Philadelphia Phillies fans were treated to back to back incredible years by a franchise that had not been to the World Series but a few times in their entire history. They were so close to repeating that the NL Pennant was nothing more than an afterthought. The table is set yet again for another huge run into the post season.

While the Phillies were happy to get Cliff Lee at the end of the year in 2009, the player that they really wanted was Halladay. This is the true Ace that they had been longing for since the days of Curt Schilling and they managed to get him in a megadeal during the off-season. For financial reasons, they did not hand onto Cliff Lee, but they believe their starting rotation will more than do the job.

The fact that they got as far as they did last season with a struggling Cole Hamels is kind of incredible. It still seems to be a bit of a mystery as to what went wrong last year, but if he can get his head straight this season and be the Cole Hamels that he was in 2008, watch out National League.

Hamels is going to have a huge advantage pitching out to the number two hole. If he is at his best, there may be one or two pitchers in the league as a number two that will match up against him. Moving down that one spot just may be the move that gets him his confidence back. Regardless, the Phillies need him to eat up innings and preserve the bullpen for the tail end of the rotation.

The Phillies have had a great bullpen the last few seasons, but there were some chinks in the armor from the 2008 perfect season of Brad Lidge. Everyone is hoping that it was just the odds catching up with him and look for him to get back on form. He had a similar season in 2007 and we all know how he came back from that.

Pitching is important, but there is a lot of leeway when you have an offense like this. They will put out what may be the best National League lineup. As a matter of fact, they are probably in the top two or three in all of baseball. This team is known for putting up crooked numbers and no lead is safe if they still have an at bat coming to them.

The ballpark will see sellout after sellout again this season. In a city that was starved for sports success, the Phillies are putting a full plate out to eat almost every night. The fans have rewarded them with support that few other cities can match. If you want tickets, you better move fast because this is far and away the hottest ticket in town.

By Jake Kohler, article sponsored by TicketSeating.com. TicketSeating.com sells Philadelphia Phillies Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around your area.

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Although Hayley’s comet has had two phases and George Burns has celebrated 8 decade’s worth of birthdays since they won a World Series, the Chicago Cubs are still one of Major League Baseball’s favorite teams. Their fans are not only dedicated and committed, but they are very loyal as well. If you’re are a fan and “bleed Cubbie blue” then to show your team pride you might want to consider carrying Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball personal bank checks.

The Chicago Cubs have gone by their name since 1902. They are frequently called “the boys in blue” or “cubbies” by their truly devout fans. Blue and red are the official team colors, thus the “bleeding cubbie blue” notion, and the official Cub mascot is a young bear cub that has seen frequent changes over the years.

Wrigley Field is home to the Cubs. The first National League game was held at Wrigley Field on April 20, 1916. At that time, the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. Most importantly, a bear cub was at that game too.

While other baseball teams were busy installing lights on their field, the Chicago Cubs were actually one of the last do so. Were they out of touch with the times? No, not exactly. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, in 1941 P.K. Wrigley donated the recently purchased lighting equipment to the War Department.

The Chicago Cubs baseball checks feature the team’s logo inscribed over a baseball diamond in the team’s colors of blue and red. A bright red baseball “seamed” pattern borders these attractive checks. When you carry your new checks, everyone is going to know you’re a fan as soon as you take out your checkbook.

You might want to think about investing in a coordinating checkbook cover if you would like to shield your new Chicago Cubs personal checks. Additionally, you can purchase other matching accessories like the matching address labels, contact cards, and stickers.

Going to you local bank, sifting through the limited supply of choices available, paying an exorbitant amount of money, and then waiting two weeks for your checks to arrive could be inconvenient at best in the past. Now, however, you can skip all of that and simply order your checks online.

There are many reliable, protected websites available that will permit you to order your personal checks and even save you up to 50% off of what you might have paid at your local bank. Additionally, the good thing about these websites is that as well as not having to leave your home to buy them and saving money simultaneously, you will also have a better assortment of checks to choose from.

When ordering your checks online, you will need to know your checking account number, as well as your routing number. These will be put directly on your checks. You can expect to receive your checks in the mail in about 5 days.

Before you purchase Cubs checks, visit CubsChecks.com to find coupon codes and to save up to 50% off your next order of Chicago Cubs checks.

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Yes, it’s official now. The Yankees have won the 2009 World Series. After an exciting six game series with the Phillies, the series is over and the Yanks are champions.

It’s been a long nine years since the Yankees won a World Series. They dominated baseball back then, and they’ve finally returned to form after a number of unsuccessful playoff runs.

When you have the biggest payroll in baseball, one could say that a World Series win should be expected. The Yankees went on a spending spree during the off season, adding some huge names to the mix.

Hank Steinbrenner made some bold moves for a team that had just spent hundreds of millions on dollars on the development of a brand new stadium. Everyone in New York was ready for another victory.

The veterans of the Yankees came together with some newly acquired talent to form a team that was as powerful as any in recent memory, and they played consistently the whole way through.

The Yankees can thank both their veterans and their newly acquired talent for this win. Mariano Rivera pitched as well as he ever has. Derek Jeter was clutch, and Jorge Posada made some great contributions too. CC Sabathia anchored an incredibly talented starting pitching staff.

And in a surprising twist Alex Rodriguez was one of the Yankees’ most clutch players in the postseason. A player constantly criticized for failing to contribute when it mattered finally came through for his team.

