Bill's Journal Entry #27

Veterans Stadium

Date: September 6, 2002

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Opponent: New York Mets

Travel companion: none

Link to my photos

Game Result: This was my first trip to "The Vet", but it was the Phillies who got neutered. Jeromy Burnitz hit a three-run homer in the sixth, and Al Leiter pitched seven solid innings and singled in a run, leading the Mets to a 7-2 win.

Stadium Summary: Arriving at Veterans Stadium, I knew that the Vet was yet another of the "cookie-cutter" stadiums built in the '70s. I knew that the Phillies are in the process of building a new stadium. I knew that in the past couple years, there had been several incidents of severe problems with the turf-particularly for the NFL's Eagles. And because of all this, I was concerned that it would look like a stadium that had been given up on years ago, similar to Cincinnati's Cinergy Field. So once inside the park, I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

Although it is far from ideal for baseball, Veterans Stadium is a sharp, clean, well-kept park. With its sea of blue seats, it looks far more like Comiskey than its cookie-cutter siblings. There appear to be no obstructed views, although, like many stadiums, a large number of seats face the outfield. The concourses, being all concrete, lack atmosphere, but they're better lit than in most similar parks. The turf is, well, turf, complete with sliding pits, but supposedly it's a vast improvement over what used to be there a couple years ago. There seemed to be disagreement within the grounds crew on what color the dirt should be, as the warning track was red, the sliding pits were tan, and the pitching mound was pink.

Outside, both the stadium and the immediate area are very non-descript. The Vet has a few statues surrounding it, but most are non-specific sculptures of baseball and football players in action. The one exception is the statue of Connie Mack, greeting visitors as they exit the SEPTA subway station.

I will be glad to see the Phillies' new park when it opens in 2004, but this is definitely the sharpest of the stadiums currently slated for retirement.

Best way to spend a Philadelphia afternoon before a game: Independence Hall. There's nothing like a little national history to remind you why you're able to have the freedom to spend a summer touring baseball parks. Admission is free, but you do need tickets, available (if you're early enough) in a museum building just north of the park, across the street. While in the building, be sure to check out the forefather of the Declaration of Independence-The Magna Carta. Within the park itself are Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and much, much more!

Most dizzying artwork on the walls surrounding the field: The tarp covers and field walls are painted with square grids, with the individual squares filled with a variety of nearly-neon colors. It's not a bad look, but I'm surprised they can do it without triggering seizures among some fans.

Best concession food named after its hometown: Phillie cheesesteaks are great anywhere, but they're definitely best in Phillie, at a sporting event. Everyone who visits should have at least one. Visitors should be required to present a receipt proving that they had one before boarding a plane or train leaving town. They're that good.

Best mascot: This isn't even close. There's a reason why there's a full-sized version of the Phillie Phanatic in the Hall of Fame. Most mascots just walk around, and do little more than shake hands with the fans. Not the Phanatic. He's too busy dancing to the music, putting hexes on the opponents, and mocking the umpires. And he refuses to let you have your picture taken with him if you have your baseball hat on straight-Before posing, he will take your cap off your head and put it on you sideways, as he did with me. Too many designers of new mascots in the Majors concentrated on what the mascot looks like. The Phanatic proves that it's what the mascot acts like that matters.

Ball #6: Yes, I got another batting practice baseball-and this was by far the easiest to get. After spending all of batting practice by the field, I went to my seat, which was already 'down' when I reached it. A couple minutes after sitting down, I felt my foot bump something. I looked under the seat, and found a baseball-most likely hit into the seats during batting practice before the gates opened, and hidden from view by the seat. At previous games, I had gotten a ball for myself, and for each of my nieces, so I decided to give this one away. A few minutes later, the seats next to me were occupied by Chad and Trey, young brothers attending their first ever baseball game with their parents, and having a blast. I gave the ball to them, with two conditions-they get their picture taken with me for my journal, and they needed to promise that, when they get to be old geezers like me, if they ever get a ball, they have to give it to a kid.

Most suspect stadium schedule: The sign at the construction site of the new yet-to-be-named Phillies stadium indicated that 2004's opening day was merely 580 days away. If they can have the stadium built by then, more power to them, but I'd be concerned, seeing that all they appeared to have so far was three girders and a hole in the ground. And talk about a heavy stadium concentration ... within a couple blocks are the Vet, the Spectrum, the new Phillies stadium site, the new Eagles stadium (opening 2003, and much further along than the Phillies park), and the First Union Center, home of the 76ers and Fliers. That's five stadiums, for only four teams!

Most poorly worded sign in a hotel elevator: At the Hotel Windsor:  "Swimming pool location 23rd floor 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m." Where is it located after that? Do they fold it up and put it in a 19th floor closet?

Stadium grade: C-  The best of the parks that are going, and better than many that are staying.

Overall grade of my experience at the game: B-  Getting another ball, seeing Chad and Trey enjoy the game, and getting accosted by the Phanatic ... definitely a good night!

-- Bill Verkuilen  biggbill@hotmail.com 

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