Philadelphia Phillies 'Fever' Rising As Team Makes Deep Playoff Push

PHILADELPHIA, PA —Everywhere you turn in the city and its suburbs these days, people have caught a fever.

It’s not the flu or COVID-19. But this fever is contagious and spreads like wildfire. It's Phillies fever and everyone has the playoff bug.

With the Phillies playing in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2009 and now playing at home against the San Diego Padres, the temperature is rising.

"Phillies fever is really running high," said Judy Doherty, executive director of The Greater BucksMont Chamber of Commerce in Warminster.

Doherty said she attended two functions Wednesday —one in Doylestown and another at Delaware Valley Community College in Bucks County—where the Philadelphia Phillies' Game 1 score was of top of mind.

"All they kept talking about was 'don't worry, we'll let you know what's happening with the Phillies,'" she said.

It's a great time to be a fan where everyone is in love with this team and this time of year is dubbed "Red October" in this playoff chase for a World Series Championship, which would be the first since 2008.

The Phillies were planning on holding a pep rally Friday in Center City to get fans fired up for the home series at Citizens Bank Park, where the New Era Phillies Team Store is located.

"We most likely will be packed," Phillies spokeswoman Deb Rinaldi told Patch.

Businesses are getting in on the action too.

Monkey's Uncle, which sells retro and vintage Philadelphia sports merchandise, has been swamped since the Phillies started playing the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, Co-owner Derrick Morgan told Patch Thursday.

"If it's red, it's gone, Morgan said about business at the Main Street store in Doylestown. "Business has been super busy from the time we open to the time we close."

Morgan said anything with Phillies MVP Bryce Harper sells fast. He said that the business has been able to keep up with demand for Phillies gear because of its relationship with vendors.

"We got a big delivery today. We're taking everything they have," Morgan said.

Morgan expects business to get even busier with the team playing at Citizens Bank Park.

"We always see an uptick at home," he said. "We had people knocking on our door an hour-and-a-half before we opened today. People want their stuff."

At Termini Bros Bakery in Philadelphia, Phillies cupcakes have returned. With a white icing P on top of lots of red and white sprinkles, the bakery recently made 1,084 cupcakes, according to its Facebook page.

The Collegeville Italian Bakery has the baked goods but also the signage to root for the Fightins.’

Their sign going into Wednesday’s game said: “The Series of Brotherly Love - Nola vs. Nola” in regards to Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola playing against his brother, catcher Austin Nola.

Meanwhile, Wawa just introduced “SchwarberFest,” featuring discounted hoagies after Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber launched a rocket of a home run in Game 1.