether the Phillies decide Call is the right budget-friendly answer, or whether they keep searching for an outfield move that better fits the rest of their winter plans. [Read more 🡒]