Philadelphia Fans Show the Power of Change

More than a month ago the Philadelphia Phillies new high-priced Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop #TreaTurner was having a catastrophic season. There were holes in his swing, he was booting balls in the field and his confidence was in a free fall.

Philadelphia Fans are almost programmed to respond in a negative way when high priced players are failing. But, Jack Fritz , a producer for the WIP Sports Radio Mid-Day Show on Audacy, Inc. randomly asked fans to take a different approach. On a whim during the normal caller banter on the show, he said let’s go to the game tonight and cheer Trey Turner when he comes up. And uncharacteristically, the fans did just that.? And Turner responded.

Since that day, Turner is on a torrid pace and has rediscovered his all-star caliber play. The team is surging into the post season, hitting on virtually all cylinders. To show his appreciation, Turner paid for a billboard thanking the fans for their support. It’s a remarkable turn-around considering the confidence was inspired by a fanbase (that I’m part of) which is often referred to as Negadelphia.

So what does this all mean?

• Embrace the Power of Positivity. We’re all human. We all need to see the love, even a $300 million man. Putting in a bit more effort for a bigger reward is always worth it.
• Change is Good. A simple change to your approach can have a profound impact on others. It certainly has in Philadelphia.
• One Voice CAN Make a Difference. It’s easy to go with the negativity of the crowd, but where does that leave us?? Disappointed. When we have the guts to stand up for good, it puts us all in a better place emotionally and mentally. And, in Turner’s case, quite literally lifted the entire fanbase to a new place.

The next time you’re ready to give up and "fall in line", take a moment to think if there's another pathway.? And ask yourself are you making the decision to have the best long-term outcome or simply taking the easy way out. I'm sure Trea Turner is happy that the WIP producer wasn't satisfied with the easy solution.