This blog began as a way to record my musings about preparations and travels to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada February 16-27, 2010. From that amazing experience came this ongoing story of becoming a sports fan. You can follow my tales of awe, agony, and all the emotions in between as well as view pics from seasons of Phillies baseball. Along the way is a little Eagles football thrown in for fun, and even some astronomy and weather related tales. I feel lucky to have witnessed some historic games, some heartbreaking losses, but all wonderful when told from this new fan's point of view.

Blog Archives postings:
Dec 2009-Feb 2010
Olympics
March 2010-Dec 2011
Baseball and more
2011 The Phillies do again, winning the Eastern Championship for the 5th straight year.
April 2012-Sept 27 2012 Not the best season for the Phillies
2013-We wait and see!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Reasons to go to a baseball game

Just a few reasons to go to a baseball game.
  1. Your team is playing. No matter how dismal the season, you go support them. 
  2. Your team is playing. BECAUSE of the great season, you want to be part of the magic. 
  3. Your team is playing another team that you think might end up in the post season, so you go to see a potential champion.
  4. Your team is IN the post season and you decide to lay out the bucks to see a game
  5. There are individual players who create excitement on the field and in the stands
  6. It is a champion's last season
  7. A player has just been brought up from the minors, so checking him out
  8. A player has been injured and is returning from the DL.
  9. The weather is great, the setting is extraordinary, the view tremendous
  10. Some one or some group is being honored
  11. It's permission to scream and cheer with 30,000 of your closest friends
  12. You can enjoy time with a few of your closest friends
  13. You get to sing
  14. For a chance to be surprised 
  15. To learn more about the game
  16. To introduce others to the game
  17. To witness the elegance of athletes in motion
  18. To have stories to tell at work 
  19. To reflect and write
  20. It's part of the routine of your spring, summer, early fall life
Perhaps there are more , but these are the reasons that I have experienced in the past 4 years.

Derek Jeter send off

Reason #6 for going to a baseball game: To watch a champion in the last season

 In 2010, the first season when I started my  journey to become a Phillies Phan,I went with my friend Robert, who is a Yankees FFB (Fan from Birth) to a stormy rain delay game at the new Yankee stadium.  The game had resumed, but the rain was still evident and a definite obstacle to play.  The Mariner batter hit a high pop up to the infield that must have been hard to judge, but this player positioned himself under it, waited it out and caught it securely in his glove. And then-oh my-he flashed a smile that could be seen all the way up to the high level stands where we were sitting. "Who is that?" I exclaim innocently. I never forgot that catch, that smile and the name: Derek Jeter  #2.

And so now 4 years later in 2014, this 20 year champion is taking his last run around the bases, and it seems that all are joining him in the celebration. Buying tickets even in a lackluster season is difficult especially when I try my choice to go to a Yankees- Orioles game. With the Orioles in 1st place, there are no tickets to be found for a reasonable price.

Good to know that Robert, still wants to go (see reason # 1) and that we can find a date that we are both available. Yes, it's against the Red Sox, whose fortunes have plummeted after lasts year's World Series Championship. Yet, I can't find any seats on the Yankees ticket site, so need to search on StubHub to find suitable tickets.

The risk in any game is that a championship team or player may not play at that level when you see them on any given night  and visa versa (i.e. the most recent last place Phillies series sweep against the 1st place Nationals). Nor is it clear even that the player you want to watch will be in the lineup!

But no matter the circumstances, on this beautiful rain free evening in my customary seats way up high but behind home plate, we find ourselves seated early enough to enjoy the view of the Bronx and settle in for this night of baseball. I am expecting some type of ceremony, entertainment,throwing out of the first pitch,but there is only one of these. A Little League team is being honored, and some employees of the month are identified and given awards. Where is the first pitch? isn't there a  mascot of some kind? I realize that the Philly Phanatic is relatively unique and his antics on the field are not the norm for all games.

But there are some fun traditions-the workers who come out in the middle of the game with the wide rakes dance to the song YMCA. The 7th inning stretch that  includes God Bless America. All else is familiar: The silly onscreen games when a new pitcher is warming up, prizes, birthday greetings, cheers when someone catches a foul ball. And of course, the game itself.

Ah-the game. It is not a stellar outing for the Yankees starting pitcher , who allows 2 runs in the first inning. Despite some amazing Yankees catches in the outfield, the Red Sox keep piling on the runs.
In the 6th inning some excitement builds when the Red Sox pitcher walks runners and loads the bases. One batter hits it to the outfield, when a player with speed can usually run for a double. But when the runners ahead of him are contained on 2nd and 3rd, he ends up stuck between the bases and is easily  picked off in the middle.
 From this rally only 2 runs are scored, and the Red Sox continue to dominate.

The most exciting Jeter play is when he outruns the ball thrown to first base. Originally called an out, the play is reviewed and overturned, bringing in one of the 4 runs scored during the game.

