Phillies Nation

While I love all Philadelphia sports teams, there is something about the Phillies that speak to my soul. Back in the late 1980s my father purchased the Sunday partial season ticket plan. Now, of course, at the time the Phillies were horrible. Despite this, I came to love them anyway.

Sundays after church in the summer were always about going up to the Vet and sitting in the blistering sun. Like church, from an early age I came to the opinion that you never, never leave a game early. The only time I’ve ever left a game early has been when I was dependent on others for rides. I was lucky enough to be at the Vet in 1993 when the Phils beat the Braves to clinch the pennant. It was the greatest feeling I ever had, until 2008, when I was lucky again: I was at Citizens Bank Park for Game 5. I remember being at the Parade and it was a gorgeous fall day. I felt that God was telling all Phillies fans that we had to suffer through the years of horrible seasons, Joe Carter, and several rainy World Series games to really appreciate it all.

One of my most treasured possessions is the framed cover of the Philadelphia Inquirer and ticket stub from Game 5 of the ’08 World Series. It’s in my room at home. When things are less than perfect, it reminds that there are moments in life that can give us so much joy. The Phillies do that for me.

- David

Read more “Why I Love the Phillies” stories from Phillies Nation readers here.

The 2013 baseball season is upon us and now is the time to make plans to follow your Phillies on the road with us. For the third straight year, we are partnering with our friends at Phils Fever to bring you some amazing trips in great locations around the country.

Like every year, the road trip season starts in Clearwater with Spring Training and this year it will conclude with a Phillies in Wrigley / Temple football at Notre Dame super-trip – with plenty of fun in between. You can find information on the six trips that are currently available below. Plans for the Washington, DC trips are still being finalized, so they are not available yet, but will be soon. There are 3 trips coming up quickly in March and April, so email some friends now and start booking your spots before we sell out!

Continue reading 2013 Phillies Road Trips

With pitchers and catchers officially reporting tomorrow, it is time to wrap up our yearly off-season look at the the Phillies Non-Rostered Invitees to Spring Training. Individually, we reviewed the outfield, catchers, infielders, relievers, and wrapped up the starting pitchers yesterday. Think of today’s post as a preseason yearbook, pulling it all together, with superlatives and some bonus ZIPS projections for each player that receives a superlative. Continue reading 2013 Non-Roster Invitees: Wrap Up

I HATE the fans in Philadelphia. They love the Phillies only when they are winning but God forbid they lose or like this past season, crash and burn the…the so-called “fans” do nothing but trash them.

In 2009 after the Phillies lost the World Series to The Yankees I was wearing my Phillies jacket and a woman walking with her husband turned to him and said something like, “How dare she wear that jacket…they are #*(+@%^*I losers.” I turned to her and said, “A TRUE FAN LOVES THEIR TEAM REGARDLESS IF THEY WIN OR LOSE.”

They did not make it to the playoffs this year but I am STILL wearing my Phillies gear even though they traded Hunter and Shane.

- Laurie

Read more “Why I Love the Phillies” stories from Phillies Nation readers here.

Phillies Nation is looking for a new female host for the 2013 season. Following in the footsteps of awesome stints by Natalie and Alex, we think you might be the next host to film alongside Pat and Corey.

This is our third year of the TV show. In year 1, we aired exclusively on YouTube. In year 2, we made our way to televisions in the Lehigh Valley on 2Sports. This year, we’re hitting the Philadelphia airwaves through a new partnership with Comcast. The show will be featured on The Comcast Network and CSNPhilly.com.

So if you think you have what it takes to interview ballplayers and local celebrities; to weather rain delays and wind-strapped South Philly, and be the next Phillies Nation Female Host, complete the application below.

Please use the application to let us know about your experience and interest in the Phillies, journalism or other related subjects.  We highly recommend filming a video of yourself discussing the Phillies, but feel free to upload any photos or videos you think will help tell your story.

Note: This is an unpaid position, but it’s perfect if you’re looking to break into the media industry and meet some great people along the way.

When I was young and growing up in the suburbs I always enjoyed the Phillies, I used to stay up in bed and listen to my transistor radio when they were on a West Coast road trip. Even though they are known as the team that has lost more than any other franchise I have always loved the Phillies even now.

The funny thing to me now is that my little brother never liked the Phils when he was a kid, but now does. As time has gone by I have moved all of the way to Colorado, but following the Phils has kept my connection with the team even now, and I even used to go to the games at Veterans Stadium with my friends and my mother. I remember riding the bus, the El and then the subway to get to the games, what great memories.

- Scott

Read more “Why I Love the Phillies” stories from Phillies Nation readers here.

