PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Seventy-one years is a long time to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Jerry Bruderle, 80, of Chester County, has seen a lot of good and bad. It’s brought him a lot of joy and heartbreak. Yet his love for these teams, as well as Villanova basketball, has created tons of opportunities to bond with multiple generations of his family.
A longtime lawyer specializing in civil litigation as well as a military veteran, Bruderle’s first memory of Philadelphia sports dates back to the 1950s at Connie Mack Stadium when the Phillies would play the since-relocated Philadelphia Athletics. In the days of Veterans Stadium, Bruderle had a partial season ticket plan that got him in the house for Game 6 of the 1980 World Series. He loves all the teams and has a particular passion for Villanova hoops.
But his passion for sports didn’t end with just watching games. Bruderle spent time with the Villanova and Penn sports information departments and was a statistician for CBS, working Eagles games at The Vet. While he remained professional on the job, there was always a special place in his heart for Philly sports.
And through it all came the shared bond he’s had with multiple generations of his family.
To learn more about Bruderle’s fandom, take a listen to the latest edition of KYW’s Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week.