Phillies Confidential: The Untold Inside Story of the 2008 Championship Season

After an epic September comeback led them to their first World Series appearance since 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies had even high hopes. Now, you can relive the city's first major-league championship season in 25 years day-by-day, as it actually happened. Gary Matthews, a former All-Star and the 1973 National League Rookie of the Year, takes you into the clubhouse, the dugout, and onto the field, and gives you the view from his seat in the Phillies' broadcast booth in this rare, inside look at a championship season. Beginning with the rousing late-season rally in 2007 during which the Phillies overtook the New York Mets and raised the bar on their expectations, through the pivotal off-season trade for closer Brad Lidge, and the fine-tuning of the league's most powerful offense during spring training under the sun in Clearwater, Florida, Matthews chronicles the emotional rise and fall of each win and loss and brings the unique perspective of a player who has survived a 162-game marathon season. Sarge, as Matthews is called by fans and colleagues, is known for his frank commentary and honest opinions. A former teammate of Hall of Fame sluggers Willie McCovey and Mike Schmidt, Matthews spent 16 seasons in the majors and helped the Phillies reach the World Series in 1983. He has been a player, a coach, and now, as a television analyst, he brings his expert insight to analyze the Phillies' fortunes. He takes you through the successes and failures of each player--from mighty Ryan Howard and hustling Chase Utley to reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins, sparkplug Shane Victorino, and slugging Pat Burrell. And Matthews makes you feel like you're right there with them, flying on the team plane, sitting in the dugout, and standing around the batting cage talking hitting with manager Charlie Manuel as the Phillies surged into first place, withstood a midseason slide, survived another breathless photo finish in the National League East, and eventually took home the second World Series title in the team's 126-year history.