Philadelphia Phillies fans probably remember Jeremy Affeldt best for the 2010 NLCS against the hated San Francisco Giants. He appeared in three games and helped the Giants on to the World Series. He also, according to his writing, was always pretty damn good in the playoffs.
Other than that, he's a journeyman pitcher with a mostly forgettable 14-year career to Philadelphians. But he hasn't forgotten you. You made your mark.
In fact, you -- the City of Brotherly Love -- are one of the 5 things he won't miss at all about baseball upon his retirement at the end of this coming season.
Affeldt joined the trend of athletes putting their words down on paper to share their thoughts directly with fans as opposed to using a media go-between. Like too much content on the Internet these days, Affeldt brought the hot takes with him, insulting Philadelphia sports fans, Wrigley Field, and players showboating, among other things he dislikes.
What ever happened to a player simply shedding some tears at a retirement press conference?
Anyway, here's the relevant knock on you, Phillies fans, which appeared in his retirement announcement on SI.com:
So first, let me be clear. Philly is a great sports town, with passionate fans and a palpable energy. The problem, though, is that the city, more than any other I've played in, seems to condone and almost revel in its fans crossing the line. Nowhere else in this country—again, based on my experience as a 14-year major leaguer and the conversations I've had with other players—is the opposition treated in such a repeatedly vile and borderline threatening manner.
MLB
We are out here to play a game, and even though we are paid handsomely to do so, professional athletes should not be subject to vulgarity, personal attacks or epithets. Sadly, in Philadelphia, this kind of fan conduct is far too typical. The irony is, while Phillies fans succeed in making many players dread traveling there, they also (not surprisingly) impact the decision-making process of those same players in free agency.
Sure, it's great to play for a rabid fan base, but after experiencing firsthand how powerful that fervor can be when it is channeling extreme negativity, it really makes you think twice about where all that collective anger comes from, and whether you want to subject yourself and your family to that all the time.
In the immortal words of one big-time free agent who did decide to come and play in Philadelphia, likely for less money, "Whatever."