PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The word "gem" is tossed around every now and then in baseball. It can be used to describe a sensational defensive play on the field, or maybe for a pitcher dealing. But in this case, we will use that word for one of Philadelphia sports' longtime fans.
Joe O'Loughlin, a 70-year-old West Philadelphia native who now lives in Springfield, Delaware County, is a "gem" of a fan.
A self-described "four for four" fan, O'Loughlin's first Phillies game was July 25, 1964 — a 10-9 loss to the Cardinals at Connie Mack Stadium. It was a game the Phillies nearly rallied with a big seven-run ninth inning, only to fall short. A couple months later, they fell one game short of St. Louis from going to the World Series. As a young man, O'Loughlin experienced the disappointment of the "Black Friday" playoff loss to the Dodgers in the 1977 NLCS at Veterans Stadium. But, he also traveled north of the border in 1980 with some buddies, witnessing the Phillies win the National League Eastern Division against the Expos, and later partying with some of the Phillies at a Montreal hotel. Oh, and he also attended 50 Opening Days, starting with 1971 at The Vet.
"Through all the pathos, the joy, the tragedy of it, it's just been an unfolding thing that has always had me captured, no matter how aggravating," O'Loughlin said.
Philly sports is a joy he has shared with many, including his wife of 40 years, Bobbie, who he met while watching a Flyers game in 1980. They later went to a game together and O'Loughlin says the rest was history. Bobbie nominated O'Loughlin in 1990 for the Philadelphia Sports Congress Sports Fan of the Year, which he won. Bobbie is a Mets fan, and their wedding invitations reflected the friendly rivalry.
The two even passed their passion to their daughter Kellie, who they adopted in the 90s from a very dangerous situation in the country of Georgia.
Kellie is grateful to be a part of a family that loves sports and is beyond thankful for her father.
"He's the guy that will drop what he does and make sure someone's okay and safe," Kellie said. "If someone falls, he'll go right to them. He'll just make sure that they're okay. He's a hero. A lot of people don't see that, unfortunately, and he's definitely a hero to me and to his friends."
Joe O'Loughlin at Harry Kalas' graveside.Joe O
O'Loughlin also became friendly with late iconic Phillies announcer Harry Kalas thanks to a touching letter he wrote him when fellow legend Richie Ashburn suddenly passed away in 1997. O'Loughlin says he expressed his sympathy for Kalas, as well as how important both he and "Whitey" were to the Phillies fandom he shared with his father, Joseph William. O'Loughlin wished he had written to Ashburn before he passed. He made sure not to miss that opportunity with Kalas.
Kalas responded to that letter, and the two kept their correspondence. After Kalas died in 2009, O'Loughlin was one of several speakers at a public memorial service at Citizens Bank Park. O'Loughlin was representing the fans and delivered a beautiful tribute to Kalas.
It made Kellie proud.
As O'Loughlin explained to KYW Newsradio, sports is a great unifier. It brought him to Kalas and his beloved wife Bobbie. It helped build a relationship with Joe Sr, as his father was referred to, and it's given him a shared hobby with his daughter, Kellie, who successfully nominated him to be KYW Newsradio's Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week.
