A Visit To (Old) Yankee Stadium

by baseballgirl on Nov 5, 2008 12:00 AM PST Comment 19 comments

There are certainly times when the baseball fan in me wars with my allegiance to the team I love. I didn’t choose to love baseball; baseball chose to find me, but I do feel like I picked the Oakland A’s as my team. Maybe my elementary-school self loved the colors; the green and gold so different from the usual reds and blues; maybe it was the rebellion of youth spawned from being raised in an all-Giants family, or maybe there was just something about the team of the early 80’s that would grow into the dynamic powerhouse at the height of the now-questioned, but certainly much-enjoyed era of baseball, but for whatever the reason, I have now ended up aligned squarely with the small-market, new-school, post-Moneyball team that still clings to Oakland as home.

It’s not popular on AN to complement anything that is produced, directed, invented, or sold and packaged by ESPN and its constituents. It’s not okay to harbor any fondness for the big-market teams, and it’s certainly a bannable offense to show affection for either the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, and I realize I’m risking my AN status with the following posts, but I am baseballgirl, so maybe everyone will understand.

Perhaps in complete defiance of a team that was painful to watch for most of this year, I decided that the 2008 season would have to become a little more about baseball and a little less about the A’s. And there seemed no better year to visit the baseball powerhouses of the East than this one; especially with the stadium closure in New York.

I reasoned that if I was going to temporarily dabble in the dark arts, I should keep the visit as brief as possible, so I attended a Friday night game at Yankee Stadium and a Sunday afternoon game at Fenway Park.

Although I had driven by Yankee Stadium briefly on a previous visit, actually showing up to a game was an entirely different story. There is a reason why legends were made here; why the grounds are hallow; why the aura seems to transcend the current season and forces open a window to the past when you are inside the park. Love or hate the Damn Yankees (and 2001 certainly cemented where I stand on that particular issue), Yankee Stadium is a magical place.

It was a beautiful Friday night in the Bronx as ten of us attended the 22nd-to-last game at the stadium. Despite arriving at the park a good three hours before the game, we were one of the last people allowed in line to tour Monument Park in center field, where Vlad almost killed half of our tour group during his batting practice.

But we saw what we came to see:

The players took the field with as much fanfare as I've seen from a club, and the Yankee "roll call" was no doubt the best part. If you watched the last Yankees game of the season, you have seen this, but there is nothing like seven professional athletes waiting like little kids to have their names called so they can turn around and acknowledge the crowd. Johnny Damon was the highlight of the routine, and he couldn't keep himself from waving at little kids periodically throughout the game.

The game itself was nothing special; unless you enjoy a pitching duel between the Yankees and the Angels, and despite all the offense both teams would throw up during the next two nights, Friday's game went into the ninth 0-0. We got to see Mariano come out of the 'pen to pitch the ninth; and become the losing pitcher. Of course, that meant that I got to see another K-Rod save, which would still be a haunting memory if the ALDS had ended differently. I have discoved one way to root for the Yankees though; have them play the Angels while you are in New York in a ballpark straight out of Field of Dreams.

At the close of every fifth inning, the counter ticked off one more game from the long schedule of Yankees games; ours went from 22 to 21. The recorded seventh inning stretch was way better than it seems on TV, and really, the whole experience was like stepping back in time.

I understand how some die-hard fans can be upset about losing this park, even if it is a good thing. The Yankees have enough money to be playing in a state-of-the-art facility; with real concession stands, and bathrooms, and restaurants, and sky boxes, and they have been hanging onto Old Yankee Stadium, afraid to let go. I can see why. The memories aren't the same when taken to another park, but new ones will have to be made.

Hopefully, they will be tinged with a certain amount of green and gold.

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Extremely jealous

I had planned on visiting Yankee Stadium before her curtain closed this seaon. Alas, starting my own company kinda got in the way. I have been to the Hall-of-Fame, but I imagine it doesn’t conjure up chills the way the old Stadium did. Risking my own, however clearly lower, status here, Yankee Stadium always meant baseball to me. There is just an unbelievable amount of history, and well, I am kind of a sucker for baseball history. No, really.

Pat yourself on the back, bbg. You did your name well. Thanks for a great story, and lovely pictures.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 5, 2008 6:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Very, very jealous. Beautiful experience.

Pictures are lovely.

