Phillies just threatened all-time MLB playoff record you didn't know 2020 Yankees held
By Adam Weinrib
![Division Series - New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays - Game Five Division Series - New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays - Game Five](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5255,h_2955,x_0,y_459/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/43/01hcyzfb2zww21mzqvw4.jpg)
The 2023 Phillies are the hottest thing since sliced pork and broccoli rabe on a Liscio Bakery roll, but as of this moment in history, they still don't have anything on the 2020 Yankees.
The Phils' playoff run hasn't yet concluded, and based on the amount of damage they've already done to their opponents' pitching staffs and psyches, it's quite possible that it won't end for quite a while. But while it's felt like they've homered every time they've strode to the dish, through a combination of Bryce Harper moonshots, Kyle Schwarber lasers, and Nick Castellanos smoothies, they actually wrapped their first seven playoff games one dinger behind the 2020 Yankees, a team we'll forgive you if you forgot about.
After all, that team played their postseason games in front of empty seats in both Cleveland and San Diego. Their home runs went uncaught; even Zack Hample was stuck home twiddling his thumbs. They didn't make it past the ALDS, though they did stretch that series to its limits.
And yet, still, they are the all-time MLB playoff record holders, tied with the 2004 Houston Astros, for the most home runs through the first seven games of a postseason.
most HR in 1st 7 games of single postseason:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 17, 2023
2020 Yankees: 17
2004 Astros: 17
2023 Phillies: 16 (thru 3 in G1)
2021 Red Sox: 16 https://t.co/GRcwqwexHl
2020 Yankees still have edge on 2023 Phillies in one area (but not, uh, "having Bryce Harper")
If you need a little Yankees positivity in your life, there were some highlight-reel moments that October -- you know, before JA Happ entered in the second inning of Game 2 of the ALDS and everything came crashing down. Not to mention Mike Brosseau! Nightmare fuel.
Those 17 blasts included Gio Urshela's cathartic grand slam off Cleveland's James Karinchak (the original Karen), absolute Giancarlo Stanton rocket shots in Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series, and even a Clint Frazier homer at Petco Park.
Unfortunately, Aroldis Chapman polished off the Division Series in Game 5, and that was that. The Yankees' playoff run lasted just seven games in 2020, while the Phillies have guaranteed themselves at least a couple more cracks at finding the bleachers this October.
It's nice to be known for something, but neither the '20 Yankees nor the '04 Astros won (or made) the World Series, which is the name of the game. At the very least, both teams will forever remain one home run ahead of the cursed 2021 Red Sox.
manual