With the NL East title secured, the Philadelphia Phillies understand their mission: a World Series trophy

The reverberating sound of about 50 popping corks filled the room, like a bag of Orville Redenbacher ready to be drunk.

Minutes after the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs to secure their first NL East title in 13 years, the players had gathered in a large circle in the clubhouse. Most wore ski goggles to shield their eyes. They all wore red shirts that read, “WE OWN THE EAST.” In their eager hands were bottles of sparkling wine. There wasn’t a champagne flute in sight.

At the centre of it all stood manager Rob Thomson. As the 61-year-old addressed the group, congratulating the players on their achievements, there were whoops and cheers from the impatient crowd. Fingers hovered over open bottles, a series of volcanoes waiting to erupt, but there was one person who still needed to be acknowledged.

Thomson called in the team’s principal owner, John Middleton.

“Remember in spring training?” the typically stoic captain reminded his team, his hand resting on Middleton’s shoulder. “The guy said he wanted his trophy back.”

Middleton, wearing the same “WE OWN THE EAST” jersey as the players, gestured to the team he had paid for and corrected Thomson.

“I want my fucking trophy back.”

The volcano erupted. Drinks flew everywhere. Middleton, the richest man in a room full of millionaires, disappeared into the carbonated haze, completely obscured by a downpour of imitation champagne.

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His message wasn’t new. Far from it. Every member of this organization understands the mission. A first NL East title since 2011 was cause for celebration, but as all the wine-soaked revelers know, an October trip means little if it doesn’t end with a World Series title.

That’s become the standard in Philadelphia, an expectation Middleton helped establish by greenlighting one free agent contract after another. The impact was felt all around the room Monday night and all season long. Home runs by JT Realmuto (5 years, $110 million) and Kyle Schwarber (4 years, $79 million) gave the Phillies an early lead. Six strong innings by Aaron Nola (7 years, $172 million) kept the Cubs’ offense at bay.

While celebrations like Monday’s at Citizens Bank Park have become an annual tradition for the Phillies, it wasn’t that long ago that the franchise enjoyed the longest postseason drought in the National League. That streak was snapped less than two years ago, on Oct. 3, 2022. Since then, the Phillies, their fans, and their stadium have all become protagonists of MLB’s fall tournament.

The continuity of the roster — eight of the 10 Phillies who started on Oct. 3, 2022, including Nola, were in the starting lineup for their 2024 clincher — has helped that narrative. It’s also produced that squad consistency, which, alongside a spate of injuries to the Atlanta Braves, helped propel Philadelphia to a division title. The Phillies were briefly thrown off track by a midseason slump, but a late-summer revival secured the division title.

That reliability was most evident in the rotation, where the quartet of Nola, Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez started the vast majority of games. That group is also the Phillies’ biggest advantage entering the tournament in October. They’re experienced, healthy and full of energy, with the exception of Suárez, who has been somewhat disappointing since returning from a back injury in August. Still, his postseason record offers plenty of consolation.

The offense, star-studded as it is, remains the underbelly of this club. In last year’s NLCS, the Phillies couldn’t stop hunting. Arizona took notice, attacking hitters like Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner with an endless stream of breaking balls. The Diamondbacks used that strategy to beat the Phillies on their home turf, winning Games 6 and 7 to reach the World Series.

Amid all the exuberant moments of this NL East-winning campaign, there are frequent reminders of last year’s downfall. Last week, the Phillies struck out 16 in consecutive games, a first for the franchise. If they can’t limit the punchouts, another early exit in October is a real possibility.

But none of the drinkers were particularly concerned about that on Monday. There was too much to celebrate.

A division title over the 162-game marathon of the regular season is a true indicator of a team’s depth. Success in October brings with it a much greater opportunity. And so anticipation, joy and a sense of undeniable urgency hang over the City of Brotherly Love.

Middleton’s demand set the stakes; he might as well have said, “I need “My f***ing trophy back.”