Major League Base Ball Turns Historic Area Into Red Carpet Bonanza
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Just a few hours ahead of a horrible, disastrous All Star Game (If you were rooting for the National League) a red carpet walk was held at the foot of Independence Hall which featured players and mascots from just about every Major League Baseball team.
The event started at 2:00 PM and gates opened at noon. That means there was a scrum of fans running to one of the pits to get a good spot to try for autographs. The media also had to scramble to get into their positions as well.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com A MLB employee does his job and makes players stand in front of the media, so press photographers can get their photos.
Shortly after 1:00 PM, mascots were paraded through. This is a Philly crowd and of course, the biggest surprise was Phil and Phyllis being brought back to life, along with the Phillie Phanatic. For you young ones, the iconic duo were mascots long before the Phanatic, This goes back to the 1960’s and 1970’s. Fans got to see all the different mascots, right here in Philly.
By 2:00 PM it started. The first players were making their way onto the red carpet, This carpet zig-zaged down the park, in front of Independence Hall. For some of these players, they have never even seen this historic area, much less been paraded around in front of it, as hundreds of millions of people watched and saw photos on websites and newspapers. Social media pushed viewers into the hundreds of millions.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Taking all in on the red carpet.
In front of each player was a kid holding a giant baseball card telling people who the person in front of them was. It is doubtful that even the most die hard fan would know who all of the players are when they are not in uniform. The players were in custom sport jackets with their team and All Star logo sewn inside.
Walking the red carpet, the players had to chose whether to sign autographs for fans or speak with the media. Fans on one side, reporters on the other. Some players, like Riley Greene, from the Detroit Tigers walked back and forth and had a good time doing it. At the same time, other players stoically walked by and only spoke to a few media members and signed few autographs.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo- Delaware Valley News.com Players had to chose between talking with the media or signing autographs.
There was a small area, a stage where a TV network would interview select players. The weather cooperated as far as no rain. The heat was in the 90’s and some fans could not hang long because of it.
This event was held at a historic park and Some people who were not baseball fans had no clue what was going on. They had planned a trip, thinking they were going to see the historic area. Those people were pleasantly surprised when they were told what was happening. Many opted for a public spot on the ground or sat on some bleachers that were set up.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Bryce Harper makes his way down the red carpet.
While the National League did not do well during the game, they lost 4-0, people started to leave the stadium by the end of the sixth inning. More as the game turned into a public thrashing by the American League.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com . Everyone from Philly knows this guy.
The Phillies organization, however, hit a grand slam with their events, planning and execution, alongside Major League Baseball, to keep this event in the public eye even as FIFA was completing for media attention. From a press announcement in front of Independence Hall in 2019 when the All Star Game was going to be announced here, to the All Star Village, the MLB Draft , Home Run Derby, a drone show over the Ben Franklin Parkway to the game itself. It’s just a shame that the actual National League Team did not do as well on the field.