Tonight we visited Citizen's Bank Park, Home of the Philadelphia Phillies. I learned the following there:

1) Phillies fans are hot. I should qualify this with that I still think Cubs fans are the hottest.

2) This was a surprise to me because I hadn't realized there were any Phillies fans.

3) I maybe should have stopped at two beers.

We found CBP to be very much like Fenway, except much newer as it opened in 2004. It's set up in a similar way with a walkway behind center field with a bunch of restaurants and storefronts. It's called Ashburn Alley after their Hall of Famer center fielder Richie Ashburn from the '50s. I think maybe he had the most hits of any batter in the 1950's (could be wrong, don't quote me on that). The story I like the best about him is how he once hit a foul ball that struck the wife of a sportswriter then hit her again when she was being carried off the field. (That was him, wasn't it? I'm sorry, see #3 above).

We've been comparing the different scoreboards around the east coast (the ones that show what other teams are doing). Kristina and I agree the Bank has the best one because it not only shows the score and who is pitching, but has a little diamond that lights up how many outs and when there are runners on base:





Anyway, our seats were awesome, everyone we talked to was fun and enthusiastic about their team, just a great vibe in the park. We got there a bit late so we got to park for free in the nice big lot attached to the park. Tonight we're at a motel in Philly that seems to be a bit of a party place but I can't wait to sleep.

Tomorrow we're off to Baltimore for our last game, Orioles v. Yankees. Maybe we'll even get there in time for batting practice! But I doubt it. I should take this opportunity to thank Kristina for making this trip possible by taking on a freelance project that she's spent little to no time on so far and planning and arranging most of it with not much input from me. Oh, and she's had to do all the driving because I don't drive a manual. So hugs and kisses to Kristina!

PS: Funny quote from the game ~

Kristina to the guy sitting behind us to explain how she knows who Dmitri Young is: "I'm a Nats fan."
The guy: "You're a what?"