The Fightin' Phils Have Fans Fightin for Them
I have a strong passion for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, and I always tune in when they have a game. If you watch baseball, then you know about the Philadelphia team that has the wildest fans and shocked the sports world with their 2022 World Series run. Through the highs and lows, the fans never seem to shy away from supporting the team or voicing their displeasure. The question is what makes the loyal Philadelphians this way for their Phillies?
The In Person Experience
I began watching the Phillies because my dad is a huge Philadelphia sports fan. They also got me hooked when they won the National League pennant in 2009 while I was still in kindergarten. It brought out the fans and every game were loud and entertaining when something huge happened. My first two ever Phillies games were significant because they both ended in walk offs where the crowd went nuts and the team came sprinting out of the dugout to swarm the player who hit the ball. In the crowd, the fans in the stands would start high fiving each other as if they knew each other, so it feels like a family while you're experiencing everything. At any given time, there are thousands of fans at these games as well as thousands of others watching them on TV. When you are able to experience these events with that many people it feels like every single fan is striving toward one goal and this creates a sense of comradery.
The Return of the Postseason
Red October in October to November of 2022 was a big deal for the Philly faithful because it had been eleven years since they last made the postseason. These fans are the type of people to show up for the team on a hot Sunday afternoon even if the team had a losing record. Before the first postseason game back in Philadelphia started, it was everything you would expect for the first playoff game in over a decade. Before the game even starts, the fans are setting up their tailgating tents in Lot K of Lincoln Financial Field which is the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and in the grass areas right outside of the ballpark. It wouldn’t be a tailgate without the fans, music, food, and of course, throwing a baseball. There was a huge block party going on outside of the stadium with a concert stage blasting music. The people were able to ride a Ferris wheel and get a nice view of the stadium and everyone down below. As people walked around, there was a rally bus that came through and all the people swarmed it and everyone was able to sign their name on it. This was so that every fan could “sign off” on being a part of the team. The activities give the fans a feel of what it's like to be a part of something great because it unites the fans who have been waiting for so long for the success and bring them to an atmosphere only the Phillies can create. Walking inside the stadium gives every fan a dopamine spike because the people going in for any game get handed a red rally towel and that’s how you know it’s going to be energetic from the start. All the fans attending use this opportunity with the towels to go crazy and it’s something to bring home as a souvenir. The view of people waving their towels in sync while yelling as loud as possible is what makes the fans so great because they show up ready to go for the Phillies.
Figure 2: Ferris wheel in front Figure 3: The rally bus signing
Fan Comradery
On top of the activities outside the stadium, once the fans are inside you hear “How about them fightins” or “Let's go Phillies” while entering the stadium. The fanbase is a tight knit family where everyone “knows” each other. After the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS, everyone walking out of the stadium were hugging each other and going wild. These postseason games are vital to the fanbase’s culture of bringing everyone together. When it’s a win that sets the tone for the team to keep winning, the hype is always in the fans. For fans to keep on showing up to the ballpark and show their energy, the team went on a magical run to make that happen. I even was jumping up and down and then me and my friend ended up hugging random people because of the levels of excitement. It’s a beautiful scene outside the stadium coming off a big win and you’re conversing while having the most positive interactions with other fans as if you’ve known them for years. The environment is for outgoing people who will bring their absolute best energy to the ballpark. This fanbase lives for the connections that are made between the other fans before, during, and after the game.
Merchandise
Everybody who goes to Phillies games are always showing their love for the team by wearing the team’s jerseys or t-shirts. Every time there’s a game, the team store is filled up and always has a line because of the interest in merch. This applies to online sales on the team store as well since they broke sales records. Philadelphia has formed a way of backing the team and showing them the support, they deserve by wearing the same uniform or logo as them. Their thought process is being the “10th man” which is the nine men on the field and the fans being the tenth. In other words, you are a part of the team and the success they have on the field.
Another way to show support is to wear the Phillies merchandise outside of game days. I have had firsthand experience with wearing a Phillies shirt or hat at places like an airport or grocery store and people stop and comment on how they are also Phillies fans. By wearing these items around fans are able to show each other that they are proud Phillies fans and that is just another way to bring the fans together even if it isn't a game day.
Social Media and Meme Pages
Social media is a growing industry where memes are being posted and fans express their opinions on the highs and lows of the team or just their passion. Fan pages and parody are vital for fans because it brings them together. It presents an opportunity for fans that don’t interact in person at games to do it over social media. If the team is ever struggling, social media is where you’ll hear about it. Segura Booty is a parody Instagram page that makes fun of Phillies players who play badly and puts them in something called the “Booty Dungeon.” It’s funny posts on these accounts that give fans the chance to keep in touch with everything going on through the good and bad. The Drunk Phils Fans are also one of many groups that attend a lot of games and set up “meet and greets” with other fans attending. You’re able to get pictures with them and they will post you on their Facebook and Instagram page, so it shows how the Phillies fanbase is supportive. The other big figure on social media is the Phillysportsguy who is notorious for painting his face for every event that corresponds to the Philly team he shows up for. When he goes to Phillies games, he paints his face white with red pinstripes just like the Phillies uniforms. He is also active on TikTok and makes videos before the games hyping up the people around him and getting everyone excited. His videos display what the true Phillies culture is like because of his energetic and loud personality. They get everyone together like one big family in a video or photo and display them as a family.
Figure 4: Phillysports guy getting hype with fans at a
Decorations and Fan Appreciation Outside of the Ballpark
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| Figure 7: Phillies wall decorations |
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| Figure 6: Baseball from Phillies game |
The fanbase and culture that the Philadelphia diehards bring to the table is unique. Their energy, passion, and love for the team along with other fans provides moments that nobody will ever forget. It brings people together and creates a family-like community of individuals that see eye to eye on the goal of supporting the team and having the most possible fun with each other. From carnivals in front of the stadium doors, rally towels, and funny social media pages making fun of the team, in the end it’s all love between the Phillies and the fans themselves. As the season goes on, the fanbase will be ready to roll and unite as one to support each other and the team. With that being said, there's no coincidence that the Phillies are ranked number five in best fanbases.
Works Cited
Allen, Q. (2022, October 25). Phillies fans break insane record not seen since World Series Champion 2016 Cubs. ClutchPoints. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://clutchpoints.com/phillies-news-philadelphia-fans-break-insane-record-not-seen-since-world-series-champion-2016-cubs
Mueller, C. (2020, July 30). Dreadful to dynamic: We rank all 30 Major League Baseball Fan Bases. Yardbarker. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dreadful_to_dynamic_we_rank_all_30_major_league_baseball_fan_bases/s1__29842898#slide_4
Simpson, H. (2023, March 16). Philadelphia Phillies 2022 MLB season success has led to more fan ... Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/philadelphia-phillies-success-led-more-fan-engagement-season-ticket-sale
Sports Business Journal. (2023, March 16). Phillies season-ticket base up 50% following trip to World Series. Philadelphia Phillies' season-ticket sales up 50% after World Series trip. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/16/Franchises/philadelphia-phillies-season-tickets.aspx
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