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Phillies: Phandemic Krew embodies diehard Philadelphia fans

By Matt Rappa |
Fans watch the game between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies from outside of Citizens Bank Park (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Fans watch the game between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies from outside of Citizens Bank Park (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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The socially-distanced Phandemic Krew is the embodiment of the Phillies fan

Philadelphia Phillies fans may not be able to attend games at Citizens Bank Park this season, however, two southern New Jersey residents, Oscar Alvarado, of Audubon, and Brett MacMinn, of Haddon Township, are doing everything possible to make sure the Philadelphia fan still is represented.

And, it is all through the Phandemic Krew.

Oscar and Brett, who met through social media, have been down at the ballpark ever since summer camp; from a drumline (who will return in Friday’s opener against the Atlanta Braves) and chants, such as “Sign J.T.!” the presence of their created “krew” — named after Bryce Harper‘s son — is being felt more and more as each day passes.

How the Phandemic Krew began

The Phandemic Krew began almost immediately once word spread that summer camp would take place at Citizens Bank Park rather than back at the Phillies’ spring training home in Clearwater.

“I could never go to spring training because of the nature of my work,” Brett said Friday morning on 97.5 The Fanatic. “So, I thought to go to summer training, go over and check that out. When I was there, I was like, ‘You know what? I can watch games from here.'”

Brett said Oscar was down at the ballpark for summer training too. From there, the concept of the “krew” really hit the ground running. From there, they suggested they both go to the games, and the rest is history.

“We went there, and there were actually other people there; that had the same idea,” Brett said.

Oscar says: “Phillies fans are great; [Brett and I] bump into each other at games. They had spring training here, so we’ve been out here watching them from behind the gate and at FDR Park.”

Support for the Phandemic Krew has grown, and the Phillies themselves are even fans. Brett and Oscar continued that Phillies executives have come down to the gate and said they need to be louder. The team has also provided T-shirts, headbands, and TVs so they can see the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast at the same time.

“That’s how the horn came in and the Phandemic Krew started,” Brett said.

The Phillies also gave the “krew” All-star catcher J.T. Realmuto‘s three-run home run ball from Thursday’s series finale victory over the Yankees.

Even the Phanatic has stopped by.

Phillies fans watch the game from outside Citizens Bank Park. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Phillies fans watch the game from outside Citizens Bank Park. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

View for the Krew

Brett and Oscar say they have somewhat of a decent view of the infield, but especially the left side — whoever is fielding third base, in particular. This past series, they say they harassed Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela, as well as whoever else was out there in their sightline.

The duo said the “krew” yelled “Yo Gio!,” who looked over, and the socially distanced Phillies fans replied, “The game is over there!”

Of course, the pinnacle point for the Phandemic Krew so far was in Thursday’s win, when Yankees manager Aaron Boone complained about their use of the air horn.

“When I was doing it when Giancarlo Stanton was batting, we were laughing about it,” Brett said. “I was like, “Oscar, I think Boone is complaining about us!”

Oscar said Boone complaining was definitely a “point of pride” for the group. “You talking about Boone, who last year said they were ‘savages’; now, they are crying about an air horn,” he said.

“There’s no stopping us. We are still going to be out here for the rest of the season.”

Socially distanced precautions

While the Phandemic Krew is growing, in both size and popularity, Oscar and Brett are taking the steps to assure the health and safety of everyone amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — the reasons they cannot be actually inside the stadium for games.

They are socially distanced from each other and wear masks. They even have the cartoon Phanatic on their signs wearing the proper personal protective equipment.

“We take it really serious out here. I actually have Xs marked on the ground, six feet apart,” Oscar said. “We have hand sanitizers zip-tied to the gates, and I have boxes of masks for anybody that shows up.”

“We don’t want to mess this up so we do want to follow protocols.”

More cowbell!

Near the end of their Friday morning interview on 97.5 The Fanatic, Brett and Oscar were allowed to sound their instruments, a cowbell and horn, respectively, to respond to true or false questions.

The duo was silent when asked if manager Joe Girardi will make the best of a bad bullpen, whether Rhys Hoskins will bat over .270 this year, and whether Alec Bohm will contribute in 2020. However, there were some questions they sounded their cowbell and horn in approval, including the team will re-sign Realmuto, Spencer Howard will be called up by the weekend, and that the Phillies will make the playoffs this year.

We should all appreciate the ‘Krew’

The Phandemic Krew is the embodiment of the true Philadelphia Phillies fan. Diehards. Being there for the team, through good times and bad. Making sure the other team hears it, and even the Phillies themselves when things are not done the right way. You have to love it.

“I watch a lot of baseball, and as far as I know, we are the only city doing something like this,” Brett said. “There are people on roofs of buildings, but I think we are the only city that has a group of fans that comes and hangs outside.”

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