Kids at the Vet

 Don "Splinter" Becker

There is not much I remember before the summer of ’84.  I was 5 years old, and my earliest memory was in Veterans Stadium in the hot summer sun. I sat along the third baseline with my father and his best friend Paul. My father, Bill, grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis and was a die-hard Twins fan. Frequently touting Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, and Tony Oliva’s run through the late 60’s and early 70’s.  Little did he know, he created a serious baseball fan who remembered not only his favorite players’ stats but my nemeses as well.  My favorite players have always been Mike Schmidt and Kirby Puckett.  Mike Schmidt, being my first due to that hot summer day in June at the Vet.  I have been to literally hundreds of games since then and still remember my first one the most.

 

Don's experience of his first major league game at Veterans Stadium came full circle when he attended the last game played there in 2003.  The Stadium is no more but the memories will never die.

The Phillies were playing the Cubs, and the stadium was full and felt electric even when play was at a pause.  Being so close to the field made me feel very special.  It was the birth of a new love and obsession.  Schmidt had a game-tying double in the 5th that brought everyone to their feet and further consecrated my love for this moment, only to be one-upped in the bottom of the 8th when Schmidty hit a go-ahead home run to secure victory.  These feelings, these moments, I can still feel, I can still smell the cheesesteaks and hear the crack of that bat that sent that game-winning homer to the second deck in left field. This moment changed my world, my first love, baseball

Gregg "Burner" Wiseburn

I was nine years old when I went to my first major league game on June 19, 1993, the  Phillies vs Marlins. I remember it being a big deal as Philadelphia was at least an hour and a half from home. To me this was the biggest deal and the furthest away I had ever been. I do not remember much of the car ride besides the fact that it seemed like it took forever. In the car that day was my Dad (Gary) my best friend growing up (Jeremy) and myself. We parked what seemed to be miles away, but I am sure it was a few hundred yards from Veterans Stadium. Walking in I remember thinking how big the field was and there was no way anyone could hit a home run. Our seats were along the first base side about 30 or so rows up on the aisle. I was super excited as the Marlins were an expansion team and had bright colors in their uniforms.  

Mitch Williams' autograph - a treasured souvenir of Gregg's first game

I brought my mitt, a notepad and a pen for autographs. When we went to sit I saw a player signing autographs. I asked my Dad if I could go get it. He laughed and said sure but don't be upset when you don't get it. Somehow I snuck under and between everyone and got my notepad signed by Mitch Williams. I had no clue who he was but I was so happy to have my first autograph ever and till this day I still have it. I remember nothing about the game, only that Mitch Williams gave up a game-winning home run in the World Series later that year.  The Phillies won the game 5-2. This would be one of the few games I attended with my Dad and the only one as a child. Looking back I find it wild that I remember walking to our seats, getting a hot dog, walking down the aisle getting an autograph, and seeing the Marlins' bright jerseys, but nothing about the game.