Fans roar as Phillies parade through Philly

11-01-2008 | AP

Philadelphia celebrates its first World Series win since the 80s

Panama Star PHILADELPHIA. Tens of thousands of fans cheered with pride and jubilation as the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies set off on flatbed trucks Friday to begin the city’s first sports title parade in 25 years.

Crowds dressed in all kinds of Phillies gear thronged downtown sidewalks, making them almost impassable, so fans climbed trees, hung out of windows, watched from balconies, brought stepladders and stood on roofs to get a better view.

The confetti-filled procession was expected to get from the heart of the city to the sports complex in South Philadelphia, about 4 miles away.

There, the team was greeted by another hundred thousand fans watching the festivities on big screens at the city’s baseball and football stadiums.

The last time a Philadelphia team won a major championship was in 1983, when the 76ers won the NBA title. The Phillies won their only other World Series in 1980.

Nick and Patricia Gavin of suburban Delaware County, who were children when they attended the 1980 parade, brought their own kids downtown on Friday.

Jaclyn, 10, planned to dress as a Phillies ball girl later in the day for Halloween, but her brother Nicholas, 8, was too excited about to think about trick or treating.

“This made me forget about Halloween,” Nicholas said.