“It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.”

This is true. Trust me, because I’m a romantic about everything.

In pursuit of my Drifty List, I recently watched Bull Durham (#85. Watch 100 Films). Being a woo-woo myself, I was absolutely enchanted by Susan Sarandon’s character. Superstitious and sensual, she’s the epitome of a romantic. While I can’t say I’ve ever read poetry to a man all night (maybe I should), I can say that I greatly related to her character. A big reason is because I used to dream and hope and wish right near that same North Carolina ballpark, back when I lived in Durham.

Back in 2014, my office was a block away from the historic Durham Athletic Park. Sometimes, I walked to work or lunch, strolling by the stadium. I heard that a movie had been filmed there, but for some reason or another, I never watched it. Odd, because I used to be obsessed with the Phillies.

In 2010, I graduated from Temple University. I was living in the city at the height of Phillies fever, running down Broad Street in 2008 when they won the series. I bought and watched the series on DVD, went to games, the whole shebang. I had played softball throughout my youth, a sport that came pretty naturally to me. My greatest claim to fame was when, as a catcher, I caught a softball in the jaw. It was so hard, you could see the stitching embedded in my skin.

But then, I graduated, moved out of the city, and life went on. I followed my ambition overseas. I started my blog, doing my first bucket list project. By the time I was settled in Durham, I was pursuing a new identity and a new life as Driftygal. I didn’t make much time for Philadelphia, and I definitely didn’t make much time for baseball.

I eventually found my way to New York, to writing, and to grad school at NYU. Due to a strong desire to have my own apartment, and the necessity to have the funds to travel, I decided not to move to New York. Instead, I found my way back to Philly, and I commute 2-3 times a week for work and school. However, since I’ve been here, I’ve struggled, and it’s been difficult to place why.

At first, I thought it was growing pains. Maybe I just needed some time to acclimate back to the city. But after almost a year, I still haven’t quite found my groove. So, with summer creeping up, and my Spring semester ending, I thought it would be a good time to try to connect with the city again. 

I started by going to a Phillies game.

It was a Sunday game, and I went alone. Decked out in new Phillies gear I had picked up at Mitchell & Ness the day before, the weather was a bit overcast, but still warm. A great day for baseball. My seat overlooked the outfield, the perfect way to watch the entire game. Sandwiched between two couples, I snacked on Chickie’s & Pete’s fries, dipping them in the famous white cheddar sauce.

Sipping an iced tea, I got sucked into the game, quickly remembering why I had always been so enthralled with baseball. There’s just something magical about the game. Every player is accountable, every player is present. Everyone is on display. The crack of a bat, and everything can change in an instant.

It feels so familiar to me, the same sensation I’ve had getting an email inviting me to travel around Iceland, my acceptance to NYU, running into the same Frenchman five years apart in Paris, getting my fellowships, and every single time I book a flight. Anything can happen, and the more prepared you are for those opportunities, the better. 

I got such a natural high from that game. The Phillies won 5-4 against the Braves, and I left the park enthused, chattering away to my Dad on the phone about all of the details. I immediately made plans to attend two other home games with friends. 

In the two weeks since then, I’ve realized I have the chance to reconnect with Philly right in front of me. The Phillies. I was already planning on doing a lot of travel this summer in the States but looking at the Phillies schedule, I found a ton of opportunities in their away schedule. I realized I could easily align a lot of my Drifty List goals (#82. Visiting all 50 States, etc.) with their schedule. I could also do a lot of the writing I need to do this summer about food and climate.

So, I booked a lot of travel. I’ll be attending ten away games across the country, as well as games in the city. Will the seats be cheap? Yes. Did I book a lot of Spirit/Frontier flights? Also yes. But hey, you do these things while you’re young(ish), and if there was ever a time to hire myself as the unofficial writer-in-residence for the Philadelphia Phillies that no one asked for, it’s now.

I also bought my mom, a lifelong Phillies and baseball fan, the MLB streaming package so she can watch games at home. My mom’s had a really tough go of it for the last two years. As much as I wish she could come to some of the games, she’s been having a lot of mobility issues. I plan on getting some hot takes (and trust me, she’s from Philly so they will be HOT takes) from her on the games and the players to add to the posts.

You can follow my journey here, as well as via @thedriftylist and via X @driftygal! I’ll also be writing a lot about farmer’s markets, local food, environmental issues, and fishing in those areas, so stay tuned!

Header image via The Philadelphia Inquirer.