Jim Thome Signing at CBP - 2004

Over the past weekend I was going through some of the pictures on an old disc and found a few good ones from an early season game at Citizens Bank Park in 2004. Most of the photos were shots of the field during some stage of the night, but stuck in the middle was one of Phillies first baseman, Jim Thome signing autographs at the fence before the game. It reminded me of that day when he signed my 2004 team ball.

As a kid I spent a lot of my time before Phillies games at the first base side railing begging for autographs. From my experience, there were good spots (just beyond the first base bag) and some not so good ones (the edge of the right field bump-out). I was always working to get in position and would get mad when those box-seat fat cats finally showed up and I had to move. I am at a point where I can't imagine hanging on the rail to get an autograph (unless my son eventually wants to); in fact since the move to CBP, I have only gone down once when the lure of getting Jim Thome's autograph pulled me in...I have to admit, it was nice to know I could still get the big catch (if I wanted).

2004 Team Ball - with Jim Thome