Local Voices

Eagles Fans Have Long Turned The Page On Snowball Fiasco. 'No One Was Trying To Hurt Santa Claus'

The incident cursed Philly fans for almost six decades with a reputation that they are the most belligerent, boorish ones in all of sports.

(CBS3)

December 26, 2023

PHILADELPHIA -- There's plenty to unpack for a holiday game in Philly. Yes, the NFC East title is still in sight for the Eagles when they host the New York Giants — but the date alone is enough to make fans at the Linc cringe at reminders of a bad rap and a bad Santa.

Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

It's Christmas in Philadelphia and you know what that means: Santa and snowballs and a time of month that cursed Philly fans for almost six decades with a reputation that they are the most belligerent, boorish ones in all of sports.

You've surely heard the tale before: how fans near the end of one of the worst seasons in Eagles history dipped their fingers into snow at Franklin Field on a frigid December afternoon, cupped their hands and pelted poor ol' Santa Claus with snowballs — long before anyone was beaten at Dodgers Stadium or a Kansas City Royals coach was assaulted on the infield, or the "Malice at the Palace" occurred, or any of the other countless incidents of abominable behavior that surely would stain any other team's fanbase — except they weren't from Philly.

Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.


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