Philadelphia Phillies: 25 Reasons to Raise Your Kids a Phillies Fan

Becoming a fan of the game of baseball isn't hard. Whether it's the competition, the players, or the excitement of the game that catches your eye, there is something about the sport that everyone can love. From mammoth home runs to perfect games, baseball is a sport that draws people in and connects generations of families.

Loving the game isn't a challenge, and neither is having a favorite team. A lot of those reasons listed above stay true here. Whether you became a fan of the New York Yankees during their dynasty years or love the New York Mets because your grandfather was in attendance when they won it all in 1969, every person is born with an inbred allegiance to a single team.

Loving the Philadelphia Phillies? Well, that's easy nowadays.

The Phillies are a winning team, and fans love a winning team. Once upon a time, however, these fans endured a long drought of winning teams. The Phillies' fan base is built upon passion and loyalty. Sure, you'll hear your fair share of horror stories, but it's time to be honest.

Phillies' fans aren't some of the worst in baseball. They're some of the best.

Phillies' fans are just as committed to winning as the players on the field. If you aren't giving it 100% effort, they're going to let you know, but if you play the game the right way, baseball immortality is within your grasp.

But passion is just one of a number of reasons to raise your children fans of those Fightin' Phils. After this slideshow, you'll realize that raising Phillies' fans is a no-brainer.

Citizens Bank Park

Most people will recognize that image to the left. That's the home of the Phillies: Citizens Bank Park. As the 2012 season rolls around, it will still be one of the best ballparks in all of baseball, and more simply put, an environment that makes baseball exciting. It played host to two World Series and a number of other postseason matches.

Longtime Phillies' fans will recognize that image as the cause of a lot of on-the-field strife. After all, the Phillies almost moved out of town and ownership refused to put a championship caliber product on the field until the Phils had a place to play their home games, and not share said stadium with the Philadelphia Eagles. Veterans Stadium had to go.

Now, Citizens Bank Park is a sign of the success of this franchise. Put on the map by big names like Jim Thome and sustained by today's big league talent, "CBP" has become one of most attractive, ideal destinations for baseball in the country.

That's just what it represents. We haven't even talked about what's inside yet!

Ashburn Alley

One of the greatest members of the Phillies to have ever played the game, both on the field and in the broadcast booth, it was only appropriate to name the most famous portion of the ballpark after Richie Ashburn.

Of course, that portion would be called "Ashburn Alley," where fans can go for a number of fun activities, including grabbing a bite before the game, checking out some of the Phils' history, and visiting the Phillies' Wall of Fame and taking a trip down Memory Lane.

As I'm sure most fans would agree, however, the best part about Ashburn Alley is the statue of Whitey playing the game the way he did best—with his feet. Nicknamed "Put-Put" because of the way he ran, Ashburn continues to live on in the hearts of Phillies' fans thanks in large part to one of the best parts of Citizens Bank Park named in his honor.

Photo Credit to www.phillies.com

The Wall of Fame & Memory Lane

One of the greatest features of Citizens Bank Park is the Wall of Fame. On it are some of the greatest players to have every played the game, and to be on the wall means that these players (and others) have made the fans proud in some way, shape, or form.

The wall plays host to a number of names, from its first members—Robin Roberts and Connie Mack—to its most recent recipient—John Kruk. The wall displays a number of Hall of Fame players, including Ed Delahanty and Pete Alexander, and the greatest pitcher and hitter the franchise has ever seen, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt, respectively.

While taking a look at the Wall of Fame, you may also want to show your children Memory Lane, which features a number of great moments in the history of Phillies' baseball. It is a great way of showing them where the franchise's roots are, and what it has come to be.

Photo Credit to www.phillysportscentral.com

A Taste of South Philly

Ever since its inception, the game of baseball and great food have gone hand in hand. That's the same case for the Phillies, who feature much more than a great cheesesteak in their ballpark, (though, you can get one of those too at a number of locations, including Campo's and Tony Luke's in Ashburn Alley.)

Walking down Ashburn Alley, the first thing that tingles your senses is the delicious smell of food cooking, wafting through the air. Ashburn Alley plays host to a number of great eateries, all of which offer a taste of the Phillies' home in South Philadelphia.

One of the favored eating destinations is Bull's BBQ, owned and operated by another Phillies' legend, former outfielder Greg Luzinski. Here you can try some of the best barbecue the city has to offer, but don't fill up here. There are a number of other great places to take your kids.

Might I suggest a chicken cutlet and broccoli rabe sandwich from Tony Luke's, or some crab-fries from Chickie's and Pete's?

The Open Bullpens

This part of the ballpark may not be for the youngest of fans, but it's certainly one of the greatest parts of Citizens Bank Park.

