[Nick Soulis]

Series #211



2004 Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 86-76
Finish: 2nd in NL East
Manager: Larry Bowa
Ball Park: Citizens Bank Park
WAR Leader: Bobby Abreu (6.6)
Franchise Record: 5-15
2004 Season Record: 6-0
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2004.shtml

1961 Washington Senators
Record: 61-100
Finish: 9th in AL
Manager: Mickey Vernon
Ball Park: Griffith Stadium
WAR Leader: Dick Donovan (4.4)
Franchise Record: 2-13
1961 Season Record: 0-2
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSA/1961.shtml
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From Vin Scully:
As the camera pans over the golden cornfields, and the sun sets behind the vintage scoreboard, Vin Scully’s voice gently takes over...

“Well, hi everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be. Tonight, we are witness to one of baseball’s most whimsical charms—a meeting between generations, the kind that only the Field of Dreams can conjure up.

Out of the mist and memory come the 1961 Washington Senators—a club born of expansion, grit, and growing pains. They were a team of firsts: their first season, their first uniforms, their first heartbreaks. They may not have won many ballgames, but they played for pride. Chuck Hinton, a sparkplug in centerfield. Willie Tasby, a man with a little pop in the bat. And Claude Osteen—just a kid then, but oh, how his story would grow.

And stepping into the tall grass from the modern era come the 2004 Philadelphia Phillies—a team built for fireworks. There’s the towering slugger Jim Thome, a Paul Bunyan with a bat. There’s Bobby Abreu, smoother than jazz in right field. There’s the fireballer Billy Wagner, who throws like he’s double-parked. And don’t forget a young Chase Utley, still fresh-faced, but with that glint of something special.

So here we are, with nothing but sky above, corn all around, and two ballclubs separated by 43 years and about a thousand philosophies of baseball. One team plays for power, the other for perseverance. One seeks glory, the other redemption.

The 2004 Phillies and the 1961 Senators—two worlds colliding on a diamond in the middle of a dream.

And as always, pull up a chair and enjoy it with us. Because tonight, we play for the love of the game."
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Philadelphia Pride!
Phillies Turn Around 3-1 Deficit To Tame Senators



Game 1
At Citizens Bank Park
1961 Washington Senators 3
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 5
WP: G. Floyd (1-0) LP: C. Mathias (0-1) S: B. Wagner (1)
HR: J. King (1)
POG: Kevin Millwood (6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 97 P)
2004 Phillies Lead Series 1-0

On a crisp October evening beneath clear skies and a wind whipping out toward center, the modern might of the 2004 Philadelphia Phillies proved just enough to fend off the spirited effort of the 1961 Washington Senators, claiming a 5-3 victory in Game 1 of Field of Dreams Series #211.The vintage Senators stunned the hometown crowd in the 6th inning when left fielder Jim King unloaded a three-run homer off Kevin Millwood with two outs, turning a 3-0 deficit into a tied ballgame. It was the kind of punch the expansion-era club rarely landed in their original season, but tonight, on the mystical stage of the Field of Dreams, they reminded fans that underdogs can still swing with force.But the Phillies, packed with thunder and depth, didn’t flinch.In the bottom of the seventh, Jim Thome, the hulking first baseman with a smile as big as his bat, lifted a deep fly ball to left—deep enough to bring home Bobby Abreu and reclaim the lead at 4-3. An inning later, Tomas Perez added insurance with a pinch-hit RBI double to left-center, plating Mike Lieberthal and sealing the Senators’ fate.
“I just wanted to get something in the air,” Thome said postgame. “When the game’s tied late, it’s all about team baseball. Sacrifice, smart swings, and trusting your teammates.” Kevin Millwood, Philadelphia’s starter, earned Player of the Game honors, grinding through six innings of five-hit ball with three runs allowed—all coming on that one swing by King. He walked three and struck out five, throwing 97 pitches to keep the Senators off balance.The Phillies' bullpen—Gavin Floyd, Rheal Cormier, and the fire-slinging Billy Wagner—shut the door with three scoreless innings. Wagner struck out one in a clean ninth to record his first save of the series, firing fastballs that likely startled ghosts hiding beyond the corn.
Offensively, Jimmy Rollins sparked the lineup from the leadoff spot with a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Bobby Abreu reached base three times and added a stolen base of his own. Thome’s two-hit night, including a first-inning RBI double, set the tone early. For Washington, despite the loss, the effort was admirable. Bennie Daniels worked six tough innings and even helped himself with a base hit. Gene Woodling and pinch-hitter Gene Green combined for three hits in the heart of the lineup. But their rally in the sixth was all they could muster, and the Senators managed just one baserunner over the final three innings.

