Closing out the old and ringing in the new.
On Sept. 21, 2008, I covered the final game in the 85-year history of venerable Yankee Stadium, which was home to all of the franchise's record 26 World Series titles and so much more.
On April 16, 2009, I covered the first game in the Yankees' brand-spanking new, $1.5 billion ballpark in the Bronx.
So, as a long-time Yankee fan, I figured I'd chronicle some photos and memories of those two games just seven months apart.
On Sept. 21, 2008, I covered the final game in the 85-year history of venerable Yankee Stadium, which was home to all of the franchise's record 26 World Series titles and so much more.
On April 16, 2009, I covered the first game in the Yankees' brand-spanking new, $1.5 billion ballpark in the Bronx.
So, as a long-time Yankee fan, I figured I'd chronicle some photos and memories of those two games just seven months apart.
Needless to say, the House that Ruth Built was packed for the finale. Unfortunately, everyone knew it was the last game in the old ballpark because for the first time since the early 90s, the Yankees wouldn't be headed to the playoffs.
But emotions were still riding high and I spent a good bit of time wandering the concourses and different levels, talking to fans about their memories and experiences at the stad
ium.I made sure to take a last look from numerous different vantage points, including one from down the third-base line, where as a youngster I watched my first Yankee game -- a loss to the Royals in which Dave Winfield cemented his place as my favorite baseball player by hitting two towering home runs.
Also during the game, I went down to a little room behind home plate where everything and anything involved in the final game was being authenticated by Major League Baseball and its official collectibles arm. It was actually pretty cool seeing all the official balls that were being used, watching them put holograms on the bases that were swapped out every inning, and listening to them explain how the dirt would be collected and sealed in containers afterwards.
Of course, I also made sure to get a picture of the final official lineup, which was posted on the blackboard in the media room tucked in the bowels of the stadium.
"The bowels", to be sure, are an apt description of the underbelly of Yankee Stadium. While there's much to miss about the old ballpark, the place definitely had run its course in many ways. I'll never forget that during the post-game news conference, as Yankee manager Joe Girardi summed up his feelings and emotions in the cramped, run-down interview room, there was a garbage bucket in the middle of the rows of folding chairs for reporters. And into the bucket fell water from a steady leak in the ceiling. Needless to say, I included that in my post-game story on the event.
The pre-game ceremony that featured more than 50 former Yankees, including Don Larsen, who at one point stooped over to collect dirt from the pitcher's mound. That was a popular keepsake, though I didn't snatch any up after the game -- a 7-3 victory over Baltimore in which Andy Pettitte picked up the W and Mariano Rivera tossed the ninth.
I did make sure to get down on the field just to soak up the moment. Of course I had to take a picture from Jeter's shortstop position…
Mariano was among the players who scooped up their own share of dirt, so I made sure to take a couple pictures. What I thought was even cooler though was that he and some family members later just laid down in the infield grass and enjoyed the moment -- it almost looked like they were having their own private picnic, just without the food.
A cool way to close things out, though there was no escaping that directly across the street loomed the new stadium, which at the time was about 75 percent complete. And from the outside, it looked like it was ready for action..
The Yankees couldn't have gotten a better day for the opener at the new park -- as one bitter Red Sox fan said to me at one point, "Man, look at that weather.. Even God is a Yankee fan."
Headed over from the office with Soshnick, who was writing a column on the stadium, and got there a few minutes before they opened the main gates at about 10:30 a.m. It was about three hours before game time, but the fans were everywhere, anxious to check the place out.
Having been at the opener of the Mets' new park (Citi Field) just three days earlier, I have to say the Yankees did things right. Of course they spent almost twice as much as the Mets did, but while both stadiums were beautiful, the new Yankee Stadium still had the feeling of the old digs. Yeah, I'm a Yankee fan, so I might be biased, but Citi Field just had a generic feel to it. There was no nod to the team's history -- no mention of the Mets' two championships, no pictures of Mets' greats and no Mets' colors (green seats??).
