Buck Says

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Phillies Fans Are Rooting for The Yankees

Several friends from Philadelphia have told me that they are rooting for the Yankees to win the AL pennant. The primary reason in each case is that they don’t want to stay up half the night watching World Series games on West Coast time. Those games can stretch to 2 AM East Coast time. That is one reason to root for the Yankees. I have another.

I’m hoping for a Yankees-Phillies series also. My reasons are a little different. Time zone problems do not enter my rooting interest. There is an old saying that the Irish and elephants never forget. I have not forgotten having my ear glued to a radio as a little kid in 1950 listening to the Phillies Whiz Kids as the played in their first World Series in 35 years.

The breakdown of the Phillies in 1964 was not the only fan heartbreak needing repair by this current great team

In 1950 Richie Ashburn made a throw to home plate to save the Phillies and Dick Sisler’s winning hit to beat the Dodgers and win the Nat’l League pennant in the final regular season game. The Yankees had won the AL pennant and would be the Phillies opponent in the World Series.

The series opened with Jim Konstanty the Phillies relief hurler as the starting pitcher. Konstanty has not started a game all year. The Phillies ace pitcher Robin Roberts was worn down from pitching 3 games in the final week of the season. The number 2 pitcher Curt Simmons had been called to active military duty and was unavailable. Konstanty pitched 8 great innings but the Phillies lost by 1 run. Roberts pitched game 2 with a close game lost by 1 run. Ken Heintzleman pitched game 3 with the same results, a 1 run loss. Whitey Ford as a rookie pitched game 4 for the Yankees who won by a 5-2 score.

Retribution has been needed for 59 years. This is the year and this is the Phillies team that will take care of this long nagging issue

The current crop of Phillies is sweeping away historic fan and sportswriter doubts with their heroic play. They expect to win and for the first time in history the Philadelphia fans have a positive expectation that they will duplicate the repeat Series wins that The Big Red machine of Cincinnati had in 1975 and 1976.

Philadelphia has perhaps the most knowledgeable, most passionate fans in baseball. The knowledge and passion came with high emotional cost paid through all those losses through the years. The Phillies in their history have recorded the most losses of any team in baseball.

The current Phillies team is paying back the fan support with amazing talent, spirit and determination. You want excitement?—finally- Here it is, Phillies Baseball

GO Phillies