New York Yankees warm up before game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at Yankee Stadium. (ROB KANDEL / THE MORNING CALL / November 4, 2009)
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The invitation to Alex Evans' World Series party for 40-plus Saturday had a few friendly reminders: Don't expect seating, a toilet or electricity and by no means complain about the stench of six-hour-old Bud Light on the floor.
Those with a preference for the Yankees? You don't want to know.
One who dared to enter Evans' red and rowdy living room was promptly pelted with a pair of beer-filled plastic cups before scurrying for his life.
''This is what we do,'' Evans, 22, of Pennsauken, N.J., said while standing near his borrowed 25-by-20-foot tent covering a beer keg, generator, 32-inch plasma TV and high-definition satellite in section K16 of the Lincoln Financial Field parking lot off Pattison Avenue, across the street from Game 3 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
Welcome -- only if you're a Phillies fan -- to the ticketless Evans' planned home for the weekend in a tailgate scene that resembled a beer-drenched fraternity house, complete with grown men dressed as chickens, Elvis, and Bert and Ernie. The spot was prime for those not fortunate enough to score a spot in the 45,000-plus seat ballpark.
Rather than parting with several hundred dollars, Evans and his buddies -- only three in the group had tickets -- took up space where they have for many games. They joined a cast of hundreds, perhaps thousands who couldn't resist the lure of an atmosphere that had been missing for 28 years before last year.
The scene took a turn for the worse about two hours before the first pitch when a carload of Yankee fans dared to drive by Evans' real estate and had their vehicle kicked and beer-soaked, prompting a police response.
By the time the first pitch was thrown at 9:17 p.m. after an hour-and-20-minute rain delay, they had to take the party elsewhere. Those hoping to remain in the tailgating lot for the game were sent on their way by security. They weren't around for the pregame fireworks nor the deafening roar when Jayson Werth belted a solo home run to left field to start a three-run second inning that staked the Phils an early lead.
They also missed the crowd-quieting fourth-inning homer by Alex Rodriguez that cut the margin to 3-2 and when the Yankees added three in the fifth to take the lead. New York ended up winning the game 8-5.
If the defending world champions had a second Citizens Bank Park, it seemed, the Yankees-hating parking lot dwellers before the game may have been able to fill it. Few New York fans were brave enough to venture into their lair.
''This is murderers' row right here,'' Joe Digiacomo, 20, of New Jersey said, peering across the parking lot like a soldier seeking out enemy blue.
Phillies fans weren't nearly as welcoming as New Yorkers were earlier this week during the first two World Series games in the Bronx, where a number of host fans were seen extending hands to their rivals.
Evans, who had to put out only $100 to rent a generator -– ''my buddies came through with all of the alcohol'' -- claimed the treatment wasn't all good in New York. The college student, who runs a landscaping business, said his cousins and former employees were needlessly ridiculed when they visited the Bronx earlier this week and left the game in the eighth inning out of fear.
''Yankees fans are not allowed in Philly,'' Evans vengefully proclaimed.
''Bum! Bum! Bum!,'' one Phillies fan repeatedly screamed at a man dressed in a Yankees cap and jacket Saturday night. ''Go back to the Bronx,'' another blurted out. Some taunted Yankees fans just put their heads down and went on their way.
Even inside in the swanky Hall of Fame Club, Yankees fans weren't safe. One, wearing a replica jersey of Yankees legend Don Mattingly, was serenaded by boos [without the beverage splash].
Chris Heilner, 21, of Bethlehem was well-versed on the rules of Philadelphia fandom. A Yankees fan, he wisely chose not to show his colors while hanging out with his Phillies friends. Karin Helmlinger, a 41-year-old Yankees fan originally from northern New Jersey probably spoke for many of her team's fans when she described Phillies fans as giving the worst treatment to opposing fans.
''It's early yet,'' said Helmlinger, who was heading to the Pearl Jam concert at the Wachovia Spectrum but took in the pre-game scene. ''Where I'm from, we eat people like this for breakfast.''
Perhaps she didn't see the hungry faces on those Phillies fans.
