When I was a kid my Dad had a side job (one of many) for a few years at the Vet as an usher for Eagles games. He would take me to all the home games and I'd sneak into the gate closest to his section. One of his buddies was a ticket taker; I would pretend to hand him a ticket and he'd let me through the gate. This buddy of his also worked Phillies games so my Dad sneaked both of us into game 6 of the 1980 world series. I don't know how he knew where to sit, but we had good seats for the game and didn't have to move. That was a crazy night. We took public transportation to the game but because of the celebration riots, SEPTA had to cancel some its service and we couldn't get home. My Dad didn't want my Mom to come get us so he and I spent the night at the substation where he worked and I missed school the next day.
I have a funny related story. Sometimes my Dad would allow me to bring my best friend to a game. On one ignominious occasion, as we were waiting outside the gate, in a panic I noticed my Dad's friend was not working the usual ticket entrance (I guess he was sick). Eventually my Dad found us and speaking through the gate told us to go down to the main employee entrance and wait there until the marching band arrived and just walk in with the band. Ah, okay Dad. Of course, it didn't work and a security guy picked us two 11 year old's out of the entourage and escorted us outside by the scruff of our Eagles jackets. My Dad was so pissed that he had to go buy tickets for us to get in that day. My friend and I still laugh about that today. The things my Dad would do to save a buck.