Game 2
At Citizens Bank Park
1961 Washington Senators 10
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 9
WP: D. Donovan (1-0) LP: V. Padilla (0-1) S: M. Kutyna (1)
HR: W. Tasby 2 (2), G. Woodling (1), B. Klaus 2 (2), P. Polanco (1)
POG: Willie Tasby (4-5, 2 HR, RBI, 4 R)
Series Tied 1-1

In a heart-pounding, bat-swinging classic that kept the crowd of 18,866 on its feet well past the three-hour mark, the 1961 Washington Senators outlasted the 2004 Philadelphia Phillies, 10-9, in Game 2 of Field of Dreams Series #211. The victory evens the best-of-seven series at one game apiece as the action shifts to Griffith Stadium in Washington.The star of the night was Washington center fielder Willie Tasby, who powered his club to victory with a 3-for-5 performance that included two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored. His second blast, a dramatic solo homer with two outs in the top of the ninth off Phillies reliever Brian Powell, proved to be the difference."I was just looking for something to drive," Tasby said. "He left a breaking ball up, and I didn't miss it." The Senators jumped out to a commanding lead with seven runs across the 2nd through 5th innings, capped by a three-run home run from veteran right fielder Gene Woodling and a solo shot by Bobby Klaus. Klaus would go on to hit a second home run in the seventh, giving him two long balls and two RBI on the night.Despite falling behind 8-4, the Phillies refused to go quietly. Third baseman Placido Polanco had a career night, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and a playoff record four runs scored. His solo homer in the seventh ignited a rally that pulled Philadelphia within one run heading into the final frame.The Senators tacked on a crucial insurance run in the top of the ninth thanks to Tasby’s second homer, and they would need it. In the bottom of the inning, Phillies slugger Pat Burrell delivered a two-run single to make it 10-9, but reliever Marty Kutyna shut the door, retiring the final batter with the tying run stranded on base.
"Give credit to our guys for battling," said Phillies manager Larry Bowa. "But we just dug too big a hole early on."Phillies starter Vicente Padilla struggled mightily, allowing seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings. The bullpen was taxed for the second straight night, as five relievers were used to cover the remaining innings. Washington’s Dick Donovan earned the win despite a rocky outing of his own, allowing four runs on eight hits across 5.1 innings. Philadelphia outhit Washington 14 to 12, but defensive miscues and early pitching woes proved costly. Washington played cleaner baseball, turning two key double plays and capitalizing on nearly every scoring opportunity.

Game 3
At Griffith Stadium
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 5
1961 Washington Senators 7
WP: T. Sturdivant (1-0) LP: R. Wolf (0-1) S; M. Kutyna (2)
HR: K. Retzer (1)
POG: Ken Retzer (3-4, HR, RBI, 2 R)
1961 Senators Lead Series 2-1

Oh, it wasn’t easy—not by a long shot. The Phillies came storming back in the eighth inning with four runs to make it a ballgame again, but the Senators had done their damage early, stacking up seven runs across the middle innings like firewood before winter. The man of the hour, the toast of the Potomac, was none other than Ken Retzer, the backstop who swung the hot bat tonight. Three hits in four trips, including a towering solo home run in the third inning that got Washington on the board, and a night behind the plate that kept the pitching staff calm through some turbulent waters. And speaking of pitching, Tom Sturdivant gutted through seven innings and 122 pitches—he was charged with five earned runs, but he gave Washington what they needed: time and guts. His offense returned the favor. Gene Woodling doubled in a pair during a four-run fifth, and Bobby Johnson chipped in with a two-run double of his own. Even Sturdivant helped himself with two hits! On the other side, Randy Wolf didn’t have his best stuff tonight. The left-hander labored through 91 pitches in less than five innings, gave up nine hits and five runs, and left the Phillies playing catch-up the rest of the night. Philadelphia made it interesting—Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins delivered clutch RBI doubles in the eighth to breathe life into the City of Brotherly Love, but the Senators bullpen—patched together like an old quilt—held it together. First Hobaugh, then Mathias, and finally the steely-eyed Milt Kutyna, who needed just one pitch to record the save and slam the door shut. So, with the shadows lengthening and the series tipping in favor of the underdog Senators, we’ll see you tomorrow night, same ballpark, same old-time charm. Game 4 promises more drama, more nostalgia, and perhaps a few more heroes emerging from baseball’s golden past.

