I am sitting here typing this, hoping that I don't have to hit "publish post" any time soon, or ever.
It's November 4 and the 2009 season has just ended with the Phillies two wins short of a second straight world championship.
Despite the bitterness that every fan feels right now, I think it's important to take a step back and consider just how lucky we are to have a team like this. This team fought all season long to get back to the World Series. They were not perfect. They had holes. They endured an awful slump in June, though never dropped out of first place during that stretch. And they were dealt with the loss of a great friend, Harry Kalas, early on in the season.
Speaking of HK, hard to believe we lost him during this baseball season. It seems like so long ago we were stunned that Monday afternoon, April 13, with the news that Harry collapsed and died in the press box in Washington D.C. And it seems like ages ago when Citizens Bank Park hosted that moving memorial five days later for Philadelphia's most loved broadcaster.
There were definitely times when the team needed High Hopes to win a game, win a series, and they came through many of those times. Those two words, High Hopes, best define the 2009 season for the Phils. One of my favorite moments of the season occurred on the day Harry passed away. Before the game that day, several Phillies lit up a cigarette and passed it around the dugout in honor of HK, who had a bit of a smoking habit. Just one example of why this team is so easy to like.
Stats and records don't explain how special this Phillies team is. So I won't even go there. We know Ryan can hit bombs. We know Cliff can pitch lights out. And we know Chooch can inspire a nickname for the month of October.
What I can do is remind you of the fact that it's November 4 and the Phillies season just ended. So think back to last winter when pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater. Think back to last April when we re-lived a championship with a ring ceremony at the Ballpark. Think about the fact that last spring we had visions of back-to-back championships. And remember that those visions disappeared only a few minutes ago.
It was a great year. Full of High Hopes.
This post actually moved me to tears. Thanks for writing what I couldn't put into words. Since you're not on Facebook, I just want to say again, Love ya Phillies! And what you wrote here is exactly why.
ReplyDeleteme too...in tears. well thought, well put. thanks, my friend.
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