A massive brawl in the Vet’s 700 Level turned the 1999 Phillies home opener into ‘something out of the Wild West’

kAm%96 D46?6 H2D '6E6C2?D $E25:F>[ pAC:= `a[ `hhh] %96 !9:==:6D H6C6 A=2J:?8 E96:C 9@>6 @A6?6C 282:?DE E96 pE=2?E2 qC2G6D @? 2 3C66KJ[ 3C:D< 27E6C?@@?]k^Am

kAmx? E96 7@FCE9 :??:?8[ 2 42>6C2>2? ?@E:465 D@>6 4@>>@E:@? 36=@H E96 r@42\r@=2 D:8? ?62C 46?E6C 7:6=5]k^Am

kAm%96 f__ {6G6= H2D AC@?6 E@ 7:89ED[ 3FE E9:D 3C2H= =@@<65 5:776C6?E] w6 K@@>65 :? E@ 7:?5 5@K6?D @7 H92E =@@<65 =:<6 E66?286CD D=F88:?8 :E @FE] p 76H DE2CE65 E@ EF>3=6 5@H? E96 D62ED]k^Am

kAm%9:D 7@@E286 :D E96 4=62C6DE 5@4F>6?E2E:@? @7 2 >6=66 D@ :?72>@FD :E 3642>6 ?2E:@?2= ?6HD] *@F 42? >2<6 @FE 6249 DEF56?E’D 7246 2?5 6G6? D66 E96 =@8@D @? E96:C %\D9:CED]k^Am

kAmxE’D AC@G:565 2? 2??F2= @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C E96 r=2DD @7 `hhh E@ C6=:G6 H92E E9@D6 :?E6CG:6H65 56D4C:36 2D @?6 @7 E96:C AC@F56DE >@>6?ED[ 2?5 :? G:3C2?E 56E2:=]k^Am

kAmq@??6C 2=F>?FD s2? |4{2F89=:?[ H9@ D2:5 96 962CD 7C@> “a_ E@ b_” @7 9:D 4@F?E6CA2CED 6G6CJ @A6?:?8 52J[ ;@<:?8=J 42==65 :E 2? “:>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 s6=2H2C6 r@F?EJ H9:E6 EC2D9 9:DE@CJ]”k^Am

kAm“%92E 7:89E H2D E96 6A:E@>6 @7 @FC 4=2DD[” 96 D2:5] “(6 925 2 G6CJ C@H5J 8C@FA @7 8FJD] p?5 E9:D 3642>6 @FC E9:?8]”k^Am

kAm%96 3C2H= H2D 3C@2542DE @? 2== E96 =@42= ?6HD 277:=:2E6D] xE H2D D9@H? @? t$!}[ r}}[ u@I }6HD 2?5 %96 {2E6 $9@H H:E9 s2G:5 {6EE6C>2?] xE H2D 762EFC65 AC@>:?6?E=J :? %96 !9:=256=A9:2 x?BF:C6C[ E96 !9:=256=A9:2 s2:=J }6HD 2?5 E96 s6=2H2C6 r@F?EJ s2:=J %:>6D]k^Am

kAm|4{2F89=:? 4FE @FE 6G6CJ ?6HDA2A6C 4=:AA:?8 96 4@F=5 7:?5[ E2A:?8 E96> E@ E96 324< @7 9:D 365C@@> 5@@C] |2?J @7 9:D 4=2DD>2E6D 5:5 E96 D2>6j D@>6 8@E E96 2CE:4=6D 7C2>65]k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 =2DE af J62CD[ E96 DE@CJ @7 E92E 52J 92D 364@>6 :?4C62D:?8=J 6>36==:D965] pE 7:CDE[ :E H2D C6A@CE65 2?5 H:56=J 36=:6G65 E92E E96 7:89E H2D 36EH66? q@??6C 2?5 $E] y@D6A9’D !C6A DEF56?ED] $@>6 DA64F=2E65 E92E r2C5:?2= ~’w2C2 DEF56?ED H6C6 :?G@=G65]k^Am

