It was 50 years ago when the last game was played at Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium, ending an era in Philadelphia baseball history. The final game on October 1, 1970, turned out to have a scary ending.

Through Bill Giles’ leadership big plans were in place to close the place. All fans received a certificate saying they saw the last game at Connie Mack Stadium. 5,000 wooden slats that were used to repair the seats were also given to fans as a commemorative souvenir. During the game, they began banging the slats to take home other souvenirs. Suddenly, the world’s loudest drum.

• Phillies alumni

Tony Siegle, director of stadium operations, remembers the night well. “The sound of chopping with the seat slats is a definite memory. We had police guarding the offices which is the one area the marauders didn't get to.

“I remember huddling on the field along the fence in the seventh inning with some of our staff. We knew then all hell was going to break loose. We had post-game plans to dig up home plate, have a helicopter land and take it to Veterans Stadium. We were going to give away autographed uniforms but all of that went by the boards. 

“Once the game ended, fans stampeded the field. We had to cancel the helicopter, but we saved home plate from being taken, protected the offices and locker rooms. Everything else seemed to be fair game. Urinals were carried out of the place; one guy was seen with a toilet seat around his neck. Fans scooped up clumps of dirt from the field like thousands of frontend loaders. The wooden left field wall was stripped. Heck, fans came armed with hammers, wrenches and saws. Frightening.”

While Tony was in the war zone, I was still in the Press Box. It began to shake, something I never experienced before. That was also frightening.

The game went extra innings. Tim McCarver scored the winning run on Oscar Gamble’s single in the 10th. 2-1 was the final over the Montreal Expos. Had the game continued, there might have been a full riot.

A once proud ballpark was an empty wreck. The plush grass playing field later became filled with tall weeds. Rats roamed where players once played and fans once cheered.

A Connie Mack statue that stood across from the ballpark was removed, refurbished and moved by the Phillies to Veterans Stadium. During dedication ceremonies of the statue, August 21, 1971, word came that the old park caught on fire. Five years later the city ordered the demolition of the park.

21st and Lehigh remained a vacant plot until 1990 when the Deliverance Evangelistic Church with a sanctuary that seats 5,100 was built. Years later, Mary and Robin Roberts decided to visit the church. They walked in an open door and began walking around when they were confronted by a member of the church’s security staff. A custodian spoke up, “I know dat man. He’s OK.” Robin was led to the area of the church were the pitcher’s mound once stood. Fitting that the last Phillie on the mound, so to speak, was Hall of Famer Robin Roberts.