Are Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos a Better Post-Season Duo Than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig?
During their last three games in both the 2023 National League Division Series and the 2023 National League Championship Series of the Major League Baseball Association, Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos have combined for eight home runs. This feat has given Philadelphia’s first baseman and right fielder the record for the most home runs hit by a duo in a three-game span during the postseason in the history of Major League Baseball. This record sees them pass New York Yankees legends Babe Ruth’s and Lou Gehrig’s previous record of seven home runs all the way back in 1928, meaning this record has not been broken for almost one hundred years. Interestingly enough, the only other duo that has combined for seven home runs, tied with Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, are the Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and right fielder Nick Castellanos. Essentially all this means is that the Phillies offense is swinging away and hitting nukes during this postseason run.
The Phillies Amazing Playoff Run (Again)
The Phillies came into the wild card playoff round with a record of ninety wins and seventy-two losses, starting off the season very poorly, something that disappointed the fans of Philadelphia who had just seen their beloved baseball team make a run to the World Series last year. However, the Phils were able to bounce back in the second half of the season and started playing some captivating baseball. This push allowed them to reach the wild card spot allowing them to compete in the playoffs in hopes of reaching back to back World Series’. The Phillies, for another year in a row, decided to show up once again in the playoffs, hitting bombs and displaying wonderful pitching from both the starters and the bullpen. This has allowed the Phillies to have won all but one of their playoff games so far this season, making them a force to reckon with, especially offensively. This was reiterated last night as the Phillies took game two of the National League Championship Series with a ten-to-nothing win over the Diamond Backs on October 17th of 2023, which unfortunately saw Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos end their 3 game joint home run streak.
So, are Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper a better duo than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the postseason? Well, it is hard to argue eras, but Bryce Harper has proven time and time again that he is the man when the time comes, especially in both this year’s and last year’s postseason. While it is an incredible feat to surpass two legends of the game as the Phillies player have, a World Series win is their goal at the end of the day and I think both players prefer a triumph of that rather than the record they earned.
