Citizens Bank Park // 3 of 30 // Where in the World is Mark Darden?
WHEN THE GLASSES ARE ON, THERE'S SOME TRAVELING GOIN' ON! My third stadium in my "Quest For 30" baseball journey was Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Washington Nationals and I must say that this was the best baseball game I've ever witnessed. The Phillies DESTROYED the Nationals 17-3, I got a chance to see a college friend, drank a lot of beer, and made memories that will last a lifetime.
Going to this game was a last minute decision. I asked my college friend from Ohio State, Romisha, if she wanted to go to the game and she accepted my invite. I left the hostel I was staying at around 6:40 pm to head over to the stadium and arrived about 10 minutes before the first pitch. She took a Lyft to the stadium and I took an Uber. It was a funny how we met up because my Uber was literally behind her Lyft.
We got to our seats and we got a chance catch up with each other's lives after not seeing each other for 4 years. During our conversation it was casually brought up that I was a neutral fan. THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE! The people in front of me, Kevin, Bill, and Matt, gave me hell becuase I said that. It was still in the first inning and the Phillies had scored 5 runs. Since it was T-shirt night at the stadium, I promised them that if the Phillies score one more run in the first inning, I would put on the shirt and be a Phillies fan. They scored another run and I become the biggest Phillies fan since Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World.
After a few beers, the fun REALLY started to begin. For the record, I am a happy drunk. A happy and talkative drunk. I have a tri-fold sign that says IT'S GAME TIME FOLKS! and a list of all the teams I've visited in order. I tried my best to get on the jumbotron at Citizens Bank Park and I succeeded. Not once but twice. The first time I didn't realize I was on the screen because I was standing on my seat and someone had jokingly said that the cops were behind me. I turned around and at that moment I ended up on the screen.
I got a chance to try some crab fries from Chickie and Pete's at the game and I fell in love with them. Bill and Kevin said that they had a restaurant near the stadium that we can meet up after the game. The game ended and the Phillies DESTROYED the Nationals 17-3.
After the game, Romisha and I went to Chickie and Pete's and got some of their world famous crab fries and some cheesesteaks. After 20 minutes or so, I got a text from Bill asking me where we were at. I told them we were at Chickie and Pete's and a few minutes later, Bill and Kevin arrived and we spent the next three hours talking the about the game, life, and drinking more beer. We also had fun with our waitress, Christina, who helped make our night even more memorable. Afterwards, Bill and Kevin left to go home and myself and Romisha took an Uber so she could head home and I could get back to the hostel. I got back to my hostel around 3 am.
I got to thank Romisha, Bill, Kevin, Matt, and the entire 112 section for the most memorable nights in my life. Sometimes life is great when it is spontaneous. Thanks for reading and always remember, WHEN THE GLASSES ARE ON, THERE'S SOME TRAVELING GOIN' ON!