My name is David. I’m 37 years old and blind since birth. I live in Wernersville, PA, which is ten miles west of Reading. I’ve been a season ticket holder of the Reading Fightin Phils since 1989, and have the same seat since 1994.

I attended the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, and instantly fell in love with the Phillies. Listening to baseball on the radio, if described well, I can still picture in my mind what it is like to see a great diving catch, or climbing the fence to rob a home run, or a majestic Ryan Howard home run. For 20+ years of my life, Harry, Richie, Andy and Wheels have been like extended family. I never miss listening to a game. We’ve had our share of bad years for sure, but 1993, even with the disappointing end made way for the spectacular run we just witnessed culminating with the Parade in 2008.

I can also say that I got to meet Ryan Howard in person in 2004 when he broke the Reading Phillies and Reading baseball record for homers. My family and I got to present Ryan with an award from the fans on the field. I still have the autographed picture. I was also there when Darren Ruf went on his run, and set the new home run record of his own.

Let’s hope the Phillies can return to form in 2013, and have a great season. Regardless of the outcome, I will always remain loyal because I bleed Phillies red – they’re in my heart and soul forever!

Being a London-born Brit, I knew next to nothing about baseball. It just seemed like cricket’s deformed cousin with nice hats.

At college I did a year abroad at UPenn, and pretty instantly found that Philadelphia would be my new second home. I tried pretty hard, yet always in vain, to preach the good word of soccer, but ultimately exciting scores like 0-0 and 1-0 just didn’t get the east coast pulses racing.

My friends took me to hockey, football, basketball, lacrosse. All were pretty fun but not life-changing (although I enjoyed Dallas-bashing). Then in the summer I was ferried to Citizens Bank Park, and my sleeping hours have never been the same since.

The uniforms; the snacks; the stats; the double plays; the insane catches; the “how did he hit it do far with such a thin stick?!”; the social aspect, the stats; the way they pitch; the managerial arguments with the umpires… This was sports as the deity of professional competition had ordained it. My first game was a 3-2 victory over the Nationals, some hard guy named Aaron Rowand hit a ball somewhere near a restaurant. Also, I love that there are so many restaurants IN ONE SPORTS PLACE [(Ashburn Alley)].

Since then I have made 5 annual pilgrimages to see the Phillies, including saving up enough money in 2011 to see all 4 aces, and Joe Blanton for kicks. I even got on the big screen carrying a sign saying “Kate Middleton only married William because Chooch was unavailable”. I now sleep in two-shift patterns so I can watch every game.

I love the Phillies because they remind me of my second home: colourful, passionate and full of characters.

- Lucas

Read more “Why I Love the Phillies” stories from Phillies Nation readers here.

I can’t say when my love for the Phils began, just as I can’t say when I started to talk, walk, and all of the other important things that are basic in life. They have always been there, as essential as breathing. I could say I love them because I was born in Philly, but then I should feel the same for the Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers, but I don’t. Baseball appeals to me in an almost spiritual way, which is probably why I have a Sunday ticket plan.

Listening to the game on the radio in the backyard is a special memory that I hold of the Fightin’s and my dad. Dad was one of the few optimistic Philly fans. Continue reading Why I Love the Phillies – Donna

Ah, 1989: the U.S. inaugurated a new president, Thomas and Friends begins to air on PBS, and the top played song was “Look Away” by Chicago. Around the world, Hirohito passed away, Poland had free elections, the Berlin Wall fell, and the world made Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” the top played song across the globe. It was a pretty big year around the world: holes were being blown through the Iron Curtain as the Cold War wound down. It all makes what the Phillies were going through look pretty small.

The 1989 Phillies entered the season with few expectations and little talent. Mike Schmidt was entering his age 39 season, coming off his worst season since his rookie year. Two seasons removed from his 3.9 fWAR 1987 and three from his 5.0 fWAR 1986, the expectations and mood surrounding Von Hayes had officially turned sour. And the team inexplicably traded away their 29-year old center fielder who looked like he was putting the pieces together to be a strong everyday player (Milt Thompson) for a back-up catcher whose claim to fame is a trading card where he is featured with his pet cockatoo (Steve Lake) and a utility outfielder who was out of the Major Leagues before the end of the 1990 season (Curt Ford).

In hindsight, there are a surprising amount of parallels between the world and the Phillies in 1989, with it being understood that the Phillies positive changes were about 1/1,000,000,000th as positive on the scale of global contribution. Although the song “Wind of Change” by German rockers the Scorpions would not be released until 1991, there was a lot of pretty positive change about to take place both across the world and in the Phillies locker room.

Continue reading Replaced by a Franchise Hero: Dernier/Samuel Combo