On Sunday I caught the Phillies-Marlins game at Citizen's Bank Park, as Ryan Howard hit two home runs- including a 496-footer that was the longest in stadium history- to give the Phils just their third home win of the season. A fun afternoon, as always at Philly's incredible ballpark.
But the highlight of the day might have been the "birthday party" for the Phillie Phanatic, probably the only such event in the country that draws a near-capacity crowd. Not only was the Phanatic joined for a dance on top of the dugout by Mr. Met, Billy the Marlin, and numerous other major league mascots, but a between-innings bit during the game was one of the funnier things I've ever seen at a game:
The Phanatic comes out to third base. An actor dressed as an "umpire" starts arguing with the Phanatic. The umpire "tosses" the Phanatic (especially funny, since Phils manager Charlie Manuel had himself been ejected in the first inning of the game). The announcer then introduces the Phils' new mascot, a giant clam with a 10-foot long shell-mouth. His name? "Roger Clam-ens." So the clam charges at the umpire and... eats him, with the ump's entire body going into the clam's mouth. The Clam chews for awhile, and eventually spits out each of the ump's shoes, then his shirt and pants, and then finally the ump himself, clad only in boxer shorts, who quickly runs away into the dugout. The soundtrack for this whole bit? "Eat It," by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
In all, a brilliant bit of ballpark theater.
Posted by Stephen Silver at April 24, 2006 04:19 PMThis would happen in Minnesota. But according to Sid Hartman, the dynamics of the metrodome prevent anything fun from happening within its baggy confines.
Posted by: Jeff S at April 26, 2006 07:37 AM