Veterans Stadium

Veterans Stadium. . , The Phillies played at Veterans Stadium, 1971 - 2003. They reached the post-season seven times and won the National League Pennants (1980, 1983, 1993). The Phillies' greatest moment was winning the world Series over the Kansas City Royals, October 21, 1980, before 65,838 delirious fans at the Vet. Twice, the Phillies hosted the All-Star Game, 1976 and 1996, with the National League winning both games., Following the last out of the 2003 season, the Phillies closed Veterans Stadium with an emotional Closing Ceremony that featured a parade of alumni and the 2003 team. Tug McGraw, who got the final out in the 1980 World Series win, threw the simulated last patch. The date was September 28, 11,859 days after the first game, April 10, 1971., Hundreds of youth from the area played at Veterans Stadium through numerous baseball programs, including the Carpenter Cup for high school players, Liberty Bell Classic and Bill Giles Cup for colleges and Philadelphia Recreation Department Games. The Home Run Derby championships were held there annually., Joe Brown, a South Philadelphia native and Temple University graduate was a member of the Philadelphia Art Commission and a professor and sculptor at Princeton University. He was selected by the Art Commission in 1970 to produce four statues that graced Veterans Stadium from 1976 through 2003. The Phillies removed these statues prior to the demolition of the Vet, then restored and relocated them in March 2005 as a lasting tribute to Brown (1909-1985).