Ballparks - # 19 - Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

12 August 2003

Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia (12 August 2003)

In 2003, Beck’s sister Reneé traveled from Wisconsin with her two sons for a summer vacation visit. We did a day trip to Philadelphia. Saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and ended the day at Veterans Stadium for a game, coincidentally against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. We took seats in the left field bleachers. I did not realize at the time that the Vet was in its last days. In March 2004, Citizens Bank Park became the new Phillies’ home and the Vet was demolished. Here’s a video of the event. I do love watching these controlled implosions.

South Philadelphia Sports Complex, 1971

(From Google Images)

When Veterans Stadium opened, the South Philadelphia Sports Complex looked very different. Seen from above, the Vet (1971-2004) is big and round on the lower right. On the upper left is John F. Kennedy Field (formerly Municipal Stadium; 1926-1992). The football, track and concert venue is now the site of the Wells Fargo Center. In between is the Spectrum (1967-2010) where the Flyers hockey and 76-ers basketball teams played.

Since the stadium was built and run by the city, it was named in a non-commercial, patriotic way. This was before we realized we could make a few million by selling naming rights to some corporation.

Attached to the stadium was a plaque that has since been relocated next to the new ballpark. It reads:

PHILADELPHIA VETERANS STADIUM

April 4, 1971

Dedicated to those brave men and women of

Philadelphia who served in defense of their country

Bleacher View, Veterans Stadium, (12 August 2003)

Vets was the quintessential ‘70’s clean, symmetrical, cookie-cut, plastic playpen. Phillies in the summer. Eagles in the winter. Real grass means mud in a rainy football game and we don’t want that. We want those uniform colors to be there in the second half so the TV audience can tell the players apart. Sorry that plastic grass injures the players more but hey, we pay them a lot.

What they got was considered the worst playing surface in professional sport. The only dirt on the infield was a sliding pit around each base. The rug was replaced six times and never was right. Some called it the “Field of Seams.” When the baseball and football seasons overlapped, the gridiron markings were seen at ballgames.

Veterans Stadium (12 August 2003)

Upper deck seating all around meant that over 65,000 could attend football games and baseball fans needed binoculars to see anything. The top catwalk had a large Liberty Bell sign that lit up at night. It was saved from demolition and now resides outside one of the entrances at Citizens Bank Park.

Sadly, apart from some memorable events like the team’s first World Series win there in 1980, the Vet had too many negative memories. There were the Eagles fans who were so rowdy, a jail cell and presiding judge were installed on site. As the venue deteriorated, there was a hole that allowed visiting teams to peep through to the cheerleaders dressing room. The mice infestation was so bad, a team of cats was deployed. Finally, during the 1998 Army-Navy game, a railing gave way and eight cadets were injured. That was the last straw and prompted the movement to replace the stadium.

Veterans Stadium (12 August 2003)

The view from our bleacher seats toward the ones in right field. The visiting team had a bad year but managed to win this game 6-3. The date at the top will take you to the box score if you want more details. The one notable player on the field that day was the Phillie first baseman, Jim Thome. He went on to lead the National League with 47 home runs and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Ballparks - # 18 - Citizen’s Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

May 21, 2021

Citizens Bank Park (21 May 2021)

Preserved here is the second Liberty Bell symbol from Veterans

Stadium. It sat on the top catwalk beyond center field

from 1983 until it was saved before the

old park was demolished after the 2003 season.

I was heading home from New York after a family visit and less-than-fulfilling attempt to pay my respects to Chief Justice # 1 – John Jay (stay tuned). It just so happens that Philadelphia is on the way and the Phillies now play in a stadium I had not visited…and they were playing at home that night.

We at ‘Images and More’ are still chasing new photo opportunities and story fodder. It’s not all about distant memories, decades-old shots and Wiki links. Some Quests are still ongoing.

The National League Phillies are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in American professional sports. Founded here in 1883, the team followed a common practice of naming the team after their city. They soon realized that “Philadelphians” was a mouthful and too cumbersome for newspaper headlines so the shortened nickname took hold.

The team has won the World Series twice. The first title came in 1980 when they played at the Vet. The second one happened in their new digs in 2008.

