Philadelphia fans’ reputation has been slowly changing and a picture of a more positive local fan has been emerging, write Andy McCullough, Chad Jennings, and Stephen J. Nesbitt for The Athletic. 

West Chester native Jack Fritz, a producer for sports radio 94.1 WIP, is among the voices driving the change. 

For example, Trea Turner’s first four months with the Phillies were not as stellar as they could have been. So, he decided to talk to reporters after a loss in Miami on Aug. 3. 

“Obviously, I’m the reason why we lost that game,” he said. 

When calls to support him even through bad times started to come in, Fritz joined in. 

“It can’t hurt,” he said. “And what if it does work? And what if he goes out — it’s a good moment for the ballpark, a good moment for the city, you see the crowd rise up — and it turns into a little bit of a moment?” 

It worked. And Fritz got credit from Elliott Avent, who previously coached Turner at North Carolina State for rallying “an incomparable sports city” around his former player. 

“As soon as you enter the building, it’s like a switch goes off,” said Chris Edge, from Marlton, N.J. about attending the games. “You hear it. You feel it. Everybody knows the assignment, at that point. Bring your energy. Bring your positivity.”

Read more about Phillies fans making a positive change in The Athletic. 

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