Philly Plain Dealer

On June 1st, 2025 the Phillies lost 5-2 to the Brewers in an uneventful midseason game. In attendance was 27 year old David Szathmary, wearing a heavy double-breasted suit and tie, a fedora, and a ring from the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Among a sea of pin-stripes, red, and the occasional City Connect jersey, Szathmary stood out holding a pennant attached to a stick with an old-school Phillies logo on it. 

“So, I have an entire wardrobe that’s from the 1940s, and you asked me if I wear suits in all weather, well, no. I mean in the summertime I wear more relaxed clothes, but it’s all from the 1940s from the most formal to the most informal,” said the Arcadia University graduate.

Szathmary’s speech even has a hint of the now-extinct Mid-Atlantic accent, akin to Baz Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby.” The 27 year old appears to be wholly from another era, he said he’s lived in England, France, New Jersey, and now resides in Philadelphia where he works as a postman. 

When asked why he dresses like he’s in the 1940s, he said “I’ve always been interested in World War II, which led to a broader interest in the 1940s. I saw how young men dressed and I thought, ‘I want that for me.’” 

The Philly Plain Dealer exists to present human interest stories, and on June 1st, 2025 David Szathmary was by far the most interesting human among the thousands in attendance. Is it cosplay or is it a lifestyle? Who knows!

Keep your eyes peeled for a postman in Philly dressed like it’s the 1940s.