They began to rise even before longtime Phillies public address announcer Dan Baker offered his introduction and they remained on their feet for the better part of the next minute.
Jimmy Rollins twice stepped out of the batter's box and lifted his blue Los Angeles Dodgers batting helmet to thank the Citizens Bank Park crowd before the first at-bat of a 6-2 Phillies win Tuesday night. A standing ovation lasting about 45 seconds greeted the Phillies' all-time hits leader for his first game as a visitor in South Philadelphia.
For as much as Rollins downplayed the significance of his return - "It wasn't anything I circled on my calendar," he had said a few hours before - the trademark grin across his face indicated otherwise.