kAmqFE E96 ECFE9[ 244@C5:?8 E@ >F=E:A=6 2EE6?566D[ H2D E92E E96 3F=< @7 7:89E:?8 H2D ?@E 36EH66? C:G2= r2E9@=:4 D49@@= DEF56?ED[ 3FE C2E96C :E H2D 36EH66? q@??6C DEF56?ED 2?5 b_\D@>6E9:?8\J62C\@=5 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6CD]k^Am

kAm~C[ 2D |4{2F89=:? 42==65 E96>[ “7@FC C2?5@> 8FJD 7C@> u:D9E@H?]”k^Am

kAm“x 925 2 3F?49 @7 F?4=6D H9@ H@C<65 :? E96 F?:@?[ 2?5[ D@>69@H[ E96J C64@8?:K65 E96 @?6 5F56 H9@ E@DD65 >6[” D2:5 q@??6C 2=F>?FD y@6 w:4<>2?]k^Am

kAmw:4<>2? 25565i “*@F 4@F=5 E6== E9:D 5F56 H2D ?@E :? 9:89 D49@@=] p?5 =68:E[ x H2D ;FDE :? 9:D H2J] p?5 x 5:5?’E D66 9:> 4@>:?8 3642FD6 96 42>6 7C@> 369:?5 >6] p?5 x 8@E E9C@H?]”k^Am

k9bm%96 7:89Ek^9bm

kAm%6?D:@?D 925 366? D:>>6C:?8 2== 82>6 =@?8] xE H2D D6?:@C 4FE 52J[ 2?5 >2?J =@42= 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED 925 E2:=82E65 367@C6 D9@H:?8 FA 2E E96 '6E]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D 2 8C@FA @7 !C6A DEF56?ED @?6 D64E:@? @G6C 7C@> E96 q@??6C <:5D[ 2?5 2 4@FA=6 @7 ~’w2C2 DEF56?ED @? E96 @E96C D:56] %96 C:G2=D 3682? E@ EC2D9\E2=<]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 H9@ H6C6 E96C6 — D@>6 @7 H9@> 49@D6 E@ C6>2:? 2?@?J>@FD — D2:5 E96D6 32C3D 5:5?’E =625 E@ E96 7:89E]k^Am

kAmx? |4{2F89=:?’D E6==:?8[ 2 q@??6C DEF56?E 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 D64E:@? D2H E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6CD 86EE:?8 42C565]k^Am

kAmw6 564:565 E@ C65:C64E 9:D E2F?E:?8 E@ E96>[ :?DE625]k^Am

kAm“x7 x C6>6>36C 4@CC64E=J[ 96 H2D D2J:?8[ ‘z:4< ’6> @FEP’ ” |4{2F89=:? D2:5] “yFDE 36:?8 2 ,6IA=6E:G6. E2=<6C[ J@F <?@Hn ‘,tIA=6E:G6. E9C@H ’6> @FEP’k^Am

kAm“p?5 @?6 @7 E9@D6 8FJD 4@?7C@?ED 9:>[ =:<6[ ‘*@F 8@E 2 AC@3=6>n’ ”k^Am

kAmp q@??6C 2=F>?FD[ H9@ H:== C6>2:? ?2>6=6DD 3FE H2D “<?@H? 7@C 9:D 7:89E:?8 AC@H6DD[” CFD965 E@ E96 DEF56?E’D 5676?D6]k^Am

kAm“}6IE E9:?8 J@F <?@H[ ,E9:D 2=F>?FD :D. C:5:?8 E96 8FJ 5@H? E96 DE2:CD[” |4{2F89=:? D2:5] “~? E@A @7 9:>[ C:5:?8 9:> =:<6 2 D=65[ 9:EE:?8 9:> :? E96 7246] p?5 ?@H E96D6 8FJD 2C6 EF>3=:?8 5@H? E96 D62ED]”k^Am

