PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Whether the Phillies win or lose, there's one fan whose attitude about the team will be immaculate. That is 71-year-old Debbie Torchiana from the western suburbs of Philadelphia.
"You never give up on them because they don't give up and that's what's so great about watching them," Torchiana said.
Torchiana, a retired mother of two and grandmother to one — with another on the way — has a vivacious personality and makes you smile. Her energy is infectious and her knowledge of the Phillies through multiple eras is strong.
"She smiles ear to ear permanently," Debbie's daughter Jaime Torchiana says. "She beams. There's like an internal radiance that she's just so grateful and such a cheerleader that her smile, that Cheshire Cat, is there 110%. She'll cheer, she'll yell, she'll certainly text folks. That's classic mom when they do a great hit and she stays up well past their bedtime when they've gone into extra innings."
Debbie became a fan through her late mother Gloria Walsh. When Walsh watched the game, Debbie felt a connection. It was a common interest, and it has since been shared through generations of the Torchiana family.
"It's been that connection, that family glue, to not only honor my grandmother's legacy, and what she enjoyed, because we would always catch up about the games, but now my mom texts my daughter about the game," Jaime said. "So if we're not viewing them and watching them in person, we're texting back and forth while we're both watching."
Debbie's fandom is over half a century long — a badge of honor. She loves everyone associated with the Phillies — from the players, manager, and broadcasters. If the Phillies don't win, or someone is struggling, she feels bad. It breaks her heart because she knows they're trying.
"It's kind of like your kids," said Debbie. "You love them even if they mess up, but you don't stop loving them. And they're trying, so they're doing the best they can and that's all you can ask of any team."
And if they're behind, there's no way she's bailing on them — whether at the stadium or at home.
"How are you going to feel when you're on 95 going home and you have the radio on and you hear them hit a grand slam and they win the game and you're not [at Citizens Bank Park?] How could you not stay?" Debbie said.
Jaime Torchiana
Debbie remembers another instance when her husband of 50 years, Joe, said he was going to go to bed with the Phillies losing ahead of an early morning for him.
"I said, 'How can you go to bed? We still have one more inning to do. Why are you giving up?'"
Debbie simply loves the team's attitude.
"She believes with her high emotional quotient, that they're nice people," Jaime said. "That they're genuinely good guys. I mean, she'll pull out things that they do, she'll research the players, understand kind of their upbringing, their family situation. And she feels a sense of camaraderie. She's like, 'I'm turning 70. I'm gonna petition to be a ball girl.' So she wants to be a part of whatever the magic is."
Debbie is no doubt looking forward to watching her team play into November, which would mean they once again make the World Series. Jaime says Debbie is convinced the Phillies will go all the way this year, adding that the team is definitely in her mom's prayers.
"They're a team we can be proud of whether they win or lose," said Debbie.
