2009 World Series.

The blue collar, workmanlike Philadelphia Phillies vs. the disgusting and entitled New York Yankees.

Unfortunately the Phils lost to the evil empire, but in a NEW DEVELOPMENT, pitcher Pedro Martinez says some of the team was dealing with H1N1, known better as the “swine flu,” which spread across the United States ten years ago. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic back in June of 2009, and the World Series was played four months later.

Here’s what Martinez had to say, via Matt Breen of the Inquirer, after the jump:


“It wasn’t told, but most of us were sick,” Martinez said of his Phillies teammates, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of their National League championship before Sunday’s game. “Some of the guys had swine flu and had to be kept away. I caught some of the virus. We would just never say it. When I got home, I realized that I was really sick.”

Martinez, who signed with the Phillies in the middle of the season, started two of the six games against the Yankees. He said he felt fine in Game 2, but battled an illness in Game 6 and lasted just four innings as the Yankees clinched the World Series.

“I had a little bit of an asthma attack in the middle of the game and I was having a hard time breathing,” Martinez said. “I was really sick. In any other situation, I wouldn’t be out there. But the team needed me. I held on as long as I could and I did that. I was really proud to have my last game with the Phillies at Yankee Stadium.”

Martinez gave up four runs on three hits in game six, before coming out in the fourth inning. That was the Hideki Matsui home run and the line drive to center field. The Yanks added three more runs in the 5th and went on to win 7-3 and claim the series, 4-2.

Not sure about you, but I believe Pedro. Now, whenever a Yank fan brings up the 2009 World Series, my excuse is, “yeah? well the Phillies played with the Swine Flu.”