On April 3rd 2004, the Phillies defeated the Reds in the first ever game at Citizens Bank Park. Since 2004 the Phillies have called The Bank their home. As the Phillies embark on the 2024 campaign with hopes of winning the World Series, it will also mark 20 seasons at Citizens Bank Park.
As the countdown to Opening Day trickles down, we can sit back and reflect on the top 20 moments of 20 of Phillies baseball at Citizens Bank Park!
20. John Mayberry Jr, ties it in the 10th and walks it off in the 11th.
June 4th, 2013
Something that many people do not know was that this was MLB history. Mayberry Jr. became the first player in MLB history with 2 extra inning homeruns. This helped propel the Phillies to a 7-3 win over the Marlins.
19. Phillies complete a 4-game sweep of the Mets with a walk-off win.
August 30th, 2007
In the heat of a potential playoff run in 2007, the Phillies hosted division rival the New York Mets for a 4-game series. The Mets headed to the bottom of the 9th with the lead and their star closer; former Phillie Billy Wagner on the mound. After two steals by Jayson Werth, a Carlos Ruiz RBI single, and a Chase Utley walk-off hit, the Phillies complete the comeback and 4 game sweep of the Mets.
18. Utley's World Series Speech: Is it better than Kelce's?
October 31st, 2008
We all remember Jason Kelce's parade speech after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. Before Kelce we had Chase Utley.
17. JT's inside the park homerun that ended Atlanta.
October 15th, 2022
The Phillies had the defending World Series champions on the brink of elimination in the 2022 Divisional Series. The Phillies were hoping to end the series and not return to Atlanta. JT's inside the park homerun not only was the first inside the park homerun for a catcher in postseason history, but it ended all hope for the Braves season.
16. Chase Utley's defensive awareness avoids Tampa Bay taking the lead.
October 29th, 2008
When the Phillies returned to game 5 in 2008, the goal was to take the lead and end the series. With 2 outs in the top of the 7th, the Rays had a runner in scoring position. However, after a grounder made Chase Utley off-balanced; Utley instead of throwing to first he threw the ball home to get the runner at home and the Rays fail to take the lead in the 7th.
15. Mike Schmidt hands over the torch to the Phillies newest hits leader.
June 14th, 2014
Jimmy Rollins has always been one of the most beloved players in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies. On a June afternoon in 2014, Rollins recorded his 2,235th hit which surpassed him for most hits in franchise history. As the game stopped to honor Rollins, Mike Schmidt emerged from the Phillies dugout and greeted Jimmy at 1st base.
14. Aaron Rowand with the catch of a lifetime- May 11th, 2006
With 2 outs in the top of the 1st the Phillies were in a jam. With a long fly ball to center, Rowand not just made a sensational catch that helped the Phillies not give up a run, but a memory that will last for a lifetime. Rowand crashed in the center field fence, broke his nose, and exited the game with blood all over. Forever, Rowand will be in Phillie fans hearts with this catch.
13. 50, 51, and 52 OH MY!
September 6th, 2006
On this day in 2006, eventual NL MVP Ryan Howard hit his 50th homerun. However, he thought he might as well hit 51 and 52 while he was at it.
12. Chooch walks it off in the World Series.
October 25th, 2008
The Phillies had a star-studded lineup in 2008, but it was the Phillies longtime catcher Carlos Ruiz that was up to the plate in game 3 of the World Series. In a pivotal game, Ruiz hit the first infield walk-off single in World Series history. With the win the Phillies went up 2-1 in the 2008 World Series..
11. Ryan Howard goes to the upper deck in grand fashion.
May 30th, 2009
There really is not much to say about this. Down 3-2 with the bases loaded, Ryan Howard stepped up to the plate, the pitcher threw the ball, and Howard sent the ball to the upper decks. A homerun length that even Kyle Schwarber has trouble hitting.
10. Welcome to Philly Bryce: Walk-Off Grand Slam edition.
August 19th, 2019
The 2019 season was frustrating. The Phillies had high expectations and underperformed. Bryce Harper was in the first year of his 13-year contract. Bryce on a chill August night showed everyone in Philly what he is capable of. A moonshot hit walked it off for the Phillies against the Cubs.
9. Shane Victorino takes C.C. Sabathia deep in GRAND fashion.
October 2nd, 2008
The Flyin Hawaiin with the game tied in the 2nd, took the Brewers Ace deep to LF to give the Phillies the lead in game 2 of the NLDS. The Brewers acquired Sabathia at the deadline, but in his only appearance that postseason, the Phillies and Shane Victorino showed him the door.
8. The Joe Blanton Game
October 26th, 2008
Ryan Howard had two home runs and 5 RBI's and Jayson Werth added a homerun, but all these years later, this game belonged to Joe Blanton. Let's start with Blanton's pitching performance that game. Over 6 innings, Blanton struck out 7 while only giving up 2 runs. That alone was one of the best performances of his career in easily the biggest game of his career. However, even with that great performance it was his home run in the bottom of the fifth that was the icing on the cake for him in that game.
7. The bat slam heard around the world.
October 14th, 2022
There is a lot to unpack. The Phillies were hosting their first playoff game since 2011 and we were at the point where we did not realize how big of a Cinderella run, we were about to have. Rhys was struggling and the Braves intentionally walked Schwarber to put 2 runners on so they can pitch to Rhys. With one pitch from Spencer Strider, Rhys took a fastball to LF to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. While celebrating, Rhys spiked the ball and Citizens Bank Park ignited in excitement.
6. Michael Lorenzen's no hitter home debut.
August 9th, 2023.
Lorenzen was acquired by the Phillies just 8 days prior. In his team debut on the road, Lorenzen pitched brilliantly over 8 innings. However, it was his home debut against Washington that was historic. Lorenzen tossed the 14th no hitter in Phillies history.
5. Brett Meyer's sends the Phillies to the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
September 30th, 2007
On the final day of the regular season in 2007, Brett Meyers struck out Will Mo Pena of the Nationals to clinch the NL East for the Phillies. This was the first division title and playoff appearance since 1993 and was the start of one of the greatest era's in Phillies baseball.
4. Rollins walks it off to go up 3-1 against the Dodgers.
October 19th, 2009
Down one with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, who else on the 2009 Phillies would you want up to the plate? Jimmy Rollins hits a 2-run double off of Jonothan Broxton to put the Phillies up 3-1 in the 2009 NLCS.
3. Doc's no hitter.
October 6th, 2010
Roy Halladay had already solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in the MLB in 2010 and was the favorite to win the NL Cy Young. But it was his first career playoff game in 2010 that he solidified himself as an all-time great. Halladay threw the 2nd playoff no hitter in MLB history in game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds
2. Bedlam at the Bank.
October 23rd, 2023
The swing that Bryce Harper solidified himself as Philly royalty and the swing that sent the Phillies to the World Series for the first time in 13 years.
1. The 0-2 pitch... October 29th, 2008
There are so many emotions that went into that night and that team. This will forever be the greatest moment in the history of Citizens Bank Park; that is until the Phillies do it again in 2024!
-Adam Mack