Philadelphia Phillies Mural
On this first day of winter, we rewind back to the boys of summer and our Fightin’ Phillies! Hard to believe it was right around a month and a half ago we were all rooting for our ‘Boys in Blue’ to do the improbable as they battled the Houston Astros in the 2022 Fall Classic. As we all know, it didn’t quite turn out the way Phillies fans had hoped – but man, it was a helluva ride throughout! Phillies, Eagles & Union brought this city together unlike we have seen around here in quite some time. We were on a collective sport’s ‘bender’ for a good bit there, and it was an amazing time to be a Philadelphia sports fan! Myself included!
Recently, as I was walking through University City, I was stopped in my tracks by this absolutely beautiful mural of our Fightin’s, celebrating the 1980 and 2008 World Series Championships. If you are familiar with the area, Chestnut St. heads into the City where Walnut St. heads out… this 5-story+ mural is on the side of an apartment building on Walnut St. approaching 24th St., but you can only really see it if you are heading in towards the City. I guess that’s why I haven’t seen this masterpiece in person until now.
This is one of the over 3,600 murals you can find across the city of Philadelphia. And thanks to the Philadelphia Mural Arts initiative (muralarts.org), Philly has earned national and international acclaim as the “City of Murals”. Boasting the largest public arts program in the United States.
This piece was designed and painted by David McShane, in partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies and Mural Arts Philadelphia in 2015. The attention to detail on this thing is absolutely stellar… The Vet, HK, the Phanatic and all of that rich Phillies history that dates back to 1883. Fun fact: the Philadelphia Phillies are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in all of American professional sports.
So, as we reach wind-chill temperatures in the single digits this holiday season, maybe this mural will help channel warmer thoughts of summer days spent with our ‘Boys in Blue’ at Pierre’s Good Citizen’s Park!
By the way… the Phillies first Spring Training game is Feb 25,2023 at 1:05 against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland Fla. …right after the Eagles win the Super Bowl! ; )
Philadelphia Phillies: These Photos Capture the Magic (wmmr.com)
