PHILADELPHIA — As the All-Star festivities at Citizens Bank Park drew to a close on Tuesday with the American League blanking the National League 4-0 in the 96th Midsummer Classic, one thing had become certain: The Philadelphia crowd had spent a lot more time booing than cheering.
At the outset of the proceedings this week in Philly, the stage was set for a raucous display of support for the hometown stars. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper were headlining the Home Run Derby. Ace Cristopher Sánchez was starting on the mound for the National League. Outfielder Brandon Marsh was voted in as a starter. Terrific southpaw Jesús Luzardo and closer Jhoan Duran were named All-Stars for the first time. Veteran right-hander Zack Wheeler was notably absent — one of the more egregious All-Star snubs in recent memory — but there were plenty of Phillies for the local faithful to shower with adoration.
Instead, nothing quite went Philadelphia’s way this week, and a fan base known for its fierce loyalty and intense disdain for rivals made its feelings known — and heard. It began Saturday at the MLB Draft. The fans who filled the Grand Hall at the Pennsylvania Convention Center set the tone for the week with the customary booing of commissioner Rob Manfred to open the event, followed by aggressive jeers whenever a division rival (or the Houston Astros) was on the clock. That was a somewhat constant theme, as the spectators had to wait until pick No. 36 for the Phillies to make their first selection.
At Sunday’s Futures Game, a more tame crowd still managed to muster some boos for Braves pitching prospect Cam Caminiti and Mets first baseman.
Then, on Monday, the dissatisfaction ratcheted up tenfold. A Home Run Derby primed for Schwarber and Harper to rule the night unfolded in highly entertaining yet disappointing fashion for those hoping to see a Phillie claim the Liberty Bell-themed chain. Harper failed to advance past the first round. Schwarber started slowly but rallied to reach the final, albeit not without a scare in the semifinals against Willson Contreras, who endured an absolute barrage of boos as he tried to top Schwarber’s second-round total.
A stadium-shaking triumph appeared within reach when Schwarber swatted 11 long balls in the final, but Walker, defying the relentless boos raining down, caught fire late to upset the regular-season home run leader and leave the CBP crowd in stunned silence.
It should come as no surprise then that the booing continued Tuesday. As a parade of major-league mascots took place pregame, Mr. Met was welcomed with a cacophony of disapproval. More boos followed during player intros, with each Yankee, Met, Brave and Dodger — and really any National League pitcher who was there instead of Wheeler — hearing them.
Sánchez took the mound with a chance to restore some positive energy to the sellout crowd of 43,916, but instead he floundered in the top of the first inning, needing 34 pitches to record three outs while surrendering three early runs. Luzardo tossed a scoreless fourth, but Schwarber, Marsh and Harper combined to go 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
By the time National League manager Dave Roberts brought in Duran in the eighth inning to his usually electric closer entrance, the crowd’s response was understandably tepid. Shortly thereafter, Rays reliever Bryan Baker recorded the final out to conclude a dominant collective showing from the American League pitching staff and seal a 4-0 victory, just the 10th shutout in All-Star Game history and the first since 2013.
With pitching shining for both teams after Sánchez’s wayward outing to begin the game, fireworks were minimal throughout the remainder of the contest. The most explosive and exciting sequence of the night came in the form of an uplifting and well-choreographed tribute to the beloved baseball film “The Sandlot” after the fourth inning. Otherwise, a rotating cast of pitchers took turns slicing through the opposing lineups.
There were just a handful of memorable swings along the way, beginning with Yankees’ Cody Bellinger’s two-RBI single off Sánchez in the first to open the scoring and earn him MVP honors. Participating in his first All-Star Game since 2019, when he was a young phenom with the Dodgers, Bellinger is all grown up now, well-traveled and well-paid. His career has featured spectacular highs and discouraging lows. He celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday and received his trophy postgame with his two young daughters, Caiden and Cy, providing a wholesome finale to the weekend.
“It’s pretty special,” Bellinger said. “My first few years in the big leagues, I was [an All-Star] two of my first three years, and I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll be here every year.’ So you know, it took a long time to get back. It’s such a competitive league, and it’s hard to be an All-Star. Health, performance, it all has to come together. Honestly, this one, I just really enjoyed it.”
As Bellinger basked in his return to the Midsummer Classic, this time as a family of four along with his wife, Chase, Philadelphia served as an ideal backdrop. Bellinger is no stranger to passionate fan bases, having launched his career in Los Angeles, rejuvenated his status in Chicago and now starring in New York as a veteran. And as a member of one of the teams that received the loudest boos throughout the week, Bellinger embraced the environment.
“You know they love their players, and you know they’re passionate about the others not on their team as well,” he said with a laugh, seemingly reliving all the boos from the previous 48 hours. “You know coming in it’s always a tough atmosphere, and you just gotta be ready for it.”
In an exhibition setting like the All-Star Game, the jeers can come across as playful more than outright hostile. But it won’t be long before the boos start to carry a bit more venom as the stakes ramp up. The Phillies are at a pivotal juncture, having rallied from a miserable start to the season — one that featured ample booing of their performance from the frustrated home fans and cost manager Rob Thomson his job at the end of April.
They have since found their footing under interim skipper Don Mattingly and entered the break at 54-43 and in the second NL wild-card spot. Now the Phillies are about to embark on a nine-game homestand against many of the main characters they just encountered during All-Star Week, with the Mets, Dodgers and Yankees coming to town.
Asked how he expects to be received when he returns to Citizens Bank Park in 10 days for a marquee interleague matchup, Bellinger smiled again.
“I imagine how we probably got received today, along with a bunch of other people,” he said.
“But that’s what makes Philly great.”
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