The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in five games in the 2008 World Series. Cole Hamels was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. Fans started lining up as early as 6:00 a.m. for prime spots along the route, while public transit was overwhelmed by fans looking to attend the ceremony.ESPN.com: Lidge and the Phillies close out Rays

On October 31, 2008, the city of Philadelphia held a parade for the World Series champion Phillies. It was the first sports parade for a team in the city in 25 years. Thousands of fans lined up early in anticipation for the event.ESPN.com: Fans show up early for Phillies parade

In Game 5, the score was tied at 2 when the game was delayed by rain at the bottom of the sixth inning. It was the first time ever a postseason baseball game had been suspended due to weather. The game was finished two days later. When play resumed the Phillies scored a run to take the lead with a hit by Pedro Feliz. The Rays tied up the game with Rocco Baldelli's home run. In the seventh inning, the Phillies took the lead for good with a hit by Jayson Werth which scored Geoff Jenkins. Brad Lidge shut the door on the Rays in the ninth for the save. The Phillies won game five 4 -3 and the series 4 games to 1.

In Game 4, the Phillies struck first and they would stay ahead with two home runs by Ryan Howard and a homer in the 5th by starting pitcher Joe Blanton. The Rays only runs came with home runs by Carl Crawford and newly added Eric Hinske, who replaced the injured Cliff Floyd on the Rays playoff roster. The Phillies ended up winning the game 10-2. The win puts the Philliles only one victory away from their second ever World Series championship.ESPN.com: Phillies rout Rays for 3-1 series lead

In Game 3, after a rain delay, 45 year old Jamie Moyer was dominant as he kept the young Rays bats quiet early. The Phillies would take the lead with back to back homeruns by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the sixth inning. The Rays would battle back tying the game late, but the Phillies would win the game in the ninth with a walk off infield single by Carlos Ruiz scoring Eric Bruntlett. It was the first world series victory for the Phillies in 15 years.ESPN.com: Phillies win wild game 3

In Game 2, the Rays, intent on evening the series, scored early with 2 runs in the first, another run in the second, and one more in the fourth. The four runs would be enough for the Rays to hold on 4-2, but they had to survive a late scare from the Phillies in the 8th and 9th innings.ESPN.com: Rays jump to early lead, hold on

In Game 1, the Phillies won a pitching duel by the score of 3 to 2. The team was anchored by the excellent pitching of Cole Hamels and closer Brad Lidge shut the door in the ninth. With the loss, the Rays lost home field advantage.ESPN.com: Phillies ignore rust,win game 1

• Best of Seven Series
• GM 1: Phi at TB Wed Oct 22 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 3, Rays 2
• GM 2: Phi at TB Thurs Oct 23 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 2, Rays 4
• GM 3: TB at Phi Sat Oct. 25 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 5, Rays 4
• GM 4: TB at Phi Sun Oct. 26 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 10, Rays 2
• GM 5: TB at Phi Mon Oct. 27 & 29 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 4, Rays 3

This was the first World Series appearance for the Phillies since 1993 when the team lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, and the first-ever franchise appearance in the Fall Classic for the Rays.

Since the American League won the 2008 All-Star game, the Tampa Bay Rays began the best-of-seven series with home field advantage.

1. Jimmy Rollins- SS
2. Chase Utley- 2B
3. Jayson Werth- RF
4. Ryan Howard- 1B
5. Pat Burrell- LF
6. Shane Victorino - CF
7. Greg Dobbs- 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz - C
9. Pitcher's Spot

• 1. Akinori Iwamura - 2B
• 2. Jayson Bartlett- SS
• 3. Carlos Pena- 1B
• 4. Evan Longoria -3B
• 5. Cliff Floyd- DH
• 6. Dioner Navarro- C
• 7. Gabe Gross- RF
• 8. Eric Hinske- LF
• 9. B.J. Upton- CF

• MLB.com: 2008 MLB Postseason Schedule
• Phillies win series 4 games to 1
• GM 1: Phi at TB Wed Oct 22 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 3, Rays 2 - ESPN Recap
• GM 2: Phi at TB Thurs Oct 23 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 2, Rays 4 - ESPN Recap
• GM 3: TB at Phi Sat Oct. 25 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 5, Rays 4 - ESPN Recap
• GM 4: TB at Phi Sun Oct. 26 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 10, Rays 2 - ESPN Recap
• GM 5: TB at Phi Mon Oct. 27 & 29 FOX
  • Final Score: Phillies 4, Rays 3 - ESPN Recap

• ESPN Video: Breakding down the Phillies' World Series Victory (Time 4:21)

• Baseball Almanac: 2008 World Series

• MLB.com: Phils reach first World Series since '93 (October 16, 2008)

• Google News: 2008 MLB World Series

• Yahoo! News: 2008 MLB World Series

• ESPN.com: Obama ad will push back start of Game 6 of World Series (October 16, 2008)

• ESPN.com: How the 2008 Rays were built (October 21, 2008)

• MLB.com: Phillies confirm Fall Classic rotation (October 21, 2008)

• MLB.com: Kazmir headlines Fall Classic rotation (October 21, 2008)

• MLB.com: Series reflects baseball's era of hope (October 21, 2008)

• FOX Sports: World Series Burning Questions

• FOX Sports: Unsung heroes of the World Series

• Yahoo! Sports: Baby Rays could get big boost to salaries with World Series win (October 23, 2008)

• SI.com: Game 2 Recap (October 23, 2008)

• SI.com: Upton, Rays use familiar formula to win Game 2

• FOX News: Meet the World Series players to watch (October 20, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Philadelphia Phillies upset about World Series introductions (October 25, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Pena excelling and doing it his way (October 25, 2008)

• Matt Garza: How will Matt Garza pitch to Phillies in Game 3? (October 25, 2008)

• SI.com: Game 3 Recap

• SI.co: Rain hits Philly before Game 3 of World Series (October 26, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Rain causes late start and ratings well below previous worst for World Series (October 26, 2008)

• SI.com: Phillies' Ryan Howard can thank Rays' Joe Maddon (October 27, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Umpires acknowledge another missed call in World Series (October 27, 2008)

• MLB.com: Pena, Longoria notch first Series hits (October 27, 2008)

• MLB.com: Rain delays Game 5 in sixth inning

• ESPN.com: In Las Vegas sports books, Philadelphia Phillies are already winners (October 29, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels wins World Series MVP (October 29, 2008)

1. Jimmy Rollins- SS

2. Chase Utley- 2B

3. Jayson Werth- RF

4. Ryan Howard- 1B

5. Pat Burrell- LF

6. Shane Victorino - CF

7. Greg Dobbs- 3B

8. Carlos Ruiz - C

9. Pitcher's Spot