Dad’s reinforcement made me a stronger sports fan

For Father’s Day, our Phillies Nation writers are sharing stories about their dads. Here’s Kirsten Swanson.

Growing up, my dad had an odd schedule. He was in bed by 7 p.m. and out the door to work by 2 a.m. He knew if the Phillies won or lost based on how many times we woke him up with our screams at the TV. If he saw 20 games a season, that was a lot.

Almost everything I learned about sports, especially baseball, came from my mom. And my dad wouldn’t want it any other way.

He is the first to admit the women in his life know more about sports than anybody else. His acceptance and reinforcement gave me the courage to go to school and talk sports with the boys at recess. When he picked me up from school, WIP was always on the radio station. Throughout college when I interned at Comcast SportsNet and the Philadelphia Flyers, I never once doubted if I belonged in a room full of men. When other guys were asking me which player I thought was the cutest, my dad was asking me which free agent the Phils should target.

It was my father who took me up to the front of the line that secured me the best job ever, working at Citizens Bank Park during the best run in Phillies history. It was my father who sneaked me out of school to go to the early-April afternoon game. It was my father who taught me what the numbers on the Vet’s scoreboard meant.

It was my father who taught me when it comes to baseball, women know best.