What a great night!
Last night, I had the rare opportunity to celebrate three distinctly different occasions within several hours of one glorious evening.
The evening started out early with me emceeing Project H.O.M.E.’s 2008 Young Friends Event at the University of the Arts on Broad Street (where just a couple miles south on this same street the Fightin’ Phils were warming up to resume their rain-delayed championship game against the Tampa Bay Rays). The Project H.O.M.E. affair was a warm celebration in appreciation for all of the “young” people who donated their time, talent, and funds to Sister Mary Scullion’s amazing mission (www.projecthome.org) in assisting the homeless throughout the city of Philadelphia.
I was off Broad Street and making my way home with an hour to spare. The Philadelphia Phillies wouldn’t be in the batter’s box until 8:35pm. For those of you who live in an Afghanistan cave, Monday’s World Series Game 5 was suspended during the middle of the 6th inning - with the game tied at two apiece – because of torrential rains. A Phils’ win would have clinched the series for the Phils and allowed the city to claim its first major sports championship in 25 years (Dr. J and the Sixers in ’83).
I arrived home to be greeted by two of my best buddies Stretch (Marc Cerceo) and Fast Eddie (Ed Miersch), who were joining Diane and I for an impromptu birthday dinner and Phils game. The surprise dinner was courtesy of my friends (Michael Salaman and Don McDonald) at Skinny Water. As an early 54th birthday present, they shipped two dozen Joe’s Stone Crabs from Miami with all of the fixings, including key lime pie for dessert.
The four of us drank some good red wine. We feasted. Then I opened some way cool birthday presents like a Spider golf putter from Eddie, a Kindle digital book reader from Stretch, and a pair of skull-emblazoned Kookaburra boots from Diane. (Several other gift-wrapped packages would have to wait until November 2nd.)
And then we screamed!
You could feel the Phils fans’ energy radiating from Citizens Bank Park through the TV when pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins led off the Phils lineup at the bottom of the 6th with a double, and later scored on Jayson Werth’s single. The rally towels were in full helicopter mode. And we rallied around the kitchen table by refilling our wine glasses.
At the top of the 9th with two down and the Rays’ tying run on second, we all hoped, wished and prayed that relief pitcher, Brad Lidge, could cap off his stunning undefeated season with one more strikeout. And he did!
The Croce household joined the millions of Phils fans around the world and celebrated!
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 at 8:54 am by Pat Croce
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October 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Lending my husband for the memorable evening he had at the Croce’s was worth the leftover crabs he was sent home with! Thank you guys they were delicious. By the way, Marc ate half of them himself, weren’t they all for me?
October 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Pat:
I am 26 year old Phillies nutcase and waited my whole life for that moment! I moved away from Philly (to Indianapolis) a few years ago and have been attempting to explain to my friends just how huge of a moment it was for the entire city. Hearing Harry the K make the call put a lump in my throat.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
So much to cherrish! This is the first World Series victory to feature commentary by Harry Callas, since he was not allowed to broadcast the series in 1980.
We need to thank our angles in the outfield - The Tugger, Mrs. Mannuel, Mrs. Victorino, Mr. Ashburn, Mr. Marzanno, our late uncles, aunts, grandparents and friends who, not only had the best seats in the house, but gave the Baseball Gods and “offer they couldn’t refuse”
High apple pie in the sky hopes!!!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Seattle congratulates Jamie and the Phils! Many of us in Seattle were very happy to finally see Jamie Moyer win a championship. Jamie pitched for many years with the beleagured Mariners. He and his wife still run “The Moyer Foundation” here in the northwest. They’ve raised a ton of money for wonderful charitable causes and are held in the highest regard out here. We’re extremely happy to see the Phillies as new World Champions!
October 30th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Yo Pat! I was down there and it was wild! Hope you had a great birthday. Go Phils! Riz
October 30th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Last night was another example that dreams do come true!!
November 1st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Yesterday’s championship parade was spectacular!!
A class act all the way!
Happy Birthday Pat!