Mike Victorino sees son's heroics

By Jim Salisbury

Inquirer Staff Writer

The largest crowd ever at Citizens Bank Park was on its feet, going bonkers as Shane Victorino reached home plate after the biggest hit of his life.

As the crowd roared, a man in the seats behind home plate wiped a tear from his eye.

Mike Victorino sat on airplanes all day in making the trip from Maui to Philadelphia to see his son play for the Phillies in Game 2 of National League division series last night.

What a welcoming gift he received. Better than a lei.

Mike Victorino's son belted a grand slam to cap off a five-run second inning in the Phillies' rousing 5-2 win over Milwaukee.

As Shane crossed home plate, he pointed to his father.

"I saw it," Mike said from his seat 11 rows behind home plate. "I was tearing up."

On the night of his life, Shane had three extra-base hits to put the Phillies within a win of the NL Championship Series.

"Shane had a fabulous night," said Mike, who wore a red Phillies cap and kept score from start to finish. "I'm so happy and proud to be here and share in this with him."

After the grand slam, Mike pulled out his cell phone and called his wife back home in Maui. Jocelyn Victorino could not make the game because of a work commitment, but she saw her son's heroics on television.

"I didn't make a reservation until Tuesday," Mike said. "I wasn't sure if I was coming. Mom said, 'You go.' She hopes the Phillies make the next round so she can be here."

Mike Victorino, 56, is an insurance executive in Maui. He is also an elected county official. It's an election year, so he wasn't able to get to Philadelphia this summer. He recently won reelection uncontested, so he could make it to Philadelphia yesterday.

He will follow the Phillies to Milwaukee.

"I'm going on the team plane!" he said. "I'm so excited."

Mike Victorino was flying so high after his son's great night that he might not have needed an airplane to get to Milwaukee.

Mike could not say enough about how much the Phillies and the city of Philadelphia mean to him and his 27-year-old son.

"His mom and I feel like he's really matured and blossomed here," Mike said. "People ask me what I think of his career, and I tell them he has put it together because the Philadelphia Phillies gave him a chance.

"I like this town for him. It's a blue-collar town, and we're blue-collar people. Our family has worked in the pineapple and sugar-cane industry. My other son is a longshoreman. This has been a great place for Shane.

"Shane was always one of the smallest guys, but he always worked hard to be as good as the bigger guys. He was never the automatic first pick. He always had great stick-to-itiveness."

Shane's love of baseball showed when he bypassed a football scholarship to the University of Hawaii to sign with the Dodgers, who drafted him in the sixth round in 1999.

His level of dedication and persistence showed when he bounced around the Dodgers and Padres organizations. He was selected twice in the Rule 5 draft for unprotected players. Once, he was returned to the Dodgers and sent to double A. The Phillies picked him in the Rule 5 draft in December 2004. He did not make the team in spring training 2005 and was offered back to the Dodgers, who rejected him because they were deep in outfielders.

Shane stayed with the Phillies, signing a minor-league contract, and won the International League MVP award in 2005. He joined the big club in September 2005 and has been a fixture on the team since.

Victorino is the Phillies' excitable boy, an outfielder with great speed and a gregarious personality. Fans have always loved his all-out, hustling style of play.

Last night, the city fell a little more in love with him.

Mike Victorino was thrilled to witness it in person.

"In our hearts, Shane's mom and I thank the Phillies for giving him a chance, and we thank this town for supporting our son," he said.

Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury

at 215-854-4983 or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.

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