Like I said at Back She Goes, wow.  RIP

RIP Dave.  Thanks for all you did.  Condolences to the Snyder family.

I'll add what I wrote over at philliesphans here:

What a strange world this has become.  I think many of us bumped head-on into the strangeness on Saturday, when a guy who most look to as the founder of the on-line phillies fan community, Dave Snyder (aka mvpsoft), was killed in a random, tragic car accident near his home.  I mean, how do I tell my wife that a guy I've met in person only once, for about 10 minutes at a Phillies' game, has passed on, and it feels like I've lost my own brother.  

Actually, I know Dave Snyder better than I know many members of my own family.  I can tell you his opinion on a hundred issues: he loved Bobby Abreu with a passion; he believed in power, patience, and pitching; he hated abortion and George W. Bush with about equal fervor; and on and on. But, what really makes this seem more intimate, is that I can attest to the personal character and decency of a man who lived his life a thousand miles away from me.

Dave was ready to confront whatever opposition he encountered in order to defend the weak, the innocent, or the downtrodden.  He had the strength and stubbornness needed to stand out front and take whatever abuse was proffered in order to see a cause through, regardless of how rough the path to the finish became.

In 2002 MLB ceded the rights to major league websites to MLBAM, and phillies.com simply vanished one day.  The new phillies web site and forum was botched up beyond belief.  I few of us emailed each other, and Dave stepped up to the plate.  He volunteered to host a new message board (financed out of his own pocket), but he also wanted more.  "This could be a great opportunity," he said.  "We could create a site without all the name-calling, with intelligent, reasoned debate, a place where all fans would feel welcome.  It could be the best baseball talk anywhere online."

Grand ambitions, I admit (and we took a lot of abuse publicizing them and trying to live up to them), but there were many, many times I think his site achieved and even surpassed what we hoped for in those early days.  Philliesphans.com accumulated more than 1,000,000 posts in less than 5 years, was referenced in major newspapers and online articles, was the source of some really famous false trade rumors (and a few true ones), and Dave himself was quoted in a national article about MLB's apparent attempt to shut down fan sites like his.  Our posts and FAQ's have been quoted at numerous online sites including some of the best known sabermetric sites on the web.  At one time we had at least 30 posters with phillies.com email addresses lurking and posting regularly.

Dave Snyder changed my life for the better with philliesphans.com, and I'm sure many, many around here feel the same way.  I think he'd want us all to pause to contemplate the value of true friendship, even if it's established over the web, nurtured through (respectful) disagreement, and centered around a truly incomprehensible passion for the losingest team in the history of baseball.  We're all friends at some level in this extended community, and, as friends, we should mourn Dave's passing together, and move forward cherishing each other's existence.  Each day is a gift; no one is guaranteed tomorrow.

Rest in peace, Dave, and God be with your family,

Chuck

For those who are concerned about Chris and the Family; I am a family friend who knows Chris and his family well. I was with Chris and his wife this evening as Chris' mother came back from CAT Scans. She'll be in surgery tomorrow morning.

I have turned my gas price blog into a temporary place to read about the family and the progress.

http://www.thegasgame.com

I would encourage comments there; I will consider printing all comments and giving them directly to Dave's son; my friend- Chris.

Absolutely stunning and sad...

From posting with Dave and others on the old Phillies site to then moving over the pp.com which he built and nurtured with his passion, love, intelligence and tenacity and through all the ups and downs, all I can say is Dave made me a better person for knowing him and that kind of impact is what all of us hope we make with those we know and care for...RIP friend.

Wow.  Just wow.  I have nothing to add because of some absolutely brilliant and heartfelt posts above that echo my feelings.  Hope Chris and his family get through this as best they can.

i'm too new to the whole phloggosphere to offer any specific thoughts, since i never met dave. but i can say since getting on the phorum and TGF last year, my love for the game has re-kindled to probably its highest level ever. for that, i owe dave an enormous debt of gratitute and his family my truest sympathies. if the community decides to do anything as an organized effort, count me in.

phils in 07 for dave.

Sad, sad news. Rest in peace, Dave.  

Sunday update on Dave's wife:

www.thegasgame.com (temporarily for accident updates)

I started a condolence book that I will print out and give to the family. Please forward this link, please add this as a sticky on any forum Dave was a part of.

The address of the book is:
http://www.thegasgame.com/snyder/

Sunday evening update at www.thegasgame.com

I am still as shocked and saddened by the news of his passing as I was when I first read the horrible news. Anyone who has read Dave's posts on philliesphans knows quite a bit about him. He had strong views and loved a good argument. Most of all, it is clear that he embraced his religion, loved his family, and was so proud of his kids.

I can only offer my most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. RIP, Dave

Funeral is Monday to those who are trying to get here.

If anyone decides to fly in, let me know, I may be available to pick you up or something.