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A Guide to the Phillies DVDs

By Daniel McQuade

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Dec. 17, 2008

A Guide to the Phillies DVDs

With the holiday season upon us, stores are stocked with official Phillies merchandise. There's no better way to tell a friend, "Here, I hope somebody else didn't already get this for you" than with a special Phillies collector's-edition DVD (or DVD set).

2008 Philadelphia Phillies: The Official World Series Film (MLB Productions), $19.95

The first DVD celebration of the Phillies to hit the market--they didn't have time to title it, clearly--the 90-minute movie focuses mainly on the playoffs and offers interviews with almost every player. Although it's certainly a Phillies movie, it has the feel of a formulaic, out-of-town production.

Narrated by: Terrence Howard.

Surreal moment: The movie opens with the Phillies players reading Phil Sheridan's column from the Inquirer the day after the World Series. (If you love local sportswriters, there are a ton in this movie.)

Best bonus feature: A tour of Shane Victorino's condo from This Week in Baseball.

Perfect Season: The 2008 Philadelphia Phillies (Phillies Productions), $19.95

This is the official Phillies-made DVD, and so with it comes the spoils: great footage not available elsewhere, and ridiculous homerism.

Narrated by: Phillies closer Brad Lidge.

Surreal moment: Lidge references the crumbling stock market as a counter to the good news of the Phillies.

Best bonus feature: Ballgirls.

2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Series DVD Collection (A&E Home Video), $79.95

This is every single pitch and at-bat of the World Series from Fox's coverage, with the final two games against the Dodgers thrown in for good measure. A final bonus DVD--there are eight in all--features season highlights.

Announced by: The Fox play-by-play man and color commentator Tim McCarver.

Surreal moment: Any of McCarver's "Keys to the Game" segments. Game 5, Rays: "Rise from the ashes." Clearly, he confused the Rays with the mythical Phoenix.

Best bonus feature: Full radio coverage from the Phillies' broadcast team.