Cabrini night at the Phillies was held this year on the 14th anniversary of 9/11. Students, faculty and staff fill school buses each year to attend the event. Each freshman received a free ticket to the game and a Cabrini Night at the Phillies t-shirt.
The game did not matter at all, the experience did. Cabrini night at the Phillies, for some, was about observing, listening and learning.
The drive to the stadium was without traffic for the most part, a good thing when driving to Philadelphia, so add one to the win column.
I arrived at the ballpark ready to park and get into the stadium. Forgot about the cost of parking, $16, so add one to the loss column. That would be the last one.
Growing up listening and watching sports, the dream was to one-day talk about sports for a living. Luckily, the first thing on the schedule was entering the broadcast booths.
Seeing the broadcast booths was exciting but meeting the people inside them was what mattered most. Robert Brooks, manager of broadcasting of the Philadelphia Phillies since 2006, was the first person that I saw.
Brooks had insight, knowledge and advice that forced me to listen. Brooks is a Temple graduate who has had tons of experience in the communications field. He has been a producer at CBS radio, reporter at Comcast Network, broadcasting representative for the Phillies and now at his current position with the Phillies. Brooks is also a basketball analyst for Drexel University Athletics.
It was a pleasure talking to Brooks, who was more than willing to answer any and all questions.
The second person I saw was the host of pre- and post-game shows on the Phillies radio network, Jim Jackson. More importantly, Jackson is the voice of the Philadelphia Flyers on television for the past 20 years. Meeting people on television is always exciting but meeting a local great like Jackson was a welcoming surprise.
Next on the schedule was heading down to the field to get any media of the Cabrini chorus singing the national anthem that was needed. Being on the field was the only part I cared about. Do not tell anyone.
The Chorus did an excellent job singing the national anthem in front of everyone in attendance.
We entered the field by the visiting team’s dugout. Standing on the field, the smell of a freshly cut grass on a major league field, being 20 feet away from some of the best baseball players in the world, distracted was not even the word. I Completely forgot the purpose of being on the field in the first place.
After stopping by the club level seating, we would later be at and then getting something to eat, we went into the press conference room where the Phillies manager is interviewed after all home games. It was interesting to see how a small room, table and microphone could be made to seem like so much more on television.
Then, it was time to wait for the Cabrini students to enter the ballpark by the first base side of the stadium. The dance team and the Cavalier were waiting to greet all fans as they entered receiving their Cabrini/Phillies knit hat.
After waiting around for a little, a sea of blue suddenly came up to the gate. The Cabrini students were smiling and laughing, clearly ready to have a good time.
“I am very excited to be at the game,” Kevin Blake, sophomore international business major, said. “My friends are here. They are waiting for me and we will be sitting in right field.”
Next on the schedule was to meet up with the President of Cabrini College, Don Taylor, and go down
to field level to watch the first pitch of the second game thrown by Cabrini alum Joel Zazyczny. The Phillies also had a moment of silence on the 14th anniversary of 9/11 for all the family and victims.
We went back to the club level box with President Taylor to watch the game, get more to eat and talk.
“One of our trustees and alum got to throw out the first pitch,” Taylor said. Students got to actually see the broadcast booth and I’m looking forward to going over and seeing all the students in right field.”
After talking to President Taylor we headed back down to the field to watch the dance team perform. Entering the field again in front of a larger crowd this time was exciting. You could tell the ladies were excited in their own right to perform and they did a great job of entertaining the crowd with the help of the Phillie Phanatic.
That was the final thing on the schedule and it was time to leave.
The experience of meeting significant people in the field of communications, getting to go on a major league field, seeing some of the best players in the world up close and being in the broadcast booths, made it worth going for sure.
