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Hats Off! Relationship Between Phillies Fans and Aaron Nola is Blossoming at Just the Right Time

Anthony SanFilippo

By Anthony SanFilippo

Published:

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

At some point in his baseball career, there will be a “last time” for Aaron Nola.

When that will be, he doesn’t know. Nor does he want to know, or even consider it.

“I haven’t even thought about that part of it yet,” he said. “I’m just trying to be as much in the moment … as I (can).”

But it’s coming at some point. It might not be until 2028. It might be in three weeks. Heck, if things go really south in the next 72 hours, it might have already happened.

If that’s the case, Nola walking off the field, at the end of another stellar big-game performance, with the crowd roaring their approval and standing for him in appreciation, not just of that one outing, but for the entirety of his eight seasons in Phillies pinstripes, will be a moment he will never forget.

“That’s why they’re the best, man,” Nola said, reflecting back on it following the Phillies’ 10-2 win over the Atlanta Braves that gave them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 NLDS. “From pitch one to the end of the game, they were standing up. It was fun. It was an amazing atmosphere.”

In that moment of appreciation, Nola has done something he only just started doing – acknowledging the fan support in the moment – by tipping his cap to them to let them know he feels the love:


He’s come close many times to tipping his hat when he’s walked off the mound. He’s raised his hand to the brim of the cap, but it ended up being a tease, as maybe it was adjusting the way it was resting on his head, but in the past few weeks, as the notion has begun to set in that this could be the end of a great run in his Phillies career, both Nola and the fans are embracing each other more than ever before.

Even four years ago, coming off a season where he was a Cy Young finalist, when Nola first realized he was well-suited to be a Philadelphian, the amorous relationship between player and city wasn’t as great as it is right now. So, Nola knew he needed to do more. Just pitching well wasn’t enough.

Nola’s first hat tip came in the playoff-clinching win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the final week of the season. The second came during Nola’s dominant performance against the Miami Marlins in the Wild Card Series.

Wednesday night was the third, a hat trick, if you will.

Nola had nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He had scattered six hits and a walk and allowed two earned runs. He was only at 92 pitches and probably could have finished the inning, but Rob Thomson used the pitching change as an opportunity to get a weaker hitter into the Braves lineup as Atlanta doesn’t let starting leftfielder Eddie Rosario face lefty pitchers, so by bringing in Matt Strahm, the Braves would turn instead to Kevin Pillar.


It was more evidence that Nola is, in fact, a big game pitcher. He was superb in his final regular season start in two consecutive seasons, leading the Phillies to secure a playoff berth in each. And Wednesday marked the fourth playoff game in the past two seasons in which he was excellent, with two of them coming against the high-powered Braves.

If Game 3 was the last time he pitched in front of the Phillies faithful, both his outing and the ovation he received was a tremendous parting gift to each other. If not, and the Phillies advance to the NLCS, Nola will get at least one more start in front of them against the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks, in either Game 1 or Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park, depending on how the NLDS would finish up.

Regardless, it’s a love affair that took too long to mushroom and may not have much time left. Free agency for Nola is likely to bring in a slew of offers from around the sport and the Phillies are going to have to decide how far they’re willing to go in terms of money and term to keep him, or risk having to possibly present him with a ring when he comes back to pitch against them for the first time, like they did with so many players from the 2022 squad who went elsewhere.

For now, though he remains as a key strand in the fabric that is the 2023 Phillies and their relationship with the city of Philadelphia. And who knows, maybe Nola won’t be able to walk away next month if this late-blooming relationship continues to blossom further and ends with a potential World Series crown.

“I mean, it’s always kind of addicting to be out there,” Nola said. “Especially in the postseason here and especially when we are winning.”

Nine more wins can change everything.

Anthony SanFilippo
Anthony SanFilippo

Anthony SanFilippo writes about the Phillies and Flyers for Crossing Broad and hosts a pair of related podcasts (Crossed Up and Snow the Goalie). A part of the Philadelphia sports media for a quarter century, Anthony also dabbles in acting, directing, teaching, and strategic marketing, which is why he has no time to do anything, but does it anyway. Follow him on Twitter @AntSanPhilly.

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