Citizens Bank Park and Mike Schmidt Statue (21 May 2021)

Around the stadium, figures of Phillie greats abound.

There are pitchers Steve Carlton and Robin Roberts

and this slugging Hall of Fame third baseman.

In the 1990’s, the pro sports powers put the moves on the State of Pennsylvania. The NFL Eagles and Baseball Phillies were tired of Veterans Stadium, its outdated functionality and its plastic grass. The Pittsburgh Steelers and baseball Pirates also wanted to dump the equally plastic and boring Three Rivers Stadium. Eventually, four stadia were built and the baseball and football teams each had their playgrounds.

Lincoln Financial Field, Home of the Philadelphia Eagles

(21 May 2021)

While I like the time to circumnavigate the property looking for images, there were few. The area, away from downtown, was once a vast expanse of commercial land and warehouses that some brilliant planner decided should be the home of ALL the town’s pro sports venues. Surrounded by enough land to park your ample are the homes of the football Eagles, basketball 76-ers, hockey Flyers and baseball’s Phillies…all in the same place.

As we emerge from the COVID plague restrictions, the stadium permitted less than 50% capacity this night and the only ticket I could get on game day was for standing room - $22. When I started going to games in Yankee Stadium, you could get an actual seat for under $2.00…but that was way back in the last century. On the other hand, standing room is just the thing for this quasi-journalist on the prowl. I’m a ramblin’ man…always on the go...looking for images to capture.

Ashburn Alley, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (21 May 2021)

Like all new stadia, Citizen Bank Park concourses are packed with purchasing options. Food, drinks, souvenirs and more room to wander. The stadium may have 42,000 seats, but the new business model is more accommodating to standing room-only patrons. Another advantage of standing room tix – you’re not stuck sitting next to some obnoxious butthead all game. You’re free to wander off and belly up to a rail ledge behind the last row of seats to watch the action from another angle.

I had to believe this place followed the Camden Yards model a little too closely. The O’s concourse offers ‘Boog’s BBQ,’ run by Boog Powell, our slugging first baseman of yore. Here you can chow down at ‘Bull’s BBQ’ named for Greg ‘The Bull’ Luzinski, the Phillie slugger from the ‘70’s.

Toyota Phillie Hall of Fame Wall, Citizens Bank Park (21 May 2021)

Most modern parks have some kind of space dedicated to former star players. This one includes large versions of the team’s two World Series trophies. Fans often pose for souvenir pictures with them.

As I wandered among the seatless, the mood improved by the setting sun, cooling temps and one of those expensive beverages available to adults beyond a certain age. On four occasions, I struck up a chat with whoever was next to me. An example would be, “Hi there. Excuse me but this is my first time here and was just wondering. Do home runs carry this far?” Three of those times, the response was, “I don’t know. This is my first time, too.” It was easy to keep chatting after that.

U.S. Air Force Drill Team, Citizens Bank Park (21 May 2021)

The night’s program was about honoring the military. The U.S. Air Force Drill Team showed their precision skills twirling and tossing their bayonetted rifles and the USAF Honor Guard presented The Colors.

This was one of those interesting Interleague match-ups with the American League Red Sox in town. Given the long ride home to Maryland, I left as the light faded in the middle of the game. The visitors scored first and never let up, winning 11-3. The date at the top will take you to Baseball-Reference.com’s great web site where you can check out the box score. It’s not like I can wax nostalgic as I do on old parks and long-ago games where future Hall of Famers might have played. Give it another decade or two.

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (21 May 2021)

This ballpark is appreciated for its superior sightlines. The

concourses have good views of the field and the stadium

position gives fans a nice look at the downtown skyline

as well as colorful sunsets…when Mother Nature cooperates.

Citizens Phan Field (21 May 2021)

Tucked behind the right field grand stand is a miniature field where fans can take the plate and swat wiffle balls toward the downtown skyline…for a price, I assume.

The Hardest-Working Usher Here (21 May 2021)

The limited attendees are already in their seats elsewhere and the patrons come and go as hunger, thirst and other needs dictate…except behind home plate. This poor woman had to control the traffic up and down the isle based on whether the pitcher was throwing. Seems silly, since fans behind the plate could try to distract the opposing pitcher…like basketball fans do when the opponent shoots free throws. Thing is, they don’t do that, and besides, if the pitcher can’t concentrate on the batter and strike zone unless the stadium is calm, he’s in the wrong game. Play golf instead.

I am sorry I didn’t stay long enough to see the Philly Phanatic…one of the great mascots.

The Philly theme will continue when I post Veteran’s Stadium next…another place you newbie stadium collectors can only visit in your dreams. BWA-ha-ha-ha.

On Rubbed Statues

Brigham Young’s Index Finger,

Utah Capitol, Salt Lake City (20 June 2014)

As you have observed over the years, I’ve seen more monuments and memorials than the average bear. Unlike marble and granite, there is this thing about bronze statues…and what happens when we humans decide to direct our attention to a specific part of a sculpture. When we were inside the Utah capitol recently, I noted that we were going to address this phenomenon.

Statue-rubbing is one of those quirky habits of our superstitious species. Google the phrase and you’ll get millions of hits. It seems we just can’t help but touch some part of a statue because it may grant a wish or bring us luck. Abe Lincoln, our greatest president, has had his likeness made so many times and the poor guy’s nose always gets the treatment.

Bust of Abraham Lincoln by Gutzon Borglum [1908]

City College of New York (8 May 2015)

Nervous CCNY students…I certainly was when I almost flunked out of there, have been rubbing Lincoln’s nose for a long time. The original marble work by Gutzon Borglum, known for many notable works including Mt. Rushmore, resides in the Crypt of our capitol in Washington. At the time this bronze cast was acquired by the school, only two others existed. One is in the White House and the other is at Lincoln’s burial site in Springfield, Illinois. There is a shot of that bust, also similarly abused, in my 2012 presentation of Lincoln’s grave.

If it’s not the nose that gets rubbed, it’s some other protruding part. A young martyr who died during the upheavals in France in 1870 is buried under a prone likeness of his murdered self. The lump in his pants and his lips have been fondled to a bright sheen by the women of Paris, wishing for marriage, fertility or just good sex.

Statue of Molly Malone, Dublin (19 February 2011)

Molly Malone, a fictional Irish fishmonger, is memorialized on the streets of Dublin and, for some reason, has not drawn tactile attention to her hands or nose or the fish in the basket. I can’t imagine why.

One of the primo destinations in Prague is the Charles Bridge. It’s been straddling the Vltava River since 1357 and is known for the thirty statues that decorate its railings. The only bronze statue was the first to be installed there in 1683. It commemorates St. John Nepomuk who was thrown off the bridge by the king because he would not reveal what the queen said during her confessions.

   

Details of the John of Nepomuk Memorial, Charles Bridge, Prague (22 December 2009)

Beneath the figure of the martyred saint are two relief plaques. The best I can tell is that tour guides encourage people to rub the one on the right…the falling man to ensure you return to Prague, and the queen for granting your wish. The left panel, which shows the confessional scene, has a guard with a dog and the dog has drawn just as much attention because he is cute…or there are too many people crowding the queen and visitors just have to rub something.

FDR Memorial, Washington, D.C. (10 April 2014)

It’s not just human parts we can’t leave alone. Here at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, there is a display that depicts FDR late in life…seated, looking weary under his cape. At his feet is his beloved Scottie terrier, Fala. While the president’s index finger gets the tourist treatment, so does the dog’s nose and ears.

Bev, The Fat Policeman and Becky,

Budapest (5 April 2017)

In front of St. Steven’s Basilica in Budapest stands the Fat Policeman. The artist modeled the statue on his grandfather who was a cop and wore his ceremonial outfit on special occasions. It’s obvious where tourists’ good luck wishes are directed.

Charging Bull by Arturo Di Modica, [1989]

New York City (25 March 2008)

One of the popular attractions in lower Manhattan, it’s difficult to get a picture of the ‘Charging Bull’ without some tourist in front of it. Encouraged by local tour guides, three parts of the bull are rubbed for good luck. It being the symbol of aggressive financial optimism, we’re told the horns, nose (it’s always the nose) and testicles need to be acknowledged. I have a picture of niece Katie and her cousin Bella at the other end of the beast but Images and More is a decent, family blog and there’ll be none of that here.