Phillies fever rolls through region

Since the beginning of the baseball season, Phillies fans have been waiting for the playoffs. With the first game just a day away, a Phillies Rally Trolley rolled through the city today full of broadcasters, ballgirls, and of course, the Phanatic.

Phillies fan Ron Rich stopped by City Hall to greet the trolley.

 

“I’m confidant. There’s no time like the present.  No time like the present.  They’re going to do it again.  We’re overdue,” said Rich.Down at Broad and Chestnut Streets, honking horns and cheering fans signaled the trolley’s arrival.Sandy Swann of Mt. Laurel spent her lunch break waiting for the trolley,”We’re hoping they throw us play off tickets!  I hope they just say, you girls were so great for coming out here, youse go,” said Swan.

Liz Roscher is a writer for the blog TheGoodPhight.com.  She relies on superstition to deal with her lack of control over the Phil’s fate.

“It’s a way to prevent, at least me, from losing my mind.  For last year’s first game of the NLDS I’d been at work and I’d listened to the game using my iPhone and once I got into my house I sat down on the couch and I didn’t move until the game was completely over,” said Roscher.  “I was afraid that if I moved the whole thing would be ruined and it would be my fault.”Roscher said she plans to get rid of one shirt she’s worn during embarrassing losses.If she’s looking for more gear, there are plenty of options beyond hats and shirts: robes, clocks, car floor mats, garden gnomes, headphones, and don’t forget about flash drives, tool belts and dog collars.Kenneth Shropshire, Director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative, said the Phillies brand is strong.”People have purchased a lot of merchandise–they want to be associated with this brand,” he said.  “It represents winning and it’s a little bit different than in the past when the upswing has come because of something amazing and new, because it’s a moment in time–it’s been a longer period of time.”Shropshire said the Phillies still don’t have a long-term winning brand like the Yankees or Manchester United.