{"id":2505207,"date":"2026-07-16T21:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T21:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2505207"},"modified":"2026-07-16T21:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T21:28:36","slug":"this-phillies-fan-pulled-off-the-perfect-celebrity-encounter-with-kyle-schwarber-in-avalon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/this-phillies-fan-pulled-off-the-perfect-celebrity-encounter-with-kyle-schwarber-in-avalon\/","title":{"rendered":"This Phillies Fan Pulled Off the Perfect Celebrity Encounter With Kyle Schwarber in Avalon"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n Phillies
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
\n \"Jul
\n Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n
\n

The baseball season is a notoriously long, 162-game grind, especially for a player as consistent and productive as Kyle Schwarber. Throw in a near-win at the Home Run Derby and a (not great) All-Star Game appearance, and it\u2019s good to know he took a well-deserved day off in Avalon on Wednesday, having interactions like this one:<\/p>\n

\n

This is good stuff. I enjoyed everything about this story. I like that Kyle is getting some time down the shore with the family. I like that the fan wasn\u2019t immediately certain that it was, in fact, Kyle Schwarber. That checks out to me. Kyle does look like every tired dad on the beach in the summer. Could see him wearing a rec league basketball cutoff and long Billabong board shorts with a built-in bottle opener, absentmindedly watching his kids dig a big hole, a Surfside in one hand and one of those surfer guy toys that are popular this year for some reason in the other:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"YouTube<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

I also think the way this fan acknowledged Kyle is the best way to do it. He didn\u2019t walk up to him on his family beach day and ask for a photo. He didn\u2019t try to shake his hand. He did something way cooler \u2013 he hit Kyle with the niche DJ Schwarbs move, proving that he\u2019s a true ball knower:<\/p>\n

\n

Which Kyle returned with a thumbs up, showing his respect for the gesture. And that was it. Everyone kept it moving. Nice and easy. Very respectful. Very wholesome. A nice moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve given this some real thought over the years: seeing a celebrity in public is tricky, especially if you\u2019re a fan of theirs. The natural inclination is to want to go over and say what\u2019s up. But I feel like it\u2019s been pretty beaten into us peasants that celebrities don\u2019t like that \u2013 that many would prefer never to be acknowledged in public, that they think it\u2019s actually rude or weird when fans try talking to them. In my opinion, that\u2019s pretty ridiculous stuff and lacks some self-awareness. I think it\u2019s okay to point out that celebrities enjoy many, many benefits in life that most people don\u2019t, and a reasonable part of the deal is that, in exchange for those privileges, they should be cool with saying hello to a stranger every once in a while. So what\u2019s the best way to do it? In my only three celebrity interactions ever, I personally have not found the right balance yet:<\/p>\n

I once saw Evan Turner in the Manayunk Diner and asked him for a picture. He obliged but seemed pissed. I once saw Michael Carter-Williams at the KOP Mall. With the memory of Irritated Evan Turner fresh in my mind, I did not approach. Like a coward\u2026 The third one was seeing J.J. Redick two tables over from me at Mulherin\u2019s one time. I didn\u2019t say anything to him either.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In all of those situations, I wish I had a DJ Schwarber-esque move I could\u2019ve done to show them that 1) I see you, 2) I am a fan, 3) I am respectful, and 4) I want nothing from you at all; just thought I\u2019d say what\u2019s up; goodbye forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the perfect balance. Hopefully I can think of something like that the next time I see Evan Turner, MCW and J.J. Anyway, thank you for the insight, Redditor. You\u2019ve given me a lot to think about. Enjoy the rest of your time in Avalon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n \"Matt<\/p>\n
\n

Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He\u2019s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don\u2019t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up\u2026)
\n
\nemail: M.Schultz@sportradar.com<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n