Phillies tell fans: 'Got tix for all games! Come and get 'em!'

THE PHILLIES expect tomorrow's rain-delayed home opener to sell out by the first pitch at 4:05 p.m., but there are good seats available for every other game this season.

Citizens Bank Park's annual attendance has dropped sharply from its peak of about 3.5 million ever since the run of 257 sellouts began on July 9, 2009, and ended on Aug. 6, 2012.

This season, just 1.9 million tickets have been sold so far, said John Weber, Phillies vice president of ticket sales and operations.

"We have tickets available for all our games," he told the Daily News.

Even games that usually sell out quickly - dollar hotdog and fireworks nights - are still on sale.

"We want to get that message out there," Weber said. "People will be able to walk up and purchase good tickets."

Fans were doing just that on Sunday afternoon at the ballpark.

Ray Sharkey, of Fox Chase, who said he's been a Phillies fan "since forever," lined up with his son Declan, who just played his first T-ball game, to buy tickets for April 17, when Declan turns 5.

Sharkey pointed to the ballpark map, showing his son where they would be sitting, along the third-base line. "We might get some foul balls, Dec," he said. "We'll have to bring our gloves, OK?"

Declan nodded and said, "Daddy, can we play T-ball when we get home?" Father and son headed off together to work on Declan's stroke.

Fred Shelton, of Swedesboro, N.J., lined up with sons Brady, 6, and Jeremy, 5, to get May tickets for the boys' first Phillies game.

Despite predictions of a mediocre season ahead, Shelton said, "We're Philadelphia fans, which means we're stuck in that vortex where we have to keep coming no matter what."

Delaware County pals Tom Bell, of Drexel Hill, and Linda Gallo, of Alden, bought tickets for June 29.

"Win or lose, I don't care," Gallo said. "I enjoy them anyway. Chase Utley has been my favorite player from Day One."

Bell smiled and said, "We always tease her that Utley is trade bait and she gets upset."

Gallo gave him a look that said, "Bite your tongue."

Steve Mandel, of Chadds Ford, said he'll go to a dozen Phillies games but didn't include the home opener "because I've been to too many freezing opening days where I'm out in the parking lot before the game, drinking a cold beer that I'm holding in my gloves."