2004 Philadelphia Phillies

This is a great year to be a Philadelphia Phillies fan. The team, with its new first baseman, Jim Thome, is in the thick of both the National League East title race and, if that does not work out, the Wild Card race. With games played in exciting new Citizens Bank Park, it's no wonder that tickets are a scarce commodity in Philadelphia this summer.

The city of Philadelphia has one of the longest traditions of baseball in America. When the Phillies were formed in 1883, history was in the making. Now, as the 21st century begins, the Phillies are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports. From 1901 to 1954 Philadelphia also had an American League baseball team, the Athletics, led by legendary manager Connie Mack. A whopping 32 Hall of Fame players have played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Among these Hall of Famers is three-time Most Valuable Player Mike Schmidt and four-time Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton. Despite their long history, the Phillies had not won a World Series until 1980. That year the people of Philadelphia were finally given their first World Series win, as Tug McGraw recorded the final out in the World Series to beat the Kansas City Royals. The Phillies now play in the National League East division against such rivals as the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves, and the Florida Marlins.

The current Phillies team is managed by fiery former major league player Larry Bowa. Bowa is known for his competitive spirit and his will to win, and he has tried to instill this in his team. This team is led on the field by huge, left-handed slugging first baseman Jim Thome, and their outfield of Bobby Abreu, Marlon Anderson, and Pat Burrell. The Phillies also have one of the most powerful young pitching staffs in the league. This staff includes Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brett Myers, and new hard-throwing, former Astros closer Billy Wagner.

From 1971 to 2003 Phillies ticket-holders attended Phillies' baseball games at Veterans Stadium. The stadium was a huge multi-purpose stadium shared with the NFL's Eagles. Phillies' fans at "The Vet" were known for their boisterous attitude and how tough they were on the opposing players. In 2004, the Phillies moved into the new Citizens Bank Park. This new ballpark is a baseball-only stadium that only seats 43,500, a cozy setting compared to The Vet. The Ballpark is located on a 21-acre site in South Philadelphia - on the north side of Pattison Avenue, between 11th and Darien Streets. As fans approach the Ballpark, they are immediately greeted with a breathtaking view of a Philadelphia-styled sports-facility clad in red steel, brick and stone. At home plate, third base and first base, there are 50-foot-high glass-enclosed towers that, when lighted, glow at night.

The Phillies think that they should be able to compete in the National League East in the brand-new Citizens Bank Ballpark. The leadership of Larry Bowa and the talent on the field should help make this a reality in the years to come.