When the park opened in 2004, the bullpens were actually reversed. The Phillies' bullpen was located on the top level, closest to the fans, and the visiting team was down below. It didn't take the Phils long to realize that this was a mistake, and not long after, the Phillies moved to the bottom.

Why?

Well, they were giving the fans an opportunity to do what fans do best—heckle the opposing team. Now closer to the opposing team's bullpen, strollers of Ashburn Alley can now stop at the railing and give the Phils' opponent their regards.

Regardless of what they say, however, being that close to the bullpens is one of the ballpark's best features, and something you'll want your children to be a part of.

The Starting Lineups

One of the coolest ballpark features is one of the first things you'll see when you walk through the turnstiles—the starting lineup.

Prior to each and every game, the Phillies post the starting lineup for all fans to see, but in a fun style. The Phillies have a large, baseball-style card for each player on the roster, and organize them each and every day so that they'll read like the starting lineup.

This has always been something that I've enjoyed, and something the kids will enjoy as well.

Photo Credit to www.flickriver.com

The Diamond and Hall of Fame Clubs

Personally, I would recommend that any young fan get involved in the action. Take a walk down Ashburn Alley and sit in the stands. That will give you a real sense of why baseball in Philadelphia is some of the greatest baseball in the world.

However, if you ever have the opportunity, don't miss the chance to check out the Hall of Fame and Diamond Clubs in Citizens Bank Park. They're simply breathtaking and offer a great view of the game.

The Hall of Fame Club is lined with baseballs, and offers some great insight and memorabilia about the history of the Phillies. The Diamond Club offers much of the same. Both are unique experiences a great experience for any kid.

Photo Credit: www.phillyburbs.com

The Bell of Home Run Liberty

Philadelphia has been synonymous with the Liberty Bell for a long time, but the introduction of the bell into the design of Citizens Bank Park gave it a whole new meaning.

Now, there isn't a sweeter sound in all of Phillies' baseball than, with the Phillies at the plate, the crack of the bat and the ringing of the bell that follows when a ball clears the wall for a home run. The bell lights up and swings back and forth to celebrate a home run, and has become one of the most recognized home run celebrations in all of baseball.

The Phun Zone

There isn't a better place in the ballpark for a little fun for the younger fan than the Phanatic's Phun Zone. Young children flock to the play place in droves to explore the tunnels and other adventurous aspects of the Phun Zone, and it is the perfect way to have a little fun before having a little more fun once the game gets underway.

If you've ever wanted to meet the Phanatic in person, this is one of his favorite spots!

The Videoboard That Is so Humongous Big

The Phillies understand that it isn't always easy to see the players on the field from all of the seats in the house. That's why they installed one of the greatest video boards in all of baseball, so that fans can watch the game in high-definition as well as on the field.

The video board features a number of different items, like the scoreboard at the bottom, each team's lineup, and fan favorites, like the Subway Race, the Ice Cream Guess, the Bongo Cam, and of course, the Kiss Cam.

Children will love dancing and doing everything within their power to get their 15 seconds of fame, in high definition.

Photo Credit to www.phillysportsdaily.com

The History

Any Phillies' fan should take the time to explore the roots of the franchise. The history of the Phillies is lengthy, but a worthwhile exploration. Beginning with the club's inception as the Philadelphia Quakers in 1883 and progressing through present day, the Phillies have come a long way, and it is a story worth telling to young children.

Fans that have only ever known a winning team should know that, once upon a time, the Phillies were the laughingstock of baseball. On more than one occasion, the team was so bad that ownership wanted to move it out of Philadelphia, and we would not be sitting here talking about baseball today.

The Phillies' story is truly one of perseverance. Through all of the hardship and all of the forgettable names on those bad teams, the Phils have had some true greats don their uniform. From Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt, way back to Pete Alexander and Ed Delahanty. From Roy Halladay and Chase Utley, way back to Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons.

Take the time to teach your children about the history of the Phillies. You won't regret it.

The Statues

If you really need to convincing about raising your children as Phillies' fans, just take a walk around the ballpark, both inside and outside. There, you will find a number of reasons to raise fans of the Phils, in statue form.

Outside of the ballpark, you'll find some of the greatest players to ever play the game for the Phillies. First and foremost is Steve Carlton. The all-time leader in wins for the Phillies, "Lefty" won four Cy Young Awards with the club and took the Phillies to two World Series, winning one. Next you'll find Carlton's teammate, Mike Schmidt, the greatest player the Phils have ever had. He is the club's all-time leader in home runs and spent 18 seasons with the Phils, never wearing another uniform.

The next statue you will find is that of Robin Roberts, who was an integral part of the Phillies up until the day he passed away and even hereafter. Roberts was the ace of the fabled "Whiz Kids" of 1950—an inspiring bunch that made a trip to the World Series to square off with the New York Yankees. Roberts was their leader, reeling off one of the most dominant stretches of pitching in baseball history.