kAm$@>6@?6 9FC=65 2? :==:4:E c_\@F?46 3@EE=6 @7 366C :? C6E2=:2E:@?[ 2?5 6G6CJ3@5J DACF?8 :?E@ 24E:@?] xE H2D ?@E @?6 3:8 7:89E] x?DE625[ E96 7C242D 3C@<6 5@H? :?E@ DA2CC:?8 >2E496D 36EH66? D>2== 8C@FAD]k^Am

kAm%96 F??2>65 2=F>?FD E@@< 9:D D9:CE @77 2?5 DE2CE65 AF?49:?8 E96 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6C] w:4<>2? H2D E9C@H? “7@FC @C 7:G6 C@HD” 3J 2 5:776C6?E 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6C[ H9@> 96 D2:5 @FEH6:8965 9:> 3J “a__ A@F?5D]”k^Am

kAmp?@E96C 2?@?J>@FD q@??6C DEF56?E D2:5 96 7@F89E D@>6@?6 96 36=:6G65 E@ 36 2 7@@E32== A=2J6C 7C@> !6?? $E2E6]k^Am

kAm“w6 42>6 FA 2?5 DE2CE65 H:E9 >6[ AFD9:?8 >6 2C@F?5[” 96 D2:5] “p?5 x ;FDE 4=@4<65 9:>]”k^Am

kAm|4{2F89=:?[ H9@ D2:5 96’5 4@>6 DEC2:89E 7C@> D49@@= 2?5 H2D D@36C[ H2D C:89E :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 24E:@?[ ;F>A:?8 5@H? E96 C@HD E@ 96=A 2? &AA6C s2C3J =@42= ?:4<?2>65 “s@F893@J]”k^Am

kAmW}@ @?6 :?E6CG:6H65 H2D 2H2C6 @7 “s@F893@J’D” =682= ?2>6]Xk^Am

kAm“s@F893@J” 5@G6 @? E@A @7 2 >6>36C @7 E96 u:D9E@H? 4@?E:?86?E[ 2?5[ E@86E96C[ E96J 3682? E@ 72== 5@H? E96 D62ED] |4{2F89=:? E96? ;F>A65 @?E@ E96 u:D9E@H? >2?’D 324<[ G66C:?8 52?86C@FD=J 4=@D6 E@ E96 A=2E7@C> 7C@> H9:49 z:E6>2?[ E96 !9:==:6D’ AC@>@E:@?2= DEF?E>2?[ FD65 E@ 42E2AF=E @?E@ E96 7:6=5]k^Am

kAm“(6 4@F=5 92G6 8@EE6? C62==J ;24<65 FA[ :7 H6 H6?E 2?@E96C C@H @C EH@[” |4{2F89=:? D2:5]k^Am

kAmxE D9@F=5 36 ?@E65 E92E E96 4C@H5 :? E96 f__ {6G6= E92E 52J H2D ?@E 2== r2E9@=:4 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED[ 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6CD[ 2?5 “s@F893@J]” %96 x?BF:C6C C6A@CE65 :? `hhh E92E @?6 76>2=6 72? 8@E 9:E H:E9 2 366C 3@EE=6] p?@E96C 72? 67764E:G6=J H2D 2 9@DE286 :? 9:D D62E[ F?23=6 E@ >@G6 2D E96 492@D F?7@=565]k^Am

kAm&D96CD 2?5 D64FC:EJ 8F2C5D EC:65 E@ 3C62< FA E96 3C2H=[ 3FE 2EE6?566D D2:5 E96C6 H2D ?@ A@=:46 AC6D6?46 E@ 36 7@F?5] %96 H9@=6 @C562= H2D D@ 5:DEC24E:?8 E92E E96 82>6 925 E@ 36 DE@AA65] !=2J6CD 2?5 F>A:C6D =@@<65 E@H2C5 46?E6C 7:6=5]k^Am

kAms2? "F:??[ 2 (6DE r2E9@=:4 2=F>?FD H9@ H2D D:EE:?8 2=@?8 E96 7:CDE 32D6 =:?6 H:E9 9:D c\J62C\@=5 D@?[ D2:5 “E96 7:89E E@@< @G6C 6G6CJE9:?8]”k^Am

