On April 5th, 2009, the Phillies did something for the first time in over two decades: raise a championship banner over the city of Philadelphia.
In the wake of The Unhittable Slider, Philadelphia felt a sense of euphoria not felt in a generation. The parade, the streets bathed in confetti, beer and smiles. Chase Utley coining the now ubiquitous World-Effing Champions phrase. The World Series DVDs, t-shirts, hats, and all the merchandise that is so commonplace when your favorite team wins The Big One. No matter where you looked in South Philly, it was a sea of red for months on end. Even as the Eagles were on their way to the playoffs, that seemed almost trivial, as the Phillies were now the talk of Broad Street and beyond.
The high lasted long after Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske, clear through the off season, past the loss of Pat Burrell, and straight into 2009. And finally, Phillies’ fans could relax.
And for their efforts, they were honored at Citizen’s Bank Park by their fans, as they christened the 2009 season at home against the Atlanta Braves. It was a night full of pomp and circumstance, as the national ESPN audience was treated to the first baseball action of the season by our very own home town nine.
Although the Phillies would go on to lose the game, it would ultimately prove to be moot, as the Fightins would go onto wrap up the division and the National League by the middle of October.
But the loss on that night is not what I’ll remember. Sure, they put up a pretty lousy showing against an inferior team, but that’s not the memory that I keep with me. It wasn’t the four run deficit after two innings, or the stymied bats, or even the late inning rally started by the unlikeliest of people in Eric Bruntlett.
What I’ll keep with me, and I’m sure most of you would agree, isn’t the first line in the loss column, or the perpetuation of April struggles, but the team marching onto the field, cutting through a morass of red jerseys and rabid fans, and a red banner flying high above center that tells the rest of the baseball loving world that here are the Philadelphia Phillies. World Champions.
34 Responses to “Top 15 Moments of 2009, Number 15: Raise the banner, boys.”
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General
foist
Enough with the ‘first’ BS.
Third!
Let me tell you guys a little story. On Oct 31 2008, while attending the best parade in the history of the world, I brought with me a sign. Chase Utely observed said sign en route to the Linc and formulated his famous speech. http://www.twitpic.com/17jmml
Just sayin…
So what you’re saying is that Chase is 10x the man you are? He said it into a microphone in a public speech and you, as a grown man, can’t even write fuckin’ on a sign in a drunk parade? For shame.
@Eric
everyone knows you’re the only real man around these parts.
Such a good time between tailgating and the pregame festivities, too bad Derek Lowe shit on them. And fuck Jordan Schafer.
I think they had the division wrapped up in September. If it came down to the middle of October, I would have been worried, and a little confused.
Oh, and 8th! Wait, I mean 9th! … damn…
Eric I’ll kill you
When does this baseball season start anyhow?
As I live and breathe
Eric has killed me
Eric has killed me
Yes I walk around somehow
But Eric has killed me
He has killed me
And there is no point saying this again
there is no point saying this again
But I forgive you, I forgive you
Always I do forgive you.
So is this #1, or #15?
Confused
There used to be a lot more boobies on this site. What happened?
I see a bunch of boobies posting here everyday!
No mention of the fist fight that was breaking out while the flag was going up?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BR9J94C1u8
Hey guys I was just wondering if you know what day the parade is gonna be this year? I want to make sure I ask for work off way in advance. Roy Halladay 28-2 this season.
Wait intil the top 5 moments of 2010 are my Perfect games in games 1,2,3,4, and 5 of the World Series.
Which one of those are you gonna lose Roy?
The one before the All Star game, when he takes it easy so he can still make that start (I mean, they will be 20 games ahead at that point), and then the one at the end of the year when he takes the mound to get some throwing in, but takes it easy, since Charlie’s going to be setting up the rotation for the series against the Cubs.
roy halladay will be 2-4 left handed and 20-3 right handed.
I’m actually really looking forward to this Top List from Dash. Makes it feel more, and more like Baseball Season is approaching.
watrick IS the moz in disguise.
details at 11.
VanHellion in a tutu. Is he strange, or just wants to live his life that way?
Find out tonight, at 11.
Side note-I love watching tv and there be an advert on saying, “What common household item can kill you? Find out at 11.”
Yeah, Lowe looked fantastic in his Braves debut. Shame about what happened in his next 31 starts….
Browsing the Braves.com message boards after the game was hilarious. Some of the gems I remember:
‘Jordan Schafer = Grady Sizemore?’
‘Looks like Derek Lowe is gonna be worth every penny of that $60 million.’
‘It’s just one game, but it really does look like Frenchy is back.’
‘Kelly Johnson is gonna be an All-Star this year.’
Those predictions aren’t exactly PECOTA, but they happened……thing is, no one remembers.
Btw, did anyone here see the 450 ft blast Jason Heyward hit off Max Scherzer yesterday? Can’t wait to see him get his second K of the year against Halladay today.
Reading this pos, then all the comments i cldnt hlp but laugh, and get choked up a bit. I love this sqaud, can’t wait for the season to start!
BTW!!!—–> Jordan Schafer = Bitch? Fagot?? Angel Pagan????
Angel Pagan is the dumbest name in all of sports. I always feel like there’s a theology major out there cringing when he comes to bat.
like Richard Vagina
I cringed when I read si.com say that not many teams have more star power at 1-5 than the Mets. They mentioned Daniel Murphy in that 1-5. HA!
How about as much star power 1-7 like the Phils? I love Ruiz at 8, but he doesn’t reach star power yet.
There is no denying that Heyward is a fucking beast. I am not looking forward to watching our boy Brad Lidge throwing to him in a save situation. Scary, Scary Stuff. On the flipside Brad probably won’t get that many chances considering Halladay will have 130 complete games.
tap the tab, thats a good point. here’s the phils biggest dilemma on offense.. the 7 hole.
their choices:
1. Career .300 hitter who strikes out less than 98% of the league
2. Base stealing switch hitter who lead the Phils in batting avg. in 2009
not be redundant but i think it all starts with jimmy if he hits well i think the rest of the lineup follows
Roy Halladay could probably win a perfect game throwing crappy pitches, even if it’s only because the other team would say “Oh shit what’s the use? He’s Roy Frickin’ Halladay!”
I want to be comment 34 but I also hope #1 ends up being what I expect it to be.