And yeah, here’s to some new memories. Whether those memories are pleasant to the Yankees, that’s another question.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 5, 2008 6:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I've always wanted to go there, but looks like that's not possible anymore

I don’t understand why they are tearing down that stadium…so much history. Could you imagine the Red Sox tearing down Fenway?

"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra

by Cheezombie on Nov 5, 2008 9:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It REALLY is run-down

and they are way behind about 20 of the other parks…as much history, etc. that is there, a move was neccessary for the New York market. I know a lot of people don’t like it, though.

"I know they're the defending World Champs, but they are the whiniest team in baseball" -Rays announcers

by baseballgirl on Nov 5, 2008 9:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And the real Yankee Stadium has been gone for 30+ years

I saw my first pro game at Yankee Stadium in ~1962 – the real one. At that time, the monuments were on the field, no line to see them because they let you exit through the field after the game and you could look all you wanted. And there were only 3 – Ruth, Gehrig and Huggins, sort of like tombstones.

The 70’s “renovation” ruined the place architecturally, and didn’t solve any of the real problems – lousy access to concessions, terrible bathrooms, cramped seats, etc. The last time I was there was about 9 years ago – I was in NY to visit family, and the A’s were in town, we went, mediocre game, and the next day, a piece of concrete fell from the upper deck to the lower – 1 section from where we were sitting. The stadium was closed for a month or so for repairs.

Fenway is much better preserved, but still a pain as far as concessions, bathrooms, etc. Although I haven’t been to Fenway in about 25 years, one of the recent renovations could help that, but I doubt it since you still have to be under the stands and there just isn’t much space.

Hopefully the new Stadium will be a great place – it’s costing enough, and hopefully I’ll get there in a few years.

by gmhyman on Nov 8, 2008 3:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The previous owners did try to replace Fenway.

I think the preservationists would have made a greater effort to save Yankee Stadium if it were still the original Yankee Stadium. The remodeling that took place in the mid-70s changed the place substantially, even the grounds.. To a lot of New Yorkers, Yankee Stadium was already torn down over thirty years ago.

Root for the Giants? Not even if they're playing al-Qaeda!

by Monday Fan on Nov 5, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I really enjoyed seeing Yankee Stadium for the first time

I went a last year in August. When my wife and I decided to go to Manhattan for a week for our honeymoon, she made sure to use some connections her family had to get us pretty good seats to catch a game at Yankee Stadium. It was really amazing.

(and how lucky am I to have a wife that would get me baseball tickets to go to a ballgame on our honeymoon?)

by AsFanInLA on Nov 5, 2008 10:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

My brother and I made an East Coast swing last summer

stopping in Cleveland, Washington (we attended the last baseball game ever to be held at RFK), and, the reason for the trip, Old Yankee Stadium.

We are making an effort to see as many parks as possible, but we missed Shea this year (not that broken up about it to be honest.)

Anyhow, Yankee Roll Call is definitely the one of the coolest things I have witnessed in baseball, especially sitting among the Bleacher Creatures in right field and being in the midst of it all (proudly wearing our Oakland gear, even though it was a game against the Blue Jays.)

I must say I am glad to have witnessed a game in the house that Ruth built, especially being a person who once did have a soft spot for the Yankees (hey, I was a fan of every team that I “played for” in Little League…)

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Nov 5, 2008 10:18 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The last time I was there was in 95

Great trip I went to see games in BAL, BOS, NYY, NYM and ATL.

by adragon on Nov 5, 2008 10:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Loved the write-up...Great stuff.

And the roll call is fabulous….I look forward to seeing it next summer in the new Stadium, hopefully when the A’s make a visit there.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Nov 5, 2008 10:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I missed Yankee Stadium

I spent early 90’s in NY for school, and Yankee Stadium was a good place to visit. Those weren’t the Yankees we have now. As much as we can detest the business and the prima-dona players and money hungry agents and networks, you can’t help admire the stadium and all it stands for baseball. I love the house, just hate the rats that live in it.