THE DETAILS: GAME 4
When: 8:20 p.m. today on FOX
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Pitchers: Joe Blanton (Phillies) vs. CC Sabathia (Yankees)
Series: Yankees lead two games to one
patrick.lester@mcall.com
610-820-6764
Those with a preference for the Yankees? You don't want to know.
One who dared to enter Evans' red and rowdy living room was promptly pelted with a pair of beer-filled plastic cups before scurrying for his life.
''This is what we do,'' Evans, 22, of Pennsauken, N.J., said while standing near his borrowed 25-by-20-foot tent covering a beer keg, generator, 32-inch plasma TV and high-definition satellite in section K16 of the Lincoln Financial Field parking lot off Pattison Avenue, across the street from Game 3 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
Welcome -- only if you're a Phillies fan -- to the ticketless Evans' planned home for the weekend in a tailgate scene that resembled a beer-drenched fraternity house, complete with grown men dressed as chickens, Elvis, and Bert and Ernie. The spot was prime for those not fortunate enough to score a spot in the 45,000-plus seat ballpark.
Rather than parting with several hundred dollars, Evans and his buddies -- only three in the group had tickets -- took up space where they have for many games. They joined a cast of hundreds, perhaps thousands who couldn't resist the lure of an atmosphere that had been missing for 28 years before last year.
The scene took a turn for the worse about two hours before the first pitch when a carload of Yankee fans dared to drive by Evans' real estate and had their vehicle kicked and beer-soaked, prompting a police response.
By the time the first pitch was thrown at 9:17 p.m. after an hour-and-20-minute rain delay, they had to take the party elsewhere. Those hoping to remain in the tailgating lot for the game were sent on their way by security. They weren't around for the pregame fireworks nor the deafening roar when Jayson Werth belted a solo home run to left field to start a three-run second inning that staked the Phils an early lead.
They also missed the crowd-quieting fourth-inning homer by Alex Rodriguez that cut the margin to 3-2 and when the Yankees added three in the fifth to take the lead. New York ended up winning the game 8-5.
If the defending world champions had a second Citizens Bank Park, it seemed, the Yankees-hating parking lot dwellers before the game may have been able to fill it. Few New York fans were brave enough to venture into their lair.
''This is murderers' row right here,'' Joe Digiacomo, 20, of New Jersey said, peering across the parking lot like a soldier seeking out enemy blue.
Phillies fans weren't nearly as welcoming as New Yorkers were earlier this week during the first two World Series games in the Bronx, where a number of host fans were seen extending hands to their rivals.
Evans, who had to put out only $100 to rent a generator -– ''my buddies came through with all of the alcohol'' -- claimed the treatment wasn't all good in New York. The college student, who runs a landscaping business, said his cousins and former employees were needlessly ridiculed when they visited the Bronx earlier this week and left the game in the eighth inning out of fear.
''Yankees fans are not allowed in Philly,'' Evans vengefully proclaimed.
''Bum! Bum! Bum!,'' one Phillies fan repeatedly screamed at a man dressed in a Yankees cap and jacket Saturday night. ''Go back to the Bronx,'' another blurted out. Some taunted Yankees fans just put their heads down and went on their way.
Even inside in the swanky Hall of Fame Club, Yankees fans weren't safe. One, wearing a replica jersey of Yankees legend Don Mattingly, was serenaded by boos [without the beverage splash].
Chris Heilner, 21, of Bethlehem was well-versed on the rules of Philadelphia fandom. A Yankees fan, he wisely chose not to show his colors while hanging out with his Phillies friends. Karin Helmlinger, a 41-year-old Yankees fan originally from northern New Jersey probably spoke for many of her team's fans when she described Phillies fans as giving the worst treatment to opposing fans.
''It's early yet,'' said Helmlinger, who was heading to the Pearl Jam concert at the Wachovia Spectrum but took in the pre-game scene. ''Where I'm from, we eat people like this for breakfast.''
Perhaps she didn't see the hungry faces on those Phillies fans.
THE DETAILS: GAME 4
When: 8:20 p.m. today on FOX
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Pitchers: Joe Blanton (Phillies) vs. CC Sabathia (Yankees)
Series: Yankees lead two games to one
patrick.lester@mcall.com
610-820-6764
