Edited 11:30 p.m. to add.

The air at Citizen’s Bank Park was thick today. Thick with excitement. Thick with anticipation.

Thick with lint.

A full house waved their rally towels nearly to the point of disintegration today as the hometown Phillies completed the most breathtaking comeback in franchise - and dare I say, league - history, climbing out of a 7 game hole with 17 to play and overtaking the New York Mets as champions of the National League East. The Phillies are going to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, and I was there to see it happen.

I was there when we chased away the ghosts of 1964.

I was there when we threw away our misgivings about the pitching staff. And the manager. And the ownership, just for a moment of bliss.

I was there when the Phillies won the NL East.

The last time it happened, I was 11 years old. Baseball was important to me, but it wasn’t my #1 sport. I was more concerned with the Flyers, or the Eagles, or how to get 30 lives in Contra. I remember going to a makeshift merchandise store not far from my house, and I remember buying the NL Championship hat that I just threw away a few years ago after rediscovering it under a few layers of petrified dust. But I don’t remember how much or how little the 1993 playoffs meant to me.

This, I’ll never forget.

By virtue of a friend of my father, who had a pair of extra tickets just two rows from the shallow right field grass, I found myself sitting in prime position to witness the rebirth of baseball in Philadelphia. From my perch in section 113, I found the perfect way to follow the game: keep an eye on the Phils’ actions during gameplay and, between each pitch, steal a glance at the right field scoreboard and watch the Mets’ chances be held off by a Marlins team whose playoff hopes were dashed ages ago.

The atmosphere in CBP was dumbfounding. Never before have I seen a crowd hanging so tightly on every pitch; never before have I seen a crowd so invigorated by a routine fly ball, so disappointed by a single outside pitch. It was, without a doubt, the single most exhilarating professional sporting event I’ve ever attended (the all-time event still lands somewhere in the ‘03-’04 SJU basketball season).

For once, I can remember what it feels like to play October baseball. For once, I can know and appreciate what it’s like to have a playoff baseball team. I’m still walking around in a daze, trying to wrap my head around the whole situation. Here’s just a sampling of how it felt from my seat. I’ve also posted a set of photos I was able to take at the game.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdVf4FCkKc
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