The time when Donald Trump was a Phillies fan
During the 1993 World Series, Donald Trump didn't think Philadelphia was a sad place to be.
Once upon a time, Donald Trump didn't think Philadelphia was a sad place to be.
In fact, not only was he happy to be here, but he also engaged in a most Philadelphian pastime: rooting for the Phillies.
Twenty-four years ago, Trump came to Veterans Stadium for Game 4 of the 1993 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
He had a prime seat in the lower deck, and as you can see above, was caught on camera by staff photographer Ed Hille. The caption read:
Donald Trump gets some attention in his seat 12 rows behind home plate. He said he was cheering for Phils, even though he was a Mets and Yankees fan. Marla Maples wasn't in sight.
The photo ran alongside something of a World Series gossip column written by Gwen Knapp, who's now an editor at the New York Times.
Knapp wrote of Trump's appearance:
Donald Trump had one of the best seats in the house, 12 rows behind home plate.
He was seated between two men whom he described as "guests of the hotel," presumably Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. New mother Marla Maples was nowhere in sight.
Trump, a Mets and Yankees fan, said he was rooting for the Phillies. "I think they're a great team," he said, "and they have a wonderful owner."
Last night's game was his first World Series appearance since the Mets played in 1986.
The Phillies went on to lose that game in epic fashion, 15-14.
I'll leave it up to political writers to decide if that was an omen for anything.
A hat tip to Bob Vetrone, who came across the photo this week and posted it on Twitter.