Spring memories, old and new

Ah, they're back! Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater today. Winter is over (almost). Jim Thome has come home (apologies to Cleveland). The great ritual of spring has begun.

I loved visiting the Phils during spring training. I used to fly south a lot, but I recently realized that the last time I did it was before I became mayor. God, was I so busy being mayor and governor that I let 20 years go by? Not this year!

The last time I went to Clearwater, I had a great time. The weather was ideal, the stadium cozy, the players relaxed and happy and, as is the case every spring in all 30 camps, the players and fans believed we could win it all that year (we couldn't and we didn't). After all, we were tied for first, weren't we?

My most poignant memory from my last trip to Clearwater wasn't anything that happened on the diamond, but rather, on the tennis court. I wasn't playing, though - I was watching two of my good friends, Dave Montgomery and Richard Deats, who back then were rising stars in the Phillies' front office, play against the great Richie Ashburn.

Richie was in his mid-60s and Monty and Richard were in their early 40s, yet he was defending the entire doubles court by himself. Of course, there was a friendly wager on the match. Monty was not a gifted athlete, but he was, and still is, a fierce and crafty competitor. Richard was a natural athlete who was very good at all sports, but Whitey was truly amazing. It was a complete rout and a true embarrassment for the "youngsters." Whitey covered every inch of the doubles court and ran them into the ground. It seemed as if he barely broke a sweat. He was in great shape, and I remember thinking that he would live to be 100.

Alas, it wasn't to be. In 1997, the man who was part of the lives of Phillies fans for 50 years was abruptly taken from us at age 70. The region was stunned. I read that Whitey's wake and funeral were to be held at a suburban church. I knew that thousands of fans wanted to honor Richie and say goodbye, so I called Bill Giles and said the city would make Memorial Hall available for a viewing.

I thought a few thousand fans would show up. Boy, was I wrong - well over 20,000 came to say farewell!

In any event, Richie would tell you to get down to spring training if you can, and bring the kids.

One last thing - let's all vow to wreak vengeance on the Washington Nationals' management for refusing to sell tickets to fans from our region's ZIP codes for Phillies-Nationals games at Nationals Park.

They are doing so because our fans have literally taken over their stadium the past few years, giving the Fightins a homefield advantage, while humiliating their franchise. This is truly ridiculous, and we should fight back. So I am calling on all true Phillies fans to do anything you can - beg, borrow, steal, go online and buy as many tickets as you can.

When the game starts, I want to see a virtual sea of Phillies red. Let's make it a red-out. Let's show them you can never, ever stop us from supporting our Fightin' Phils.

Send email to asktheguv@gmail.com.