Led by Pat Burrell, perched atop a carriage pulled by a half dozen Clydesdales, the Philadelphia Phillies World Series parade departed 20th and Market at noon on Friday, October 31.
For four miles, the route snaked down Broad Street toward Citizens Bank Park. Behind Burrell and the carriage were several double-decker tour buses, on top of which Phillies players and personnel chugged beers and pointed out to admiring fans.
Two million Philadelphians, more than the population within the city limits, arrived for the spectacle. For many, it was the first time they had seen a championship parade, or even been alive to witness one.
No Philadelphia team had won a title in 25 years; the last, the 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers, led by Moses Malone and Julius Erving, were a fleeting memory. But that day, Halloween 2008, the Curse of Billy Penn had its funeral.
The so-called curse began in 1987, when the first building to eclipse the height of City Hall, One Liberty Place, was constructed at 17th and Chestnut Streets. For nearly a century, no building in Philadelphia had eclipsed the statue of William Penn atop City Hall—and for 14 years between 1894 and 1908, no building in the world stood taller.
For the first time, Penn was dwarfed, and the sporting gods raged. From 1987 to 2008, the Philadelphia Flyers appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, the 76ers competed in an NBA Finals, the Philadelphia Eagles went to one Super Bowl, and the Phillies played in one World Series. Philly teams lost all five contests.
In 2007, when work was complete on the Comcast Center, the city’s new tallest building, a statuette of Billy Penn was mounted atop the final beam. Once more, Philadelphia's founder could fix his gaze over the city.
Now, with a homegrown core, a Phillies team that had failed to get over the hump year after year after year had climbed to the mountaintop, and the city responded in revelry.
The parade route ended at Citizens Bank Park. Manager Charlie Manuel arrived in the back of a silver convertible sports car, wearing a pinstripe tuxedo. Each member of the starting lineup followed suit, though few were dressed as sharply.
On a stage set up at the pitcher’s mound, Harry Kalas introduced the ‘08 banner as it was raised to the top of a flagpole beyond center field. Following him, managing partner David Montgomery gave a speech, and the roar that preceded Manuel’s walk to the microphone was deafening.
Kalas introduced several players to the spotlight, each in progressive stages of drunkenness. First was World Series MVP Cole Hamels, then closer Brad Lidge.
Next was Chase Utley, whose speech was as laconic as his playstyle.
“World Champions,” he said. “World f***ing champions!”
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