Thursday, the twenty-fourth annual Phillies Phestival was held at Citizens Bank Park. The event, which raised more than $800k for the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, is a great opportunity for fans to interact with and acquire autographs from the current team.
Beginning as a child in the late-80s, I have been to many Phestivals. And, through the years I have seen it change, in both good and bad ways. My own desires have changed, too. I have gone from getting my baseball cards signed by Von Hayes and Juan Samuel, to waiting 45 minutes for a Ryan Howard single-signed baseball, to taking the lead from my 4-year old son, who ran the show this year.
I did not get to as many booths as I would have ten years ago, but it was great to be more relaxed and give him an experience he'll remember for a while. The change of pace this season also allowed me to take in my surroundings in a way I have never done before. Here are a few quick observations:
Women (and Men) Love Chase Utley
When you got it, you got it! I saw it all while sitting close to the "cash donation" line for the Phils second-sacker: women crying at the sight of him; men threatening to fight each other over line position; and, one man commenting that "[Utley] is pretty attractive in person."
Fans Love Grab Bags
A Phestival staple, the $20 grab bags are a great way to pick up autographed gear or SGAs. Given the number of tote bags I saw being carried around, fans kept the booth busy all night. I had to ask one guy with a small pullcart full how many he got: 15 grab bags; and, his best item was a Jimmy Rollins signed hat. Yikes!
Autograph Hunters Come to Win
Being an autograph hound myself, I can relate to the desperation demonstrated by some fans in an attempt to get that key signature. It is really interesting to sit back and watch their body language as they wait in line (or better yet, as they sprint to one). And, once up there, they have no shame in throwing down a jersey, a bat and an oversized glossy photo for the player to sign. Long gone are the days of getting Juan Samuel to sign a baseball card…
