The Cubs are lovable losers. They are now one year into their second century of frustration, having failed to win a world championship since 1908. After a 39-year drought, they have advanced into the postseason six times in the last 22 years, but haven't won a series yet.

The Pirates are a downright debacle. They have stumbled through 16 consecutive losing seasons, but at least they did win three consecutive division titles before this latest series of fiascos.

And then there are the Philadelphia Phillies.

Losing has become such a part of their history that they get lost in the annual baseball shuffle. They are almost an afterthought in hot stove discussions.

But when it comes to futility, it's hard to argue that any team has been more futile than the Phillies.

They have a perfect opportunity to push the futility aside in the next two weeks.

They only needed five games to dispose of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-7 National League Championship Series, and now have six days to wait for the start of the World Series.

"This is for the city of Philadelphia,'' said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "We have one more step. We have taken three steps, but we have one more and then we can have that big parade.''

The Phillies better call for help in making those parade plans. Parades haven't been much of their history.

They have only had one "big parade'' in their first 125 years of existence.

That came in 1980, when they stunned Kansas City. And that seems like only yesterday if you are a Cubs fan. But understand, as long ago as the success may have come, at least the Cubs have won two World Series, even if they were in 1907 and 1908.

They have own 10 NL pennants. They have made 15 postseason appearances.

The Phillies? They have only won six NL pennants. Heck, the Yankees have won 20 world championships. St. Louis has even won 10. The Phillies have lost five World Series, and won only that one.

But this year's different.

Consider that only two of the Phillies -- pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and left-handed starter Jamie Moyer -- were even in the big leagues back in 1993, the last time the Phillies played in the World Series, losing to Toronto that time around.

Not that these Phillies are in awe of their surroundings. They are too workmanlike for that too happen.

What underscores the success of this team is that it is a team. There were 10 different Phillies who drove in runs in the NLCS. Shane Victorino, an outfielder the Dodgers let go twice in winter drafts and didn't even try to keep him the last time, four years ago, when the Phillies put in the $50,000 claim, already has a franchise record with 11 RBIs this postseason. That's two more in this October for Victorino than Alex Rodriguez has in all his Octobers combined with the Yankees.

This isn't the team of Wild Thing, Mitch Williams. This is a team of Sure Thing, Brad Lidge, the closer who has now run off 46 saves without a blown save this year, including two in the NL Division Series against Milwaukee and three in the NLCS against the Dodgers.

"I've been talking all year long -- we're a day-to-day team and we come on that day to beat you,'' Manuel said. "When we come to the ballpark each day, we come to win that game. Like I said (Monday night), last night's game was the biggest game, and tomorrow's is going to be the biggest. And they keep getting bigger until somebody tells you to go home or something."

The Phillies are used to being told to go home, which is why being able to hang around the party late this time around is so special.

Not only are the Phillies the only team in history to lose 10,000 games all-time, but they have been the only one with 10,000 losses since August of 2007.

There are four franchises that have never been to a World Series, although Tampa Bay is in line to end its drought this year, but none of them have been around long enough to match the failures of a Phillies franchise that has suffered through a dozen 100-loss seasons in its history. The Washington Nationals came into being as the Montreal Expos back in 1969. Texas has been around since 1961, when it came into being as the expansion Washington Senators. Seattle has been coming up short ever since 1976.

This year, though, the Phillies have a chance to rewrite a franchise history, better known for blowing the NL pennant in 1964, when the late Gene Mauch tried to survive with a two-man rotation down the stretch and still lives down a quick mention when the subject of biggest chokes in sports history are discussed.

They, however, need four more wins to make it all worthwhile. And the Phillies know that.

"The job isn't done yet,'' said shortstop Jimmy Rollins. "We've got to stay hungry. When you're winning, you don't play like you're losing, but you don't play like you're done.''