As last night's crucial World Series Game 4 moved toward the climax at Citizens Bank Park last night, Phillies fans kept the faith that their back-to-back dream could still come true.

Jamie Elfant, 26, and Andreas Graefe, 30, both from South Philly, wore their handmade hats of the 2008 World Series championship trophy and gold sashes - Graefe wore 2008; Elfant wore 2009.

Elfant, whose parents Bob and Nancy of Mount Airy are Phillies die-hards, had to teach the basics of baseball to Graefe, who came here from his native Germany 2 years ago.

"People at the ballpark looked at us like we were crazy," Elfant said. "Like, who is this guy that doesn't understand baseball?"

"Is this guy from the same planet?" Graefe said.

"We started dating last year," Elfant said, "and the Phillies won the World Championship. Now I'll never let him go."

Asked why they had come to the game wearing the trophies on their heads, Elfant said: "We thought the fans were getting a little down, but we're here to lift them up."

Jack McMenamin, 63, of Bryn Mawr, looking mah-velous in a black tuxedo with red cummerbund, bow tie and Phillies cap, stood out in the leftfield standing-room crowd in front of Harry the K's Grill.

He brought his sons Brian, 23, of Center City, and Jeffrey, 21, a Temple senior who mysteriously managed to break into the Bank and see Game 4 without a ticket.

Jack McMenamin, who's been coming to Phils games since 1959, when he saw Richie Ashburn awarded the batting title, wore the tux last night because this was his first time seeing a World Series game at the ballpark.

Even though the Phils were trailing, 4-2, in the fifth inning, McMenamin said he was sure the Phils would repeat as champs.

"It's their time. It's really meant to be . . . I don't doubt that the Phillies will win. My only question is who will be Mr. November."

Debbie Neidrich, of Edgewater Park, Burlington County, stood behind the left-field seats desperately trying to watch her Phillies come back in the eighth inning with sons Christopher Devoy, 36, in Yankees gear, and Michael, 26, and Kevin, 35, in Phillies gear.

Christopher said his Yankee loyalty is his mom's fault because her mother Catherine McHugh loved the 1950s Yankees and Mickey Mantle.

"My grandmother always said the only man she'd leave my grandfather for was the Mick," Christopher said. "She said it with a smile, but I believed her."

His brothers offered alternative theories.

"He roots for the Yankees because he's not as smart as I am," said Michael, whose face and shaved head was a Philies vision in red and white grease paint.

"He roots for the Yankees because he was adopted," said Kevin, laughing. "He's been my best friend my whole life, but not this week."