by asfansince1989 on Nov 5, 2008 11:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

me too

i haven’t really shared my experience out of personal guilt considering i’ve been an A’s fan since 83’ when I was 7 years old and roamed the old bleachers hoping Dwayne Murphy hit me a big fly, but i also had the pleasure of visiting Yankee Stadium as well as New York in general and it was a “different” experience to say the least. I now reside in Atlanta and being so close to all these east coast cities i’ve been able to visit or at least “view” many different major league stadiums but Yankee Stadium definitely felt different than any other stadium than, i went to the Sunday Night game against the Red Sox the week before the All-Star game and the atmosphere was unlike anything i’ve ever experienced, and that includes Game 2 of the 88’ series in Oakland when I almost went deaf when Steiny hit a rocket into the left field bleachers and I almost went deaf. I was with the wife and we left in the eighth so we missed the Yankee comeback but the experience of being in that atmosphere was priceless and i’m not just talking about the stadium, but the whole square area of souvenier stands, hot dog vendors, bums (lol), subways, etc. you just dont get that kind of “classic” experience at stadiums on the westcoast or the newer stadiums (Baltimore is the exception). One thing that is absolute criminal is the subway ride, HOW IN THE HELL CAN NEW YORK HAVE ALL THAT MONEY AND CAN’T PUT AIR CONDITIONS ON THE SUBWAY!!!!!!!!!!!! i feel l can do anything but that was almost unbearable, but I saw my wife braving it out so I couldn’t punk out, BUT DAMN!!!!! CONGRATS OBAMA!!!!!

by ike041476 on Nov 5, 2008 3:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well done, BBG...

The green I’m sporting is not the green on my A’s hat, but that of jealousy. I’ve been an A’s fan for almost my entire life and I have never liked the Yankess (a sentiment shared by many who regularly visit AN). However…

As your name implies, you are baseballgirl and you set aside your pinstripe displeasure and enjoyed the experience for baseball. Baseball and its glorious past is what Yankee Stadium embodies. The legends of the game that played in New York and have their monuments in Monument Park, the playing area where those and many other stars (and palookas) roamed…the place reeks of history (insert your own punch line here). But the pictures gave me goose bumps. Being a true fan of the game myself, the historical significance of the place is not lost on me. Heck, walking up the tunnel on the 3rd base side at the Coliseum and seeing the field there still gives me chills. I can only imagine what being at The House That Ruth Built would do…

My brother and I talked about being sad that Yankee Stadium was closing (as Tiger Stadium and Comiskey Park before them) and that maybe we should make a trip back east. Never pulled the trigger. So, I live vicariously through you this time. :) Again, well done. Good on ya, BBG. Thanks for sharing…

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state that I've finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), "Harvey"

by Derwood13 on Nov 5, 2008 3:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

What about the die-hard fans who are upset about losing

“Take me out to the ballgame” ?

The one anthem I can stand (for).

by green star oakland on Nov 5, 2008 4:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

We went to Yankee stadium for two games in July.

Even though the A’s lost both games it was a trip that I will never forget. I did feel a a sense of awe while sitting in the House that Ruth Built. The power of history is very strong indeed…

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 5, 2008 4:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I for one will miss the old stadium even though the new one is right next to it. The history there is amazing and I have been going there for years and have always loved it. I drive 3 1/2 hrs there and back atleast 15 times a year for games. I do look foward to seeing the new stadium next season

by ilovegregsmith on Nov 5, 2008 5:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is superbly written

and I am jealous. I got to go to Fenway Park a lot as a kid, but I’d never been to Yankee Stadium. I’m pretty sure that’s something you’ll share with your grandkids some day.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 5, 2008 6:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hey BBG ...

I hope this isn’t sacreligious, but I’ve never been that impressed with Yankee Stadium. In fact, I’ve always thought it was extrememly over-rated.
I’ve been there 3 times — the last trip was in July, where I’ve never experienced a more miserably hot and humid baseball game(s) in my life — but I’m really sorry I never got there before the remodel in 1976. The reason I say that is the Yard just never felt that “old” to me. When you walk into Fenway Park or the old Tiger Stadium (my favorite, by far), it really feels like you’re walking into a 100-year old building. Yankee Stadium, not so much. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, … the Roll Call is cool, and sitting there and thinking about all of the great events that happened there is special, but I never felt like the Stadium was all that great apart from that. It has concourses just like Oakland, and it kind of felt like a stadium built in the 60’s to me. (Just like the other “cookie-cutter” stadiums of the day.) But I’m glad I got to go, just the same … I was just wondering if you had ever made it to Tiger Stadium and how you’d compare them.

I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.

by Vacafan on Nov 6, 2008 9:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs