They are an unlikely pair: a liberty bell and a sting ray.

Nobody would have thought one year ago these two would face off in the World Series, Major League Baseball’s biggest stage.

After years of staring at empty trophy cases, the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies finally have the chance of bringing the Commissioner’s Trophy to their hometown.

In each respective city, the fan craze is far and large. Diehard Rays fan sport the creative new hairstyle, dubbed the ‘Rayhawk’ – basically a Mohawk – and dye their hair the team’s color, purple. Some even go so far as to add glitter to their dos.

While Phillies fans aren’t flocking to the beauty salons, they are using a valid question as a phrase of endearment. ‘Why can’t us?’ (why can’t a team previously named the ‘losingest team in baseball history’ win the World Series?) is said to be echoed from radio stations to the streets of Philadelphia.

Although the outpouring of fan support is not as heavy in the confines of Syracuse, N.Y., fans – both diehard and bandwagon – manage to maintain a level of pride and confidence in their home teams, as these two former underdogs battle it out. Phillies Phanatic

Junior Eva Zaccaria said she considers herself a diehard Phillies fan. She’s interned with a sports station in Philadelphia, where she was able to cover the team. She said her moods are often determined by how her team plays.

Rather than wear a jersey on game days when she watches the games on television, Zaccaria has her own rituals for game day.

‘For the playoffs, I’ve been trying to wear a little bit of red every day. If I go to the game or if it’s an off-day, then I’ll wear a jersey,’ Zaccaria said. ‘I don’t wear my Hamels jersey on days when he’s pitching. Also, my backpack is a big Phillies tote bag so I carry my colors every day.’

Zaccaria said she hasn’t felt like she’s seen more Phillies paraphernalia than before.

‘Philadelphians don’t know what the words ‘fair-weather’ and ‘bandwagon’ mean. We stick by our teams no matter what and all the people that you see are real fans.’Rays of Light

Junior Sydney Axson said she was once a serious Rays fan. She can recall going to the baseball games when she was younger – and she recalls watching them lose miserably. Axson was so tired of the losses that she stopped keeping up with the team altogether.

‘I was very surprised; it’s uncharacteristic of them. But naturally I’m still rooting for the home team,’ Axson said.

But with all the fans suddenly coming out of the walls to support their usually somber teams, Axson said that she hasn’t seen many other Rays fans on campus to counter the red hats with the signature ‘P’ and red, white and blue gear of the Phillies.

‘We’re not off to a very good start, but they’re going to come through. It’s the perfect Cinderella story,’ Axson said.

Junior public relations major Bridget Charleton is from Tampa, but said she has always been a Yankees fan. Despite her allegiance for another team, she is still supporting the team during their 15 minutes.

‘I’m definitely really excited and pulling for the Rays,’ Charleton said.

kaoutram@syr.edu

Published on October 23, 2008 at 12:00 pm