Many doubted them through the course of the season and thought they would flop in the playoffs. Others thought the Phillies were simply too strong. In the end, they did what they had set out to do.

The 2009 baseball season was marked by the incredible success of the New York Yankees. That makes it 27 World Series wins now.

This writer also blogs about berber loop carpet prices and carpet cleaning price ranges.

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The club was founded in 1901-more than 100 years ago. It was one of the 8 original charter franchises of the American League. With a strong beginning, the Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903 at the very first World Series. Unfortunately, after winning four more championships they went into a drought after 1918. However, in 2004 they won their sixth World Series.

In 1908 the team name emerged – Red Sox because they started wearing red hose. Due to the fact that newspapers were having a hard time fitting “stockings: on their paper the team name was shortened to “Sox”

Babe Ruth, one of the most famous players in baseball history played for the Boston Red Sox team. In 1919, Babe Ruth broke the single-season homerun record.

Since 1912, Fenway Park has been home to the Boston Red Sox. Every year many fans that want to pay homage to their team flock to Fenway Park. The Park has become one of Boston’s top tourist attractions. If you carry Red Sox checks, you to can visit Fenway Park without ever having traveled all the way to Boston.

Red, midnight navy, and white are the team’s official colors. These colors are featured on the checks as well. A baseball diamond in the background with the team’s official logo in the center is one of the popular Red Sox series checks. Each check has a red “rope” pattern border.

A matching checkbook cover for the Red Sox team is offered as well. The cover shows the team colors, the baseball diamond, and the official team logo. The cover protects your checks, looks great and shows off your fan support. The cover also has a 6-window insert where you can store your ID; insert pictures, and your Red Sox schedule.

If you would like to keep records of the checks that write, you might also be interested in duplicate checks. These keep a carbon copy of every check that you write.

Don’t worry about the high cost of personal checks or going to your local bank to get them. Now, you can share your passion of your favorite Boston Red Sox team by ordering your checks online and save as much as 50% off of what you might have paid in the past.

There are many safe, reputable website that will offer you an assortment of checks to choose from at great prices. When placing your order, you will need your checking account number and your routing number. In five days your new checks should arrive, this is quicker than most local banks can get them to you.

Before you purchase Red Sox checks, go to RedSoxChecks.com to find coupons and to save up to 50% off your next order of Red Sox personal checks.

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This year some teams are being just phenomenal. The Phillies, the new owners of the Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, very well have a chance at making the big series. This year has brought many surprises and has had some teams that some people thought would never stand a chance.

So far the season has brought many surprises, and if you’re reading you will be looking at a preview, for the future (the World Series, and all the awards), and a review, for the past.

So far this season many teams have had a struggle. Others, however, are flying through this season like it’s a breeze. The Nationals are one of the teams that are struggling. The Nats are in dead last in the whole league. We can count them out of the playoffs.

The same goes for the Orioles, Pirates, Padres, Athletics, Royals, Blue Jays, Indians, Twins, Mets, Diamondbacks, Reds, Astros, and Brewers. That leaves a remaining 16 teams. We must eliminate more.

As far as the Wild Card is concerned, there are a few very solid baseball teams that simply won’t make the playoffs this year since there isn’t enough room. Boston and Texas are battling it out in the AL, along with Tampa Bay. In the NL, a race between the Rockies, Marlins, Braves, and Cubs is very tight. I think that Atlanta will emerge in the AL, and Colorado in the NL.

Therefore, that means that the teams that will represent the American League are the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, and LA Angels. As for the National League, I believe that the Braves will win the Wild Card, making the teams for the NL, the Braves, Phillies, Dodgers, and the Cardinals.

So far I think that all of you that are reading this are saying in you head that I am going to pick the Yankees because they are my favorite team, but you will be surprised with my next pick. And here is the World Series.

Yankees and Phillies do meet in the World Series like many expect (yes, they’re both that good this season). However, the Phillies surprise baseball fans with a repeat World Series.

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The very first World Series was played between the Boston American League club (now the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903.

Although the first world series wasn’t played until 1903, there was a previous championship called “The Championship of the United States” and “World’s Championship Series”, which the winners of the National League and American Association had played from 1884 to 1891. The Series ended when the American Association folded in 1891.

Ban Johnson formed the American League in 1901 to try and take advantage of the National League’s cut down from twelve teams down to eight. Ban Johnson and fellow owners raided the senior circuit and signed away many star players. This constant raiding formed the idea of a championship between the National and American Leagues.

The two leagues finally called a truce in the winter of 1902. The following August, Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates challenged the Boston American League Club to an eleven game Championship Series but instead agreed to a best-of-nine championship The first three games were played in Boston, the next four in Pittsburgh, and the remaining two in Boston.

Some in-game action saw Sam Leever, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates injuring his shoulder while trap-shooting. His teammate Deacon Phillippe had to stand in and pitch five complete games for Pittsburgh. He even set a World Series record by striking out ten Boston batters, but that record was later broke, as Dinneen struck out eleven Pittsburgh batters in Game 2!

The Boston Americans came back behind to win the final four games. The end result for the first World Series, Boston won the first World Series five games to three, winning the last four.

Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates added his share of the gate receipts to the players’ share. This meant that the losing team’s players actually finished with a larger individual share than the winning team!

The very first World Series was a voluntary arrangement between the two clubs, and so a World Series in 1904 did not take place.

The success of the first World Series proved the new American League could beat the best of the National League, increasing the demand for future World Series’. And so in 1905, the World Series was made into a formal compulsory annual event.

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