Game 4
At Griffith Stadium
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 3
1961 Washington Senators 4 910 inn0
WP: H. woodeschick (1-0) LP: B. Wagner (0-1)
HR: D. Bell (1), K. Retzer (2)
POG: Pete Burnside (6 Ip, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 83 P)
1961 Senators Lead Series 3-1

The underdog Senators, scrappy and full of belief, are now one win away from shocking the world, taking a 3-games-to-1 lead over the power-packed 2004 Philadelphia Phillies with a 4-3 extra-inning victory tonight in Game 4.
It was Danny O’Connell, the light-hitting second baseman, who delivered the final blow—a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th off Phillies closer Billy Wagner, sending Chuck Hinton racing home and sending Griffith Stadium into bedlam. O’Connell, ever modest, said after the game: “What’s not to like about a walk-off win?” And really—what’s not to love?
Let’s not forget Pete Burnside, the unsung lefty who delivered six quality innings, holding the Phillies to two runs. He tangled with a lineup that included Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, and Jim Thome, and kept them off-balance all night.
Oh, and that man Ken Retzer again—another home run, his second in two nights. It’s becoming a nightly ritual: the catcher who hit only 18 home runs in his real career now looks like Johnny Bench reborn.
Philadelphia had its moments. David Bell hit a solo shot in the ninth to tie it, and Mike Lieberthal added two hits and an RBI. But their bullpen couldn’t hold, and the Senators capitalized once more.
“Isn’t it funny,” I’d say with a smile, “how this great game—one stitched together with cowhide and hope—can make heroes out of men like Burnside, Retzer, and O’Connell, when no one else would’ve dared to dream it?”
And so here we are. Game 5 looms tomorrow night, right back here at Griffith Stadium, and the Senators, yes those Senators, are just one win away from completing a dream that not even Hollywood could have scripted.

Game 5
At Griffith Stadium
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 7
1961 Washington Senators 3
WP: K. Millwood (1-0) LP: B. Daniels (0-1) S: R. Cormier (1)
HR: P. Burrell (1), M. Lieberthal (1), J. King (2)
POG: Patt Burrell (4-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
1961 Senators Lead Series 3-2

Tonight, in Game 5 of this incredible Field of Dreams series, the 2004 Phillies refused to be sent home quietly, defeating the upstart 1961 Washington Senators, 7-3, and sending the series back to Philadelphia for a pivotal Game 6. It was Burrell—the enigmatic slugger with tape-measure power—who delivered the performance of a lifetime. Four hits in five trips, including a solo blast in the sixth, a double, two singles, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. He was everywhere. You could almost hear the Liberty Bell ringing back in Philly. The game began with a bang. Bobby Abreu doubled, Mike Lieberthal homered, and just like that, the Phillies led 2-0 in the first. Washington would not go quietly, clawing back with a home run from Jackie King and a run-scoring triple from Don Long, but Kevin Millwood, cool as a breeze, steadied the ship across seven solid innings. Lieberthal and Jim Thome would deliver the final blows late, adding runs in the eighth and ninth innings to quiet the once-rabid Griffith Stadium crowd. Rheal Cormier then closed the door with a strong 1.2-inning save.
The Senators had their chances—11 hits, a three-hit night from Gene Woodling, and even a two-hit effort from the veteran Hank Bright—but they left too many men stranded and just couldn’t crack the bullpen.
And so, my friends, we head back to Citizens Bank Park, where the series lives on. The Senators still lead, three games to two, but momentum has a funny way of jumping sides, and now the ghosts may start stirring in Philadelphia.

