3 famous moments of the Phillies-Mets Rivalry

Baseball can boast of great rivalries but few would be as intense as the one between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. Over the years, this rivalry has cooled off a little, but the fans of both teams still dislike each other the most.

The Phillies are looking good this season and are currently leading in their division. Anyone putting their money on the Phillies after getting the promo from Betfair will surely not be disappointed, because the team is looking very promising this season and are expected to do very well.

1- Winning the NL East title

This was one of the proudest moments for the Phillies when they pulled off a string of victories to win the NL East title. The late upturn in their performances and the downturn in their rivals’ saw them ending their season on a high. For most of the regular season, New York Mets remained ahead of the Phillies, and with 17 games left, their lead over the Phillies was 7 games. However, then came the huge twist- the Mets went on to lose 5 games out of 12 while the Phillies registered 13 victories out of their 17 matches.

For both teams, everything hinged on their performances in the final game of the regular season. To the jubilation of Phillies fans, their team prevailed against the Washington Nationals while the Mets lost their game against the Florida Marlins. Thus, the Phillies won the NL East title and made it to their first postseason since 1993.

2- Mets sign Billy Wagner

The Phillies had a lot of expectations from Billy Wagner whom they brought from Houston Astros before the 2004 season. In just two short seasons, the extremely talented Wagner became one of the greatest relievers for the Phillies. However, the manner of his departure from the team after the 2005 season will always infuriate the fans.

After becoming a free agent, Wagner signed a $43 million contract with the New York Mets. Besides his decision to join the fierce rivals of Phillies, Wagner also criticized his former club through the media. This made him one of the most hated men in the history of Philadelphia Phillies.

3- Second championship for the Phillies

For a long time, the Phillies remained a bad team. However, they were building an incredible farm system and were ready to reap the benefits of their labor soon. So by the year 2007, they had become strong enough to top their division again. That year they won the NL East title and made it to the postseason since 1993. The following season brought even more successes for the Phillies who finished ahead of the Mets once more.

With such a formidable team consisting of players like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Brad Lidge, they could beat any team in America. No wonder, they went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays to win their second championship that season.

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