Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 77

think all these new fan groups showing up is excellent. I wish we could fill the entire stadium up with fan groups; as long as it was full I care. more the merrier. No professional athlete wants to play in an empty Many onlookers might assume that some of the group members are enjoying their favorite beverages a bit too much because of their sometimes-rambunctious antics. That is not necessarily the case.

The in fact, has a no-alcohol, no-cursing policy, something that Wood says he wishes all the groups would embrace. Clad in their usual Phillies jerseys and wolf masks, Wood and the which missed a Wolf start in 3 years is still going at it despite experiencing tragedy earlier this year. Thomas Wood died April 10 from injuries suffered in a car accident in Roxborough the previous week. Thomas was one of eight Wood brothers and four cousins who have made up the Wolf Pack since its inception. Wolf attended the funeral and tipped his hat to the group during his next start.

just shows how much of a great guy Randy Patrick Wood said. him to take time to be there for our family during that very tough time said a lot about him as a At the end of each year, the lefthander signs the banner as it is retired. guys have been there since I first got here and I even remember them coming out one day when I pitched relief that says a Wolf said. are great guys. I wish we could have met under better circumstances originally, but I still think they know how much I appreciate them and the support they have given me over the And it is that kind of reciprocal appreciation that seems to be the fascination with this recent rash of fan groups.

Because no matter how zany the group or its antics, the sheer gesture gives the players the kind of support a struggling team always get. somebody has gone to such lengths to put something together like is a big Adams said. know for me it makes me want to go out and play a little harder, BASEBALL YONG News Perched in their favorite sections are cheering sections for (clockwise, from above) pitcher Robert Person, leftfielder Pat Burrell and pitcher Vicente Padilla. FAN CLUBS Continued from Preceding Page PADILLA FLOTILLA Founders: Chuck Young and Steve Hegedus, both 17, of Delaware County High School in Newtown Square, Pa. Whom they support: Right- handed pitcher Vicente Padilla Number of members: Started with around 15, and has grown to 35 Gimmick: Wear sombreros, hand out tortilla chips and row with homemade oars after a strikeout Interesting facts: Idea was conceived by Young and Hegedus while sitting on the bench during a Delaware County Christian School baseball game.

Each of the founding members to attend the debut received detention for skipping school to make the daytime start. ADAMS FAMILY Founders: Andrew Hoffman, 16 and Shane Seaver, 17, of Valley Forge Whom they support: Righthanded pitcher Terry Adams Number of members: About a dozen Gimmick: Wear Phillies batting helmets with no shirts and spell out the word on their chests and on their backs. They do the classic snap with two strikes in the pitch count and a choreographed dance after each strikeout. Interesting facts: Though a group composed 99 percent of high schoolers, the Adams Family features 23-year-old Chris Shuey, who drives 2 hours from Fredericksburg, just to participate. By day Shuey works in the family pretzel factory.

WOLF PACK Founders: Eight Wood brothers Jimmy, Albert, John, Charles, Patrick, Kevin, Joe and Thomas and their four cousins from the Thompson family Tommy, John, Mark and Jimmy Whom they support: Lefthanded pitcher Randy Wolf Number of members: Around 15 Gimmick: Wear wolf masks and howl a lot while doing a choreographed shuffle to celebrate strikeouts Interesting facts: missed a Wolf start since creating the club in June 1999. Have a no-alcohol and no-cursing policy. GOING CLUBBING AT THE VET WALTERS ContinuedfromPage78 phiesandhistorywaslikedigging upafamilyheirloomforJeff searchsimplytosatisfythecuri- ositytheold-timerhadaroused. Hestartedwithanoldscrap- bookhisgrandmotherhad stuffedinaclosetandfollowed thepapertrailontotheInternet andthelibrary.Jack,hisuncle galedhimwithstoriesandhisfa- riesofridingthebaseballrails withhisdad. Slowlyastoryevolvedofaman whosebaseballepitaphis summedupbyhisoneregret.

Whenaskedaboutswitching Morepreciouseventhanthe manWaltershasdiscoveredare thelettershehasreceivedfrom suchnotablesasformerPennsyl- vaniaGov.TomRidge,PennState footballcoachJoePaternoand HallofFamerTommyLasorda. Thattheywrotehimbackandof- tenendorsedhisgrandfatherasa deservedHallofFamerim- touchedhimevenmore. morelastingimpressionthan formerchairmanoftheVeterans terandabilitymademealifelong thatsomeofthesepeoplearewrit- reallygreatisthatthefamilyse- memberhisgrandfathereverex- pressingdisappointmentthathis careerhadbeenburiedwiththe Buckywouldhaveapprovedo traitthatservedBuckywell. earth.Helovedplayingbaseball forthesakeofplayingbaseball. Hewasunderthespotlightforso sortofwantedtofadeaway.He wantedtobeforgottenandunfor- i PHILADELPHIADAILYNEWS PAGE77.