| Table of Contents - Feedback Citizens Bank Park - Shibe Park & Baker Bowl • Former Philadelphia ballparks - Page 2 • Page 1 - Shibe Park & Baker Bowl Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Recommended Reading List
Click on titles for more info
Philadelphia's Old Ballparks (Baseball in America)
Rich Westcott
Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present
by Josh Leventhal, Jessica M. Macmurray
Fodor's Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major
League Ballparks Across America
by Bruce Adams
America's Ballparks
by Kenneth Hogan
Ballparks of North America: A Comprehensive Historical Reference to Baseball
Grounds, Yards and Stadiums, 1845 to Present
by Michael Benson
Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
by Curt Smith
Click on titles for more info
Philadelphia's Old Ballparks (Baseball in America)
Rich Westcott
Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present
by Josh Leventhal, Jessica M. Macmurray
Fodor's Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major
League Ballparks Across America
by Bruce Adams
America's Ballparks
by Kenneth Hogan
Ballparks of North America: A Comprehensive Historical Reference to Baseball
Grounds, Yards and Stadiums, 1845 to Present
by Michael Benson
Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
by Curt Smith
| Home Page - Table of Contents - Feedback © mmv ballparktour.com |
Tenants: Philadelphia Phillies (NL 1971-2003); Philadelphia Eagles (NFL 1971-2003); Also Temple University
Football
Groundbreaking: October 2, 1967
First National League game: April 10, 1971
First NFL game: August 26, 1971
Last NFL game: January 19, 2003
Last National League game: September 28, 2003
Demolished by implosion: March 21, 2004
Surface: Astroturf (1971-2000); Nexturf (2001-2004)
Capacity: 56,371 (Baseball-1971); 62,382 (baseball-final); 65,356 (football-final)
Architect: Hugh Stubbins & Associates
Builder: McCloskey & Co.
Owner: City of Philadelphia
Cost: $49.5 million
Nickname: the Vet
Dimensions:
Foul lines: 330 ft. (1971)
Power alleys: 371 ft. (1971)
Center field: 408 ft. (1971)
Height of Fences: 6 ft. (April, 1972); 8 ft. (June, 1971); 12 ft. (1972).
Hosted All-Star Game: 1976, 1996
Hosted World Series: 1980, 1983, 1993
Hosted Army-Navy game: 1980, '81, '82, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '90, '91, '92, '94, '95, '96, '98, '99, 2001
Football
Groundbreaking: October 2, 1967
First National League game: April 10, 1971
First NFL game: August 26, 1971
Last NFL game: January 19, 2003
Last National League game: September 28, 2003
Demolished by implosion: March 21, 2004
Surface: Astroturf (1971-2000); Nexturf (2001-2004)
Capacity: 56,371 (Baseball-1971); 62,382 (baseball-final); 65,356 (football-final)
Architect: Hugh Stubbins & Associates
Builder: McCloskey & Co.
Owner: City of Philadelphia
Cost: $49.5 million
Nickname: the Vet
Dimensions:
Foul lines: 330 ft. (1971)
Power alleys: 371 ft. (1971)
Center field: 408 ft. (1971)
Height of Fences: 6 ft. (April, 1972); 8 ft. (June, 1971); 12 ft. (1972).
