Winning is Sweet

At the August 23 game I laughed more heartily than I had in a long time. Maybe it was the warmth of being with good  friends, the 15th row height of our 419 section seats just above home plate, or the great weather. Or it could have just been Shane Victorino's  home run, John Mayberry Jr's three run home run, Shane's three run triple, or watching this 'Mets men's group' on the mound. What are they saying anyway? "What the ### do we do now?", or "Stop being such sensitive new age men and start kicking butt", or "I hear they make great cheese steaks in this part of town, let's get outta here NOW." Whatever they were saying, it didn't matter 'cause at least tonight they were being out hit, out run, and eventually, out pitched.

Worley had a rough first two innings, getting out of some jams with some good defense from the infield and catches from the outfield. Once he settled down, though, his teammates  helped him out with a great batting barrage. Oh, and Worley hit some, too. Yeah, 2 out of 3 times at bat, and he came home on an RBI.
For a few innings we were up on our feet most of the time, screaming or clapping. How surprised we were to look back to see a fan sleeping through  most of the whole game

The only place the Mets showed up the Phillies was when they completed a 'hit and run'. Okay,  I didn't really know what that was, and had to use my oft said expression "What just happened?" So here is the explanation: A hit and run normally occurs when the coach sends the runner to 2nd while the batter attempts to hit the ball. If it works correctly the runner will get to third on a single (which happened) or he will get to 2nd and avoid the double play on a grounder to an infielder. (thanks Joe).

 That just went by too fast for me, but it was fun to watch.

This game made up for the torrential rain game last on the 18th, which was the first game that I had ever left before the end. We had seen the best 3 innings, the Phillies did eventually win it, and it was a good decision not wait out the 2 hour delay, but still left me disappointed. Tonight no rain, no delays, all fun.

Joe, Tobie, Vic, Peter, and an errant Red Sox fan.
 (Just behind Joe's head is the guy who slept through most of the game. His head is down in this picture!)

Winning IS sweet.

Pretzels, water for a buck, t-shirts for five

I usually take pictures of the park, the players, the fans. Tonight, arriving early, gave me a chance to talk with and take pictures of the people who 'work for their money'.

If you worked at the ball park, what would you do?

Would you sell beer and pretzels like Al and Vernon? You can find them at Ashburn Alley, named after Phillies Hall of Fame center fielder Richie Ashburn, who played for the team from 1948 to 1959 and was a Phillies broadcaster from 1963 until his death in 1997.
Al worked at the Vet for 30 years, then made the transition to Citizens Bank Park when the first ball was pitched on April 12, 2004. He is the kind of guy you would love to sit and talk with for hours, knowing that he has great stories to tell. Of course, having chatted for awhile, I had to buy a pretzel from them which, I admit, was much tastier than the ones I had bought outside the ballpark .

Or would you like to whisk the paper cone into the cotton candy machine, spinning the pink giant bouffant of sugar fluff?



Could you imagine yourself as the artist  in front of your easels  ready to draw those exaggerated cartoon portraits?




How heavy are those cases?
Beer is a big seller. (duh) Some bottles are sold at stands around the park, but the hardest job at the park is carrying around cases of beer. When I asked to take the picture of the seller to the left, he immediately put down his load to stand up proudly with all his buttons on display. I did see him later hauling his case on top of his head while clamoring up and down the 400 level steps.  With a South Philly carnival hawkers voice, loud, boisterous, he seemed happy to be working.

 And finally, when the game is over we pass the ever present saxophone player, the New Orleans style brass band, and entrepreneurs with coolers full of gaterade and water, and then there is that woman selling CDs (3 hours of content, ???? she explains),

We approach the SEPTA subway station greeted by the chant:  

Pretzels, water for a buck, T-shirts for five.