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You might have missed it. If, like most people on the night of Christmas Eve, you were spending time with family away from the watchful eye of the internet, you would have missed what might be the defining moment of this holiday season. The Phillies, pioneers that they are, led all of baseball in a stirring rendition of Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas a Night Before Christmas," the entirety of which has been reproduced below, for the benefit of the people.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house… pic.twitter.com/DjoTpg2WlW
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 24, 2014
.@Phillies Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. pic.twitter.com/QhmYYXTV3L
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 24, 2014
.@Reds @Phillies The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. pic.twitter.com/82L7tyXi3P
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 25, 2014
.@Rockies @Reds @Phillies In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. pic.twitter.com/QJucEUHaw2
— MLB (@MLB) December 25, 2014
.@MLB @Rockies @Phillies The children were nestled all snug in their beds, pic.twitter.com/2cG85zOMVj
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 25, 2014
.@Reds @MLB @Phillies While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. #PurpleEveryday pic.twitter.com/iGdF7DjTHg
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 25, 2014
.@Rockies @Reds @Phillies And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap. pic.twitter.com/s32ZZizDU6
— MLB (@MLB) December 25, 2014
(Note: I cannot find a tweet for the line, "Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap." Not sure what happened here.)
.@MLB @Rockies @Reds When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, pic.twitter.com/tce6sgpXdX
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 25, 2014
.@Phillies @MLB @Rockies @Reds I sprang from center field to see what was the matter. pic.twitter.com/NqCW6yKlP4
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 25, 2014
.@Reds @MLB @Rockies Away to the window I flew like a flash, pic.twitter.com/S2lR3FwP1j
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 25, 2014
.@Phillies @Reds @MLB Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. pic.twitter.com/dFJHBt3BiI
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 25, 2014
.@Rockies @Reds @MLB The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, pic.twitter.com/PglSUD9aMT
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 25, 2014
.@Phillies @Rockies @MLB Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. pic.twitter.com/ypoX7HLdyH
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 25, 2014
.@Reds @Phillies @Rockies When, what to my wondering eyes should appear. pic.twitter.com/miWXi1xeJ6
— MLB (@MLB) December 25, 2014
.@MLB @Reds @Phillies @Rockies But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer/moose! pic.twitter.com/jBhEQH97Ie
— Mariner Moose (@MarinerMoose) December 25, 2014
.@MLB @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners With a little old driver, so lively and quick… pic.twitter.com/wy6AC61k0i
— Houston Astros (@astros) December 25, 2014
.@astros @MLB @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick! pic.twitter.com/1dlBIYI6U0
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) December 25, 2014
.@tigers @astros @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came. pic.twitter.com/Y1rPfzVa2A
— MLB (@MLB) December 25, 2014
.@MLB @tigers @astros @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name... pic.twitter.com/VMuP9NJdLa
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 25, 2014
.@Reds @MLB @tigers @astros @Rockies, @Mariners "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!" pic.twitter.com/oyrNUudrRQ
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 25, 2014
.@Mariners @MLB @Reds @Phillies @Rockies w/ a lil ol driver, so lively & quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick pic.twitter.com/YfSYNrr77o
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 25, 2014
Wait a minute! Braves, we've already covered this. Either keep up or stop interrupting with your backwards Southern rendition.
.@MLB @tigers @astros @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners And he whistled and shouted and called them by name. pic.twitter.com/TuN6IIB051
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 25, 2014
You too, Yankees! How many times do I have to tell you; follow along and keep up. Santa's got a journey to make, places to be. He doesn't have any time for you dilly-dally-ers.
(Note: Another missing line: an invocation of Santa's remaining reindeer)
.@MLB @tigers @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! pic.twitter.com/U0WOXOEdD6
— Houston Astros (@astros) December 25, 2014
@astros @MLB @tigers @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! pic.twitter.com/yEK4G5d9Yl
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 25, 2014
@MLB @Yankees @tigers @astros @Reds @Phillies @Rockies @Mariners "To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!" pic.twitter.com/rsTXIZf35z
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) December 25, 2014
Jesus H.! For a multi-billion dollar industry, there aren't a lot of people here who can put out a tweet on time.
Seeing that this was devolving into a stream of consciousness spouting off of random lines, the Reds stepped up and put an end to all this:
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night! pic.twitter.com/lNzVeuImQd
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 25, 2014
Regardless of how this ended, let's never forget that the Phillies got this started. For all we've complained about their lack of social media prowess, tonight is a welcome sight. Ten teams, plus the official MLB account, joined the party. Granted, not all were reciting in perfect harmony, but the intentions were good.
The Phillies won Twitter on Christmas. They might not win many baseball games during the regular season, but no amount of losses will negate the joyous victory the Phillies sowed on the battlefield of Twitter this Christmas Eve.