Phillies

Phillies Fans Give Jimmy Rollins Rousing Ovation, LA Writer Reminds Everyone How Rude We Typically Are

By Kyle Scott

Published: Aug 5th, 2015 · 8:53 AM EDT

---

[I love that second crescendo– gets me every time]

As completely expected – despite sports talk radio CHATTER about whether fans would cheer Jimmy Rollins (of course they would) – J-Roll™ got the welcoming he deserved last night (more videos after the jump), as the borderline Hall of Fame candidate, former MVP, Phils all-time hit leader, and World Series champion* returned to Citizens Bank Park for the first time since being traded to the Dodgers. Of course, that didn’t stop OC Register reporter BILL PLUNKETT from getting in this dig:

Notorious for their ill manners, Philadelphia fans greeted Jimmy Rollins with cheers in his first visit to Citizens Bank Park as the enemy.

They cheered him during batting practice. They cheered him again when he stepped in to lead off the game for the Dodgers – so loud and long, in fact, that Rollins stepped out of the batter’s box twice to acknowledge the ovation. Even former teammates such as Ryan Howard applauded, slapping his glove at first base.

“It went on a little longer than I expected,” said Rollins who spent his first 15 years in the big leagues with the Phillies, winning an MVP and going to back-to-back World Series with the team in 2008 and 2009. “It was a great moment. The fans showed their appreciation.”

Thanks, Bill Plunkett.

More videos of Rollins’ first at-bat, and a special bonus Maikel Franco grand slam, after the jump. I have no idea if the Phillies won.

*Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people? Yeah, we sometimes gave Rollins a hard time – he wasn’t my favorite player – but on the scale of boo-to-cheer, Rollins is without question an 8 or 9. Dude accomplished more here than 99% of local athletes. There was absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was going to get a standing O. And yet, it still became a topic over the last few days.

https://youtu.be/BOjSx4lQhUA