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Photo of the Day Friday October 11, 2013 Philadelphia Freedom.......

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mchenrycards

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Today's photo of the day has a Philadelphia feel to it and since it is baseball post season time why not crack out a photo of the Phillies first World Series win in their long history. Today's photo features a very 80's looking Mike Schmidt riding atop a fire engine with his team mate Larry Bowa in the parade that would follow the Phillies World Series win in 1980. With Philadelphia's city hall in the background, the series champions would make their way down Broad street in celebration of their victory.

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On Friday's we always feature a board members own photo and related story as an "extra" for FCB members. Remember, if you have photos you would like featured that you took yourself please message me and let me know so that I can post them here.

Todays photos and story come to us from board member Lancemountain. Enjoy the photos and the narrative!


in 1971 Veterans Stadium opened as a dual facility for Philadelphia's sports teams. It was in vogue at the time to build monstrous stadia to replace what was crumbling and decrepit stadiums and fields across America. Philadelphia was no different than many other cities in that a single purpose stadium would service all sports. The Vet, as it was called through it lifetime, became legendary for it's hostile environment; especially in the famed 700 level, or the upper deck. Going to football games as a young kid was a wild time. The large concourse and seemingly endless ramps up to the cheap seats made it all the more imposing. As a high school kid, me and my buddies would take the El train to the subway and score $6 seats to the upper deck and watch our hero Michael Jack Schmidt. Through good years and many more bad years for both the Philies and the Eagles, the one thing that was omnipresent was liberty bell in center field between the gigantic Jumbtrons.

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Lite up at night, not one person who went into The Vet; be it football, baseball or concerts ever left The Vet without gazing upon the bell.

In 2004 the Phillies finally got their very first stadium built just for the team. A beautiful field just across the old parking lot from The Vet, the architects managed to save the bell from the old Vet. This bell now lights up in different colors and moves. A HR, a win or in tribute to a death. This bell sits right center and has become a cherished tradition in the new ball park. Utley hits a two run shot? Heads turn to the bell to watch it ring.

In 2008 the Phillies reached the world Series for the first time since 1993. The entire post season has two incredible moments; all home runs and all that set the entire Philadelphia psyche into "We can do this" mode. Victorino's grand slam in the NLDS of the then red hot Sabathia. Matt Stair's moon shot in the NLCS which could still be in the air. And this HR. I took this from the Mezz deck SRO section.

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Joe Blanton, the unlikely star of a high powered offense. Fourth inning HR; the first of his career and the first HR by a pitcher in the fall classic since 1974. That bell rang and those fire works shot off and everyone that night knew that we would be champions.
 

joey12508

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Like how the photos freeze the time, and the memories that continue on. Great stuff
 

gt2590

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You forgot to mention the awful full-sized Scoreboard that blocked two entire sections of Left field seats. Or the multi-color seats for each level and "new" video board that made it into the now famous 1989 Fleer Randy Johnson RC.

If it looks familiar it's probably 'cuz Fleer took ALOT of player pics for cards at the "Vet" since their HQ and main printers were in the area...
 

mchenrycards

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You forgot to mention the awful full-sized Scoreboard that blocked two entire sections of Left field seats. Or the multi-color seats for each level and "new" video board that made it into the now famous 1989 Fleer Randy Johnson RC.

If it looks familiar it's probably 'cuz Fleer took ALOT of player pics for cards at the "Vet" since their HQ and main printers were in the area...

I never went to the Vet to see a game since I live in the Chicago/Milwaukee area but honestly, I think I would be scared to go there with all that I have heard!! LOL
 

gt2590

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Yeah, the fans aren't quite as bad as stated. But the upper levels of the "Vet" were pretty rough. Heck, they had a special Judge, court and Holding cell in the old stadium.

That place was a dump. Since the usually broke City Government owned and maintained it, it was not a very well kept building. The elevator to the Special and Press boxes broke down twice a week or so..

The locker rooms were dreadful. Heck, my HS had better facilities. And I once saw a possum the size of a small gator wandering the concrete pavillons under the seats. What a dump, and good riddance! :p
 

Ashburn Alley

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Yeah, the fans aren't quite as bad as stated. But the upper levels of the "Vet" were pretty rough. Heck, they had a special Judge, court and Holding cell in the old stadium.

That place was a dump. Since the usually broke City Government owned and maintained it, it was not a very well kept building. The elevator to the Special and Press boxes broke down twice a week or so..

The locker rooms were dreadful. Heck, my HS had better facilities. And I once saw a possum the size of a small gator wandering the concrete pavillons under the seats. What a dump, and good riddance! :p

I oddly miss it. I would never trade it for CBP, but I miss the old dump.
 

mchenrycards

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Yeah, the fans aren't quite as bad as stated. But the upper levels of the "Vet" were pretty rough. Heck, they had a special Judge, court and Holding cell in the old stadium.

That place was a dump. Since the usually broke City Government owned and maintained it, it was not a very well kept building. The elevator to the Special and Press boxes broke down twice a week or so..

The locker rooms were dreadful. Heck, my HS had better facilities. And I once saw a possum the size of a small gator wandering the concrete pavillons under the seats. What a dump, and good riddance! :p

I had the opportunity to see a rat chasing a stray cat in the concourse of Wrigley Field one night. I was the only one in the place at the time and it was comical to see that. I am glad I had a baseball bat with me just in case the rat decided to turn it's wrath on me.
 

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