Shirtless Philadelphia Phillies spray champagne and smoke cigars in wild locker room celebrations after clinching first NL East title in 13 years
The Philadelphia Phillies let loose with wild locker room celebrations on Monday night after sealing their first NL East title since 2011.
A 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs was enough to secure top spot and ensure that Bryce Harper and Co head into the postseason as champions.
After the game, players sunk beers, pulled on goggles and smoked cigars to celebrate their rare feat, as they look set to go into the playoffs as one of the top two seeds in the National League.
As it stands, the Phillies are the No 2 seed behind the Dodgers, while on the American League side the Yankees and Guardians hold the top two spots.
In the locker room on Monday, Trea Turner shouted for his booze-soaked Phillies teammates to clear a path as he rode into the clubhouse on a platform truck also stacked with cases of beer.
Hoodie up, googles on, Turner jumped and splashed into the swill of beer and bubbly that sopped the clubhouse floor, the All-Star shortstop ready to crash the bash that had circled him.
In the game itself, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto went deep. Phillies fans went wild. And pitcher Aaron Nola provided a taste of just how great it would feel for the entire franchise if Philly went all the way.
That was our main goal in spring training, to win the division and get that first-round bye,’ slugger Harper said. ‘Do all the things we can to kind of set us up for the postseason. The division was the first thing.’
The Phillies had rolled tarp pinned above clubhouse locker stalls before the game, a familiar protective sight for the bottle-popping ahead for a team that’s made the playoffs each of the past three seasons under manager Rob Thomson.
They went wild moments after Carlos Estevez retired Michael Busch on a flyball to end the game. Phillies players swarmed each other in excitement on the infield. The Phillie Phanatic stormed the celebration waving a 2024 flag as fans stood and filmed it all.
‘We know there’s a really big picture ahead of us,’ Schwarber said before the game. ‘Winning the division is a big thing. If we go out there and do our thing tonight, it’s going to be well deserved. It’s not an easy division to win. It’s never been an easy division to win. It definitely will be a cool thing.’
Oh, it was cool in Philly for an announced sellout crowd of 42,386, with temperatures in the 60s – a sneak peek of October weather. That suits this squad just fine.
With a postseason berth already clinched last week, Schwarber, Harper, Turner & Co. earned the franchise’s 12th division championship – and have their sights set on the top seed in the National League playoffs.
The Phillies (93-64) hold the No. 2 spot just behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63) and would earn a first-round bye should the standings hold.
‘The biggest things for me, really, are winning the division and getting the bye,’ Thomson said. ‘If we get home field throughout, that’s a bonus. But I won’t put our players in danger to get there.’
The Phillies have two games left against the Cubs and close the season with a three-game set in Washington.
