Astros player from West Chester, Pa. facing hometown team in World Series
Astros outfielder Chas McCormick is a West Chester native who hit two home runs for the Astros in Game 3 of the ALCS.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It will be an extra special showdown for a player on the opposing team for this World Series faceoff against the Houston Astros.
Astros outfielder Chas McCormick is a West Chester native who hit two home runs for the Astros in Game 3 of the ALCS.
Now, he gets to go up against his hometown Philadelphia Phillies.
Chas' family are die-hard Phillies fans through and through, they always have been.
His mother Nancy has collected memorabilia over the years, but this World Series, she's rooting for the Houston Astros.
"I want my boy to bring home a ring. I want Houston to do well," said Nancy. "So I have said many times that he's my boy -- blood is thicker than Red October."
"He got drafted, I was crying," said father Bob McCormick. "He made his debut in that jersey and I was crying. (He) hit his first home run hit -- everything I've seen I just get overwhelmed."
And his brothers, including his twin, said they've been to almost every East Coast ballpark to watch Chas play.
"I sat back and said, 'This is crazy,'" said brother Jason McCormick. "Like this is nuts. Anytime watching him on that stage, if it's TV or stadium, it is crazy."
But they say it'll be a full circle moment watching him play at Citizens Bank Park.
"Seeing him on the field there, that's going to be different, that'll hit home," said brothers Jason and Ryan McCormick.
Chas grew up in West Chester, attended West Chester Henderson High School. He was the first student to score both 1,000 career points in basketball and 100 career hits in baseball.
He later played for Millersville University before getting drafted in 2017. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Action News caught up with Chas' college coach, Jon Shehan, who is heading to Houston to cheer him on.
Shehan coached Chas for all four years at Millersville University.
This is Shehan's second year in a row following Chas and his Astros to the World Series.
On Friday, he will once again be in the stands in Houston with the McCormick family as Chas takes the field.
The irony of this faceoff does not escape them.
"It's super cool, though," Shehan says. "Chas grew up as a Phillies fan. He's obviously right down the street. Other than playing for the Phillies, if you could draw it up any way for a boy growing up in the Philadelphia area to go home and play in the World Series at Citizens Bank, I mean, it's a dream come true."
Shehan describes Chas as a power hitter and power competitor who is also authentic. His success is no surprise.
Ahead of the World Series, Shehan has this advice as a coach.
"This is a moment that you need to take in," he says. "Give yourself 10 seconds before the game starts and look around. Before you lock in, before you go to back to compete mode, look around. Realize where you're at, take it in and just enjoy the moment just for a second."
Chas living out his Major League dreams in Houston has made an Astros fan out of his coach, his family and friends.
They hope you don't hold it against them.
