More Than Beards, Bellies and Biceps: The Story of the 1993 Phillies

Stubble scruffed up their chins. Tobacco wads ballooned their cheeks. The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies had the look of a slow pitch softball team itching to kick some serious butt. And they did kick butt?on and off the field. Though they weren't a photogenic bunch, their mugs were everywhere, on Baseball Today, on the Late Show with David Letterman, and on Saturday Night Live (Chris Farley made a helluva John Kruk). Even President Clinton quipped about them. A gang of baseball throwbacks, they quickly seduced the hometown fans. By season's end, they had won over the rest of the country, too. America's Most Wanted Team became Team America in a heartthumping Fall Classic against Toronto.