PHOENIX — Kyle Schwarber may always be remembered most for helping the Chicago Cubs to snap their 108-year World Series drought in 2016, but it’s as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies that he’s cemented himself as one of the greatest postseason sluggers that the game has ever seen.
Schwarber hit a 461-foot tracer off of Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to lead off the sixth inning Saturday, extending the Phillies lead in a crucial Game 5 to 3-0 and probably making himself the favorite to win NLCS MVP:
The home run was part of a 6-1 victory by the Phillies in Game 5, which puts them one win away from winning the NL pennant for the second consecutive year. While Schwarber was respectful when asked about his increasing place in postseason immortality, he quickly returned the conversation to the team when asked postgame.
“Like I’ve always said, I think you’re in great company,” Schwarber said. “That’s a cool thing, and I think it will be more appreciated [by me] whenever you’re all said and done, and then you can look back at it.
“This is all about winning baseball games,” Schwarber continued. “And trying to win a baseball game right now, that’s all I’m focused on. And we were able to do that tonight on a great effort by everyone.”
Schwarber may not be interested in reflecting on where he stands among the greatest postseason sluggers in MLB history, but it’s increasingly hard for observers of the sport not to have the conversation.
- In this year’s NLCS alone, Schwarber now has five home runs in 17 at-bats. Playing in his fourth career NLCS (2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023), Schwarber is now in sole possession of the most career home runs in the history of this round of the NL playoffs with 11.
- Schwarber also has a staggering 11 home runs in 28 postseason games as a Phillie, tying the franchise record that Jayson Werth set in 40 playoff contests while playing for Philadelphia. Coincidentally, Bryce Harper pulled even with Schwarber and Werth two batters later, when he hit a titanic home run of his own.
- Earlier this NLCS, Schwarber passed Reggie Jackson — you know, the guy nicknamed “Mr. October” — for the most postseason home runs ever clubbed by a left-handed hitter. Jackson hit 18 postseason home runs in 77 career playoff games. Schwarber now has 20 in 63 career playoff games.
- With his home run in Game 5 of the NLCS, Schwarber now has 20 career homers in the postseason. With that, he passed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols and former World Series MVP Georgia Springer on the all-time list, as each of them had 19. Schwarber is tied with Derek Jeter for fourth all-time in postseason home runs. The only players who have more than 20 career postseason home runs are Manny Ramirez (29), Jose Altuve (26) and Bernie Williams (20).
Schwarber’s teammates find themselves caught between being shocked at how frequently he seems to hit mammoth home runs in big moments, and not surprised at all given his track record.
“I would say when I first got here, yes, and yes, it still does,” Brandon Marsh said when asked if Schwarber’s clutch home runs still amaze him. “I’m a little more used to it now. He’s simply incredible — he’s amazing.”
Even Harper — who has hit his share of titanic home runs this postseason — finds himself kind of in awe watching Schwarber.
“He’s country strong, man. It’s incredible,” Harper said. “Just the way he goes and the way he swings. He uses that lower half so well. He drives through the ground. Whenever you’re able to put your feet in the ground and stay grounded, it’s incredible. When guys are able to do that, that’s how you hit the ball that way and that far.
“Every chance he gets up there, he has an opportunity to hit a homer,” Harper added. “And I think that’s the coolest thing about being Kyle Schwarber, he’s got a really good chance to go deep in any count, any pitch. Yeah, it’s really impressive.”
It’s understandable that Schwarber has other priorities right now, given that the Phillies are five wins away from the third World Series title in franchise history. But just as flags fly forever, so do home runs off the bat of Schwarber. And regardless of how this particular postseason run ends, the home run tear Schwarber is on right now — and what he’s done over the course of his playoff career — will be remembered for a long time to come.
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