FIM #2: Joe Carter....

...That's all I needed to really type for a title. You say his name and every Phillie fan will instantly remember 1993 and the Phillies being one out away from forcing a game 7 with Toronto. Instead, Joe Carter belts a game winning 3-run homer that won the World Series. He became the 2nd player in the history of baseball to win the World Series for his team via air mail. The first being Bill Mazeroski of the 1960 Pirates when he hit "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."

After taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Curt Schilling stepped on the mound for Philadelphia in game five and shut out the Blue Jays 2-0 to pull Philadelphia within one game. Terry Mulholland took the mound for Philadelphia and Dave Bush pitched for Toronto in Game 6. After being down 5-1, Philadelphia scored five runs in the top of the 7th.

It’s the bottom of the 9th of and Mitch Williams stands on the mound. The Philadelphia Phillies, trailing 3-2 in the series, are leading the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Toronto. All Williams needs is three more outs and the Phillies take Toronto to game seven.

It’s now the 9th inning. Ricky Henderson steps in and is walked. Devon White comes up to the plate next and hits a pop fly for out number one. Paul Molitor then singles to put runners on first and second with one out. Joe Carter steps up to the plate and has a 2-2 count on him.

Carter has been ineffective all series, and is looking to get a hit off of Williams. Williams knows Carter is a dangerous hitter, despite his cold spell. He also has Henderson standing on second, waiting to take third at any given moment. Carter steps in. The 2-2 pitch, and Carter hits a shot deep to left field that made the city of Philadelphia moan and mumble to themselves, "maybe next year."

FIM #11: Goodbye Vet

A brand new era deserves a brand new stadium. But with bringing in a newer, fresher experience for the fans and players comes the sacrifices of memories and traditions. Moment #11 is the destruction of our beloved Veterans Stadium.

Built in 1971, The Vet was home to the infamous "Boo Birds" (Eagles fans) and the rowdy Phillies fans in the 700 level. Whether it was fights, flashings, or pure vulgar banter, the 700 level was one of the most infamous group of fans in all of sports. The fans were so bad that a municipal court was installed in the stadium for fans who were ejected from the game.

The stadium was famous for it's terrible field conditions such as a concrete like playing surface and poor draining. The AstroTurf would also act as an oven for baseball and football players, reaching up to 120 degrees on hot July, August, and September days.

The Vet was home to two MLB All Star games: the first in 1976 during the nations bicentennial and again in 1996. The Phillies won their first championship in 1980 there. Players like Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk to Jim Thome and Scott Rolen all played in this stadium.

There were so many great Phillies moments that occurred here. Game 6 of the 1980 World Series was won here when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson of the Kansas City Royals in front of about 66,000 fans to win their first championship.

The latest game in MLB history was played their. The Phillies and Padres started a double header on July 2nd, 1993 and due to rain outs and delays all day, they didn't complete the second game until 4:40 in the morning on July 3rd. Mitch Williams drove in Pete Incaviglia to win the game in the 10th.

Kevin Millwood and Terry Mulholland own the only 2 9-inning no-hitters in The Vet's history. Mullholland did his in 1990 and Millwood did his in 2003. Both were ironically against the Sn Francisco Giants.

In 2004, Phillies fans threw D-cell batteries at St. Louis Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew after when drafted by the Phillies, said he would never play for Philadelphia, re-entered the draft next year and was picked by the Cardinals.

After it's demolition in 2004, Citizen Bank Park used the area where The Vet stood as an additional parking lot. Fans will never forget The Vet nor the memories left in it. But there are new ones to be made at CBP, including a World Championship and seeing guys like Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, and Chase Utley represent the new home of the Phillies.

The implosion

My ticket stubs throughout the years at The Vet

The Whit: Which Moment in Sports History would You Change?

I had a small clip in this semester's final issue of the Whit. I want to thank Cody Crusciel for being my first sports editor and congratualtions to Kate Harman for taking his role for next year. Here is my clip. Enjoy:

1993 World Series
Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays
By John Russo

After taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Curt Schilling stepped on
the mound for Philadelphia in game five and shut out the Blue Jays 2-0 to pull
Philadelphia within one game. Terry Mulholland took the mound for Philadelphia
and Dave Bush pitched for Toronto, after being down 5-1, Philadelphia scored
five runs in the top of the 7th.

It’s the bottom of the 9th of game six of the 1993 World Series and
Mitch Williams stands on the mound. The Philadelphia Phillies, trailing 3-2 in
the series, are leading the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Toronto. All Williams needs
is three more outs and the Phillies take Toronto to game seven.

It’s now the 9th inning. Ricky Henderson steps in and is walked. Devon
White comes up to the plate next and hits a pop fly for out number one. Paul
Molitor then singles to put runners on first and second with one out. Joe Carter
steps up to the plate and has a 2-2 count on him. Carter has been ineffective
all series, and is looking to get a hit off of Williams.

Williams knows Carter is a dangerous hitter, despite his cold spell. He
also has Henderson standing on second, waiting to take third at any given
moment.

Carter steps in. The 2-2 pitch, and a swing and a miss! Williams
strikes out Carter to bring up John Olerud, who will ground out weakly to end
the game and the Phillies hold on to win game six, sending the series back to
Toronto for the final game of the World Series. Williams could potentially
become a hero in Philadelphia.

We all wish that was what happened that late October night in the
SkyDome. Instead, Carter infamously hit a three run home run and Williams was
practically run out of town.