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Pat the Stat
Patrick "Pat the Stat" Gordon is one of our trusty
statisticians/observers. He is not to be confused with Phillies slugger Pat "The
Bat" Burrell. "Stat" is a 2000 North Catholic grad now studying journalism
at Temple. He will report on occasional Falcons' games and maybe some others as well. He
promises to provide balanced reports. |
(Note from Ted: While reading Pat's story, I figured it might be
fitting to post a story about a high
school baseball player's exploits at The
Vet. Simply incredible. Look BELOW Pat's story/list).
Gone, But Not Forgotten
By Patrick Gordon
As a 21-year-old, Veterans Stadium is the only place I’ve seen
the
Phillies and Eagles play. During the summer months it became my second
home, allowing me to relax during an 85-degree day and enjoy our
national pastime. Each Saturday during the fall, although it was a
struggle, I enjoyed watching my Temple Owls in a relatively empty
stadium. And who can forget the first Eagles game they attended in the
infamous 700-level?
I have no problem in admitting that I shed some tears once the stadium
began to fall. It was where I grew up, watching players like Von Hayes,
Steve Jeltz, Lenny Dykstra and Randy Ready. Sure some of the teams and
players were horrible, but it didn’t matter. Once I saw the turf under
the lights and the colored seats I knew I would have fun, regardless of
the score. Of course it was a dump, but it was our dump, a place where
memories were born. I think I speak on behalf of many Philadelphians’
when I say RIP Veterans Stadium, thanks for the memories.
What follows below is what I deem to be the 10 most memorable moments in
Veterans Stadium history.
10) July 7, 1976: Five Phillies lead the National League to a 7-1
victory in the first All Star game played at the Vet.
9) December 10, 1989: Eagles fans, including Ed Rendell, pelt Cowboys
head coach Jimmy Johnson with snowballs after a 20-10 victory.
8) January 19, 2003: The Eagles loose to the Buccaneers in the NFC
Championship game, a game where they were heavily favored to win. It
was the Eagles final game at the Vet.
7) August 15, 1990: Terry Mulholland pitches the first no-hitter in Vet
history.
6) July 9, 1996: Norristown native Mike Piazza wins the MVP as the Vet
hosts its second All Star game, a 6-0 National League victory.
5) April 29, 1981: Steve Carlton strikes out his 3,000th batter against
the Expos.
4) September 27, 2003: The Phillies lose to the Braves in the final
game in Vet history and host a post-game celebration that won’t soon be
forgotten.
3) October 13, 1993: The Philles defeat the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, and
reach the World Series for just the fifth time in team history.
2) January 11, 1981: Wilbert Montgomery and the Eagles defeat the
Cowboys, 20-7, and advance to the Super Bowl.
1) October 21, 1980: Tug McGraw records the final out as the Phillies
win their lone World Series in team history.
BOMBS AWAY
A BLASTING IMPRESSION
JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL STAR RIPS 2 HRS OVER 400 FEET AT VET
Jun 16, 1994
by Ted Silary, Daily News Sports Writer
Marc Fink lives in Jackson Township, N.J., not far from the Great Adventure
amusement park.
Well, Fink could go partake of roller coasters and water flumes and safaris
for the next 50 years and never have an adventure as great as the one he had yesterday at
Veterans Stadium.
It wasn't enough that Fink, a senior at Jackson Memorial High and a
14th-round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the recent amateur draft, blasted a pair
of three-run homers to help Ocean-Monmouth thrash the Public League, 18-2, in the first
round of the Carpenter Cup tournament for high school stars.
Nor was it enough that the 6-3, 200-pound first baseman hit both homers in
the first inning.
This was enough: Bomb No. 1 by the lefthanded swinger reached the 500 level
in dead rightfield. Bomb No. 2 reached the seats in dead centerfield.
Based on information concerning the balls' trajectories and landing points,
Phillies publicist Larry Shenk and his assistant, Jay
McLaughlin, figured that the homers traveled 425 and 436 feet, respectively.
"The first one was shorter?" Fink asked, incredulously.
Only seven times have major leaguers smashed upper-deck homers to rightfield
in the Vet's 24-season history. Fink 's contribution to stadium lore, which came on a
first-pitch fastball and was the first upper-deck homer in the Carpenter Cup's nine years,
clanged off a seat in section 502, just to the right of the middle of the second row.
