Philadelphia Sports

By George Kasony

Growing up in a tight knit south Trenton neighborhood

I discovered baseball at a very early age. It quickly became my favorite pastime. Every summer all day long on the playground playing baseball. As a six year old I loved it. We had a south Trenton little league called 6-11 down along the Delaware River. I wanted to play so bad but wasn’t old enough yet. You had to be nine.

Then one day after work my dad came home and said he wanted to go to the Phillies game that night. I don’t believe I was ever more excited. So that night my dad brother and I drove down to Connie Mack stadium to watch the Phillies and Astros. Just seeing the stadium made my heart jump. I couldn’t believe I was actually there.
My dad and brother were Hugh Phillies fans and I immediately fell in love with the team and stadium. Cookie Rojas Dick Groat Johnnie Callison Jim Bunting and of course Richie Allen. I loved Connie Mack stadium. The left field bleachers and big right field score board. I remember watching Ron Santo of the cubs taking batting practice hitting balls off the left field foul line scoreboard. For me there was nothing more exciting than being there.
Loving baseball as I did and with my dad and brother being big fans I immediately became attached to the Phillies. Having attended several games after that at Connie Mack I was sad when it closed. At the same time excited to see the new stadium. Obviously there was a huge difference between Veterans stadium and Connie Mack and now Citizens bank park. But through the years through the many ups and downs of the team one thing never changed. The love of the team. Richie Ashburn By Saam on the black and white tv before we had color. Then eventually Harry Kalas . Now Tom and Ben.

From the little boy growing up in that nice south Trenton neighborhood playing baseball and dreaming one day of playing for the Phillies to a 67 year old dreaming about another Phillies World Series victory the Phillies will always have a special place in my heart.