Baseball is to some as food is to others. Baseball is my filet mignon and my beer. It's a lifestyle for sure. Watch baseball. Play Baseball. Watch MLB network when games aren't on. That was my life for 10 years. Now, it's a little bit difficult between work and college, but it is still the life of many. Phillies fans will be able to appreciate these three moments in Phillies history.
1. 2008 World Series Champions.
The moment closer, Bread Lidge’s slider hit Chooch’s (Carlos Ruiz) glove, I jolted my body into the air in pure euphoria. For a diehard baseball fanatic who is not yet old enough to have a child, rather, should not have one as a 12 year old cannot afford to support it, the feeling of winning the world series is equivalent to that of childbirth. In 2008, it was the second year of the Phillies five straight division wins. Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley were all in their prime and the Phillies were a fun to watch as a fundamental machine. The city had cars flipped and on fire all the way down Broad Street. People were climbing light poles to be seen. Everybody was hammered out of their minds, and the cops couldn’t do anything about it. That day, the power of Phillies fans was greater than that of the SWAT teams they went up against.
2. Phillies 2007 Division Victory.
For the first time since 1993 the Phillies were division champions. They were better than the Mets, better than the Nationals, better than the Marlins, and better than the stupid karate chop Braves. In late September, the Phillies caught fire, winning seven of their last 10 (the Mets went 4-6) to beat the Mets on the last day of the season by a single game. The pitching staff was led by Cole Hamels and consisted of Kyle Lohse, Jamie Moyer, Tom Gordon, Brett Meyers, J.C Romero. The stars of the lineup were Howard, Chase, Jimmy, Jayson Werth, and Shane Victorino. But remember these names? Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms, Tadahito Iguchi, Aaron Rowand, Clay Condrey, and good ol’ Mike Zagurski. They are simply funny to remember. They finished 89-73 and were the only team in the division to make the playoffs.
3. Aaron Rowand’s catch.
Rowand is one of the toughest ball players of all time. He will snag any ball, slide on any surface, and crash into the sturdiest of walls. He ran about 20 miles per hour into a chain link fence, face first. As the force of the blow transferred through his body he naturally did the worm -- that’s forceful. The best part? He held on to the ball and recorded the out! The announcer, HK, shouted, “What a great, great game saving catch! An incredible play by Rowand!” Phillies fans who know Harry Kalas will understand. After the game, Rowand was asked why he went so hard for the ball and he responded, “For my teammates. And to win.” He said it with a smirk, too; he knew what he did was amazing. Later on Rowand said, “If that is the only moment I am remembered by I will be happy. It represents how I play the game of baseball.”