Hosted All-Star Game: 1976, 1996
Hosted World Series: 1980, 1983, 1993
Hosted Army-Navy game: 1980, '81, '82, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '90, '91, '92, '94, '95, '96, '98, '99, 2001
| -- ------------------------------------------ -- • Notes, facts & features • The park’s rounded rectangular shape is called an octorad by the architects. Connie Mack Stadium’s home plate was transplanted here. The Vet was unfinished when it opened. A plastic tarp covered unfinished right-field wall in 1971. "Liberty Bell" used to hang from center-field roof on fourth level - hit by Greg Luzinski on May 16, 1972. Statue outside the stadium of Connie Mack was brought to Citizens Bank Park. July 7, 1976 In the first All-star game at the Vet, five Phillies lead the National League to a 7-1 victory. Oct. 21, 1980 Phils win their only World Series championship as Tug McGraw saves the day in game 6 against the Royals. Jan. 11, 1981 Eagles beat Cowboys, 20-7, at the Vet to advance to the Super Bowl, where they lose to Oakland. April 29, 1981 Steve Carlton strikes out his 3,000th batter in a game against the Expos at the Vet. Oct. 8, 1983 The Phils beat the Dodgers at the Vet to advance to the World Series. The Orioles later beat the Phillies in five games. Oct. 13, 1993 The Phillies beat Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, to reach their 5th World Series. The Phils lose to Toronto in 6 games in the Fall Classic. July 9, 1996 In the second All-Star game at the Vet, Norristown native Mike Piazza leads the National League to a 6-0 win. Nov. 1997 During a 24-12 loss to the 49ers, fan shoots flare gun into empty seats at the Vet. Later, a courtroom is set up in the stadium to deal with rowdy fans. Jan. 19, 2003 The Eagles play their last game at the Vet, losing the NFC title game to Tampa Bay. April 27, 2003 The Phillies' Kevin Millwood throws a 1-0 no-hitter against the Giants at the Vet. -- ------------------------------------- -- |
Philadelphia's tri-complex (left) consisted of Municipal (J.F.K.) Stadium, The Spectrum, and Veterans Stadium. The
Vet's baseball dimensions (right) never changed, from its opening in 1971 until it's last game in 2003.
Vet's baseball dimensions (right) never changed, from its opening in 1971 until it's last game in 2003.
As early as 1953, city officials plus the Phillies and Eagles began discussions for a new multi-purpose sports
stadium. After years of disagreements over the site, size, design, funding and name, the ground-breaking
ceremonies were finally held on October 2, 1967.
Veterans Stadium was at long last finished in 1971. Built on a 74-acre site that was formerly marsh land, the park
was made in the shape of an octorad, an architect's work that comes from the Latin words for eight and radius or
eight points on a radius. The multi-colored, multi-purpose stadium, the largest in the National League, was
completed at a final cost of about $52 million. Seating capacity for the baseball field was originally 56,371.
stadium. After years of disagreements over the site, size, design, funding and name, the ground-breaking
ceremonies were finally held on October 2, 1967.
Veterans Stadium was at long last finished in 1971. Built on a 74-acre site that was formerly marsh land, the park
was made in the shape of an octorad, an architect's work that comes from the Latin words for eight and radius or
eight points on a radius. The multi-colored, multi-purpose stadium, the largest in the National League, was
completed at a final cost of about $52 million. Seating capacity for the baseball field was originally 56,371.
| -- ------------------------------------------------------- -- |
On April 10, 1971, the largest baseball crowd at the time in the history of Pennsylvania, 55,352, packed the
stadium despite temperatures in the low 40s for the first game. Jim Bunning was the starting pitcher for the
Phillies and Montreal's Boots Day sent a grounder back to the mound on the very first pitch. Bunning threw to
first baseman Deron Johnson to record the stadium's first out. The Phillies went on to win, 4-1. Larry Bowa got
the park's first hit, a single.
The stadium turned out to be a good omen for the Phillies as they entered the most successful era in club
history. Three straight division titles were won starting in 1976. Pete Rose and Manny Trillo joined the club and
big expectations were in order for 1979. But, the club fell to fourth. With Dallas Green at the helm, the Phillies
made 1980 their greatest year in the 98-year history of the club. When Tug McGraw struck out Kansas City's
Willie Wilson to end the World Series, it was as though all the ghosts of the Phillies past had finally been
exorcised.
