Ring the Bell - by Kevin Reavy & Jack Fritz (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey."

He must've been a Phillies fan.

The Philadelphia Phillies, a franchise nearly 150 years old, has only reached its grand destination twice (World Series wins in 1980 and 2008), but it harbors the most fervent fan base in baseball. How?

Well, Olive Garden famously said, "When you're here, you're family." The Phillies--warts and all--have been an inextricable part of the city, and the lives of the fans who cheered them on. The team's story is part of our story.

This book is an encyclopedia of sorts, but it's more of a family history. We won't get too deep into the really old stuff. Let's face it: While I'm sure the 1915 World Series loss was painful, no one's calling local sports radio to curse the name of Eppa Rickey. We'll mostly delve into the memories that formed this generation's deep bond with its ballclub; the kinds of happenings--good and bad--that somehow manifested an unrivaled home-field advantage.

At any game, in any city, a stadium media crew can ask its fans to scream as loudly as possible...but they can't make them care. The Phillies have the best home edge in baseball because, through it all, the fans never stopped caring.

This book will cover the moments and emotions of being a Phillies fan, from every perspective: the players, coaches, front office, fans, etc. Phillies fandom is a family, and this is our collective history.

Review Quotes

"Ring the Bell covers all the touchstones--from Schmidt and Carlton to Rollins and Utley to Harry the K and the Phanatic. Mostly, it's a paean to the oft-misunderstood loyalists of this sometimes great, sometimes frustrating franchise from two sages who watched it all from the seats at The Vet and Citizens Bank Park. Reading Fritz and Reavy, you'll find yourself smiling, laughing out loud--and occasionally wanting to call WIP to vent in anger." --Glen Macnow

"Great storytelling. Kevin and Jack's passion for the Phillies and the game of baseball leaps off every page. When you finish this book, you'll say, 'Yep. That's why I love this team.'" --Jim Salisbury

"Kevin Reavy and Jack Fritz nail it. Ring the Bell is an accurate and detailed description of the history of Philadelphia's storied baseball franchise and a great read on all accounts!" --Ben Davis, NBC Sports Philadelphia

"Ring the Bell is a joyful romp through the history of the team once dubbed the whiz kids, from the days of Lefty and Schmitty to Bryce and Trea. A must read for any Phillies Phan! You gotta believe!" --Jake Tapper, journalist and host of CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper

About the Author

Kevin Reavy, a Chester County native and lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, is the co-author of Incredible Baseball Stats (with Ryan Spaeder) and This Day in Philadelphia Sports (with Brian Startare). His writing and media credits include contributions to Fusion magazine and CBS Local's Sports Verdict.

Jack Fritz lives and breathes Phillies baseball, with a foot in both old media and new. He is a host on Sports Talk 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia, and High Hopes, a Phillies podcast. He can routinely be found leading Phils conversations on X (@JackFritzWIP) and other social media platforms.