10 Never Before Seen Facts on Citizens Bank Park

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10 Never Before Seen Facts on Citizens Bank Park

Citizens Bank Park is one of the league’s most-visited east coast MLB stadiums every baseball fan has on their bucket list. In fact, the Phillies ballpark opened in 2004 and will host the All-Star Game in 2026. Any Philadelphia fan that bleeds Phillies red will know every information possible, from the team winning the 2008 World Series to Roy Halladay throwing a perfect game in 2010. However, there are new Citizens Bank Park facts that many baseball supporters never knew or never heard of in their lives. For details on what facts baseball fans rarely knew about, please refer to 10 Never Before Seen Facts on Citizens Bank Park below!

10: A Phillies Stadium Employee was Killed after Falling into Elevator Shaft

Accidents and injuries can happen to anyone everywhere, especially at sports stadiums. Those accidents range from spilling food on the floor to slipping on a wet floor. However, injuries resulting from those accidents can sometimes be fatal or even life-threatening. Unfortunately, that happened at Citizens Bank Park in its first years of existence. In July 2007, a Phillies stadium employee was killed at the stadium after falling into an elevator shaft

A food concessions stand worker, whose name was not revealed, was driving his golf cart on the 300 level. Suddenly, the vehicle hit the elevator and somehow opened the doors. Then, the employee and the cart fell over 30 feet into the elevator shaft. To make matters worse, there was another unnamed worker inside that elevator. Firefighters soon arrived at the scene and transported the two men to a nearby hospital. The driver later died from chest and head injuries, while the elevator rider suffered stable injuries. 

9: Pete Rose was Nearly Inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame

Getting inducted into any team’s fame of honor is a great accomplishment. For a specific team, that party would honor the player or coach based on his contributions to the club. Most importantly, an enshrinement to the team’s hall of fame would increase his chances of going into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (NY). Well, in the Phillies’ case, the stadium has a Wall of Fame plaque section located in the left field concourse. Those honorees are the following: Mike Schmidt, Harry Kalas, Jim Thome, Bobby Abreau, Pat Burrell, and Roy Halladay. 

But believe it or not, all-time hits leader Pete Rose was nearly inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2017. Rose played for Philadelphia from 1979 until 1983, and he led the Phillies to a 1980 World Series championship. Unfortunately, the enshrinement ceremony at Citizens Bank Park was canceled 1.5 weeks before it took place. The decision was due to a sexual misconduct report involving Rose. Initially, the former Reds legend agreed with the Phillies to scrap the ceremony. 

8: Blue Jays were the “Home” Team at Citizens Bank Park in 2010

Over the last two decades, home teams were forced to play somewhere else due to unforeseen circumstances. One example was that the Astros had to play a home series vs. Cubs in Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike in Houston in 2008. Another example was that the Orioles were the home team vs. Rays at Tropicana Field due to the 2015 civil unrest in Baltimore. One final example saw the Rays play a home game vs. Yankees at Citi Field because of Hurricane Irma in 2017. But did you know that the Toronto Blue Jays were the “home” team at Citizens Bank Park in 2010?

Originally, the Phillies/Blue Jays series in 2010 was meant to be played at the Rogers Centre. However, the series was moved to the City of Brotherly Love  due to the international conference (G20 Summit) taking place in Toronto. Because of the change, Citizens Bank Park had to follow the rules of the Blue Jays being the home team. That meant a designated hitter was applied instead of the pitchers’ at-bat since Toronto was an American League club. Also, the Blue Jays started each series in the top innings and not the bottom innings. 

7: Someone Ate 23 Cheesesteaks at Citizens Bank Park in a 4-Day Span

Whether it’s baseball or any other sport, Philadelphia has a strong fan following. They come to Citizens Bank Park to root for their Phillies and hang out with the Phillie Phanatic. The Philadelphia fans are also known to heckle opposing teams sometimes in order to show support for the home team. Perhaps the only opposing team member Phillies fans will appreciate is Milwaukee Brewers Bullpen Catcher Marcus Hanel. Why? Because he successfully ate 23 cheesesteaks at Citizens Bank Park in a 4-day span

During the Phillies/Brewers series in July 2015, Hanel consumed 18 steak and cheese sandwiches for the first three days. He then ate five more sandwiches for a total of 23 cheesesteaks. Hanel’s inspiration for the challenge came from his high school days. When he was a teenager, his mother made large sandwiches for him all the time. So Hanel took on the cheesesteak challenge as homage to his mother.

6: Before Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies Considered Building a Stadium in Chinatown

For over 30 years, Veterans Stadium served as the main tenant for the Philadelphia Phillies and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. The now-demolished venue saw incredible moments like the 1980 World Championship along with the 1983 Fall Classic. That being said, both the Phillies and Eagles were looking for new stadiums. While the Eagles managed to get a new home in Lincoln Financial Field, the Phillies expressed a desire to have a baseball-only ballpark in the city center. But did you know that before Citizens Bank Park, the team considered building a stadium in Chinatown?