The entire game was, as they say, 'not pretty'. Final score  Red Sox 9 Yankees 4

I've been watching people in my life enter retirement and asking questions about how they managed that last month or so. I am charmed, puzzled, intrigued by the many ways that people end their last days of work. I think Derek Jeter is one model to think about.
Here is someone who is still doing what he loves to do until the very end, with so many people from near and far cheering him on with love and gratitude. He is allowing all of us to celebrate with him, to root for  him and wish him well even if the last season is not the best.

Thanks Derek. Glad I got to see you play.



Friday, August 29, 2014

A great night of baseball


Of all the nights to have a great game, a great winning game, tonight is the night, the second of the series against the first place Washington Nationals.

The Taney Dragons, that illustrious Little league team that has won our hearts, is on this last leg of being feted. After appearing in New York on two morning shows, and riding down Broad Street for a city parade,  we wait for them to enter the ball park to walk down the red carpet. Greeted by family, friends and the whole Phillies team, this is why I decided to come two nights in a row to see baseball.

The night is beautiful and clear, our seats-wow- in the 320 section row 4, a perfect spot to view the city, the pitcher, the batter and the whole field. Janet is a veteran who usually writes on the scorecard. Nancy is a childhood Mets fan who has not been to a game for many years. I'm the one who has some knowledge, an unusual and fun role to play. The pre game entertainment opens with about 7 groups of young Irish dancers. The game is then postponed for the 30 minutes that the Taney Dragons are honored, ending with the traditional champion's run around the field and then each player throwing out a 'first pitch' to a Phillies player.

There is a bit of anxiety knowing that Kendrick is pitching. He performs in his usual style for the 1st inning, allowing (only) 2 runs. But the Phillies answer back right away. Jimmy Rollins, Dominic Brown, Grady Sizemore, Marlin Byrd. It proves to to be a good night of baseball after all, as the Phillies storm ahead to win the game 8-4 against the still first place Nationals.

[spoiler alert-the Phillies sweep the Nationals, winning all three games]


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

So many games, so little time

I'm now on a roll of Phillies games that I never anticipated I would be enjoying back in June or July when we never knew which team to expect at the plate. We called them the schizophrenic Phillies, one day hitting, the other day nothing, downright embarrassing. We have several fun outings, long outings  (see August 6), and then comes----- 

The Taney Dragons

The Taney Dragons?  Yes, the Philly Little League team with an ace pitcher contending for the title at the Little League World Series that caught the attention of the region, the nation and the world. The games thrill us just for the fact of watching Mo'ne Davis the young 13 year old girl pitch like a pro and nail biting final innings. At 70 miles an hour, she shows strength, poise, and a savvy calm that keeps Philly and the world on the edge of our seats for the week that they play.
Ultimately they lose in the semi finals against the tremendous Chicago team, but the city is still in love with these young athletes, rallying around them as hometown heroes

I attend one of the Dragon watch events at City Hall with about 200 people, when the Phanatic arrives with several ballgirls, stacks of free tickets in hand. While in the middle of his customary antics, the ball girls give out the free coupons for tickets. Each coupon is worth 2 tickets and I grab 4 of them. After some posts on Facebook and a few emails enough people want to attend the Tuesday night game against the Washington Nationals, a team that is currently hot and in first place in their division.
Then I hear that the Taney Dragon parade and pre game ceremony will be on Wednesday night. With some  trips to the box office to do the exchanges, I get tickets to both games.

For the first, I  am joined by Mike and Joe along with Rachel, Mike's daughter and her children Mia, Daniel visiting from Denmark for a wedding. While Daniel, who has played softball explains the basics to Mia a first timer, We (meaning me and Joe) are excited that Cole Hamels is pitching and are not disappointed for the first 6 innings when he pitches brilliantly supported by a single homer and an RBI home run. He is able to keep the Nats at bay until the 7th inning, when his change up pitch does not go over the plate. With the bases loaded, the Nats eventually score 2 runs for a 3-2 game. Even I know that another pitcher is needed to come into the game, but no one is warming up in the bullpen. So, in the next inning another run evens up the score.


It was only until the bottom of the 8th that  a runner who reaches first on a reviewed play, is driven in by a long sacrifice play by Chooch to keep the Phillies ahead again. Giles pitches well in relief and so does Papelbon (last night he almost blew the save). Maybe Papelbon should be called the relief pitcher, for the relief we feel when he makes it through the inning unscathed.

Another win for the Phils and the 2nd against the Nats in this homestand.

But it doesn't end there. Tomorrow is Taney day, another game, and next week the Yankees, then Sept 9 the last game with Peter. Wonder when the last home game is scheduled? Time to scour StubHub for one last game to close out the season.


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Phantastically Phrustrating Phun game with Phriends

Tonight, or rather last night, or rather this morning's game was the third time I've gotten to stand up for a 14th inning stretch! And each time we won, so the several thousand of us diehard fans who stayed sang  the traditional "He's got High Hopes" as more of a scream than a song.

The game ended at 12:15 am with a win for the Phillies in the bottom of the 15th inning, but not before Peter, Joe, Marc and I had moved down to the 300 section with some other wonderful rowdy folks who cheered and jeered and screamed and sang "Take me out to the ballgame" for the second time.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Baseball story now archived at the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish History

The museum is right across the street from Independence Visitors' Center and the Liberty Bell Plaza, which is where I ended up on July 4 (not the pool you ask? it was too chilly). The museum admission was free, so decided this was a good time to see the Baseball exhibit.
It is a sweet exhibit, with some interesting Jewish ball player lineages and a diagram of the diamond and field with the positions labeled in Yiddush.

But on the second floor is a booth to share stories. To get you started there is a video of two wonderful welcoming people giving directions in the most charming way-'You'll do great" the cheer you on.

The stories can be about history, family and of course Bezbawl. Here is the story I told
http://s3.amazonaws.com/nmajh-live/data/iys/videos/3/20073_640_360_25_544k.mp4

Friday, June 27, 2014

Who says baseball is boring?


After a lackluster first few games that I've attended, I am a bit apprehensive about going to the game, so to clear my mind I concentrate on the sights and sounds and the people that I meet. Leaving early enough around 5:15 allows me to stroll to the subway to enjoy the splashes of red and white shirts, hats and backpacks that weave through the subway cars as we all board the Orange Line to the ballpark. Then at the end of the line, stepping out of the station, I am thrilled by the sounds of the ticket barkers-  "Have a ticket" Need a ticket", the food vendors-"buy your water here, it's $4.50 in the park, buy it for $1.00 here" "Pretzels, hot pretzels", crowds at the sports bar across the street. It all brings a smile to my face. A darling couple with tickets in hand for Diamond Club seats 11 rows behind home plate-tell me that the tickets are a retirement present from their son. "Who's pitching", I ask? "Cole Hamels"  A woman with a Phillies RBI shirt explains the Phillies youth sports for boys and girls that she coaches.

It is all grand. I am slowing down, easing into another game as I find my seat that is the usual birds eye view of home plate, and panoramic view of Philadelphia. The weather-perfect. The friends who have joined me-perfect.

Let's play ball.

You can read the sports writers play by play for a better description of the game, but for me it is one of those 'sit on the edge of your seats' evenings. Most notable are the tremendous diving catches in the outfield and breathtaking balletic outs at  the infield. Cody Asche at 3rd dives to stop a line drive in its tracks and later jumps like a basketball player with his arms stretched as high as he can to catch another.

Ben Revere
End of game 14th inning
A nice steal adds to the drama, and an unfortunate hit to Carlos Ruiz' head another. But of course the most tension filled parts of the game are the 5 extra innings that could go either way several times. The pitchers take charge and do their job, including Papelbon, ( who seems to have changed his entrance music to something even louder than before). There are many chances to be heroes to make that final hit to bring in the run, but the one most deserving for that honor is Chase Utley, who drives in a runner with a home run to right field.

 The final joyous score-Phillies 5  Marlins 3

But wait, the night (or morning by this time) is not over. The field is cleared, the lights turned off in preparation for fireworks.

To use a tried and true phrase: We are blown away.
These are the best choreographed fireworks I have ever seen, from bombastic to quiet, from patriotic to pop, the music and lights mesh perfectly.

Happy happy happy.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

At last a clear night for baseball 2014


Peter, Ron, Gayle, Tobie with Phillies sunglasses
Though there are clouds and a chill at noon, the sky turns blue and lovely for the evening. I think about the anticipation, trying to analyze the indescribable once again as I walk to the subway garbed in Phillies T and hat and a bit of a spring in my step. The Phillies are last in the division and I still feel excited. Go figure.

Trout Jerseys-all the fashion trend







To my puzzlement, at the ballpark 1000s of fans are wearing Angels T shirt with the number 27 on the back. How could there be so many LA Angels fans here tonight and why is everyone so enamored of.........oh I get it- that's Mike Trout's number. And he came from Millville NJ, 35 minutes outside of Philly. Turns out the shirts were made special for this evening's 'homecoming' of sorts, as 8000 Millville fans stream into the park to cheer on their hometown hero.