kAm“q@E9 E62>D[ x DH62C E@ J@F[ H6C6 ;FDE FA @? E96 5F8@FE H2E49:?8 :E[” "F:?? D2:5] “%96 A=2J6CD H6C6 4@>A=6E6=J 5:DEC24E65] ,qC2G6D 7:CDE 32D6>2?. #J2? z=6D<@ H@F=5 36 :? A@D:E:@? E@ 7:6=5 E96 32==[ 5@H? :? 2 4C@F49]k^Am

kAm“pD D@@? 2D E96 A:E49 H2D E9C@H?[ :7 :E H2D 2 7@F= 32== @C :7 :E H2D?’E 9:E[ 96 4@>A=6E6=J EFC?65 2C@F?5[ 2?5 H2D H2E49:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 8@:?8 @?] x >62?[ :E =@@<65 =:<6 D@>6E9:?8 @FE @7 E96 (:=5 (6DE]”k^Am

kAm}@ 4C:>:?2= 492C86D H6C6 7:=65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ ?6HDA2A6C 244@F?ED 2E E96 E:>6] |2?J q@??6C DEF56?ED H6C6 DFCAC:D65 :E 3642>6 DF49 2 3:8 562=]k^Am

kAm|4{2F89=:? 46CE2:?=J 5:5?’E 8:G6 :E 2?J E9@F89E]k^Am

kAm“(96? x D2J x H2D @3=:G:@FD E@ E9:D ]]] x H6?E 9@>6 2?5 5:5 p! 3:@=@8J 9@>6H@C< E92E ?:89E[” 96 D2:5] “x 925 ?@ :562 9@H >F49 EC@F3=6 x H2D 23@FE E@ 86E :?E@]”k^Am

k9bm%96 27E6C>2E9k^9bm

kAm$@>6 4:EJ @77:4:2=D H6C6 >@CE:7:65] $6G6C2= :?G6DE:82E:@?D H6C6 =2F?4965[ @?6 3J !9:=256=A9:2’D #64C62E:@? s6A2CE>6?E[ 2?@E96C 3J E96 qFC62F @7 {:BF@C r@?EC@= t?7@C46>6?E[ 2?5 2 E9:C5 3J 4@?46DD:@? 4@>A2?J ~856? t?E6CE2:?>6?E]k^Am

kAm%96:C 762C H2D E92E 9:89 D49@@=6CD 925 AFC492D65 2=4@9@= :?D:56 E96 '6E] y:> z6??6J[ 2 r:EJ r@F?4:= >6>36C :? `hhh[ 42==65 @? E96 A@=:46 4@>>:DD:@?6C E@ C6A@CE @? 9@H E96J 925 366? 6?7@C4:?8 ?6H CF=6D 4FCE2:=:?8 C@H5J 3692G:@C H:E9:? E96 DE25:F>]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 E@ 492?86 E96 D@>6H92E 2446AE23=6 2EE:EF56 E92E E9:D <:?5 @7 3692G:@C ]]] :D !9:=256=A9:2[” 96 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD] “xE :D ?@E !9:=256=A9:2]”k^Am

kAmq@??6C 2?5 !C6A @77:4:2=D 3682? 6I2>:?:?8 E96 7@@E286 @? E96 %' 3C@2542DED[ ECJ:?8 E@ :56?E:7J 2?J 72>:=:2C 7246D] %96 !C6A >2:?E2:?65 E92E ?@?6 @7 :ED DEF56?ED H6C6 :?G@=G65]k^Am

kAmq@??6C[ @? E96 @E96C 92?5[ =@@<65 E@ 36 :? E96 E9:4< @7 :E — >2?J @7 E96 D6?:@CD H6C6 H62C:?8 q@??6C %\D9:CED] (96? |4{2F89=:? 2CC:G65 @? 42>AFD E96 ?6IE 52J[ u2E96C y@9? s6??J[ E96 D49@@=’D AC:?4:A2=[ 2?5 t5H2C5 u@C?:2D[ E96 D49@@=’D 562? @7 DEF56?ED[ H6C6 H2:E:?8 7@C 9:>]k^Am

