The Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series Collector's Edition

The Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series Collector's Edition begins where it should, with the final games in the Phillies' pre-World Series, post-season contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's exciting to revisit the Phillies' comeback in the eighth inning of game four, when they were down 5 to 3 but rallied on home runs by Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs. Watching winning pitcher Cole Hamels shut down the Dodgers in game five demonstrates why he was named series MVP. Moving on to the Phillies' domination over the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, this box set neatly packages each game on its own disc in a plastic case covered in vital information: player statistics, the temperature during the game, stadium attendance, etc. Additionally, each disc includes the option to listen to alternative broadcasts of a game, one from the Phillies Radio Network, the other from the Rays' equivalent.

All of the series' highlights are here, including the seven innings that Hamels pitched in game one, allowing only two runs. Game two is still painful to watch, even in retrospect, for Phillies' fans, as the Rays tie the series with the help of starting pitcher James Shields, who gives up no runs in five-and-a-half innings. As everyone knows, the Phillies sweep the next three games, struggling for a win in game three as the teams duke it out on offense. The drama of the 2008 World Series, of course, came with game five, when the Phillies and the Rays faced the same opponent: Philadelphia rain. It's great fun viewing again the protracted question of what to do with a field that was becoming laughable in its muddy, watery condition. The decision to suspend the contest at the bottom of the sixth inning still conveys its historic impact, i.e., the fact that no World Series game had ever been called off while in session. Add to that the excitement, two days later, of picking up where everything left off, both teams playing those final innings with great energy and competition, and you can't beat this box set. A special, bonus DVD includes a number of highlights from the entire series. --Tom Keogh  more