NYT: Glanville: My World Series Ghost

Another exquisitely tasteful column from Doug Glanville…until Tommy Lasorda almost makes him phuke.

I need to put those baseball demons to rest. Even the Phillies’ 1980 championship didn’t completely satisfy me, since winning the title didn’t involve eliminating the Yankees and the Dodgers. (Nothing could have been sweeter than that. It would even have made up for 1977 and 1978.) This extra bonus item I’m asking for would touch up the circle of my baseball life that closed when the Phillies won last year. Sure, it’s greedy — I will live, either way — but as this season’s playoffs took shape, I saw an opportunity to find out what the Phillies might do against the mighty Yanks. I wish Jeter well, I am pulling for A-Rod to find redemption . . . I wish all the Yankees well. I had a nice time with them in 2005. But they’re up against something even bigger than their need to end their world championship drought: they have to deal with the Ghost of Teaneck Past.

This Halloween, pay attention to what kids are wearing when they knock on your door. Most will probably be dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine or Pinkalicious or something along those lines, but take special note if you see a kid in a baseball uniform who doesn’t even ask for candy. The best treat you can give him is to ask about the story behind his costume. You might find out that he (or she) is wearing it until his team finally takes the title, the way he dreamed it up when he was five. So put a little hope in his bag — maybe you can help prevent the trick from carrying on into his 40s.