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I was a witness to Phillies history

These are my chronicles of what it's like to attend a Ben Revere Home Run Game in person.

By John Stolnis
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

When I'm old and decrepit, rocking myself gently back and forth on my front porch swing, yelling at whipper-snappers as they continue to throw their balls and toys into my yard, I will be able to tell my children and grandchildren that I witnessed a Ben Revere home run in person.

I will remember the night history that was made. I will remember the stadium, the crowd, the humidity, the smells. I will remember everything, because memories are made of moments like these.

Yes, friends. I was there for Ben Revere's second career home run, this one a game-tying homer in the 9th with two strikes and two outs, that led to a miraculous, dramatic, gotta-run-home-and-catch-the-highlights, come-from-behind victory in extra innings.

It shall forever be known as "The Ben Revere Game." At least, until he does something else really cool in a slightly more important situation.

For a while there, it didn't seem like that game was going to be anything special. In fact, for most of the contest, it was anything but.

But baseball is a funny game. The Commissioner's Office still makes you play all 162 of these babies, even if it doesn't really mean a whole lot. And for that reason, sometimes you get to see history when you least expect it.

I am one of only 51,128 people to witness a Ben Revere home run in person (although by the time Revere came to the plate in the 9th last night, there could not have been more than 5,000-6,000 people left at Nationals Park.) The only other time Big Ben cranked a long-ball was on May 28 of this year, and that was quite a scene, too.

Last night was kind of like being the second person to ever walk on the moon. No one remembers what that dude said. It was probably something along the lines of, "Dude, I'm on the freakin' moon here!" Yet, he was the SECOND GUY TO WALK ON THE MOON. That's still an accomplishment.

That's what it was like to be witness to Revere's second career homer, one so unexpected and so heroic that it rendered everyone who saw it completely speechless.

When you witness history, you want to savor everything and keep those mementos forever.

You want to remember everything, down to the last detail.

History was made because these types of things do not typically happen to Ben Revere. Ben Revere may lead the league in hitting (.316 heading into Saturday), but he does not hit home runs. We saw one this year already, not many thought we'd see another.

Sure, the team no-hitter earlier in the week against the Atlanta Braves was a more monumental piece of history trapped in a bad season. Artifacts of that game are going to Cooperstown, as they rightly should.

And if you look back on past "Great Moments in Crappy Phillies Seasons History," perhaps this doesn't make the Top 5. Does it beat any of these?

  • Phillies win their 13th straight game in 1991.
  • Terry Mulholland no-hitter in 1990.
  • Phillies come back from 10-0, 1st inning hole against Pittsburgh in 1989, with TWO Steve Jeltz home runs, one from EACH SIDE OF THE FREAKING PLATE.
  • Gregg Jefferies hits for the cycle in 2005.
  • Phillies team no-hitter in 2014.

I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. Still, regardless of where you rank it, "The Ben Revere Game" will, for me, be a piece of treasured Phillies history.

I'm just thankful I was there. And I will always have the ticket stub to prove it.

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