PHILADELPHIA — It was a year in which Shane Victorino reached the top — and then some.

It began right around this time a year ago when he and the Philadelphia Phillies ended a 25-year span of futility in this city by winning it all; the first team here to do so since Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. It got better when fellow native Hawaiian Barack Obama was elected President, a man Victorino would later meet on a couple of occasions.

Then came the culmination of his personal success, being selected by the fans to the National League All-Star team in St. Louis, where he singled in his first All-Star at bat. And finally, being back on baseball's biggest stage, the World Series, put a capper on it. For the kid from St. Anthony High in Maui who could ask for more?

Except that Shane Victorino doesn't see it that way. "I'm not satisfied with my year until we win,'' said Victorino a few days before the Yankees dashed that hope. "I'm not satisfied yet.''

But when he took a moment to think about it later, the man they call the Flyin' Hawaiian conceded how extraordinary the past 365-plus days have been.

"It's been a wonderful year,'' admitted Victorino, who like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and other key teammates struggled throughout the World Series. Victorino batted just 4-for-21 (.182) after playing well in the earlier rounds. "Having all these accomplishments winning the World Series (in 2008) receiving our (championship) rings meeting the President playing in the All-Star Game it's been a glorious year. Winning it all would've been the ultimate.''

The Yankees had something to say about that, shutting down Victorino & Co. to knock off the Phillies in six games. And despite forcing Mariano Rivera to throw his complete array of pitches, eventually it was Victorino grounding out to second baseman Robinson Cano that ended the 2009 World Series.

Now Victorino and Eric Hinske, who struck out vs. Brad Lidge to end it in '08, share a dubious distinction. "I can feel what Hinske felt last year,'' smiled Victorino, who was reportedly sick during the week, though he never used that as an excuse for his lack of productivity. "I guess I'm gonna be on the highlights all off season watching myself make the last out.

"I definitely didn't want to be that guy. I definitely didn't want to make the last out of the season. Unfortunately it didn't work out.''

When it was over, mixed among the disappointment of coming up just short of their quest for Victorino, was a feeling of pride.

"It says a lot about us,'' said Victorino, who hit .292 for the season, with 10 homers and 62 RBIs. "A lot of teams win and the next year you don't hear about them.

"So to be here for the second year in a row says a lot about the character and chemistry of this team.''

And any suggestion the Phillies took shortcuts to their success by stealing signs, such as Dodgers' third base coach Larry Bowa — the former Yankees' coach and Phillies manager — implied on a radio talk show earlier in the week, were vehemently denied by Victorino.

He pointed out an obvious flaw to that theory. "Obviously, if we were stealing signs we would've done better than what we did,'' he reasoned. "You know, everybody makes excuses and tries to find a reason. But don't downgrade our team and say that we're not good. You're not giving us enough credit.''

As the Series went on, the Phillies received their fair share of recognition. The only problem was the Yankees had all the answers. And Victorino never seemed to find his stride against pitchers like CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Rivera, scoring just three runs in the six games.

That's a sharp contrast to the three homers, eight RBIs, .361 average and eight runs scored vs. the Rockies (four games) and Dodgers (five) previously. "Going into this season, everyone knew the Yankees were going to be a great team," said Victorino. "We battled, but you have to tip your cap to them.

"We would have loved to win again for the city and for us. Unfortunately we didn't. But I always look at the positives and that's that we're here for the second year in a row and I don't see why we can't be here a third and fourth.''

So now it's time for the Flyin Hawaiian to head off into the sunset. It figures to be a hectic off-season for Victorino, who is getting married.

And there's not a whole lot of time for him to kick back and relax with the start of spring training only three months away.