Senator Bob Casey Jr.

Senator Bob Casey Jr.– standing up for the rights of Phillies fans everywhere. Good man. Or savvy politician.

Casey wrote a letter to the dude who paid Jayson Werth $126 million, Nationals owner Theodore Lerner. Casey also sent a copy of the letter to none other than Bud Selig. It's a classic case of calling someone out at a party and yelling it loud enough so that everyone can hear.

What exactly did the Senator say?

Dear Mr. Lerner,

I write regarding the recently announced “Take Back the Park” ticket policy at Washington Nationals Park and to respectfully request its elimination. I am concerned that dedicated Philadelphia Phillies fans will be unfairly denied access to games when their team plays against the Nationals.

It has come to my attention that residents of Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland have been given special priority access to tickets sales on the dates in May when the Nationals and the Phillies compete. According to the team’s website, only credit card billing addresses from these two states and the District of Columbia will be processed for the presale, effectively blocking thousands of Phillies fans who root for their team by visiting Nationals Park. I appreciate the desire to enjoy a home field advantage, but this unprecedented policy solely and unfairly targets Phillies fans.

As the Nation’s capital, Washington DC uniquely plays host to visitors from across the country. In addition to the fans who visit exclusively for Phillies games, tourists from the Commonwealth who hope to include a game on their Washington, DC itinerary could be blocked from attendance. In the spirit of good sportsmanship and healthy competition, I urge you to reconsider the policy and immediately allow Phillies fans equal access to ticket sales at Nationals Park.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.

United States Senator

 

The Nationals are not going to change this policy without a fight. Their Chief Operating Officer means business– uncomfortably so. He seems to genuinely hate Philly fans, and was quoted as saying “Forget you, Philly. This is our park, this is our town, these are our fans, and it’s our time right now.”

Of course, none of this matters. We have your tickets right here, here, and here, starting at $16…

H/T to our buddy Mike Bertha and Philly Mag