KYW Newsradio Team Coverage
Eager baseball fans -- with and without World Series tickets -- were streaming to central Florida as the Phillies prepared for game one of the World Series against Tampa Bay. Others were headed to Philadelphia, the site of games three, four, and five.
KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports that about 1,000 fans gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall on Wednesday (right) for a noontime rally in support of the Fightin' Phils. Mayor Nutter, the Phanatic, and the Phillies' ball girls were on hand to help lead the cheers.
See the rally photo gallery
KYW's Mike DeNardo reports from Tampa Bay that with game one of the World Series just hours away, Phillies fans in Florida were primed for a win.
Lenny's Restaurant is almost right across the street from Bright House Field, the Phillies' spring training home in Clearwater. So this place, in the heart of Rays country, serves up Phillies fever, says restaurant general manager Kevin Schauer:
"It's exciting. The town's still hopping from the last series. We're happy to see the Phillies in their home turf here, as opposed to going up to Boston. So we're really pumped.
"We've seen some old friends from up in Philly that are already down here. They're getting ready to go to the game tonight."
And Schauer sayshe's so confident that the Phils will win this World Series, that he made a little wager:
"There's a local bar down by the stadium, Ferg's, which is a Rays bar. And then we're obviously the Lenny's connection here. So the bet is, like the mayors make between the two cities, if the Phillies win we get wings and beer on Ferg's.
"And I'm not even going to mention the unthinkable, but if we happen to lose, we have to do breakfast and beer for them down at their place. Breakfast and beer. They asked for it, so they want the beer!"
The waitresses at Lenny's are wearing Phillies t-shirts. Except for one or two.
"Most of the waitresses. The other ones are the ones that won't have a job in spring when you guys come down!"
DeNardo, reporting from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, says the Phillies held a second day of workouts Tuesday on the artificial turf.
Dallas Green, the only Phillies manager to win a world championship, watched the Phils work out the day before the World Series, and he liked what he saw:
"I thought we had a game plan that was going to get us to the next level. And these kids have stepped up and played very, very well all year. I like their resiliency and the way they go about playing the game. They like being around each other and playing winning baseball. I thought we had a shot at it."
Expanded Game Coverage
As the Phillies got used to the artificial turf and the catwalks of Tropicana Field, their fans were arriving to try to get into game one any way they could.
Phillies president David Montgomery (right) expects to see a good number of red hats and shirts in the stands:
"I think we'll have some support here. Partly because -- thanks to us being in Clearwater for so many years -- I think there's some transplanted Philadelphians down here. And we've been fortunate enough to have our employee group coming down, so I know we at least have 250 people or so cheering for us."
Another guy who will be cheering is Brian Freeland of Riverton -- if he can get in:
"It's World Series time. What, 15 years now, since we've seen the World Series now? So we're hungry."
And Brian is hungry for tickets, if anyone is selling.
KYW's Mark Abrams, reporting from South Philadelphia, says Phillies fans who couldn’t make the trip to Florida for the first pitch were viewing game one at a number of different places.
Charlie is from Fishtown and he said he’d be watching the game at home with family:
"Gotta wear your hat. Gotta have everything. My house, I got the banners up. I’m ready. They’re going to do it. They’re going to do it."
(Abrams): "You think this is the year?"
"Oh, this is the year. Last time was in ’80, flip it around: ’08. That’s it, that’s the number. They’re going to do it."
Others say they’re heading to their favorite sports bar. And, if you really want to have the feel of being in the ballpark with fans, there’s the jumbo TV viewing party event at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing along Columbus Boulevard (see related story). Gates were opening at 7:30pm. Bring your lawn chairs and bundle up.
KYW's Tony Romeo reports that Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell believes the Phillies will win the World Series -- and won’t have to go the distance to do it.
Governor Rendell (in file photo at right) amused reporters on Tuesday with the story of how Philadelphians, a few years back, asked him if there would be a parade for Smarty Jones if the horse had won the Triple Crown:
“And I said, ‘Well, think about this. This racehorse is worth tens of millions of dollars. We can’t put him on a flatbed truck and get him down Broad Street. And what are we going to do -- trot him down Broad Street?’
