Nick Kurtz, first baseman for the Athletics, played at Citizens Bank Park on May 6 as his team faced the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was significant for Kurtz, who grew up in Lancaster and spent many years attending Phillies games with his family. His father, Jeff Kurtz, watched from behind home plate wearing a No. 16 jersey as Nick took batting practice.
Kurtz said before the game that sharing this moment with his family meant more than any of his on-field accomplishments. “It’s almost cooler for me than the actual stuff I’ve done on the field,” Kurtz said prior to his team’s 9-1 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday. “Sharing this moment with [my family] is really awesome. They took me to games, now they’re coming to watch me play here. It’s kind of crazy.” He extended his MLB-best on-base streak to 29 games during the matchup.
The connection between Kurtz and Philadelphia runs deep. His earliest memory at Citizens Bank Park was Game 2 of the 2008 National League Division Series when Shane Victorino hit a grand slam and Brett Myers pitched for a win that contributed to one of two World Series victories by the franchise—1980 and 2008—according to the official website. The stadium has been home for Phillies fans since it opened in 2004 and is located within a larger sports complex according to their official website.
The Kurtzes have long supported Philadelphia baseball, often traveling from Lancaster or taking trips out-of-state when tickets were cheaper elsewhere. Nick idolized players like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard; he even named family pets after them and later after Bryce Harper—a player he spoke with during Tuesday’s game.
Kurtz reflected on what it meant not only personally but also for those closest to him: “There’s really no words.” Jeff echoed this sentiment about watching Nick play against their longtime favorite team in front of friends and relatives gathered throughout the week.
The Phillies are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest teams as a charter member of its National League division; they represent both local fans in Philadelphia and broader audiences through community engagement according to their official website. Their leadership includes executives such as chief executive officer and general manager overseeing operations according to their official website.
