Phillies Nation

You read that right; you can win 2 DIAMOND CLUB tickets to the Phillies/Cardinals game on September 17th at 7:05. Here is how to win:

-Go to the BQ Basement Systems Facebook page and give them a “LIKE.”

-After giving BQ a “like,” all you have to do is open up your wallet for a great cause. Just donate $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous) to a wonderful charity, Give2TheTroops. BQ is giving 100 percent of the proceeds of this giveaway to this worthy cause.

-So, give BQ Basement Systems a LIKE, and donate $5 or more to Give2TheTroops and that’s it! You’ll be automatically entered to win the tickets.

(A random drawing will take place on Thursday, September 15 at 7 pm. You’ll be notified through facebook, so keep an eye open to see if you’ve won!)

Good luck, from Phillies Nation!

Former Phillie Jayson Werth will make his return to Citizens Bank Park Tuesday, May 3 at 7:05. As you’re well aware, Werth spent four solid seasons in Philadelphia before leaving for greener pastures in Washington D.C. (or a losing record and a lot of cash, depends on how you look at it).

Want to see him make his return? Want to be able to cheer him or boo him, whichever you prefer? Well Phillies Nation can help! With the help of our ticket partner, TiqIQ, we’re giving away two tickets to Phillies/Nationals on May 3rd for his return. All you have to do is register on facebook, and here’s how:

Continue reading Win Tickets to See Werth’s First Game Back!

San Francisco's AT&T Park.

Wanna win a free trip to San Francisco to watch an NLCS rematch between the Phillies and Giants? Of course you do, and it’s so simple. All you have to do is sign up at 973ESPN.com, listen for your name, and you’re entered! Seriously, that’s it.

Our partner radio station, 97.3 ESPN FM, invites you into the VIP Club for a chance to score the 97.3 ESPN Road Trip to see the Phillies and Giants live in San Fran!

If you’re in South Jersey, just tune to 97.3 ESPN FM on the radio. But if you can’t get to a radio, listen online anywhere at 973ESPN.com. You can also download the ESPN Radio iPhone app available now!

Sign up now - register below and listen for us to call your name weekday afternoons at 2:20, 3:20, 4:20 and 5:20!
If you hear your name call us within 30 minutes to instantly qualify for the 97.3 ESPN Road Trip to San Fran which includes:
Airfare, Hotel at the Westin San Francisco Market Street, Tickets for two games to see the Phils and Giants on August 6th and 7th at AT & T Park with sweeping views of the City and Bay.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE VIP CLUB!

The Philadelphia Phillies have become our Boys of Fall.

In 2007, they stormed their way past the Mets for a spot in the playoffs. In 2008, Cole Hamels led the charge head on into the early-winter winds of November, helping bring home the Phillies first title since 1980. The following season brought on more autumnal artistry by the team, although they fell short of the ultimate goal. Last season, the Phillies gave us a great ride to the NLCS, but were knocked out by the Giants.

Kenny Kline was one of the Boys of Fall himself. A former football and baseball player at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, and a one-time employee of Citizens Bank Park in the “Phun Zone,” the Phillies were a big part of Kenny’s upbringing, as they are for so many here in the region. In many of his pictures, you’ll see him rocking a red Phillies shirt, supporting his boys.

During the Phillies championship-winning season of ’08, Kenny’s Rhawnhurst Recreation club played in their own championship game at Citizens Bank Park. I was lucky enough to witness the game with Kenny’s oldest sister, Jennifer, and our good friend Jeff. He was able to celebrate with a victory on the same field the big guys did. Thrilling.

Kenny was also on his way to becoming a police officer. He was in the process of taking classes and readying himself for the Philadelphia Police Academy.

Kenny Kline, someone I am, and will always be, honored to call a friend, died Sunday following a motorcycle accident on Saturday in Philadelphia. He was 18-years old. The Kline family decided to use his healthy body to help others, so they donated his organs to prolong the lives of many people throughout region.

Continue reading A Phillies Fan Gone too Soon

Folks, if you missed out on the party, here’s your chance to be involved in the Phillies Nation Opening Day trip to Washington D.C.  Phillies Nation, along with our partner radio station 97.3 ESPN FM in South Jersey, is giving away two tickets, including a ride on the bus and a spot at the tailgate.  Here’s how to win:

Up until we give the tickets away on April 1st, listen in to the Sports Bash with Mike Gill from 3-7 Monday through Friday on 97.3 ESPN FM or 973ESPN.com. Mike will ask Phillies trivia questions to callers at a specific time in the show (listen in, he’ll tell you when), and if you answer the question correctly, you’ll be entered to win the two spots on the DC Bus trip.

For readers of the site, here’s the added bonus:  Below are the questions we will be asking today.  Each day we will ask a new set of 10 questions and they will be posted here on Phillies Nation.  Be sure to listen in and give yourself a chance to hang with hundreds of Phillies fans as Roy Halladay takes the mound for the first time in DC.

