David Samson thinks Phillies fans are overrated.
The former Marlins president torched Phillies fans Wednesday on “The Dan Le Batard Show” after they grabbed a 2-0 series lead against the Diamondbacks in the National League Championship Series.
“As for Phillies fans, I can’t stand them,” Samson said. “I’m sorry, we’re on a national show, I shouldn’t say it, but as a guy who was in the NL East for 18 years it is absolutely ridiculous.
“But let me tell you, in Philly there were years when they were not in the playoffs and it’s quiet and they’re grumpy and they’re rude and it’s empty. And now all of the sudden it’s a bunch of front-runners who are going crazy and cheering.
“They’re not even in the top-five fan bases in all of baseball.”
Phillies fans and the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park has become a major talking point as Philadelphia has rolled through the competition this October.
The Phillies are now 6-0 at home this postseason, and are 28-11 at Citizens Bank Park in the postseason since it opened in 2004.
Host Jon “Stugotz” Weiner got the ball rolling on the dissing of Phillies fans, which eventually induced Samson to offer his two cents.
“First off, I want to blast the Phillies fans because David, I am tired of everyone making a big deal about Philly fans,” Weiner said. “Do me a favor, every stadium, when your team makes it to a championship round, every stadium is standing, every stadium is loud. Philly fans, give me a break.
“You want to see Philly fans? Go to a game on a Wednesday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers and tell me how loud they are. I’m tired of it, David.”
Samson worked for the Marlins from 2002-17, so there certainly is some NL East rivalry and personal experiences fueling his take.
He said there were multiple times when Phillies fans verbally attacked him – not physically – in front of his son in elevators.
Samson said he would not wear his badge to avoid letting fans know who he was.
“I was basically told that I am the world’s worst human and the worst, ineffective president and my team stinks and the Marlins stink and how dare you, what kind of person are you,” Samson said. “It was silly. Most people want a picture, autograph or they’re not willing to do anything but be cyber-bullies, but in Philadelphia they’re willing to be bullies-bullies.”
As Samson said Phillies’ fans are not a top-five fan base, he instead listed these fan bases: Brewers (fifth), Cubs (fourth), Yankees (third), Dodgers (second) and Cardinals (first).
“They’re not very nice,” Samson said of Phillies fans. “I don’t mean all of them, but I mean a lot of them. Our players would come into the clubhouse and tell me things that were being said to them when they were out in left field that would sometimes remind them of being out at Fenway Park, in left field, and you know what I’m talking about.
“They can be very difficult in Philadelphia.”
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