Veterans Stadium Three Years Gone

Driving down Broad Street in South Philly today, you almost forget about the giant eyesore where you spent so many wonderful Sundays.  Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field now host the games we give our hearts to.  All it takes is a glimpse of a picture, a snippet of video, or the smell of a toilet to spark the memories you have of the old ball park.  I attended the second to last Phillies game there and also attended the second to last Eagles game there.  I had tickets to the final Birds game at the Vet, but had to be in Boston for that whole college thing.  It turned out to be a decent game to skip.

My first memory of the Vet is, of course, not of a game itself, but rather a fight between an extremely overweight Giant fan and an Eagles fan of similar stature.  The Giants fan was so drunk while getting pummeled that his pants fell to his ankles.  That's comedy central for a young kid.  I recall vividly the playoff game where the Birds pounded my all time favorite football player, Barry Sanders and the Detroit Lions.  I recall fondly the days when Mr. Tolomeo would throw us in the back of his pick up and sneak us in to sit up in the 700 level for Phillies games.  Going over the I-95 bridge in the back of a truck was a truly frightening experience as a kid.

Here's to the Vet, and, of course, to the original 700 level.

Leave it up to the shitty Mayor of Philly to botch this one up.

The final seventh inning stretch after the jump.

and a glimpse of how it used to be:

Comments

[icarus236]

I was also at the final game at the Vet. It was a pretty miserable day with the Phillies losing to the Braves. The post game festivities celebrating the Phillies who played in the Vet was a lot of fun.
[thephansblog.com]

[Matt P]

Great post, E. some classic video moments there. i love the part in the third video where there's a guy holding his toddler up while trying to catch a peek of the titty girl.

[justin]

im pretty sure they played the pirates at the last opener

that said i miss the vet

[Walklett]

Does anyone remember the fireworks display they had (i think it was the final 4th of July) when they let people down on the field? I vividly remember some gay montage with Madonna's "This Used to be My Playground" playing in the background.

[JL]

I was in a buddy's wedding in Toledo the night before the last game. Stayed up all night drinking and hooking up with a bridesmaid, and had to hop a 5:30 AM flight out of Detroit with another buddy and his chick so we could make it back in time for the game. Let's just say there was lots of throwing up involved afterwards. But I was there. Good times, good times.

[Dan]

I grew up in South Jersey and spent the 70s through the 90s going to Phils games, USFL games and Birds games. My wife and I came up from Baltimore for the penultimate Phils game when they intro'd the All Vet Team. We were sitting up in the 700 Level and some little kid behind us turned to his dad and said, "This place makes me want to boo." Out of the mouths of babes...

[Chris]

Dan -

Any chance we can get that kid to fill Johnny Marz' chair on CSN?

[Whitey]

I love how the security does nothing during that whole shouting/beer throwing match....a classic Vet moment!

The Final 7th inning stretch video is mine....I shot that at the last game which I attended with my brothers....glad it made this site.

Philly fan 4ever!