Philly Fan Memory: Zorro Comes to Veterans Stadium!

Back in the mid- to late- 90s, I attended a Phillies' home opener with a group of friends. Being cheap and/or broke, we splurged for seats way up in the 700 level, roughly a mile away from the field, but in the lower part of the level, maybe a row up from the walkway that wrapped all the way around the gigantic bowl that was known as Veterans Stadium.

So during the early part of the game, maybe the 1st or 2nd inning, a couple friends and I noticed a dude walking towards us that looked like Zorro-- he was lean, had all black on with a black bandana, black boots, and a black jacket, the whole 9 yards. We were quite impressed with his appearance. Needless to say, we gave him a round of applause when he passed us and considered ourselves lucky to have seen him... what a gutsy thing to do... dress like Zorro and walk out into public, a baseball game no less, and not feel petrified by all of the eyes on you.

The next inning or so, we hear a random smattering of applause from a few sections down. I looked over and... it was Zorro passing by once again and his uniform had caught on with other fans as well! We gave him another cheer. And we cheered louder each successive time he passed by. He just kept walking by himself around the entire rim of the stadium all by himself, didn't acknowledge anybody or seem to pay attention to the game. No apparent reason, he just walked.

Well, I couldn't tell you anything else about that game some 10 years or so later, but that Zorro guy has stuck in my mind till this day. Great way to make a first impression!