Moyer is living a dream

By Bill Shaikin

Oct. 25, 2008 12 AM PT

Shaikin is a Times staff writer.

PHILADELPHIA —

History lives on every corner in this city, and in the home clubhouse too. Jamie Moyer is living history, witness to the last championship parade in honor of the Philadelphia Phillies.

That was in 1980, and Moyer skipped his high school classes for the parade.

“We just decided that we were going to bump school,” Moyer said. “I don’t like to use the word ‘skip.’ ”

He and his friends emerged from the subway to delirious chaos.

“We were the hicks coming over from the suburbs,” he said. “We didn’t know what was going on. There were people all over the place, in the trees, climbing in the lights.”

The Phillies are three victories from their first parade since 1980. And tonight, in the Phillies’ first World Series home game since 1993, the hometown kid gets the start.

“It’s something that I’ve been dreaming about my whole life,” he said.

He’s not a kid, not at 45, the oldest player in the major leagues. He has pitched more innings than Don Drysdale, Juan Marichal or Carl Hubbell, yet this is his first World Series appearance.

If Moyer wins, he’ll be the oldest pitcher to win a postseason game. The only player older than Moyer to appear in a World Series game: Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn, in 1930, at 47.

Respect the elder

The Phillies are 8-1 in October when Moyer does not start and 0-2 when he does. He has a 13.50 earned-run average -- the Dodgers routed him for six runs in 1 1/3 innings during the National League Championship Series -- but Manager Charlie Manuel said he did not consider bypassing Moyer during the World Series.

In the regular season, Moyer was 16-7 with a 3.71 earned-run average.

“He’s won a lot of games for us this year,” Manuel said. “He’s one reason why we’re where we’re at.”

Sorry, Philly

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia grew up in the Philadelphia area. His old bench coach, Joe Maddon, is managing the Tampa Bay Rays. So who is Scioscia rooting for in the World Series?

“I’m definitely going with the American League,” he said. “You want your league to represent well.”

What will his friends and relatives in Philadelphia think?

“I’ve twisted their arms,” Scioscia said. “They root for the Angels now.”

Friendly Philly

Cliff Floyd said he and his young Rays teammates got a traditional Philadelphia welcome when their team bus left the hotel Friday.

“We got cursed out as much as you could get cursed out,” Floyd said. “It gives them a glimpse of what it’s going to be like tomorrow. Today, there were 15 or 20. Tomorrow, there will be 50,000 people, saying stuff kids shouldn’t hear.”

Rainy-day blues

Today’s forecast calls for rain, all day long and heavy at times. If tonight’s game is rained out, the World Series would be played Sunday, Monday and Tuesday here, canceling the scheduled off day Tuesday.

The final two games of the series, if necessary, would remain scheduled at Tampa Bay on Wednesday and Thursday.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

World Series

Phillies | Rays

Series is tied, 1-1

Best-of-seven; * -- if necessary; times PDT; all games on Ch. 11

Game 1: Philadelphia 3, at Tampa Bay 2

Game 2: at Tampa Bay 4, Philadelphia 2

Game 3: Today, 5:30 p.m. Tampa Bay, Garza (11-9)

at Philadelphia, Moyer (16-7)

Game 4: Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Tampa Bay, Sonnanstine (13-9)

at Philadelphia, Blanton (4-0)