Yankee Stadium, as one would expect, was still loaded with history. There were pennants and plaques for all the retired numbers and championship seasons. The signature frieze was still atop the stadium itself. Monument park was moved just beyond the centerfield wall (albeit partially covered by a restaurant). There were pictures everywhere; I loved the fact that from foul pole to foul pole there were huge black and white photos of great moments in Yankee history in chronological order. Great stuff.
Of course, there were loads of stories about the outrageous ticket prices (some behind home plate went for more than $2,500 PER GAME). It definitely is a shame that the normal fan is in many ways getting priced out of the stadium, but there are still reasonable seats to be found. I talked to a guy who was there with his 15-year-old son and had snagged some primo bleacher seats on the cheap, just $14 apiece for great views from beyond the outfield fence.
While the stadium felt like the same place, just better, there were naturally questions about whether it would still have the same magic… There seemed to be some missing as their 11-game home-opening win streak came to an end with a 10-2 loss to Cleveland. (I liked the fact that by far the biggest boos of the day went to Carl Pavano, now with the Indians, during pre-game introductions. Bum..)
"The bowels", to be sure, are an apt description of the underbelly of Yankee Stadium. While there's much to miss about the old ballpark, the place definitely had run its course in many ways. I'll never forget that during the post-game news conference, as Yankee manager Joe Girardi summed up his feelings and emotions in the cramped, run-down interview room, there was a garbage bucket in the middle of the rows of folding chairs for reporters. And into the bucket fell water from a steady leak in the ceiling. Needless to say, I included that in my post-game story on the event.
The pre-game ceremony that featured more than 50 former Yankees, including Don Larsen, who at one point stooped over to collect dirt from the pitcher's mound. That was a popular keepsake, though I didn't snatch any up after the game -- a 7-3 victory over Baltimore in which Andy Pettitte picked up the W and Mariano Rivera tossed the ninth.
I did make sure to get down on the field just to soak up the moment. Of course I had to take a picture from Jeter's shortstop position…
Mariano was among the players who scooped up their own share of dirt, so I made sure to take a couple pictures. What I thought was even cooler though was that he and some family members later just laid down in the infield grass and enjoyed the moment -- it almost looked like they were having their own private picnic, just without the food.
A cool way to close things out, though there was no escaping that directly across the street loomed the new stadium, which at the time was about 75 percent complete. And from the outside, it looked like it was ready for action..
The Yankees couldn't have gotten a better day for the opener at the new park -- as one bitter Red Sox fan said to me at one point, "Man, look at that weather.. Even God is a Yankee fan."
Headed over from the office with Soshnick, who was writing a column on the stadium, and got there a few minutes before they opened the main gates at about 10:30 a.m. It was about three hours before game time, but the fans were everywhere, anxious to check the place out.
Having been at the opener of the Mets' new park (Citi Field) just three days earlier, I have to say the Yankees did things right. Of course they spent almost twice as much as the Mets did, but while both stadiums were beautiful, the new Yankee Stadium still had the feeling of the old digs. Yeah, I'm a Yankee fan, so I might be biased, but Citi Field just had a generic feel to it. There was no nod to the team's history -- no mention of the Mets' two championships, no pictures of Mets' greats and no Mets' colors (green seats??).
Yankee Stadium, as one would expect, was still loaded with history. There were pennants and plaques for all the retired numbers and championship seasons. The signature frieze was still atop the stadium itself. Monument park was moved just beyond the centerfield wall (albeit partially covered by a restaurant). There were pictures everywhere; I loved the fact that from foul pole to foul pole there were huge black and white photos of great moments in Yankee history in chronological order. Great stuff.
Of course, there were loads of stories about the outrageous ticket prices (some behind home plate went for more than $2,500 PER GAME). It definitely is a shame that the normal fan is in many ways getting priced out of the stadium, but there are still reasonable seats to be found. I talked to a guy who was there with his 15-year-old son and had snagged some primo bleacher seats on the cheap, just $14 apiece for great views from beyond the outfield fence.
While the stadium felt like the same place, just better, there were naturally questions about whether it would still have the same magic… There seemed to be some missing as their 11-game home-opening win streak came to an end with a 10-2 loss to Cleveland. (I liked the fact that by far the biggest boos of the day went to Carl Pavano, now with the Indians, during pre-game introductions. Bum..)
