Phillies: A Night Before Christmas at Citizens Bank Park

An ode to the holiday at Citizens Bank Park, featuring your favorite Phillies from the past, the present, and the future.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Phillies land
not a vet was stirring, not even Mike Schmidt
The gloves were hung by the bell with care,
in hopes that Saint J.P. Crawford would soon be there

The pitchers were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of 16 strikeouts danced in their heads.
And Mackanin in his ‘kerchief, and Bowa in his cap
had just settled their seasons for a long winter’s rest

When out on the field there arose such a clatter
Pete sprung from his bed to see what was the matter
Away to the field he flew like a flash,
tore up the grass and threw up the dirt

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The moon on the breast of two days of rain,
gave a luster of gametime to the objects below
When what to his wondering eyes did appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight Phillies prospects!

With a little young GM, so patient and wise,
he knew in a moment it must be MacPhail
More rapid than Eagles, his players they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now Franco! Now Nola!
Now Galvis and Hernandez!
On, Joseph! On, Alfaro!
On, Velasquez and Quinn!
To the top of the East!
To the top of the league!
Now play away! Play away!
Play away all!”

As dry dirt that flies on a Herrera slide,
when they meet with his horns, mount to the sky
So up to the third deck the trades they flew,
with the deals full of tools, and some money too

And then in a twinkling, he heard in the stands,
The screaming and yelling of Phillies fans
As Pete drew his head and was turning around,
out of the dugout the players came with a bound

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They were dressed in pinstripes, from their chest to their feet
their clothes were freshly cleaned without any dirt
A bundle of balls they had in their gloves,
and they looked like kids just wanting to play

Their eyes – how they twinkled! Their smiles, how cheery!
Their hats were like roses and their cleats like cherries!
Their shoelaces tied up like a bow,
and the balls in their gloves were as white as the snow
The piece of tobacco they held tight in their teeth,
and the spit encircled their feet like a wreath
They had broad shoulders and nary a belly,
that helped smash baseballs, like shots in the night

They were tall and strong, a truly imposing force
and Pete smiled when he saw them, in spite of himself
The smacking of the leather and the crack of the bats
soon let him know he had nothing to dread

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
and filled the stadium, then turned towards their coach
And as they locked eyes with Pete
they gave him a nod and kept him at ease

Pete sprang to the steps, to his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew to call of the coach
But I heard him exclaim, as he brought them all in,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all, let’s play ball!”

Next: Trading Josh Tobias Shows Confidence in 2B Depth

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at That Ball’s Outta Here!