Inside the ballpark, you will find the heart and soul of the Phillies: Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas. The two men were legendary broadcast partners and for years, were so much more than best friends. The two greats bled Phillies' baseball and brought the game into our homes for years.

World Series Titles

There is no doubt about it, big league players play the game of baseball for one reason: To win the World Series. Sure, there is the money, maybe the fame, but at the end of the day, MLB players want to hoist that trophy and fans want nothing less.

The Phillies have had the chance to do that just twice in their history, but those are two of the greatest moments in the history of the franchise. The club first accomplished that goal in 1980, when Tug McGraw struck out the final batter to win the World Series, jumping into the air, fully extended in celebration.

Who can forget the most recent Phillies' victory in 2008, when Brad Lidge finished his perfect season by striking out Eric Hinske to send the Tampa Bay Rays packing, as the closer dropped to his knees in celebration and his teammates jumped on top of him in sheer jubilation.

Those are the moments that baseball fans live for.

The Phillies' Legends

Most of these guys have statues for a reason.

It would be impossible to raise a Phillies' fan without mentioning some of the all-time greats. The club has had some of the greatest pitchers of all-time, including Hall of Fame legends like Pete Alexander and Steve Carlton. It would be hard not to mention the work of guys like Jim Bunning and Robin Roberts, and in today's game, Roy Halladay is the picture of perfection, while Cliff Lee has become a fan-favorite. Don't forget about that third ace either, Cole Hamels!

What about at the plate? The Phillies have had their fair share of legendary hitters as well, including the greatest Phillie to ever play the game: Mike Schmidt. Richie Ashburn dominated The game on the base paths, while Chase Utley has played the game the right way.

Of course, it would be flat out wrong to talk about Phillies' legends without mentioning guys like Harry Kalas and Ashburn, and so many more!

A Storied Franchise

The last couple of slides have gone into great detail about this notion, but to sum them up, the Phillies' organization is simply one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. From their days as the Quakers to present day, the Phillies have continued to grow in lore.

The organization has played host to two perfect games and a postseason no-hitter. Three players have hit four home runs in a single game, and Chase Utley's five home runs in the 2009 World Series are tied for the most of all-time with a man who made a name for himself playing baseball in October: Reggie Jackson.

If you'd really like to introduce your children to one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball, perhaps you'd be interested in 30 "Phun Phacts" and the "25 Most Eccentric Phillies of All-Time."

The Game in Today's Environment

If none of those reasons I've already listed seal the deal, just let your children watch the Phillies a few times. They'll want to see more. After all, if nothing else, the Phillies are an entertaining team to watch in today's game.

With a passionate fan base and a drive to win, the Phillies have brought some of the best players in the game to Philadelphia, and over the course of 162 games and beyond, that shows. From Roy Halladay's pitching dominance, to Cliff Lee's love of hitting (and pitching,) the Phillies are entertaining, through and through.

They have pitching. They have the offense. Let's play ball.

Recent Success

A true fan won't hop off of the wagon if the wheels fall off, but if there is ever going to be a better time to raise your children as Phillies' fans, I can't think of one. In recent years, the Phillies have been one of the best teams in baseball, and they have the results to prove that statement.

Beginning in 2007, when Jimmy Rollins accurately predicted that the Phils were the team to beat, no one has beaten them within the division. For five straight seasons, none of the other four teams in the NL East have been able to knock the Phillies off of their perch atop the division.

Those postseason appearances have resulted in three trips to the NLCS, two trips to the World Series, and a World Series victory in 2008.

A Commitment to Winning

Longtime fans of the Phillies may look at that title and roll their eyes, because this has not always been the case. Once upon a time, the front office purposefully put the organization in a position to lose. Well, maybe that is an unfair assumption, but the idea remains the same—they weren't supposed to win. This was used as leverage to do a number of things. Possibly move the team. Build a new ballpark.

Whatever the case may be, those days are in the history books. Now, the Phillies are committed to winning. With one of the largest payrolls, biggest scouting departments, and one of the best ballparks in all of baseball, the Phillies are going to be a powerful organization for a long time.

In the present, the front office has shown that they'll do whatever it takes to put a competitive roster on the field, whether it is trading several top prospects for an All-Star right fielder or signing that big-name closer to a huge deal, they'll do it, because they want to do the same thing as the fans—win.

"High Hopes"

With that commitment to winning comes something that Harry Kalas helped to make popular with the Phillies: High hopes. It was Harry's favorite song because it taught the team to never give up. He'd watched the 1980 team win the World Series and never believed, regardless of how bad some of the teams were in their darkest days, that the Phillies would be in the cellar forever.

