There are a few moments that define Philadelphia sports fans.
Today we celebrate one of them.
And wish a Happy 69th Birthday to Burt Hooton.
Don't know who Burt Hooton is? Then you can't be a Philly fan. Or at least not one of my age.
Burt Hooton was a pitcher who played an integral part in one of the most haunting days in Philly sports.
It was Oct. 7, 1977.
Or, as it will forever be known to diehard Phillies' loyalists, "Black Friday."
It was Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
Hooton was the starter for the Dodgers. In the second inning he started having control problems. Then the fans got involved.
With each ball out of the strike zone, the fans got a little louder. I guess you could call it 'Hooton' and hollerin'.
Once it became clear the fans had gotten under Hooton's skin, it only got louder.
Before it was over Hooton issued four straight walks, three with the bases loaded. Norristown native Tommy Lasorda went to the mound and lifted Hooton as the fans continued to roar.
I would place it right there with Wilbert going off right tackle and running untouched into the end zone in the 1980 NFC Championship game vs. the Cowboys as high points in the history of Veterans Stadium.
That was the high point of the day.
Of course, it did not end there.
That's why it's called "Black Friday."
The Phils fell behind but then clawed back in the eighth to take a 5-3 lead going into the ninth. The Phils almost always replaced leftfielder Greg Luzinski for defensive purposes. For some reason, on this night, Danny Ozark did not.
Luzinski misplayed a ball, allowing one run to score. Then a throw from Larry Bowa on a sharp grounder that went off the glove of Mike Schmidt seemed to nip the speedy Davey Lopes at first. But first base umpire Bruce Froemming called him safe.
The karma had shifted. Lopes eventually scored, the Phils lost and instead of being up 2-1 in the series, they were down 2-1. They lost that series.
But the fans provided a moment that will live forever in Philly sports lore.
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