With the Tampa Bay Rays returning to Citizens Bank Park, the site of the 2008 World Series, for a three-game set, memories are resurfacing from those who participated in the nearly seven years removed postseason series.
This past Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times published a column in which displays recollections of the Fall Classic from various Rays players and coaches such as third baseman Evan Longoria, who was in his rookie season in 2008, third base coach Tom Foley, bullpen catcher Scott Cursi, and pitching coach Jim Hickey.
One comment from a former player that drew controversy and disdain from fans in Philadelphia was from seven-year veteran outfielder and current first base coach with the Rays, Rocco Baldelli. Within the quote to Topkin, Baldelli cited that Phillies fans were 'the opposite of hospitable' and that they didn't seem they were 'happy that their team was in the World Series'.
I hate doing this. This is awful. This is like tortuous thinking about this.
We were obviously excited to be there because we were in the World Series, we just played an incredible series against the Red Sox, we're playing well and we roll in there, and it didn't take long for us to realize that it was not going to be a very friendly environment.
Anybody who talked about the city of Philadelphia at that time, nobody is exaggerating any of those thoughts and comments. Whatever the opposite of hospitable would be to you, that's what the people of Philadelphia were to us at that time.
It didn't seem like the people of the city were happy that their team was in the World Series. It seemed like they were more happy and excited to take out their anger on the opposition and to degrade us.
They were lined up on the street "gesturing" at us. Many, many gestures. They were banging on our bus.
And, to say the least, I don't think our family and friends who were at the games were able to enjoy it as much as they should have been able to.
Rocco Baldelli's Major League Career Statistics
Of course, this World Series will be forever recalled from its controversial suspension due to rain in Game 5, the deciding game in favor of Philadelphia, who was up three games to one. Baldelli recalls that those were the 'worst conditions' that he had ever played in:
"The weather was not like anything I had ever dealt with, and I grew up in Rhode Island. Those were the worst conditions I ever played in, and they happened to be in the most important games I was ever a part of. It doesn't seem you should be deciding a World Series in conditions where you can't feel your hands and you're dealing with sleet storms."
Behind timely hitting and excellent pitching from their starting pitchers and bullpen relievers, the Phillies dominated in what was their sixth franchise appearance in the World Series at the time. Philadelphia fell behind just once throughout the whole series, which was in the second game on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Tropicana Field.
The Rays were coming off of a seven-game American League Championship series with the Boston Red Sox, who were seeking their third World Series victory in a five season stretch. Tampa outscored and outhit Boston, 43-28 and 61-57 respectively. Baldelli relayed to Topkin of his disappointment, in that the Rays' excellent play did not carry over against Philadelphia:
"And beyond all of that, which was most important, we didn't play anywhere near as well as the series before. And that was the most disappointing thing to us — it seemed like the Series was almost over before it really got going for us."
Last night, in 22-year-old right hander Aaron Nola's major league debut, Baldelli sought to make things right with the fans of the Phillies, and to clarify any misconceptions regarding Topkin's released column just three days prior.
According to Twitter user Conor Fitzpatrick (@FitzyCent__), was in attendance Tuesday evening and allegedly heckled the former Rays' outfielder all game for his comments, Baldelli threw a ball from the dugout to a kid next to him.
On the ball was not the typical signature that one would expect to receive, or autograph, but rather a 15-word "statement" of sorts. The ball read:
"I actually love Philly. I just like getting you guys fired up. Enjoy the juego."
@975Mornings ball thrown from dugout by Rocco Baldelli to kid next to me after we heckled him all game pic.twitter.com/0CwTQmcrkh
— conor fitzpatrick (@FitzyCent__) July 22, 2015
I understand Baldelli's point of view. It's tough going through the daily grind of baseball season for so long in a career, and to have your only chance at hoisting the trophy seemingly vanished away like it never was attainable in the first place, is difficult to accept and move on from.
Baldelli respecting Philadelphia fans through his comments on the baseball, making it clear he was not trying to disrespect them, the team or the city in any way, shape or form is purely a class act.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
