The article recounts a nostalgic moment from a Phillies game in the early 2000s, where fans Dave and Donald humorously interacted with reliever Ricky Bottalico, exemplifying the boisterous nature of Philadelphia fan culture. Donald's persistence in asking for baseballs for his children highlights the entertaining but sometimes overzealous behavior associated with Phillies supporters. However, with the team's move to a new stadium in 2004, opportunities for fan engagement with players have decreased, changing the dynamics of the fan experience.
This story is a classic in the Hall family, and in its combination of entitlement and persistence it's also something like the apotheosis of Phillies fan behavior.
Bottalico turned his head around, looked up, and faked a toss to the kids. "That's OK," Donald yelled down to Bottalico. "I'll get one when you go out to pitch."
Since the move to a new stadium in 2004, Phillies fans no longer have the opportunity to heckle their own team.
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