Inquirer From the Source

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Sunday, November 1, 2009

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Smokin' Joe Frazier is at the ballpark tonight. He served as a surprise referee, taking the field to count out a Yankees-cap-wearing boxer - "The Bronx Bomber" - who took on the Phillie Phanatic in a golden gloves bout.

Or at least, the Phanatic was wearing golden gloves.

The Phanatic delivered a knockout punch to the Bomber.

Frazier took off his black cowboy hat and bowed to the crowd, drawing an enormous cheer.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 10:43 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

And they say the Bronx is tough

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

The barbs are sharp at Citizens Bank Park:

At one point, the home team's scoreboard showed an advertisement urging young people not to use steroids.

The next batter for the Yankees?

Alex Rodriguez.

Must have been a coincidence.

A little later, in left field, a group of persistent Yankee fans were yelling the name of each Yankee player who came to bat. Phillies fans added an addendum to each line.

Yankees fans: "Derek Jeter!"

Phillies fans: "Sucks!"

And on it went ...

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 10:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Wearing his loyalty on his head

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Some fans wear their loyalties on their sleeve.

Joey DelGrosso wears his on his head.

DelGrosso, 22, of New Castle, Del., is sporting a perfect Phillies mohawk tonight - a thin strip of gelled spikes painted red in the center, the sides of his head shaved close, with "Phils" written on either side.

"This took me about four, four and a half hours," said DelGrosso, who did the work himself - he's always been adept at cutting hair.

DelGrosso actually works for the Washington Nationals as a clubhouse manager for their Double A Harrisburg team. But he is a lifelong Phils fan, no question.

Even with the Phillies down 2-1, he was still confident they can win.

"I'm hoping after tonight, it'll be 2-2," said DelGrosso. "Joe Blanton doesn't have CC Sabathia-type numbers. But I'm hoping he does great, and hits a home run, like last year in the playoffs."

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 9:02 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

It's my birthday! Where's my ticket?

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

As the Phillies prepared to play the Yankees last night, Kelly Kirkpatrick had one game down and one to go – she hoped.

After watching the Eagles game at the Linc, she donned a bright, multicolored sandwich board that said, “Today’s my birthday. I’d love a Phillies ticket,” and strolled the sidewalk outside Citizens Bank Park.

The Fairless Hills woman was turning 29. The plea on her sign brought lots of cheerful calls of, “Happy birthday!” and more than a few impolite suggestions of how she might earn a Phillies ticket.

“It’s a good day to be a Philadelphian,” she said. “I’m ready to embrace it all.”

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 7:39 PM Permalink | 2 comments

Sunday, November 1, 2009

His first Phillies game

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

It was a big night for Nils Michaelis. The 19-year-old from Germany, a student at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., snapped photos and kept smiling at his friends.

"This is my first ballgame ever in my entire life," Michaelis said. "Never been to the stadium, never seen a game other than on TV."

Michaelis first interested in the 76ers, then after the Phillies won the World Series last year, he started to follow baseball as well. Last night, he wore a Phillies shirt and the confident swagger of a true phan.

"From now on, Phillies are going to win every game," Michaelis said.

He came to the park with three friends from F&M.

"The dichotomy here is ridiculous," said Reed Bratches, of New Caanan, Ct. "We have two Yankees fans and two Phillies fans."

Bratches and Erik Mariani, 18, of Mendham, N.J., are the Yanks fans. Michaelis and Michael Dohrmann, 19, of Swarthmore, pull for the Phils.

What's Dohrmann's guess for the Series outcome?
"This is my prediction," he said, pointing to his Phillies jersey.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 7:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The ultimate fan

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Thousands of people had tickets for two big Philadelphia games today - the Eagles and the Phillies.

And then there was Seth Shapiro of Chestnut Hill, who's taking fandom to a whole new level.

In Eagles jersey and Phillies cap, Shapiro rested on a bench outside Citizens Bank Park. He had just come from the Eagles game and was about to go to the Phils game. Tomorrow, he's going to the Flyers game and Game 5 of the World Series.

How would he have stamina?
"I don't know that I do," Shapiro said, laughing.

But seriously, he said. No sweat.

"I don't think it'll be a problem - this is the World Series, after all," said Shapiro.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 5:23 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Changing of the guard

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Call it the changing of the guard.

At 4 p.m., an all-but-empty southbound subway train pulled into Pattison station, carrying a handful of early arriving fans in Phillies jerseys and ballpark workers in red jackets. The doors slapped open -- to reveal hordes of waiting Eagles fans, eager to press onto an empty train.

"Eagles fans coming on, Phillies fans coming off. Beautiful!" an Eagles fan shouted.

Shortly thereafter, a disappointed Giants fan dressed in a blue "Toomer" jersey walked across Pattison Avenue. A group of Eagles fans didn't jeer or yell as he passed by. They simply started to laugh.

"That's okay," the guy in the Giants jersey answered. "It's baseball time now."

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 4:28 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Phillies fans: Buck up

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Everybody knows that Pearl S. Buck and baseball go together like, um, well — okay, they really don’t go together at all.

But the author’s husband, publisher Richard Walsh, was an avid fan of game, living for years in Philadelphia and then in New York. So now the author’s Bucks County foundation is offering $1 off admission to her historic home to anyone wearing Phillies garb during the World Series.

With the discount, admission costs $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Tours run Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The house is located at 520 Dublin Road in Perkasie.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 4:22 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Not. Good.

Inquirer staff writer Kristen Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Two words for Game 3 of the World Series, Mike Foley said:

Not. Good.

“They’ve got to win tomorrow,” said Foley, who lives in Chicago but grew up in the area and traveled to Philadelphia to see Game 3.

His friend John Bowden, of Washington D.C. said he believes the Phillies still have it in them to win the Series. But there are some big ifs.

“They can win if the first four hitters in the lineup start hitting,” said Bowden.

So come on, Rollins, Victorino, Utley and Howard, they said.

“I can’t stomach losing to these a-holes,” Foley said.