Alumni weekend was a really cool experience. It all started on Friday the 8th on Roy Halladay Bobble Figurine night! I was being announced for the Red Goes Green team, so I was standing on the field when Halladay ran out of the dugout to address the crowd while they welcomed him with open arms and an incredibly loud round of applause and cheers. After all, this was his first appearance in Citizen’s Bank Park since his retirement last season. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and I was standing right behind home plate for when Ruiz caught the ball. I clapped and cheered as the excitement ran through me, since I was standing in front of Phillies history. You can watch this first pitch here!
On Sunday the 9th, I was scheduled to work our 50/50 Raffle
benefiting Phillies Charities, and I was assigned to run the kiosk in section
122 behind home plate on the main concourse.
Charlie Manuel was being inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame today
and I was fortunate enough to be placed at a kiosk that can see the field
clearly. I also had a television in
front of me on the concourse that was showing what was on the big screen in the
outfield. I watched as Charlie walked
out onto a red carpet they had rolled from the outfield wall all the way down
to a stage they placed in front of the pitcher’s mound. Current players and front office staff lined
the carpet to shake his hand and congratulate him on this great
accomplishment. The crowd stood on their
feet and clapped and cheered tirelessly for Charlie, and the stadium was full
of life and pride. Phillies alumni were introduced one by one as they joined Charlie on the
stage. Where I was standing on the
concourse, I couldn’t hear exactly what he was saying when he addressed the fans,
but through various bursts laughter and cheering, I know what he said was
moving and won the crowd over. It sure got me. I was beaming with pride!
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| The photographer of this picture was standing right next to me. Picture from the Phillies Instagram page. |