
20 Years Ago They Took the Vet From Us
20 years ago we lost Veterans Stadium. Pour one out today for a real one:
The Vet was imploded 20 years ago.
Who still has a brick? pic.twitter.com/bpQZcBrgOv
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) March 21, 2024
Love the guy with the giant “FUCKKK YOUUUU!” as the Vet meets its demise. A perfect send off.
Whether you had tickets behind the plate, at the 50 yard line, or grew up in the 700 level, the Vet has a special place in your heart. The turf ruined more playing careers than a Kardashian. There were rats the size of a football and cats for the rats. It could be the most beautiful day out and there would still always be some random puddle of liquid that formed on the concourse that you could never tell where it came from. It was a shithole, but it was our shithole. The inmates ran the asylum. Imagine if they banned Dollar Dog Night cause some people were throwing dogs back then. It would’ve never happened because it would’ve been the least of their problems. I sometimes regret I wasn’t born a decade earlier to experience it more. So much history and somehow only one championship during its reign.
Here are some of my favorite memories outside of games and a championship.
The Angel of Death, Coach Delco-O, and NEXTEL Dad getting in a fight during the Eagles preseason:
If you’re wondering what going to an Eagles preseason game at The Vet was like, just watch this video. Grown men in Mike Mamula jerseys throwing haymakers while Dan Baker calmly reads the down and distance over the PA. pic.twitter.com/HD3TpJ3Nnp
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) June 10, 2022
“Bobby Hoying can be a franchise quarterback!”
1999 Bonner vs. the Prep Slugfest
For no reason at all, here’s a breakdown of the 1999 700 Level fight between Bonner and The Prep, at Phillies Opening Day, which was a topic of conversation for weeks on the news for some reason. pic.twitter.com/27QoUMlsyV
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) September 22, 2023
The way these dudes roll down the seats will never not make me laugh. Also how about the elite journalism from the reporter asking two olds from Ocean City, Maryland if they were scared to come to Philly after a couple 18 year olds fought in the stands earlier in the week. They don’t teach that in Big J school.
Two Eagles fans going tops off in -17 degrees:
“It’s -30 in Kansas City!”
Eagles fans at the 1980 NFC Championship game in -17 degrees pic.twitter.com/HvPridI5cp
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) January 14, 2024
The blackberry brandy and cutoff shorts are beautiful. The 1980 NFC Championship and these guys remove the tarps in -17 degree weather. Two legends of their time. Kevin actually interviewed the daughter of the guy in the white cutoff shorts.
Last tailgate at The Vet:
Kill an hour before March Madness starts and relive what tailgating was like two decades ago. Who even knows what happened at the game that day.
Softballers brawl at the Vet (age restricted) –
Why did every guy in their 20s look like they were 50 in the 80s?
I love #5 going in for the sleeper hold:
Then here come the billy clubs and all of a sudden he’s the peacemaker:
I didn’t do nothin’!
The Wolf Pack, Burrell’s Girls, Padilla Flotilla, Person’s People, the Duck Pond and more. All bring back great Vet memories. What a time to be alive. Now we have entire entertainment districts being built:
Philadelphia Phillies to Partner with Comcast Spectacor on Development Plans for South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Release: https://t.co/L3zm9aiY4b pic.twitter.com/WZrKjqL93I
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 21, 2024
A lot can change in 20 years.