Even I know about Mike Trout, the 22 year old phenom. Here's a piece from a news article:

"You can feel the energy on Main Street at Jim's Lunch, where Jim Maul's family has served the locals since 1923. "Hey, anyone going to Mike Trout's game Tuesday night?" yells Jim from behind the counter.
"The whole town is coming, you kidding me," says Steve Stanick, president of the Millville American Little League where Trout played. "This is about the biggest thing that's ever happened around these parts." As many as 8,000 of Millville's 28,000 residents loaded onto buses and into cars to make the drive to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday to see Trout make his Philadelphia-area debut"

As we stroll around the park before the game, Gayle spies a woman with a sign that reads ' I was Mike Trout's art teacher". I go right up to her and she is delighted, giddy even, to share that-yes- she taught Mike Trout in elementary school. I can't help but take her face in my hands to drink in the giddy, infectious pride.

But there isn't too much to shout about in his performance. Yes, he does get on base, but no long home runs (fortunately for the Phils) Still, every time he comes up to bat, the crowd cheers. Even when a hit or a homer could mean the Phillies would end up behind (which they eventually did).

Enough about Mike Trout. The Phillies are doing okay with a 2 run lead until Cliff Lee starts to lose control and Cody Asche makes a costly fielding error that lets in two runs. Two more runs later, the Angels are ahead 4-2.  The Phillies never have a sufficient rally, despite another run batted in, and with an anticlimactic double play in the bottom of the 9th inning, the game is over.

Yet, yet, yet........of course it is disappointing........ and of course it's hard to watch gifted athletes underperform. There were some lovely outfield diving catches, and Ryan Howard did catch some over the head balls for a nice surprise that saved the last few innings.

In spite of the loss and the guy behind us who has had his heckling quips down pat, and some over analyzing by Peter's guest, we have had a nice evening. Not exhaltant, not uplifting, but a fine way to spend an evening with friends with the Philly skyline out in front of us, a full moon behind us, and baseball.

First game postponed

The previous day's game is played under terrible conditions, but it seems they don't want to lose two games to postponements. That is what happens to the April 30th game. I am prepared in the morning for the worst case scenario:  my pack is filled with two layers against the cold, rain gear, heavy socks, an umbrella, winter coat, gloves, hat. The day is stormy from the morning on out, and soon enough the game is called.

See you June 2

Friday, April 25, 2014

Late night baseball

The west coast games start at 10:00 pm, so there is no likelihood of sticking it out to the final innings. I am sorry that I couldn't stay awake for the last game of the Dodgers series, knowing now that in the ninth inning the Phillies bats came alive. No magic home runs, just base by base by base until there were 4 more runs on the board. I heard the final score this morning  7-3, and thought to myself: This is what I love about baseball.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Opening Night with Friends Phillies vs. Brewers

A deceptively warm day turns into a chilly evening especially in the windy 400 level sections, but it is a lovely night of baseball with Ellen, Peter and Shaofei,  a student who helped the Drexel visitors to China in July 2013. I had been waiting for a chance to reciprocate his generosity in guiding us in Beijing, and this was the perfect opportunity. You see, he had never seen a professional baseball game, and knew little if nothing about the game.

With just a few tips from me about watching the pitchers, the scoring, and after introducing the unusual vocabulary of baseball, we were able to enjoy a game that had all that you'd want for a demonstration of the pleasures of baseball (except a win!). All in all he saw a balk, a steal, strike outs, two double plays, a triple, a home run (darn, for the other team), a batter getting hit, some walks, beautiful diving catches, some errors, and the newest twist in the game-replay reviews. Not to mention, an elementary school singing the Star Spangled Banner (really it was cute, but couldn't they get a real singer for the opening night?!), and the four of us swaying as we sang Take me out to the ballgame
.

Wearing the opening night T-shirt on a glorious, chilly night
The Phillies were playing some nice 'small ball', and the first pitcher Hernandez was doing well. At 4-4 in the 8th, we were quite hopeful. Too bad it fell apart when the relief and closers took over.With an error by Ryan Howard, the runs started pouring with the final discouraging score of 9-4


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Let the season begin 2014

I am never sure in the beginning what I will feel like when the season starts, but this year I have these sensations of excitement, of Halleluyah that surfaced in the past week. There is a new TV program on every night that shows all the games in progress, which is helping me see who all the players are on the other teams. Of course, I'm quite happy when the Phillies are highlighted especially when they are winning.

I know, I know it's early. Looking forward to Wednesday's Opening Night game. Hope the weather is good

Monday, February 24, 2014

Will winter never end?

Can't believe it's been 4 years since I started this blog to document  my epic Vancouver Olympic adventure. Go back to the beginning entries to get a taste of what I experienced.

Now  4 years later, , I've written more about the .'..And More'  continuing each year to learn  about being a Phillies Phan with my friends cheering me (and the Phillies) on. With one week to Clearwater baseball, and another 4 until opening day, in the thick of this seemingly endless winter, the ritual preparation has begun as Peter and I chose our six dates for April through September. With 6 sets of tickets in hand, and some checking around to see who wants to go to Opening Night, we long for the time when skiing is a distant memory and skating seems just wrong... a time to hear
Let's Play Ball.

 See you in April.