BallparkTour - Former ballparks of Philadelphia

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Citizens Bank Park - Shibe Park & Baker Bowl

• Former Philadelphia ballparks - Page 2 •
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Veterans Stadium

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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

Veterans Stadium's dimensions remained the same from it's opening in 1971, until the Phillies last game in 2003

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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The Last Phillies game at The Vet - September 28, 2003

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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.

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• 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.

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