Finally, in 2008, Harry called the final out of the World Series. It was something that he had waited his entire career to do and was finally able to accomplish. Harry was the epitome of "High Hopes," but there is a lesson here for all to learn, especially young fans.

Never give up.

The Phillies don't give up. From the players on the field, to the front office, to the people behind the scenes, and finally, to the fans, it's not over until the fat lady sings. It's not over until there are 27 outs in the book; until they turn off the lights.

That is a great attitude to have, and one that Harry helped cultivate within the spirit of the Phillies' organization.

The Voices

Raise your children to be fans of the Phillies because of the voices that bring the game into your home on a daily basis. How many hearts has Harry Kalas touched with his memorable calls? How many times has a Phillies' fan heard his, "It's outta here!" call, spoken with true passion, and longed for baseball?

The true voice of the Phillies, Harry will never be forgotten. From his days working with Richie Ashburn, forming one of the greatest broadcast teams of all-time, to his days working with Chris Wheeler, the Phillies seemed more lively than ever when he was in the booth.

In recent years, those who have carried on without him have done a tremendous job. Radio team Larry Andersen and Scott Franzke are widely regarded as one of the best tandems in baseball, and the television crew of Wheeler, Tom McCarthy, and Gary Matthews continue the tradition through to today.

However, if you really want to hear a legendary voice, head out to the ballpark and listen to Dan Baker address the stadium. That is true passion.

My favorite Dan Baker introduction? "Now batting, Phillies' first baseman, Rico Brogna!"

The Phanatic

Is there anyone more "phanatical" about the Phillies than the Phillie Phanatic? You would have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

Hailing from the Galapagos Islands, the Phanatic has been beloved by Phillies' fans for more than three decades, the Phanatic has been the mascot of the Phillies and the fans have grown a true attachment to that big, green, furry thing for one reason:

He is simply amazing.

From his on the field skits to shooting hot dogs into the stands, no one gets the crowd fired up quite like the Phillie Phanatic, who has been the team's 10th man since his inception.

Raise your children to be fans of the best mascot in the world.

Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Co.

If you're going to raise your children as fans of the Phillies, know that you're raising fans of a team that plays the game the right way. Members of the Phils' roster spill their heart out on the field and give anything they put their minds to an effort of more than 100%.

At the forefront of that mind-set is Roy Halladay, who's work ethic goes unrivaled in the MLB. Though it is something we hear quite often, as far as it comes to the Phillies, Halladay is the first man to arrive at the ballpark and the last to leave, and his results show just how hard he works. Preparation breeds success.

The leader of the club, however, is Chase Utley, whom Harry Kalas simply deemed, "The Man." Utley plays like Phillies' fans expect—hard nosed and like his pants are on fire, very similar to the style of another Philly favorite: Pete Rose.

Between the two of those men, that style has rubbed off on the rest of the team. If you're looking for a team who will out-compete the Phillies, good luck with that. Raise your children to be fans of the hardest working team in baseball.

Charlie Manuel

When raising your children to be Phillies' fans, make sure they know who Charlie Manuel is. When the Phillies hired him to be their manager, it was an unpopular decision, but the results speak for themselves. Now, Manuel is the all-time leader in wins as a manager for the Phillies, and he has led the club to five straight division titles and capture a World Series title.

However, it is down-to-earth, Southern style of managing that has captured the heart of Phillies' fans. From his thick, Southern drawl to his commitment to the players, Manuel's "gut feeling" may not always produce the best results, but he'll never be disliked by one of his players, and he'll go down in history as one of, if not the, greatest Phillies' manager of all-time.

The Fans

Do you want to know why you should raise your children to be Phillies' fans?

Just look around. They're everywhere. Philadelphia is a city that loves baseball, and more importantly, loves a winning team, and the Phillies are going to be winners for a while. Raise your kids as fans who support their team through the thick an thin.

Help get rid of that nasty misconception that Phillies' fans are bad people by raising your kids to be the type of fan that you and I know—the type of fan who is very knowledgeable about the game, gets on the players when they're not giving it 100%, but most importantly, supports them with everything they have when the players are spilling their hearts out on the field.

Passion

To bring this slideshow full-circle, if nothing more, raise your kids to be passionate fans.

The sport of baseball is one of the most exciting games in the world. As the old baseball axiom goes, squaring up a round ball with a round bat is not easy to do, and as the game advances and technology becomes greater and the game changes around us, it will become even more difficult.

A real, passionate fan respects that. They know what they're talking about when it comes to baseball, but when it comes to their team, for their own sake, they don't like being wrong. Raise fans that will be supportive of their team through the thick and the thin. Love the good decisions and dislike the bad ones, but at the end of the day, know where your allegiance lies.

If you've raised a truly passionate fan, chances are, you've raised a Phillies' fan.