kAm|4{2F89=:? C6>6>36CD 36:?8 5:C64E65 :?E@ s6??J’D @77:46] u@C?:2D D=2>>65 E96 ?6HDA2A6C 5@H?]k^Am

kAm“(92E 5@ J@F 92G6 E@ D2J 23@FE E9:Dn” 96 7F>65]k^Am

kAm|4{2F89=:? =@@<65 2E E96 A9@E@ @? E96 324< A286 @7 E96 s2:=J }6HD[ H9:49 762EFC65 E96 sC6I6= w:== ?2E:G6 AC@>:?6?E=J[ F?56C E96 9625=:?6 “p}x|p{ w~&$t]”k^Am

kAm“(96C6 42? x 86E 2 4@AJn” |4{2F89=:? D2JD 96 2D<65]k^Am

kAm%96 5:D4:A=:?2C:2? C:AA65 E96 A2A6C @FE @7 9:D 92?5D] Ws6??J 5:65 :? a_`e[ 2?5 u@C?:2D 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2? :?E6CG:6H C6BF6DE 7@C E9:D DE@CJ]Xk^Am

kAm%96 6?E:C6 D6?:@C 4=2DD H2D 42==65 E@ 2 >2?52E@CJ >66E:?8 :? E96 2F5:E@C:F>[ 5FC:?8 H9:49 s6??J 6>A92D:K65 9@H 6>32CC2DD65 2?5 5:D2AA@:?E65 96 H2D 3J E96 DEF56?ED’ 24E:@?D]k^Am

kAm$@>6 DEF56?ED[ =:<6 |4{2F89=:?[ H6C6 DA64:7:42==J :?DECF4E65 ?@E E@ E2=< E@ C6A@CE6CD[ H9@ H6C6 A2EC@==:?8 @FED:56 E96 D49@@= 7@C H66<D] ~E96CD H6C6 92AAJ E@ :?5F=86 — 2?5 ?@E 2=H2JD ECFE97F==J]k^Am

kAm“x C6>6>36C D@>6 <:5D D2J:?8 ,E@ E96 >65:2.[ ‘~9 J629[ :E’D 5:D8C2467F=[’ ” w:4<>2? D2:5] “p?5 E96?[ :? E96 ?6IE 4=:A[ :E’5 36 E96 D2>6 <:5 AF?49:?8 D@>63@5J] {:E6C2==J[ 96’D <:4<:?8 E96 5F56 :? E96 9625[ 2?5 96’D D2J:?8 9@H 5:D8C2467F= :E H2D @? r92??6= `_]”k^Am

kAm#6=2E:G6=J DA62<:?8[ s6??J’D AF?:D9>6?E 7@C E96 D6?:@CD H2D =6?:6?E] %96 $2EFC52J 7@==@H:?8 E96 3C2H=[ E9@D6 H9@ H6C6 :56?E:7:65 :? E96 G:56@ 925 E@ 4@>6 E@ D49@@= E@ A=2?E 2 C@D6 82C56?] u@@5 H2D AC@G:565 27E6CH2C5]k^Am

kAm%H6?EJ\D6G6? J62CD =2E6C[ E96 2=F>?: DE:== =2F89 23@FE E92E !9:==:6D 9@>6 @A6?6C 2?5 E96 DF3D6BF6?E H66<] |6>36CD @7 E96 r=2DD @7 `hhh H6?E @? E@ 364@>6 p:C u@C46 A:=@ED[ >6C492?E D2:=@CD[ 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66CD 2?5 >@C6[ 3FE 2E 962CE[ E96J’C6 DE:== E9@D6 C@H5J <:5D]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D H9J E96 ’h_D H2D E96 36DE 564256 6G6C[” |4{2F89=:? D2:5] “}@ 2CC6DED] }@3@5J 8@E 9FCE] xE H2D ;FDE 2 3:8 7:89E]”k^Am