11/9/2009 4:46:00 PM World Series Wonderland Springfield financial adviser Mel Saunders gets VIP treatment from friend Ryan Howard
Springfield financial adviser Mel Saunders got his first taste of World Series atmosphere thanks to his friendship with Philadelphia Phillies slugger - and fellow Missouri State University alumnus - Ryan Howard, above right and below.
Springfield-area residents kept a close eye on the World Series this year.
It seems personal connections abound.
New York Yankee Johnny Damon, owner of a sparkling new Series ring, is married to the daughter of Rogersville developer Steve Mangan. Damon and Mangan are partnering to develop Jamestown Plaza.
The mother-in-law of game three starter Cole Hamels is running the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher's nonprofit foundation in Springfield.
Kathleen Dugas is organizing The Hamels Foundation's first local fundraiser, scheduled for Dec. 4 at The Tower Club.
Then there's Mel Saunders.
Saunders was personally invited by Phillies slugger Ryan Howard to World Series games three and four in Philadelphia.
Saunders and Howard both attended Missouri State University, but their connection traces to the St. Louis suburb of Wildwood.
"We grew up in the same area and had the same peers," says Saunders, noting that his younger brother, Barry, played baseball with Howard at Lafayette High School.
Their friendship didn't take off, however, until after Saunders graduated and returned to St. Louis. He and Howard worked out at the same Bally's Total Fitness gym.
"The relationship just blossomed from there," says Saunders, a Springfield financial adviser for Wells Fargo Advisors who's four years older than Howard.
Saunders says he catches up with Howard about four times a year using complimentary tickets to Howard's baseball games. This was Saunders' first taste of the Series.
"The atmosphere is a lot different in the World Series," Saunders says.
To add to the competitive fever, the Philadelphia 76ers played the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the New York Giants that weekend. "It was a Philadelphia versus New York whole feel. That was probably the coolest thing about the whole thing. Those Phillies fans are diehard."
They're also in the know about their city's athletes. Saunders wore a Missouri State athletic outfit to game four and was surprised to hear: "Hey, that's where Ryan went to school."
"I thought, 'Dang, you all must know everything about your players,'" Saunders says.
Saunders was no good luck charm. Howard struck out three times in game three, and the Phillies dropped both contests before the Yankees earned a 27th World Championship.
Saunders' favorite memories always come after the games, waiting for Howard in the family area.
"It's a private area ... where the visitor teams come through. We get to relax and talk to the players," he says. "I saw C.C. Sabathia, A-Rod, Jeter - all the Yankee guys. I've seen other teams, but I'd never seen a Yankee player."
Saunders says he's had good conversations with Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.
"All the guys are pretty genuine," he adds. "They'll talk to you, we'll go out to dinner or a nightclub. That, for me, is probably the best part."
Howard has one post-game rule, though: "He always says, 'When you hang out with me, act like you've been here.'"
