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.

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]

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.

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.

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