Good luck and remember, the only way to win is to tune into 97.3 ESPN FM or 973ESPN.com from 3-7 today up until the giveaway on April 1st!

Today’s 10 Phillies Trivia Questions:

DAY 5:

• Name 3 of the 4 Phillies who have been named NLCS MVP:
• This former Phillie is the oldest player in MLB history to hit a home run.
• This TOP 20 Phillie of all-time has led the team in stolen bases in a season more times than any other player in franchise history?
• Who were the last 2 Phillies to lead off a game with back-to-back home runs.  Hint: they still play together:
• Name the only 2 Phillies to hit for the Cycle since 1980:
• In the 2007 NLDS in which the Phillies were swept by the Rockies, the Phils only managed to score 8 runs.  Who was the only Phillie to cross the plate more than once in that series?
• Name 2 of the 3 former Phillies that played on the Florida Marlins 1997 World Series team:
• In the epic NLCS Game 4 comeback last season (the one in which J-Roll hit a 2-run double to win it off Jon Broxton) who was the pinch runner that scored the tying run in the 9^th before Carlos Ruiz came around to score the winning run?
• Name 3 of the 5 players in the infamous 5-for-1 deal that brought Von Hayes to Philadelphia.
• In 1997, this huge free agent signing managed just 7 at-bats before missing the season after fouling a ball off his foot and breaking it. He had over 200 career home runs before his time in Philly, but couldn’t manage a hit during his quick stint here.   Who was this masher ?

This is the final installment of Fan Friday – thanks to everyone who sent in a story!

I was born and raised in West Philly. I am a die-hard Phillies fan.

Since I moved to North Carolina, my love for the Phillies has not changed.

I still attend a half dozen or so games. I even got a personalized North Carolina plate to support the team.

Phillies pride is here to stay.

I have followed the team since before the 1993 season. Along the way, I have collected much merchandise. My pride and joy is my hat collection: all sizes, shapes, colors and types.

Many of you may remember one of our more beloved Fan Friday participants, Sister Janice, from her post three weeks ago (if not, read it now).  I know one generous person from South Carolina in particular can recall the story.  Just over a week ago, this anonymous fan mailed Sister two free tickets to the April 20th game versus the Padres.  While not quite a Phillies miracle, it really goes to show the true nature of Phillies fans – good-hearted people that flat-out love the Phillies and consider fellow fans family.  If the anonymous ticket donor is reading this post, please know that Sister Janice was brought to tears by your gift and will certainly be attending the game.  For anyone else going to the game that day, be on the look out for one of the biggest Phillies fans around.

As weird as it may seem, my life has always been defined as being a Phillies fan. That’s what I’m known for.

That’s how and part of the reason why I married my husband. We even had a Phillies-themed wedding.

The best story about my insane Phillies obsession comes from when I was 13 years old. I just had spinal surgery and was being watched closely in recovery by the nurses. The Phillies were playing the Dodgers in LA and Carlton was pitching. Even in my pain, I was listening to the game. I had a little ear piece attached to a small radio. No one could hear except for me. It was around 11 p.m. and pretty quiet on the girl’s ward. All of a sudden, Lefty hit a grand slam, and I started screaming! Well, all of the nurses came running and even called the doctor on call. Needless to say, they were not very happy when they realized my screams were caused by the Phillies! From then on, I was allowed to watch on a TV by the nurses’ desk so that they would know why I was screaming!

When I was released from the hospital, I had a full body cast, but my sister was able to draw Tug’s jersey on the back.

I have found that rooting for the Phillies is a wonderful way to unite people and a city that might otherwise have nothing in common. It is a great game, and the Phillies are not just someone to root for, they are a way of life.

Let’s Go Phillies!!

I am without a doubt the biggest Phillies fan to ever draw breath, and I think my lifetime of accomplishments speaks for itself. I have written in Mike Schmidt for president in every presidential election since I was old enough to vote.

The 1980 World Championship means so much to me that I’m able to forgive Tug McGraw not only for playing for the Mets, but for fathering Tim McGraw. In fact, I’d likely forgive him for Pearl Harbor and the Irish Potato Blight. I have dressed as the Phanatic every Halloween since 1989. When a friend pointed out that it was getting a little small on me I called the CIA and had him arrested for being a terrorist. I once started a bar fight with Daryl Strawberry just because. As a teenager I attempted to break into the Vatican and repaint the saints on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the image of the Phillies championship team. I was discovered and kicked out of the Vatican before I was halfway through.

I used to be an astronaut, but I got kicked out of the space program when NASA discovered my plan to plant a Phillies pennant on Mars. Betsy Ross originally intended the U.S. flag to be beige, teal, and salmon, but I built a time machine, traveled back to 1777, and kicked her in the stomach until she saw reason and changed it to Phillies Red, White, and Blue.

I have devoted my life to the Phillies and I have only one regret; not selling my left kidney for World Series Tickets when I had the chance. Please Phillies Nation, help me keep my organs and fulfill my dream by voting me the biggest Phillies fan.