1983 World Series Championship

Lore & Background

This was the last World Series that Bowie Kuhn presided over as commissioner, as well as Pete Rose’s final World Series appearance. This was the first World Series since 1956 in which the teams did not use air travel, as Baltimore and Philadelphia are approximately apart. It was the Phillies’ second World Series appearance in four years. It would be 10 years before they would appear in the Fall Classic again and 25 years before they would win another. As of , this is Baltimore's most recent World Series championship, and also their most recent appearance in a World Series. The Orioles currently hold the sixth longest championship drought in the majors.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Veterans Stadium was thick with humidity and tension on that final October evening. Mike Flanagan stood on the mound, adjusting his cap as the Philadelphia crowd roared for their home team to steal one last victory. He wiped sweat from his brow, knowing this game would decide everything. The crack of the bat echoed through the night as a ground ball rolled toward third base. The throw was true, the tag was clean, and the stadium fell silent before erupting in Baltimore's celebration.

Reader's Guide

The Orioles were led by first-year manager Joe Altobelli, who succeeded Earl Weaver. The Phillies, nicknamed the 'Wheeze Kids,' had an average age of 32. The Orioles won the American League East by six games over the Detroit Tigers, then defeated the Chicago White Sox three games to one in the ALCS. The Phillies won the National League East by six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates, then defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers three games to one in the NLCS.

Did You Know?

• This was the first World Series in which no umpire worked behind home plate using the outside chest protector.
• World Series crew chief Marty Springstead used the outside protector from 1965 until switching to the inside protector prior to the 1983 regular season.
• Jim Palmer's win in Game 3 made him the only pitcher to win a World Series game in three different decades.
• Palmer is the only man to have played with the Orioles in each of their World Series appearances (1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, and 1983).
• This was the first World Series game in which three Cy Young Award winners (Carlton, Palmer, and Mike Flanagan) pitched.