Last year we did Closing Day. This year we did Opening Day. 5 stars - would recommend.
One fun detail that I found a lot of pleasure in explaining, was having my mother-in-law join us for the game, since the Phillies were playing her beloved Texas Rangers (she found her love for baseball living in Texas, and that’s the way fandom should work), and this was her first time at Citizens Bank Park.
The city was electric (we got some food in South Philly before we headed to the stadium and everybody had their gear on).
The parking lot was electric (we got there just after gates opened and the tailgating was in full effect, and the stadium was a sellout that you could sense as soon as you got in line to come in the gate).
The staff at the stadium were all so nice, welcoming people back, and they really made you feel like they knew you. In a way, they do. It’s like Cheers, in a way.
My mother-in-law had her Rangers jersey on and each staff member we encountered asked some version of “Do you know her?” or stated, “She’s not with you, right?” And some went so far as to ask, “Are you ok” and “Should we have her removed” to which we always said “Oh gosh, I don’t know who that person is - help!” but then explained “No, no - that’s my mother in law, we’re just excited to all be at a game together.”
Everybody had a wholesome and understanding laugh with us. It means a lot to be on the other team’s turf and that’s part of the joy.
The occasional other Rangers’ jersey wearing fan got a big hello (from her, not us - my wife and I aren’t that crazy).
This is what sports are about. They are just a game. And, they are the least important most important thing.
You can learn a lot from visiting another team’s stadium.
Stuff like how there are a number of different boos one may encounter at a Philly’s game.
I appreciate the richness of information they possess and this is probably the part of the game (after telling people about how they won, of course) that I’m the most amused with.
Here are the boos she experienced on Opening Day in the order I remember them. I’ll put her questions in quotations and my answers will follow:
“Do they boo every one of my team’s players as they’re announced?” Yes. Well, there will be some exceptions I’m sure.
“That’s the loudest boo yet, why do they hate him more? I think he’s new to our team, I don’t remember him from last year?!” Oh yeah, Nimmo played for the Mets. If there’s one thing they hate more than the average Ranger today, it’s a Ranger who once played for the Mets.
(Change-up question, this one was for an unexpected cheer) “Wait, what happened - now they’re cheering for a Ranger?” McCutchen played for the Phillies. He was pretty awesome during the pandemic. Notably he never played for the Mets, so there’s that too.
“They really don’t like our pitcher - what did he do?” Oh that’s just because he’s the pitcher today. Our offense depends on weakening his mental and emotional state so, we have to boo him.
“Ahh, so they boo every time Nimmo gets up?” Reliably. Like clockwork. Just be happy you’re wearing a Rangers jersey and not a Mets jersey.
(Change-up #2, top of the 9th when the Rangers started to rally) “Who are they booing now - is it the Phillies pitcher?” Actually, yes, it’s our pitcher we’re booing for starting to blow this game, but if you also see that guy standing and cursing next to us, he’s appealing to Cotham, our pitching coach, and booing him too.
Is baseball, life? It’s gotta be close. Sometimes you get to boo people, sometimes people boo you, and what matters is you remember it’s just a game.
We can all learn more from the least important most important things than we realize - until we find ourselves explaining the nuance to somebody else.
