My love for baseball!

My love for baseball began in 1993 when I first moved to Smyrna, Delaware. I live in the middle of nowhere. When I first moved here, cable tv didn't reach us, nor did any delivery. I started watching baseball on regular tv every Sunday and the Phillies were a winning team. They made it to the World Series that year, but lost to the Toronto Blue Jays. I was sold on baseball.

After many poor baseball seasons, the Phillies started building winning teams around 2004. 2008 was the big year. The city of Philadelphia had not seen a championship team since 1983 and this year was promising. The city was hungry for hope and for a team to root for. I watched most games on tv in 2008 and when the Phils won the East, I was extremely excited. I watched all of the post seasons games and watched as the phillies advanced to the World Series. My best friend and I met to watch the game at a local restaurant. It made us closer friends.

On the night the Phillies had the chance to win the World Series, my friends and I walked around the city of Philadelphia. I never saw so many happy and excited people. I never saw so many people wearing Phillies Red. It was amazing. I was so used to Philly being "Eagles Country". We situated ourselves in a local bar and watched the game. Then the rain came. They kept the game going until it was tied and postponed it two days. Two Days we had to wait for the rest of the game.

We met again at the same bar to watch the final three innings of the game. It was nerving and exciting. We didn't know what would happen if they actually won. We were so used to losing. Then it came, top of the ninth, Phils winning and the perfect closer, Brad Lidge pitching. He hadn't blown a save all season. One out, then two... Then he strikes out the final batter and the Phillies were World Series Champions. We, like so many other people marched down Main Street Manyunk. The city was lit. Fire engines roared their horns, police were working overtime. Everyone was friends with everyone. It was a miracle. For that moment, everyone forgot the economy problems and were celebrating.

Days later, I was still in disbelief. I thought someone would overrule it and the Phillies wouldn't be Champs anymore. The parade was broadcasted on every local TV channel. I bought so many Phillies World Series Champs shirts. I gave my students Phillies Phanatic sheets to color. It was a great few weeks after the world series.

Two years later, the Phils are still doing well. I've been traveling to see my team play. Last year, my friends and I went to Toronto for a Phils game. My best friend and I went to Washington DC over Spring Break to watch the Phillies play the nationals. My fiance and I are going to Pittsburgh over the summer to see the Phils play.

People think it's crazy, but I tell them, "Most intellectuals and academics prefer baseball over any other sport."

Well... the Phils are about to play.

Until the next inning.

Donna