SPARTANBURG, SC — NBC Sports Philadelphia, the home of the Authentic Fan, sent Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury and baseball analyst Ricky Bottalico on a road trip to Clearwater, and the second pit stop of the journey sent the fellas straight through the Carolinas.
Salisbury and Bottalico first stopped in Salisbury, NC, namesake (well, not really) of the great Phillies Insider, and capitalized on a perfect photo op.
The two then shot down to Duncan Park, the oldest minor league ballpark in the country and the site of Bottalico's minor league debut.
Salisbury and Bottalico took a tour of the park, including checking out some in-use seats sent down from Philly's storied Connie Mack Stadium, and re-lived the moment Bottalico was given the closer job. Then, in a moment only baseball can provide, Jim and Ricky had a catch.
After Duncan Park, the dynamic duo (parched from all that catch) hit up a nearby Wawa to refuel. Bottalico professed his love for Cuban roast coffee, and the two carried out roughly 50 pounds of food and drink for the road.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s social media channels will be posting numerous photos, videos and anecdotes surrounding their trip on @NBCSPhilly. Salisbury will also be posting on his twitter account @JSalisburyNBCS.
Other notable stops during the Making the Trip route included:
MLB
• Dallas, GA – Zack Wheeler’s hometown
• Atlanta, GA – former home of Fulton County Stadium, where Bottalico made his Major League debut
• Clearwater, FL – Arrived Sunday
• Ricky and Jim will be filling up with Wawa food and fuel along the route
Tune back in for more episodes from the road here at NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com.
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