I’m not from the US and my first real memory of baseball was a shutout loss at the Vet to Atlanta in 2001 though I’ve never been able to track down which game it was, anyway I remember well how bad this team was in the early years under Bowa and the mediocrity that followed. I may not be a 20 year fan but I’ve lived through the highes and lows of these past years and being able to experience a championship run like the one we’ve just had is an experience like no other in sport.

Win or loose from hereout, what this means is the Phillies have made us proud to pull on that Jersey with your favourite player on the back with the satisfaction of what it means to be a fan of a winning team. Most of all whats so exciting is we can now look to the guys on the roster and some great prospects we have in the wings and feel they have every reason to succeed whereas before there was always a reason to fail.

Here is my story of what the Phillies winning the World Series, I was four in 1980, and many things I have forgotten in those years following but I do remember being at my Grandmother’s house watching the Phils play the Cubs in the first ever night game in Wrigley on her birthday that year of 1988, well fast-forward to 2002, I was 26 years old and I lost probably one of the biggest Phillies fans in my life my aunt, she and my mother are twins and it didn’t matter if the Phils were in the basement or competing they both followed every pitch and every out, and in her honor for the Final Innings at the Vet our whole family gathered, and I purchased my mother and father the Sunday package for 2004 at the Bank, and she took my aunt’s picture with her to every game she attended that year and then 2006 I lost my Grandmother, last year on her birthday of 2007 I went to her grave and asked for her to help them win, and this year whenever I went to the game at Bank I made sure to have a picture of both my Aunt and Grandmother with me.

The Phillies winning the World Series means that I know my Aunt and Grandmother are smiling down from ultimate baseball park and enjoying the view, even though they are watching the great ones like Ashburn , Tugger, Vuck, Klein,and Double XX and all of the past Phillies play the game still.

He doesn’t like us too much right now.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spmets025908843nov02,0,5380929.story

I’m well aware of my team’s players and their endorsements; from Jimmy and Nike to Chase and Vaseline (what was he thinking?!?!) to Carlos Ruiz’s hot-dog eating local car dealership commercials. My comment was that the players on the team that don’t have the big sponsorships, that don’t have the top-selling jerseys, but, who have meant a lot to this team are the players that I was happy to see get the WS win. Contrary to popular blog-o-sphere belief, us Phils fans aren’t thinking about the Mets 24/7 and not every comment made on here is in reference to them.

I am 22 and have been going to Phils games as long as I can remember. I have to thank my dad personally for taking me to all those mid to late 90s games where I was part of the JR. Phillies club, and he would wait with me up to two hours for autographs of the nobodies such as Wes Chamberlain, Toby Borland and Kevin Jordan.

As I grew older it was “cooler” for me to just to games with my buddies. I’ve been to over 100 games mostly because of dad, but it killed me that I never invited him to go with us in high school.

After graduating from college, I decided to stay in NY and work up there (it was brutal with Mets fans talking trash, but it has been joyous the past week). I decided to go home for the final weekend of play and get tickets for the game. As much as I thought of my friends, there was no one else I wanted to go with besides my father. Through my cousin we upgrated to Hall of Fame club, and after the clinching double play I never felt a more heartfelt hug then from my father.

Throughout the playoffs, like most coversations, all we discussed was the Phillies. My life totally revolved around the team, whereas his love of the team only grew from mine. When the Phillies won, I was with my best friend and not my father, and as happy as I was, I wish my father was there. Afte hugging my best friend, then heading to Cottman and Frankford, then hugging and high-fiving total stangers, I came home to find my father, still awake way past his bed time, waiting for me. It was the first time in my life that he actually kissed me on the cheek–then I knew this win was as much a part of me as was him. I love my father and appreciate all he does for me, and without him I wouldn’t be a Phils fans

Tim, thank you so much for expressing what I couldn’t for the past 7+years about our fathers. It couldn’t have been said any better. I’m so happy that all of us, you, me, our fathers, and all fans, can enjoy this amazing moment. Keep up the good work kid.

Go Phillies!!!!!!!

this is why I find you so difficult here at times. you want everyone to love you as the “reasonable mets fan” but you love to split hairs any chance you can and get your digs in.

These are tremendous stories and thanks for sharing them. Hell reading many of them bring a tear of nostalgia and happiness.

Any words I can muster could never compare to the scripts upon these pages but I was 10 years old when the Phillies won in 1980. I was a fan because everyone in the family was and I realy never understood the passion until I became older. I grew into the Phillies more and more with each passing season until I shared the same passion for the game and the team.

Unfortunately, I probably have only seen less than 5 games in person (2 at the Vet and 2 at CBP) but I watched every game or listened on the radio if I was at work.

I am still in la la land regarding the win this year. I stayed optimistic at every turn no matter what people said. I knew somehow in my heart of hearts that they would go all the way.

My dad smiles and chuckles at me now because I went from the litle boy watching and not understanding ti the man who acts like a screaming maniac whenever something does not go our way when I am watching. I have come fully into the passion and I am so proud of the boys this year.

Thanks again for all the wonderful posts.