South Philly summer

Your Center City Correspondent has been spending a lot of time in South Philadelphia lately. In addition to working at the Phillies games, I worked a Philadelphia Union soccer game at the Linc. They won 3-2 over DC United. Unfortunately I didn’t see much of the game, I was taking tickets at the gate. The crowd was delayed getting into the stadium because Joe Biden was attending the game and every fan had to be searched by the Secret Service before entering. That is an arduous, time-consuming process which always is a drag for the fans. After Biden left, the Secret Service stopped too and the fans got in much quicker, but had missed most of the first half. There were about 30,000 people there and they saw a decent game, and they cheered enthusiastically. I hope the team performs up to the level of the fans’ enthusiasm and support. If they do, they will do well.


As part of my time at the Phillies, I’m keeping a journal, just to keep track of my feelings as the season progresses. I don’t know what format it will take, whether it will be part of CCC or if I’ll start a new one. Here’s an excerpt from what I have so far:

The deep green of the grass shimmers in the light. The contrast between the brown infield and the grass magnifies the richness of the green. The magic that is the sight of a baseball field is something you never overcome. The wizard that creates that magic is never exposed, the curtain is never pulled back. No matter how old you are, or how many times you go to a ballpark, the sight still stirs your soul, a mixture of envy and awe. You impulsively hurry the last few steps to catch a sight of the field. No matter what activity is happening on the field, your eyes and psyche are drawn to the grass, and when you see that, no matter what is happening in your life, the ballpark is the same as when you were a kid, and that gives you a comfortable feeling. As the light fades from the sky, it is replaced with the metallic light from the overhead standards but the green remains the same; magic.

All for now. The Phils wrap up their homestand this weekend against the Marlins with their new acquisition, Roy Halladay on the mound. Should be a good one. Bon giorno, South Philly.