Tampa Bay Rays’ fans have to be feeling pretty positive after the Rays took two of three from the Red Sox over the weekend. Boston left town 6 1/2 games behind the Rays and even Sox players and media were lamenting their diminishing playoff chances with barely 30 games left in the season.
But stranger things have happened. Take it from a guy who grew up in Philadelphia and rode one of the most notorious roller coasters in sports history one year: 1964.
Here’s the context. The Phillies had never won a World Series, and locals were resigned to spending yet another summer reveling in greasy cheese steaks, gushing fire hydrants, doo-woppy music, the nearby Jersey Shore and annual speculation on how the NFL “Iggles” would do.
But somehow, some way, the uber underdog Phillies–managed by 38-year-old Gene Mauch, who would later become the mentor for Joe Maddon–found themselves in pennant contention by the Fourth of July. And still there–actually first place–by September. In fact, the Phillies had a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play. Not 30-something, but 12. Not more than a month to go–but less than a fortnight. TV Guide magazine had already gone to press with a World Series preview that featured a photo of the Phillies’ venerable, sight-line challenged Connie Mack Stadium
Then it all imploded into what is still referred to as “The Phold.” The Phillies lost 10 in a row, the first seven at home, and the pennant was claimed by the appreciative St. Louis Cardinals.
So, yes, it can happen.
And for what it’s worth, no, I no longer live and die with the fortunes of the Phillies. You have to be born somewhere. You can definitely grow out of it. My home and my life is here, so, yes, I was rooting for the Rays in the 2008 Series against the Phillies–and all their mutant fans.