Jack Tomalis
2003-08-01 01:50:58 UTC
Every home game I watch on TV, there is some guy near the broadcaster's
boothwho yells "Woo hoo, everyone hits" and other things but always starting
"woohoo". Does anyone here know anything about him? Who is he? Does he go
toEVERY game?
From the Inquirer, 18 June 2003. You can get the whole article in thePhilly.com archives:
The fan that roars sends message far and wide
Sam Carchidi INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
It's a drizzly night and the Phillies, their offense in a comatose state,
are losing to the New York Mets.
No matter. The fans are clapping loudly, rallying around a high-pitched
voice that echoes around Veterans Stadium."Everybody hits! Wha Whoo!" the
man pleads as he leans on a low green wall, just to the right of the
backstop.
It's the same voice that, over the years, has become a part of the
Phillies' home broadcasts. It's not as famous as, say, a Harry Kalas
home-run call. But it's definitely more frequent.
It's a voice that is perpetually in the background, a voice you hear
as you're listening to a Phils game and there's a slight lull from the
announcers.
The voice that belongs to Brad Golden, a Northeast Philadelphian who
will turn 47 on Sept. 28, the date, he proudly noted, "that will be the last
home game before the Phillies play in the playoffs."
Around Veterans Stadium, Golden is known as The Wha Whoo Man. (That's
how Golden spells wahoo). Since the Vet opened in 1971, he and his family
have owned six season tickets in Section 224. Wearing a pinstriped Phillies
shirt with the words "Everybody Hits, Wha Whoo!!" on the back and his
deceased dad's initials on an arm patch, he sits in Row 1, just behind the
left corner of the Phils' dugout. Whether the Phillies are leading or
hopelessly behind, Golden is always upbeat, always delivering his trademark
phrases.
On this night, as Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf peered for a sign from
catcher Mike Lieberthal, Golden shouted: "Everybody strikes out! Wha Whoo!"
Golden's words are heard clearly by those in Section 224. And, since a
field microphone is attached to the Plexiglas that overhangs from the side
of the Phillies' dugout - about five feet away from Golden - his pleas are
also heard by the thousands of fans listening to the game on the radio.
The Phillies' announcers say Golden's cheers aren't a distraction.
"Going to a baseball game is all about having fun, and he's part of
the fun," announcer Chris Wheeler said.
"He gets everyone involved," added announcer Scott Graham.
Kalas said the late Rich Ashburn would hear Golden's voice early in a
game and give his broadcast partner a warning.
"He'd say to me, 'He's here again tonight, Harry,' " said Kalas,
smiling. "Whitey and I would talk about him a lot. I think he's great. He's
the ultimate baseball fan. It's fun."
<remainder of the article snipped>