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Mike Sweeney's Kids Should Expect to Go Trick-or-Treating in Philadelphia
Jimmy Rollins wearing a pair of goggles and a huge grin on his face is a sight we've become quite familiar with in Philadelphia. With the Phillies now having won the NL East four seasons in a row, division-clinching clubhouse celebrations are nothing new to the core guys like Jimmy, Chase, Ryan, etc.
But popping champagne after assuring a playoff spot is something many of the new guys on this team had never experienced. Monday night was quite memorable for those guys, especially Mike Sweeney.
"They're so amazing, they've been here before, they've celebrated," Sweeney said of his teammates while drenched head to toe in champagne on Monday night.Sweeney was touched by the gesture by the team to allow him the honor or popping the first bottles.
"To come in [to the clubhouse], they waited for me, Roy Halladay, and Schneider. We probably have 35-40 years combined in the big leagues, and they let us initiate the celebration because we've never popped champagne. It was an amazing tribute. That's what makes it so special. We're all playing together," Sweeney said. "It's something I'll never forget as long as I live."
"If I would have sat in the background and popped some champagne I would have been content, but to have Howie, and Chase, Vic, and Jimmy Rollins holler 'hey Sweeney, Roy, Schneider, get up front, you guys have never done this, get us going!' That's something I'll never forget. I hope and pray that there was a photographer here because I want to get that picture hanging up in my office."
Like Roy Halladay, the photographer delivered on Monday night.
"When I came here, at the time I think we were three and a half games back, and the feeling was, it's not a matter of "if," we will get to the playoffs. When you're going to be here, expect your kids to go trick or treating in Philadelphia because you're going to be here through the end of October. That's the difference. Guys not only say it, but they believe it in their heart. They're not optimistic, they're realists here. They expect to win. I bought in to it. We still have a few more celebrations hopefully to do. Hopefully Schneider, Doc, and I can pop the champagne three more times."
Sweeney, with his penchant for hugging guys in the dugout, has acclimated himself to this Phillies team and this city rather quickly. All he needs now is a Matt Stairs' Moonshot moment and a World Series ring and he won't have to wait for Halloween to roll around every year to get free candy -- or beer. He'll never have to pay for a beer in Philadelphia ever again.
Photos by Getty