"That’s how desperate Philadelphians were. And now we’re one step away. And no offense to the Rays, because they’re an incredible story, but I think the Phils have the better club, and I think we’re finally going to have a parade down Broad Street.”
The governor says his schedule will only permit him to attend Sunday’s game. If there is a seventh game, Rendell says he’ll try to wrangle a way to Florida, but he believes the Phils will wrap it up before then.
KYW's Steve Tawa reports that it seemed that everyone had a story to tell as they checked their bags at Philadelphia International Airport, en route to St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tony DiAngelus of Broomall, Pa. says he and his brother were born and raised in Havertown:
"He moved to Tampa 14 years ago. They were the worst team in baseball. Up until this year, he didn't even know the names of any players on the team. Now, he's jumped right on the bandwagon."
As soon as Tampa went up three games to one in the series with the Red Sox, Tony says he got the phone call:
"He says, 'Yo! The fishing's great, the golf's great.' My son and I are going down there, golfing and watching baseball. It's a tough paper route."
KYW's Mike Dunn reports that city hospitality leaders are ecstatic about the coverage Philadelphia will get when the World Series shifts back here for game three. Larry Needle of the Philadelphia Sports Congress says it's far more than mere national exposure:
“Not only will we have probably between 15 and 20 million viewers across the country, but the games will be broadcast in more than 200 countries around the world. So it's really a super marketing opportunity for Philadelphia.”
Then there’s the cold, hard cash coming in. Needle estimates the World Series will bring in an extra 7,000 visitors to the city, filling up hotels and restaurants in the process.
KYW's Tony Romeo reports that Pennsylvania’s attorney general was warning Phillies fans to be careful when buying World Series tickets or travel packages.
When purchasing tickets, attorney general spokesman Nils Frederiksen says, buy from a reputable seller, preferably one authorized by Major League Baseball. And take steps to verify that your tickets correspond to actual sections, rows, and seats in the ballpark:
"We also caution consumers to be very wary of transactions involving cash or wire transfers for ticket purchases -- [it’s] always better to use a credit card because you can dispute the payment through your credit card company if it turns out that the ticket’s not honored at the gate."
When it comes to buying travel packages, pay attention to what is explicitly offered and not offered; do not assume that tickets to the game are included. And even if they are, ask the agent if the tickets are in hand.
KYW's Pat Loeb says Phillies fans were scrambling to get to Tampa Bay on Monday, once they knew where game one of the World Series was going to be.
The automobile advocacy group AAA says traffic on its web site has jumped 1,000% since the Phillies made it into the World Series, with people trying to figure out how to get to the out-of-town games.
Travel expert Mike Coldesina says it would have been better for fans if the series had started in Boston:
“Boston is an easy train ride or an easy car ride, but it's a little bit more of an effort to get down to central Florida.”
But, Coldesina says, it is possible -- although you can expect to pay $600 just for one night's hotel and a game ticket.
Philadelphia consumer advocate Lance Haver reminds you only to deal with reputable agents:
“It's always a danger when you try to buy tickets for an exciting event like the World Series that someone will take advantage of you and offer counterfeit tickets -- or worse, sell you a package deal where you fly someplace, check into a hotel, and the tickets are supposed to be waiting for you.”
Haver adds, though, that type of scam is harder to pull off for a World Series game, when the location isn't even known until a few days in advance.
KYW's Paul Kurtz notes that retail stores aren't the only ones making a buck off the Phillies post-season run.
Roadside tents with vendors hawking all things "Phillies" have popped up like mushrooms over the past couple of weeks.
(Vendor): "Flags, magnets, bumper stickers, you name it, I mean lighters, kids toys, hats."
But let the buyer beware:
(Kurtz): "These are all legit major league merchandise or do you have some knockoffs here?"
(Vendor): "Um, yeah, you know, most of it's legit."
But it's the stuff that's not sanctioned that's keeping inspectors busy. They're out there every day watching and checking for knockoffs.
When they find the shady items, they confiscate them, taking a bite out of the vendor's profits.
(Photos #2 and #3 by KYW's Mike DeNardo)
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