Schmidt and the Phillies Rally Past Quisenberry in Game 5

On October 19, 1980, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 in Game 5 of the World Series at Royals Stadium, taking a three-games-to-two lead in a Series the Phillies would close out two nights later for their first championship in 98 years of existence.

Mike Schmidt opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a two-run home run to right-center field. Kansas City fought back. Amos Otis, who hit three home runs in the Series, answered with a solo shot, and the Royals strung together enough offense to take a 3-2 lead by the sixth.

The Phillies entered the ninth trailing by a run against reliever Dan Quisenberry, one of the American League's best closers. Schmidt led off with a single. Del Unser, a veteran pinch-hitter who made a career of October contributions, ripped a double down the right field line that scored Schmidt from first to tie the game. After a sacrifice bunt moved Unser to third, Manny Trillo hit a sharp grounder that deflected off Quisenberry's glove and trickled into the infield for an RBI single. The Phillies led 4-3.

Tug McGraw, who had been the heartbeat of Philadelphia's bullpen all season, closed the door in the bottom of the ninth to earn the win. McGraw's celebrations on the mound became a signature image of the 1980 postseason.

The Phillies had been the oldest franchise in the National League without a World Series title. They had lost the 1950 Series in four games and endured decades of losing. Game 5 was the turning point. Schmidt, who won the Series MVP, delivered exactly the kind of performance that separated him from every other third baseman of his generation.