Game 6
At Citizens Bank Park
1961 Washington Senators 0
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 1
WP: V. Padilla (1-1) LP: D. Donovan (1-1) S; B. Wagner (2)
HR: J. Thome (1)
POG: Vicente Padilla (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 94 P)
Series Tied 3-3

Well, friends, good evening once again from Citizens Bank Park in the heart of Philadelphia, where the 2004 Phillies have done just enough to keep their season alive—and their dreams intact. In a game that could only be described as a tightrope walk over Niagara Falls, the Phillies clipped the 1961 Washington Senators, 1 to nothing, to force a deciding Game 7 in this thrilling Field of Dreams series.”
“The hero of the night? None other than Vicente Padilla. The Nicaraguan right-hander pitched with the heart of a lion, working six scoreless innings with just two hits allowed. He scattered three walks, struck out five, and kept the Senators guessing all evening long. Padilla’s effort gave the Phillies the platform they needed, and oh, did they make it count.”
“The difference in the ballgame came in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and a man on, it was Jim Thome—the big slugger with the even bigger smile—who came to the plate and launched a moonshot into the cool night sky. The ball didn’t quite leave the yard, but it did leave its mark: a solo home run that sent a jolt through the Philly faithful and a chill down the backs of the Senators’ dugout.”
“From there, it was a masterclass in bullpen choreography. Geoff Geary and Rheal Cormier stitched together the seventh and eighth with expert precision. And in the ninth, the door slammed shut—Billy Wagner, the flamethrower, needing just nine pitches to record three outs. Poetry in motion.”
“For the Senators, it was a night of what-ifs. They mustered only three hits, stranded seven runners, and never truly threatened. Dick Donovan pitched his heart out—six strong innings, just that one mistake to Thome—but on a night when offense was as rare as a solar eclipse, one mistake was all it took.”
“So now, as the smoke clears and the lights dim, we are left with one simple, beautiful reality: Game Seven. Winner take all. The 1961 Senators and the 2004 Phillies, two teams from different generations, now even at three games apiece. The next one decides it all.

Game 7
At Citizens Bank Park
1961 Washington Senators 3
2004 Philadelphia Phillies 5
WP: B. Powell (1-0) LP: T. Strudivant (1-1) S: B. Wagner (3)
HR: P.Polanco (2), M. Lieberthal (2)
POG: Randy Wolf (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 103 P)

From the windswept diamonds of yesterday to the heart of modern-day Philadelphia, the 2004 Phillies completed a comeback worthy of the history books, storming from a 3-1 series deficit to capture Game 7 over the 1961 Washington Senators, 5 to 3, and with it, the Field of Dreams Series 211.
“The Senators, those boys of ‘61, they came out swinging early, with a run in the first and a two-run triple by Willie Tasby in the sixth that sent a murmur through the Citizens Bank Park crowd.”
But oh, how quickly the winds can change in this grand old game.
After scratching across a run in the third, the Phillies were kept quiet until the eighth. And then—baseball magic. With the Senators clinging to a 3-1 lead, the Phillies struck gold.Jimmy Rollins laid the table, and then came the thunder. Pat Burrell reached on a walk, and Jim Thome laced a double to right-center, tightening the noose. David Bell’s sacrifice fly made it a one-run game. And then—cue the drama—Mike Lieberthal, the steady hand behind the plate all series long, uncorked a two-run home run to left. “A towering shot that landed somewhere between history and heaven,” as the Phillies surged ahead, 5-3. Randy Wolf, the often-underrated lefty, delivered seven gritty innings, earning Player of the Game honors. Ryan Madson, Rheal Cormier, and finally, Brad Lidge—cool as the October wind—slammed the door shut in the ninth.
The Senators had their moments. Jim King was valiant with two doubles and an RBI, and old Tom Sturdivant gave his all through 7 and a third innings. But in the end, this night belonged to Philadelphia.
“From Pat Burrell’s bat to Bobby Abreu’s glove, from the ghosts of Robin Roberts to the roar of the Phanatic, this was baseball as it was meant to be.”So the Phillies of 2004, once down and nearly out, rise from the cornfields of time to seize glory in Game 7, a five-to-three masterpiece.

2004 Philadelphia Phillies Win Series 4 Games To 3

Series MVP:

(.385, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, .448 OBP, Game winning HR Game 7)