Phillies' Fans: What's the Name of the Group that Will Cheer Roy Halladay?

The best known was the "Wolf Pack," the group that cheered Randy Wolf on every time he pitched. There was also the "Coste Guard", in honor of back-up catcher Chris Coste, and "Padilla's Flotilla," in honor of the surly, headhunter pitcher Vicente Padilla. The son of a friend also started "Perez's Fezzes," after journeyman back-up infielder (and noted prankster) Tomas Perez. That friend had coined the best moniker for any support group, although he never suggested it publicly, the mellifluous "Pat Burrell's Fat Girls." Imagine the possibilities. . .



But now they're looking for a name for Roy Halladay's followers. I've heard "Doc's Nurses," "Doc's Interns," but while clever to a degree they're not catchy or all that memorable. Then there could be the "Happy Halladays" or "Halladay's Gifts," or, on a takeoff on a popular Christmas tune, "Homies for Halladay" after, yes, "Home for the Holidays." So far, there have been no plays on the star pitcher's first name, such as "Roy's Boy Toys" (who could give the Pat Burrell people a run for their money, and, besides, Halladay is married) or, well, I suppose that I might have exhausted the possibilities.

Then again, does it really matter? Remember that the Wolf Pack got its start at Veterans Stadium, when the Phillies weren't very good and when there were many empty seats, so much so that there was plenty of room for a group of 40 fans to go to the upper deck in left, put up their signs and make themselves known. Today, the Phils sell out, so it's hard to figure where such an ad hoc fan club might find a place to gather.

Finally, the way he pitches, it's hard to reason that only 40 fans would unite to support Halladay more vociferously than the other 44,960 or so who populate the Bank. On the days that he starts, everyone plays a role in watching Doc operate.