Cliff Lee Swayed by Philly’s Public Transit?

December 21st, 2010 by Jay Corbalis

Fans headed to the 2008 Championship Parade on the Broad Street Line. Source: Philly.com

Not exactly New Jersey related (though plenty of Phillies fans reside in the Garden State), but close enough that I figured i’d pass it on for all you Phillies fans out there (myself included). Apparently Cliff Lee’s wife, Kristen Lee, preferred the transportation options in Philadelphia over the situation in Arlington with Cliff’s former team, the Texas Rangers.

From Bud Kennedy in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“Kristen Lee wanted her husband to return to the Phillies because of “how easy it is to get from point A to point B” in Philadelphia, she (told) the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Phillies play three miles from City Hall. The stadium is a $1.85 ride from downtown on the Broad Street Line, plus a three-block walk.

…’Even in Dallas,’ Kristen Lee was quoted, ‘(from) where we were staying, it was hard to get to the ballpark.’

…Kristen Lee’s fondness for transit isn’t limited to commuter rail.

She’s also happy to be a 1 1/2-hour train ride away from road games in New York or Washington.

‘We liked the easy travel on a train for our kids to other cities.'”

And its not only his wife who appreciates a good transit network, Cliff Lee has been spotted twice taking the subway to games at Yankee Stadium, including during the 2009 World Series as a member of the Phillies. So apparently quality public transportation access can improve more than property values; it can also improve your starting rotation.