For the 1983 Phillies their World Series loss to Baltimore, while disappointing, reinforced that they could be contenders in the National League. And since 1983, Philadelphia has gone to the playoffs seven times including to four World Series.
For the victorious Orioles, that ’83 World Series was a final hurrah. In the past 40 years, the O’s have had 26 losing seasons, have been to the playoffs just five times and have made no World Series appearances.
However, this season, the two may be on a collision course for a 40th anniversary World Series. The resurgent Orioles lead the American League East and the Phillies, smarting from a 2022 World Series loss to Houston, top the NL wild card standings.
What are the Pennsylvania sports betting odds that a 40-year reunion could be on tap in the 2023 Fall Classic? Longer than you might think.
Phillies Were Over-The-Hill Winners in 1983
The 1983 World Series was, frankly, a bit of a weird matchup, especially on the Philadelphia side. Three years after their first-ever world championship in 1980 was won by a powerful and largely homegrown roster, the ’83 Phillies were a collection of past-their-prime mercenaries whose best years had been with other clubs, most prominently the Cincinnati Reds.
Philadelphia’s average age was over 32 and they had seven players 38 or older, including former Reds stars Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez. Halfway through the season, with the Phils struggling, general manager Paul Owens replaced Pat Corrales as manager. Phillies pitcher John Denny, a journeyman obtained the previous season from Cleveland, surprisingly won the NL Cy Young Award at age 30 with a 19-6 career year.
All of that, of course, was way before fans could legally bet on the outcome and get PA sportsbook promo codes in the process.
The Orioles weren’t the glittering franchise that manager Earl Weaver had guided to six playoff berths and four World Series appearances. But Weaver’s successor, Joe Altobelli, won 98 games in 1983 with Hall of Famer hitter Eddie Murray, an aging Jim Palmer, 18-game winner Scott McGregor, and a rookie named Cal Ripken Jr.
Baltimore catcher Rick Dempsey, an unimposing career .233 hitter, put his stamp on the 1983 World Series by batting .385, including several clutch hits, to become the Series MVP.
Philadelphia Phillies World Series Odds
The FanDuel Pennsylvania Sportsbook has odds on a 40th anniversary exact rematch of the Orioles and Phillies at +4500 as of Tuesday afternoon. That’s right around a 2.2% probability.
Focusing on the Phillies, their current odds to win the pennant range from +650 (DraftKings) to +850 (FanDuel), depending on the sportsbook. The Phils’ odds to win the World Series, regardless of opponent, are +1800 at Caesars Sportsbook.
The Orioles’ prospects for winning the World Series, regardless of opponent, are at +1000 at FanDuel. Baltimore’s odds to win the AL pennant are +350 at Caesars Pennsylvania Sportsbook and +320 at DraftKings, where Baltimore is now a slight favorite over defending World Series champion Houston. At the beginning of the season, Baltimore was +3000 to win the World Series in the opening odds.
And interestingly, a bar and restaurant at Orioles Park at Camden Yards that used to carry Rick Dempsey’s name is now a sports bar-restaurant that’s branded by the Superbook sportsbook operator.
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