During Veterans Stadium's final season, The Inquirer will look back weekly at memorable Phillies-related moments.
As soon as the Phillies ran out of their dugout for the start of their game against Montreal on May 19, 1979, it was clear that something was different.
Several players on this talented ball club - filled so famously with sourpusses, sullen stars, and even a silent southpaw - looked downright amused.
But, unlike many of those observing them from the Veterans Stadium stands, at least Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Larry Bowa and the others weren't laughing out loud.
The reason for the levity was all too obvious to anyone with eyes. That night, for the first and, thankfully, last time, the Phillies wore all-burgundy outfits. And the sight of ballplayers who, from their caps to their spikes, resembled eggplants was rather amusing.
"Not to Greg Luzinski," recalled Larry Christenson, the Phils' starting pitcher that night. "We told him he looked like a giant grape, and he was pretty ticked off."
Even for the fashion-challenged 1970s, when several teams switched from flannel and traditional colors to skintight polyester and hallucinogenic hues, that frightening Phillies ensemble was unusually horrid.
"There were a lot of ugly uniforms back then," said Luzinski, who later wore short pants with the Chicago White Sox, "but those were absolutely the worst."
Given their level of distraction that afternoon, it wasn't at all surprising that the Phillies, who were beginning the free fall that marked the one year between 1976 and 1981 in which they would not reach the postseason, blew a four-run lead to Dick Williams' Expos and lost, 10-5.
Christenson, who had awakened the Expos by plunking Gary Carter twice with 0-2 pitches, blamed himself for the defeat. His teammates, however, looked to the uniforms.
"Luzinski peeled his off, threw it in the middle of the locker room, and said, 'We stunk. And these stink.' He told someone, I think it might have been [owner] Ruly Carpenter, that he'd rather be traded than have to wear those things again," Christenson said.
So great was the Phillies distaste for the uniforms that, even though they were to have been their attire for every Saturday day game that season, the burgundy outfits never resurfaced.
"I think they all got sold to raise money for charity," Christenson said.
That failed fashion statement and the resulting loss epitomized the misfortunes the Phillies have had at Veterans Stadium whenever they've altered their home attire.
