Philly fans celebrated the right way after the team’s NLCS win against the Dodgers on Wednesday -- for the most part. According to police, only 49 arrests were made. Not perfect, but fairly angelic behavior compared to the chaotic scene after last year’s World Series win.
The most serious incidents were a toppled traffic light and reports of fans jumping on cars and breaking the windows at Broad and Wharton in South Philly.
A large group of fans also congregated along Broad and Walnut Sts. around 1 a.m. -- many of them body surfing. Thankfully, there were no reports of fans climbing street lamp poles, which was a huge problem last year. But the police greasing the lamp poles beforehand most likely had something to do with it.
Various fans poured beer over each other while red and white firecrackers exploded over their heads. The biggest celebration took place along Frankford Avenue as around 1,000 fans marched while chanting, “Bring on the Yankees!”
Others gathered around Frankford and Cottman avenues before the game even ended. Police in riot gear stood on a corner and placed barricades at the nearby intersection. While the crowds were understandably joyous, they were also relatively peaceful.
Another busy hotspot was the Modell’s in Snyder Plaza where fans began lining up around 11 p.m. to get their hands on National League Champion T-shirts, hats, and other items.
“It’s great,” said store manager Paul Usher. “The fans in Philly are loyal. They support their team 100-percent.”
So is this a turning point for Philly fans? Time will tell. Let’s see how everyone behaves after another World Series win.
