Take me outside the ballgame: Phandemic Krew cheers Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The climb up the ladder positioned against a gate outside the Phillies' ballpark nearly 450 yards away from home plate comes with more than a distant view of baseball.

It also comes with a major mandate: “You’re in charge of the air horn,” said Phillies fan Brett MacMinn.

Who knew the block party of the summer would be thrown at Phillies games, where baseball’s gatekeepers locked out fans but can’t silence the die-hards who packed their vuvuzelas, air horns and homemade banners and stirred up the staid atmosphere inside Citizens Bank Park?

The Phandemic Krew ring those noisemakers like they’re celebrating at the Mummers Parade. Just ask Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who got riled up last week when the growing pack of Phillies fans busted up the silence with a cacophony of honking and cheering.

“It’s nice to at least hear something out there, even if they’re quite far away,” Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto said.

Realmuto surely can hear them — chants to “Sign J.T.” for the Phillies to re-sign their popular and productive free-agent catcher have been a game-day staple.

MacMinn is a founding father of the group that started as a trio to catch the Phillies work out during summer camp at the ballpark and neighboring FDR Park after baseball's restart following the COVID-19 shutdown. The gathering has become larger — and louder — on the sidewalk at 10th Street and Phillies Way outside the outfield concourse known as Ashburn Alley. Phillies fans set up ladders and lawn chairs to root for the home team. Oh, and don’t forget the binoculars and radios to stay current on the action. And if you can bring an extra air horn for all the home runs, please honk away.

“These are actually getting hard to find,” said MacMinn,...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Take-me-outside-the-ballgame-Phandemic-Krew-15475792.php