Ring the Bell: How the Philadelphia Phillies Built Baseball's Best Fanbase: Pre Order

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” He must’ve been a Phillies fan.

The Philadelphia Phillies, a franchise nearly 150 years old, has only reached its grand destination twice (World Series wins in 1980, 2008), but it harbors the most fervent fan base in baseball.

How?

Well, Olive Garden famously said, “When you’re here, you’re family.” The Phillies, warts and all, have been an inextricable part of the city, and the lives of the fans who cheered them on. The team’s story is part of our story.

This book is an encyclopedia of sorts, but it’s more of a family history. We won’t get into the really old stuff— Let’s face it… while I’m sure the 1915 World Series loss was painful, no one’s calling local sports talk radio to curse the name of Eppa Rickey. We’ll mostly delve into the memories that formed this generation’s deep bond with its ball club; the kinds of happenings, good and bad, that somehow manifested an unrivaled home field advantage.

What’s your Phillies origin story? Did you fall in love with the 1964 club, only to have your heart broken in the end? Did you idolize the 1993 Phillies, only to have your heart broken in the end? Yeah, unfortunately, that plot repeats a lot in this city; still, the fans never give up hope, and never turn down the volume.

The Phillies are 29-14 at Citizens Bank Park in the postseason. That .674 win percentage is a record for any stadium in Major League Baseball history (min. 20 postseason games).

Lately, its home field advantage has been highlighted by Philadelphia’s unlikely lengthy postseason runs in both 2022 and 2023. It wouldn’t be possible without clutch road wins, but Philadelphia cut opponents’ margin for error razor thin with its home dominance.

Postseason games at Citizens Bank Park in 2022 touched on levels the game has rarely experienced… literally. Philly fans’ steady commotion during the World Series could be heard from over a mile away, relentlessly sustaining ear-splitting decibels that would make European football rioters wince.

Phils announcer Scott Franzke coined it, “Bedlam at The Bank.” Stark contrast to Atlanta’s ballpark, where one could easily take a phone call without leaving their seat— Hey, some people prefer a quiet night out.

At any game, in any city, a stadium media crew can ask its fans to scream as loudly as possible… but they can’t make them care. The Phillies have the best home edge in baseball because, through it all, the fans never stopped caring.

That moment and emotion in 2022 were real, and powerful. But alas, like for the vast majority of MLB seasons, the Phils were not ultimately victorious. And if pain builds character, it certainly explains why Philadelphia has so damn much of it.

The team’s history includes a ton of rough patches, including a 31-year stint with just one single season above .500 (1918-1948). Per U.S. statistics, the average male born when that slump started in 1918 would be more likely to die before seeing two winning Phillies seasons. In 2007, the Phillies became the first professional team with 10,000 losses.

Yikes.

Phillies fans wear their disappointment like a tattoo, and it makes sense. Players spend countless hours on the field, in the gym, and in the film room, putting in the work for future glory. The fans put in a different kind of work, carrying the emotional baggage of a team that’s way more “wait till next generation” than “wait till next year.” There’s pride for having gone through it. Like a— dysfunctional, sometimes emotionally abusive— family, the Phillies and fans have stuck together.

This book will cover the moments and emotions of being a modern Phillies fan, from every perspective. Phillies fandom is a family, and this is our collective story.