In the early 2000s, the baseball club was looking in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, since it’s close to downtown. The Phillies felt that getting a home in the city center would improve attendance numbers. However, business owners and residents of Chinatown immediately opposed the Phillies’ stadium plan. They argued that such a facility would have hurt their businesses financially and plagued traffic issues with parking. Eventually, the baseball team found a new open-air ballpark in Citizens Bank Park at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. 

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5: Citizens Bank Park has a Build-A-Bear Workshop® in the Concourse

The Phillies stadium usually has multiple team stores where fans can buy souvenirs as well as game programs. Also, baseball spectators can use their money to buy food from concession stands and visit the Ashburn Alley in centerfield. But here’s something not many fans know about! Citizens Bank Park has a Build-A-Bear Workshop® store in the venue’s concourse area. Opened in 2004, the one-of-a-kind shop allows children to get stuffed animals like the Phillie Phanatic mascot and a Teddy Bear. However, it’s unknown if the experience is still available as of 2022. 

Normally, the Build-a-Bear Workshop® stores occupy their spaces inside shopping malls across the country. The Phillies are one of the couple MLB teams to have such a store in their ballpark, joining the Nationals and Cardinals. Previously, there was a Build-A-Bear Workshop® at the then-AT&T Park in San Francisco. But in 2013, the Teddy Bear stand was turned into a social media-themed coffee store called “@Cafe.”

4: Phillies Stadium had a Children’s Slide Themed After the Phillie Phanatic’s Shoe

The Phillie Phanatic is perhaps the most beloved mascot not just in baseball, but in all of sports. The green mascot is known for sticking out his tongue from his circular mouth. During games, the Phillie Phanatic rides his trusty ATV vehicle across Citizens Bank Park. The fun-loving mascot even appears at Spring Training games at Baycare Ballpark in Clearwater, FL. Interestingly, the Phillie Phanatic had his own attractions for fans to enjoy. 

Sometime in the mid-2000s, there was a children’s slide themed after the Phanatic’s shoe located in the 300 level. The show was in the same area where food offerings were served for the little ones. Anyway, the slide resembled a 6-8 foot tall Phanatic shoe where children climbed up stairs at the back of the shoe and then slid down. Unfortunately, Citizens Bank Park decided to take down the slide in time for the 2012 season. The reasons for the slide’s removal were never revealed publicly. 

3: Phillies Ballpark Used to Have Life-Sized Starting Lineup Cards Near Left Field Gate

Citizens Bank Park is the home of many unique features for fans to enjoy. One is the Phillies Wall of Fame, which is located in the left field area. Another thing for fans to see is the Ashburn Alley open-air concourse at centerfield (named after former Phillies player/announcer Richie Ashburn). However, there were a couple ballpark features that came and went during the venue’s lifespan. One of those old features was the life-sized baseball card starting lineup near the left field gate

Installed on a brick wall, the starting lineup cards would tell fans coming into the entry gate who’s in that day’s lineup. For instance, there would have been a large Ryan Howard card if the first baseman was in the lineup. Another example is that there was going to be a huge card for LHP Cole Hamels if the southpaw was starting that day. Unfortunately, the life-sized starting lineup cards were no longer available as of 2018. 

2: Billy Joel has Played a Record 7 Shows at Citizens Bank Park

Commonly, it is good practice for baseball stadiums to host large-scale musical performances. In fact, there are teams that previously hosted live music shows. Those teams were the following: Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Astros, and many more. Concerts can vary with either a post-game event or just a stand alone performance during the off-season. But believe it or not, pianist and singer Billy Joel has played a total of seven shows at Citizens Bank Park. And that doesn’t count singing at National Anthems or having themed nights. 

Joel has played the following concerts at the Philadelphia stadium: 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. In addition, the piano performer collaborated with Elton John during the 2009 event. Unfortunately, Billy Joel’s shows at Citizens Bank Park didn’t come without controversy. In 2019, stage builder Carl Anderson filed a lawsuit against the Phillies and Joel for injuries the former sustained during a performance two years earlier. Anderson suffered a disc rupture in his neck after the stage collapsed on him. 

1: Tim McGraw Spread His Father’s Ashes at the Phillies Stadium

Tug McGraw was a relief pitcher for the Phillies from 1975 until 1984. In fact, the Southpaw won a baseball championship in 1980 and played in the 1983 World Series. McGraw notched 94 saves with a 3.10 E.R.A. and 491 strikeouts in a Phillies uniform. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Tug McGraw is that his son, Tim, is a famous country music singer. Sadly, the former pitcher passed away in 2004 after a battle with cancer. 

Not long after Tug’s passing, Tim McGraw had many tributes to his father. One was a song about the pitcher called “Live Like You Were Dying.” Four years later, the Phillies advanced to their first World Series in nearly 30 years. In Game 3 of the 2008 Fall Classic at Citizens Bank Park, Tim spread his father’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound. Ultimately, the Phillies went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games to claim their second title in club history. Today, fans can visit Tug McGraw’s plaque at the Phillies Wall of Fame in left field.


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