Scheduled to start on October 22, the 2008 World Series is one that many oddsmakers didn’t see coming. 2008 will mark the first World Series appearance for the Tampa Bay Rays and the first Series appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies since their heartbreaking six-game loss in 1993 to the Toronto Blue Jays.

different paths

Heading into the 2008 season, Tampa was considered one of the poorest teams in baseball. Very few sportswriters and tipsters ranked them higher than fourth in their own division, the AL East. So it came as a huge surprise to most when the Rays not only moved above fourth in the division, but went on to win the division outright. The Rays’ payroll is roughly one-third that of the Boston Red Sox, the team they would face in the ALCS. After a tough seven game series, the Rays are now in position to win their first World Series title.

In early August, the Philadelphia Phillies were considered the flops of the 2008 season, trailing the New York Mets by more than five games. But the Phillies fought their way up the standings and were able to overcome the Mets in the final week of the season to win the NL East division title. In the playoffs they had little trouble with either of their opponents, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2008 World Series

This leaves us headed for a World Series with many unknowns. Neither team has played in the national spotlight of a World Series for 15 years. Vegas Odds lists the Tampa Bay Rays as the favorites for the series, although this is the closest betting line in over five years. Can you predict who will win?