Throughout the 31-year history of the stadium, the stadium changed physically. Scoreboards in left-center and
right-center were removed to add more seating; a home run spectacular, mounted on the fourth level facade in
center field, which featured the Colonial-dressed Philadelphia Phil and Phyllis, departed, as did the dancing
waters beyond the center field wall; an electronic scoreboard and video board were added; more Super Boxes
were built and Sky Boxes were constructed at the top of the stadium for the Eagles.
stadium despite temperatures in the low 40s for the first game. Jim Bunning was the starting pitcher for the
Phillies and Montreal's Boots Day sent a grounder back to the mound on the very first pitch. Bunning threw to
first baseman Deron Johnson to record the stadium's first out. The Phillies went on to win, 4-1. Larry Bowa got
the park's first hit, a single.
The stadium turned out to be a good omen for the Phillies as they entered the most successful era in club
history. Three straight division titles were won starting in 1976. Pete Rose and Manny Trillo joined the club and
big expectations were in order for 1979. But, the club fell to fourth. With Dallas Green at the helm, the Phillies
made 1980 their greatest year in the 98-year history of the club. When Tug McGraw struck out Kansas City's
Willie Wilson to end the World Series, it was as though all the ghosts of the Phillies past had finally been
exorcised.
Throughout the 31-year history of the stadium, the stadium changed physically. Scoreboards in left-center and
right-center were removed to add more seating; a home run spectacular, mounted on the fourth level facade in
center field, which featured the Colonial-dressed Philadelphia Phil and Phyllis, departed, as did the dancing
waters beyond the center field wall; an electronic scoreboard and video board were added; more Super Boxes
were built and Sky Boxes were constructed at the top of the stadium for the Eagles.
In its last decade, the Phillies and the City of Philadelphia spent more than $40 million to make sure the stadium
continued to be a first-class facility. The earth-tone colored seats were phased out and replaced by all blue
seats. A state-of-the-art video board replaced the old Phanavision in center field and, prior to the 2001 season,
a new synthetic grass surface, Nexturf, was installed. From hosting summer block parties on the concourse
level to two All-Star Games (1976, 1996) to three World Series appearances (1980, 1983 and 1993), Veterans
Stadium was the home of some of the greatest moments in Phillies history...
...and then, Citizens Bank Park.
continued to be a first-class facility. The earth-tone colored seats were phased out and replaced by all blue
seats. A state-of-the-art video board replaced the old Phanavision in center field and, prior to the 2001 season,
a new synthetic grass surface, Nexturf, was installed. From hosting summer block parties on the concourse
level to two All-Star Games (1976, 1996) to three World Series appearances (1980, 1983 and 1993), Veterans
Stadium was the home of some of the greatest moments in Phillies history...
...and then, Citizens Bank Park.
| -- ------------------------------------------------------- -- |
In May of 1979, the Philadelphia Phillies announced
they would wear all-burgundy uniforms for their
Saturday home games. They first took the field in
the brightly colored outfits in a game against
Montreal on May 19. Staked to a 4-0 lead after
four innings, starting pitcher Larry Christenson
(left) collapsed in the fifth and the Phillies
eventually lost to the Expos, 10-5. The uniforms
were never worn again.
they would wear all-burgundy uniforms for their
Saturday home games. They first took the field in
the brightly colored outfits in a game against
Montreal on May 19. Staked to a 4-0 lead after
four innings, starting pitcher Larry Christenson
(left) collapsed in the fifth and the Phillies
eventually lost to the Expos, 10-5. The uniforms
were never worn again.
| -- ------------------------------------------------------- -- |
| The Last Phillies game at The Vet - September 28, 2003 |
| -- ------------------------------------------------------- -- |
Demolition work progressed through the winter of 2003-04. On March 21, 2004, what was left of the Vet was
brought down by several hundred pounds of strategically placed dynamite charges, bringing cheers and tears
from hundreds who gathered to watch the early morning event.
brought down by several hundred pounds of strategically placed dynamite charges, bringing cheers and tears
from hundreds who gathered to watch the early morning event.
