John Middleton was in his favorite place at his favorite time of year for his favorite reason, almost.
He was standing near the pitcher’s mound at Citizens Bank Park on the early evening of Oct. 23, 2022, a celebration swirling around him. Game 5 of the National League Championship Series had ended minutes earlier. You may remember it. Bryce Harper had laced a two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ranger Suárez had thrown two pitches to get out of a ninth-inning jam and finish off the Padres. The people in the ballpark’s bleachers had gotten loud and stayed loud. The Phillies had not won the World Series, but they were heading to the World Series.
Again, almost.
