A year in the life of a baseball team can feel endless. Moments that seem unforgettable in real time blur together by season’s end, lost somewhere between parenthood, middle age, and the daily grind. But 2025 refused to fade quietly for the Phillies. It was a season packed with extremes — towering highs, gut-punch lows, brilliance, mistakes, health scares, and moments that still linger. These are the ten moments fans voted as the most emotional and memorable of the Phillies’ 2025 season, along with reflections from the TGP staff.
Eight Home Runs in One Game
Earl Weaver famously believed the home run was the purest path to victory. On September 24, the Phillies honored that philosophy in spectacular fashion, launching eight homers in a single game while clinching a first-round playoff bye. It was overwhelming, joyful, and definitive — the kind of night that reminds fans why power baseball still captivates. Sometimes, dominance doesn’t need nuance.
Schwarber’s Four-Homer Night
Only 21 players in MLB history have hit four home runs in a game. On August 28, Kyle Schwarber joined that exclusive club against Atlanta, becoming the fourth Phillie ever to do it. One swing after another, he erased doubt, silenced rivals, and cemented himself as an MVP candidate. He even flirted with history again, popping out in his final at-bat with a chance for five. Adding to the surreal nature of the night: Abbott Elementary was filming at the park. Schwarber didn’t just make baseball history — he crossed into pop culture.
The Double Slide
Sliding is one of baseball’s purest joys, a childhood instinct that never leaves you. The Phillies delivered a moment straight out of a movie when J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos pulled off a perfectly synchronized double slide that looked unreal live and even better on replay. It was creativity, timing, and swagger rolled into one unforgettable highlight.
The Harrison Bader Trade
The Phillies gambled on their outfield depth entering the season — and lost. At the deadline, they corrected course by acquiring Harrison Bader. His arrival stabilized the defense, revived the lineup, and injected confidence into a team that needed it. Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler settled into more comfortable roles, and the clubhouse felt different. Naturally, fate intervened, and Bader was injured in the NLDS. The boost was real, even if it was heartbreakingly brief.
Duran’s First Night at Citizens Bank Park
There was electricity in the air. Against the Tigers, the Phillies clawed back from an early deficit in a game that tested patience and belief. When the lead was finally secured, all eyes turned to the bullpen. As the lights cut out and the bell rang, Jhoan Duran took the mound for the first time at home. Four pitches later, it was over. A hush became a roar. In that moment, the Phillies had found their closer — and fans felt it instantly.
Realmuto’s April Walkoff Caught Stealing vs. Dodgers
April games often feel disposable, but this one wasn’t. Facing the Dodgers early in the season, the Phillies needed a statement. Jordan Romano wobbled but recovered, and with the tying run threatening, J.T. Realmuto delivered a perfect strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out to end it. It was sharp, defiant, and symbolic. The Phillies belonged on the same field as baseball’s elite — and they proved it again in October.
The Bunt
It has a name now — and not a flattering one. The infamous bunt in NLDS Game 2 still stings. Playing to tie instead of win, then admitting it afterward, left fans baffled and angry. It wasn’t just a tactical decision; it felt like a surrender. Some moments linger not because they were dramatic, but because they felt wrong.
Zack Wheeler’s Injury
When news broke of Zack Wheeler’s injury in late August, panic set in. A Cy Young contender and the rotation’s anchor was suddenly gone. Logic said the Phillies would survive, but emotion said otherwise. Cristopher Sánchez stepped up brilliantly, steadying the ship and dominating in Wheeler’s absence. The season survived — barely — and hope remains that Wheeler’s return in 2026 won’t be far behind.
Swept by the Mets in August
Seven games up. Three games in Citi Field. Three losses. The Phillies looked lifeless, distracted, and overwhelmed. Negadelphia erupted. The division race felt shaky, the flaws glaring. And then — perspective. The Phillies responded by going 13-3, sweeping the Mets at home, and winning the East by 13 games. Fans overreacted. Again. They always will.
Orion Kerkering in the NLDS
Elimination games are cruel. Extra-inning elimination games are worse. In Game 4 of the NLDS, with the season hanging by a thread, Orion Kerkering entered the 11th inning and everything unraveled. A walk, a missed exchange, and the season was over. The image that remains isn’t just the mistake — it’s Kerkering, devastated, surrounded by teammates. Baseball heartbreak in its rawest form.
Kyle Schwarber in the HR Derby
The Home Run Derby has lost some shine, but when the All-Star Game ended tied, the league found something new. A derby to decide it all. Schwarber thrived under the spotlight, launching his way to victory and giving fans one last reminder of his power, presence, and flair for the moment.
The Phillies’ 2025 season didn’t end the way fans hoped. But it made them feel everything — and that’s why it still matters.
Leave a Reply