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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Dave Shaw, of the United Kingdom, was near the end of a big tour of the United States in June 2012. Philadelphia was his last stop. Although unfamiliar with baseball, he took up someone’s offer to see a Phillies game.
“I’ll give it a try,” he remembered thinking. “I didn’t know what to expect. Got to the ballpark, got to the complex, and straightaway, wow. We have nothing like that back at home.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates were visiting the ballpark that night, and it was also beloved second baseman Chase Utley’s season debut after his lengthy stay on the injured list.
Fans gave him a standing ovation as he approached the plate. Then, with the count at two balls and two strikes, Utley smashed a hanging, breaking ball over the fence in right-center field and sprinted around the bases in his signature Utley style.
Still, the Phillies lost 11-7. That year was the first of 10 consecutive seasons that the Phillies did not go to the playoffs — the longest current drought in the National League.
But none of that mattered. Shaw was hooked. “This is my team. I love this.”
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A decade later, 35-year-old Shaw is the Phillies authority in Southampton, England, and the man behind UK Phillies Baseball. Being across the pond, he’s five hours ahead of Philadelphia but still makes time to keep up with his favorite team — even at “stupid o’clock.”
Weeknight games typically begin around 7 p.m. in the U.S. For Shaw, that’s midnight. West Coast games are actually easier for him; he can sleep a little before his watch time of 3 a.m. If he misses the game live, he’ll catch up with MLB’s condensed version, and he shuns himself from phone notifications to prevent spoilers.
Shaw has garnered a large online following, and UK Phillies Baseball even has its own podcast.
“Staying up until 3 a.m. consistently for games is, like, unheard of for me,” said Alex Carr, who writes from Sports Illustrated and Fan Nation’s Inside the Phillies coverage. He’s a regular guest on the “Broad Street to Britain” podcast with Shaw, joining in from North Jersey.
“I could not imagine what that would do to your sleep schedule,” said Carr. “I’m a night owl and I could never do that.”
Shaw is an adopted Philadelphian, bringing extraordinary enthusiasm whenever his team wins.
“This is on top of balancing,” noted Carr, “he’s got his wife, he’s got his kid. He somehow is able to be a great father, a great husband and a great Phillies fan. He doesn’t miss a split second of the action.”
Rather than partake in this year’s Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II, Shaw was in Philadelphia, a trip he’s made every year since 2012, except for COVID-related closures.
He went to the series finale against the Giants and the three-game series against the Angels. Sandwiched in the middle was the firing of manager Joe Girardi. He still had an unforgettable time, watching the Phillies rally by the Giants to avoid getting swept and viewing batting practice from the field. He even snapped a pic with Kyle Gibson.
“I got to sit with him during Saturday’s game,” Carr said. “Every single big play, run, scores, anything like that, he is on his feet, waving his U.K. Phillies flag.”
Long overdue for Red October
Interest in baseball is growing in the U.K., Shaw said, and there’s a following for every team. He could have picked any American team, but he chose the Phillies and remained loyal despite the fact they haven’t rewarded him with postseason baseball during his entire fandom.
From 2007 to 2011, the Phillies won the National League East every year. They made the World Series in 2008 and 2009, winning the whole thing in ’08. But since 2012, when Shaw became a fan, nothing.
“I’m so invested in this team,” Shaw said. “I need Red October. I hear the stories from everyone who is in there, in the glory years, and how [Citizens Bank Park] is shaking when it gets going. … Every single pitch is cheered or booed. I want to feel that so bad.”
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“If anybody deserves a championship, it’s Dave,” Carr added. “If anybody deserves to see one, it’s him, and I can’t wait for that day. I hope it comes sometime soon for him just so that he can finally have worked toward something that was worth cheering for.”
There’s a lot of baseball left in this season. The Phils have appeared to turn their season in the right direction recently, but they are still very much in the hunt for a postseason spot.
Even if they fail to make it again, Shaw will be wearing his red and white pinstripes with pride.
“I’m here for the long run. I’m here for the ride. We’ll get there.”
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