They say Citizens Bank Park has energy like no other stadium in Major League Baseball.
Phillies fans are known for some unruly behavior, to say the least. They relentlessly boo the opposition, generate deafening roars for the homefield team, and pack the stadium full for every postseason game.
Imagine watching your son, who grew up loving the Phillies, walk into that environment as an opposing player.
Spring-Ford Senior High School Special Education Administrative Assistant Julie Signorovitch experienced just this first hand this past October as her son, first baseman Christian Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks, played a part in defeating the Phillies in the National League Championship Series in seven games.
It was a “dream” run for Walker and the Diamondbacks, but a nightmare end for the Phillies after leading the NLCS 2-0 and 3-1. Such is life for a professional athlete, as playing against your hometown team is part of the job description.
“The hardest part is they boo Christian when he comes up to bat, but I’ve gotten used to it now,” Signorovitch said. “It’s never easy watching him in Philly but I’m used to it.”
The Baltimore Orioles drafted Walker in 2012, and he spent two years in the minor leagues before making his big league debut in 2014. He played for the Orioles for three years before signing with the Diamondbacks in 2017. This past season was his first World Series appearance.
Walker says that getting to play at Citizens Bank was amazing after watching so many games there growing up.
“I used to go to games as a child and I used to love watching the players hit batting practice and take ground balls,” said Walker, who led the Diamondbacks in home runs (33) and RBIs (103) last year. “Going to those games as a kid is where I developed the dream of playing Major League Baseball.”
Signorovitch said that her son started playing baseball when he was five and has wanted to be a professional baseball player ever since. His journey to the big leagues took off at local high school Kennedy-Kenrick in Norristown and then to the University of South Carolina before the Orioles drafted him.
The crowds at Citizen Bank Park are always electric. Signorovitch got to attend all four games the Diamondbacks played in Philadelphia and she got to experience the cheering as well as the booing.
The fans at Citizen Bank do not make it easy for the opposition. Sports Illustrated even called Citizens Bank the “best home field advantage in baseball.” This was not left unnoticed by Walker and his teammates.
“The Philly crowd has an impact on me and my team,” Walker says, “When a crowd is that loud and crazy, it is fun to play in front of them. The energy on the field is so high and intense. It didn’t make me nervous, but it makes you want to do your best in every situation.”
Both Signorovitch and Walker said that the World Series was incredible.
“I’m still in shock,” Signorovitch said of the trip to the World Series. “I can’t believe that he was there. There are players that wait their whole life to play in the World Series and he’s been working at it since he was 5 and he made it.”
Signorovitch attended two of the games in Arizona and two in Texas.
In a typical year, Signorovitch watches every game and sees Walker play in person for one series a year in Philadelphia. She hopes to see him play more often after she retires.
“We go and see him play every time the Diamondbacks are in Philly,” Signorovitch said, “It’s always exciting because he’s a hard worker and good at what he does.”
Despite a magical run to the World Series, the Diamondbacks were unable to overcome a strong Rangers team in a 4-1 series loss. That does not diminish the dream run Walker and Arizona went on when few expected them to.
“It was a dream come true playing in the World Series,” Walker said, “No matter what you do in life, you should try to be the best, and the World Series is the highest stage for baseball. For me and my team, it was humbling to be a part of it, knowing that so many people were watching and supporting us.”
After the hectic October, both looked forward to a relaxing offseason.
“I live in South Carolina, so a lot of my off-season is spent outside,” Walker said. “We have two dogs and two horses that keep us busy. I love to cook, so I spend a lot of time making food.”
“The baseball season is so long and there is so much travel, I try to rest and relax as much as I can during the offseason. Making sure I am in good shape for next year is a top priority for me as well.”
Signorovitch is very proud of her son and what he has accomplished this year. In addition to his team accomplishments, Walker won MLB’s Gold Glove award for his work at first base.
“There are alot of people in the school that know about Christian because he’s from the area” Signorovitch said, “He’s the perfect example of where hard work will get you and why you should keep working hard.”
