From a Schwarbomb to Schwarbomb Sundaes: Highlights from Phillies opening day at Citizens Bank Park

It didn’t take long for Citizens Bank Park to get rocking. In the first inning Thursday, Kyle Schwarber hit an opening-day homer to get Phillies fans on their feet and take an early 2-0 lead over the Texas Rangers.

“Schwarbomb, baby, all day,” said 21-year-old Tommy Harris. “It always happens. You can always expect it.”

Before the game, fans were already riding the high of opening day — tailgating in the parking lots, honoring decades-long traditions, giving early predictions for the season, and enjoying the new ballpark experience.

» READ MORE: After almost becoming an ex-Phillie in the offseason, Alec Bohm blasts off on opening day

Here are some of the highlights from inside the ballpark during the Phillies’ 5-3 win over the Rangers on opening day …

Seeing the Phillies play on opening day has become a tradition for many fans, including 56-year-old Wilma Abbott. The West Deptford native and Phillies season-ticket holder has attended opening day since she was 8 years old.

“My dad was always a sports fan,” Abbott said. “He grew up in Chicago. He was a Cubs fan, but never made me be a Cubs fan. And I just have always liked the Phillies, through the good, bad. There were days where they weren’t winning anything, we were still here. So, yep, we have to be here [today].”

After more than four decades attending games at Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, Abbott came prepared with extra Phillies sunglasses to give to fans — and her own jar of sauerkraut.

“We bring our own sauerkraut because they don’t have sauerkraut,” Abbott said. “So if you have any pull with the Phillies, if you can let [them] know we need the sauerkraut back, that would be awesome.”

Thursday was a new experience for 57-year-old Vinnie Cafrissen, who attended her first game with her 84-year-old father, Gene Shusman.

Shusman has been attending games for 70 years. When asked about his Phillies fandom, Shusman said he was born into it.

“Well, I wanted to eat as a child and I wanted a place to live,” Shusman said. “So my parents say, ‘You want to live in this house, you better be a Phillies fan.’”

For 31-year-old Norristown native Robert Walsh, the Phillies’ 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series still lives in the back of his mind.

“I’m a Philly fan, so I’m always upset with how a season ended because it never ends well,” Walsh said.

And after last year’s early postseason exit, Walsh isn’t expecting a third consecutive NL East title.

“Expectations for this season are just to make the playoffs, not win the division,” Walsh said. “We’ve taken a lot of steps backwards, I think, while other teams in the division have taken steps forward. However, the Mets always crumble because the Mets [stink]. And then the Braves will probably have some catastrophic injury and maybe we will win the division.

“But our starting pitching has gotten worse. Our batting order is, you know, we’re content. We’re not elite but we’re content.”

Meanwhile, others remain optimistic — including 55-year-old Levittown native Nicole Smith.

“I’m hoping to go all the way,” Smith said. “I’m being positive. I’m staying optimistic and I’m hoping it’s going to go the way that we want it to go. … That’s the way you’ve got to be every year. You’ve got to think all the way.”

Citizens Bank Park introduced new food items, new merchandise, and a completely renovated New Era Phillies Team store with two levels. The store features five 25-foot-tall LED towers, an enhanced customization area for fans to personalize jerseys, and a 370-foot video wall — allowing fans to watch the game while shopping.

The shop includes new merchandise for fans to purchase, including the viral hot dog hat from spring training.

And if fans are looking for Schwarbombs in the form of ice cream sundaes, they can purchase the Schwarbomb Sundae at Coca-Cola corner. The new signature dessert features vanilla soft-serve ice cream topped with Fruity Pebbles, strawberry syrup, and a funnel-cake fried Uncrustable, served in a souvenir baseball cap.