Well it’s that time of year when the leaves start turning, pumpkins start getting picked, the air becomes crisp, and the World Series begins! And though my team, the Mets, pathetically blew it for the second season in a row, I’ve still got a vested interest in this year’s Fall Classic.

Before I go into this year’s Series, I want to first reminisce of a time almost fifteen years to the day: October 23rd, 1993. I remember it vividly: the Philadelphia Phillies were up 6-5 in the sixth game of the World Series, and it was looking like it would be sent to a decisive Game 7. Then they brought in their infamous closer, Mitch “Wild thing” Williams to try and shut things down in the ninth inning. With one out and men on first and second, Joe Carter stepped to the plate. With the count 2-2, Carter belted one over the left field wall, winning the game with the three run shot in a fashion that every kid growing up dreams of doing.

Being on the verge of turning eight that very morning, my parents let me stay up to watch one of the greatest moments in baseball history. I will never forget the jubilant jumping around the bases by Carter and the look on Mitch Williams’ face as he pitifully carried himself off the field amongst the celebrating Blue Jays team. Being a die-hard Phillies hater, I can honestly say it was one of the happiest moments of my life, and one of the greatest birthday presents I’ve ever received. And I will always enshrine Mitch Williams and Joe Carter as two of my favorite heroes of America’s past-time sport.

So getting to this year’s Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are squaring off against the Phillies (this being Philadelphia’s first trip back to the World Series since the Wild thing incident in ’93). Though the Rays are a young team, I’m counting on them to lay down the law this year. And no doubt the Phillies will collapse similarly to the collapsing of Veterans Stadium (head here for the YouTube video of that). Lets Go Rays!