A Team in Decline and a Sad Farewell
It's just about the end of an era in Philadelphia Phillies baseball. It's been a great run leading to a World Series Championship in 2008, a loss to the New York Yankees in the 2009 Series -- and then the steady decline to now in 2014.
My lament is in the form of my latest digital painting.
THANK YOU PHILLIES -- IT'S BEEN A GREAT RUN!
All Rights Reserved/A. Macarthur
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Please, I just published this today. I ask that my copyrights be respected by not copying, transmitting, etc., the image.
Thank you.
A bit of history Mac if you don't already know.
1911 World Series, vs the Giants. Phillies won 4-2...Albert Bender, Ojibwe from Crow Wing MN. 2 wins, 2 complete games.
Baseball Hall of Fame member.
It's time for the Phillies to start another run to a championship.
True, a lot of fans would indeed be envious. But the team will likely release Ryan Howard at the end of this season, and talk of trading Utley is causing an uproar. The core of the team, Howard, Utley, Cole Hammels, Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz (beloved here as "Chooch") is still intact but not likely to remain so.
The decline has been steady and precipitous since 2010 -- many fans (myself included) are in denial but the 2014 Phillies are in last place, get shutout often and unfortunately, play "stupid" a lot hitters pop up with 2-0 counts, pitchers give up hits at 0-2.
But I'm predicting a 12-game winning streak (starting yesterday); only 11 more to go.
'Course, Eagles training camp started today.
Go Phillies -- one last hurrah.
I'm a hopeless, hopeful homer.
Hey Robert G, I am happy you came bye. Really.
There were regular schedules, team records after half a summer got you into a championship round or consolation round. After every game, coaches would select the outstanding player on the opposing team and send the name on an official postcard to the office of the Sandlot Sports Association. Votes were tallied and the best in the city at each position went to the All Star Game played then at Connie Mack Stadium (Shibe Park), home of the Phillies (and A's in prior years). I made it twice - '58 and '60. My dad took the picture above. (The kid on the right was a damn good first baseman and friend -- played on another team in the regular season).
I like to think I could still pitch in an over 60 league but my right quadriceps tendon and left Achilles think other wise.
I can still hit.
Memories.
Mac,
As a Mets fan... LOL! They haven't won a World Series since 1986! I have more than doubled my age since then... and still waiting.
But really nice poster.
"Chief Bender."
I knew about him.
This is pure Philadelphia a parade down Broad Street estimated 2 million people, then a tribute at Citizens Bank Park (filled to capacity), and this famous moment
Harry Kalas the announcer passed away a year or two later.The one thing Phillie fans and us Mets fans can agree on: We both hate the Braves!
At last pokermike, we are Kindred Spirits.
OK, your a student of Phillies history. Here is another one for you. The Giants catcher set what record in the 1911 series. His name was Chief Meyers.
No looking it up.
Don't know the answer.
BTW, when you come to the Poconos, if you like, this is about 15 minutes from my house and we can go there (before fishing).
Chief Meyers threw out 12 base runners in the series. I don't know if the record still holds though.
That would be great place to visit Mac.
My favorite team was the Cardinals... Oh well!
I'm sorry to hear this-- but I think things run in cycles. They'll be back!
I will take your picture at the monument.
You have a deal Mac.
Thanks for the information, Sean. It adds to the article.
Good to see you here.
Pitching from the mound in Connie Mack Stadium is my "Field of Dreams" memory. I still remember walking up the slope to the rubber, standing on it and thinking to myself "Wow, Robin Roberts (Phillies great) et al, stood right where I'm standing."
I'm glad we have something of personal significance in common, Sean.