Close to where the ball hit, on the cement above an exit in section 601, is a
gold and white star with an "S" in the middle. It commemorates the monstrous
homer hit by Pittsburgh's Willie Stargell off Phillies righthander Jim Bunning in 1971.
"Before the game, I was saying to a couple guys that I was going to hit
that star," Fink said.
"I was only joking around," he quickly added.
Fink's second homer, which came on a two-strike curveball, landed in
the first row of section 268, right above the top of the black backdrop. The ball sailed
over the fence roughly five feet to the right of the 408-foot sign.
Like virtually every amateur hitter, Fink used an aluminum bat.
The victim both times was no lollipop thrower. It was Northeast righthander
Justin Ertel, a first-team Daily News All-City selection.
"I have to commend the guy," Ertel said. "When a guy hits two
balls like that off you, you have to appreciate that the guy can flat-out hit. Obviously,
you don't want them hit against you, but . . . I guess I threw meat to him twice."
Fink looked at the first one, but not the second.
"I knew it was gone," he said of the first. "I really don't
like to show up a pitcher, but when you're at the Vet, you have to watch it. It may be the
last time you ever do that."
Fink was Ocean-Monmouth's No. 3 hitter. As he watched his teammates continue
to hammer the ball and bat around, he was told by one of them, "Get in the weight
room, so you can hit one farther next time."
In his second at-bat, Fink looked bad on a curveball.
"I transferred all my weight to my front foot and was way off
balance," he said. "I had the feeling that he might come back with the same
pitch again. I tried to keep my hands back, even if I did transfer my weight again. I just
tried to hit it up the middle."
"You did," someone deadpanned.
"I didn't look," Fink continued. "I didn't think it was going
to be a homer. Then I heard people cheering and saw the umpire going like this (circular
motion) with his finger. I was very surprised. I didn't choke up because I wanted to hit
the ball hard. I never dreamed it would get out of here."
Fink this season set a Shore Conference record with 14 homers. He finished
his career with 27.
When Fink was asked whether he thought he'd ever hit a homer as long as
either of yesterday's, he said sheepishly, "Yeah."
Speaking up almost simultaneously was someone who had watched Fink 's high
school team, Jackson Memorial, on a regular basis.
"Only about 10 of them," the guy said.
When Fink reached the dugout after his second home run, one of his teammates
said to him, "Next time, could you try hitting one to leftfield?"
Fink had two more at-bats. He smoked a single to right, then drove a ball to
deep left-center. Olney centerfielder Jose Caraballo made the catch about 10 feet in front
of the warning track. Thus, Fink finished 3-for-4 with six RBI.
Fink said that he and his parents, Michael and Mary, have had only
preliminary contract discussions with the Brewers. Marc has not made a college commitment,
but he has received interest from Oklahoma State, Florida and Clemson. Chipola Junior
College, in Florida, also is a possibility.
"If my parents feel (pro ball) is the right opportunity, I'll go for
it," Fink said.
For Ertel , the experience initially was numbing and frustrating. He fired
his glove off the back wall of the dugout after being removed in the second inning, but
gradually took a what-the-heck approach as the game wore on.
"Nobody was saying much to me," Ertel said. "Then, I started
kidding around a little with (Northeast catcher) Terry Rooney. We were telling the other
pitchers, 'That kid won't say too much, but he'll 'greet' you, don't worry.'
"When Andy Smith (another Northeast pitcher) was facing him, I was
thinking, 'Don't let this kid hit another shot.' Then he smoked that single. At least it
wasn't a round-tripper."
UPPER ECHELON
Here are the details on rightfield upper deck home runs hit by
major
leaguers at Veterans Stadium, according to the Phillies Media Guide.
DATE BATTER AND PITCHER SECTION ROW SEAT
6/27/71 Willie Stargell (PIT) off Jim Bunning 601 exit --
7/5/77 Jay Johnstone off Pat Zachry (NY) 503 2 4
8/16/78 Richie Hebner off Bob Welch (LA) 502 2 8
6/27/85 Von Hayes off Kurt Kepshire (STL) 501 3 10
4/12/87 Leon Durham (CHI) off Steve Bedrosian 503 1 1
9/15/89 Von Hayes off Scott Terry (STL) 502 1 18
10/7/93 Fred McGriff (ATL) off Tommy Greene 501 1 12
Note: McGriff's homer came in the National League Championship Series.
6/15/94 Marc Fink (O-M) off Justin Ertel (Public) 502 2 ---