PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Have you seen him? This Philly sports fan attends games in a red-striped shirt, red and white hat, black circular glasses and red-striped shoes.
While you may think you’re spotting Waldo, the famously hard-to-find picture book character, it’s actually just 27-year-old Chris Foley, better known as the "Philly Waldo," cheering on his favorite Philly teams.
“It’s a weird thing to do, but it’s something that I enjoy doing,” said Foley, a Port Richmond native.
It started on Halloween in 2015 when Temple University hosted Notre Dame in a marquee football game at the Linc. Foley decided to support the Owls by wearing red — a look that just so happened to be similar to Waldo’s. After that, Foley says the fit just kept growing.
Foley has become more recognizable over the years in his persona, especially after joining the Phillies fan group, the Phandemic Krew, in 2020. Founders Oscar Alvarado and Brett Macminn love Foley’s dedication to the Philadelphia teams, especially because Foley now lives in Milroy, Pennsylvania, which is about three hours away. He and his mother run the Milroy Deli, which gives folks in that town a taste of Philadelphia, as the menu includes cheesesteaks and water ice.
Foley has no intentions of stopping being Philly Waldo anytime soon. And he hopes to build more of a following on his social media, with his X and Instagram accounts.
“When I’m in the outfit … I just feel more comfortable in my surroundings. I’m with all my friends. We all hang out together now. I just feel more better about myself I guess,” he said.