The Last Yankee Stadium Yankee Game

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This link above will take you to site where I have posted my pictures, good and not so good of Sunday's night's game. I will be posting a slide of those picture on this blog in a day or so, but this other link will enable those who actually want a photo to get one for their own scrapbook.

I never thought I would be part of something historical. However the Yankees and Yankee Stadium are history; and in recent years I have been privileged to be there for significant historical events. This game is history now, the last one ever at what will soon be labeled, Old Yankee Stadium. It surpasses the first game back after 9/11 and any playoff/World Series game I attended. Yankee Stadium , new or old will forever be historical, even after it is reduced to rubble and parkland.

Despite initial announcement, all the plans have changed. The first hint was when premium seats ticketing occurred in early summer, and then fans were told recently all ticket plans would change. A few days later the Yankees and the City of New York announced the stadium shell would not be preserved, the stadium would be demolished and made into a park. the City tool all efforts to protect Yankee Stadium Sunday, not to help the coffers of souvenir seat sales, but because nothing will be done with the stadium until the Yankees are absolutely sure new digs will be available. Until that time, no deconstruction will occur in the grand old Cathedral of Baseball.

For those still wishing a look, the Yankees are still running tours. Stadium tours will run until such time as the Yankees begin to ship operations across the street.

I will have further thoughts on Sunday's final baseball game in a few days. And while there will never be another MLB pitch thrown there, there is still a place to go and see for those who want a tour. But don't wait too long to go.

The Final Consecration of the Cathedral

The faithful had gathered, hope and anticipation of another season; Opening Day in the Bronx. The weather, lousy with a light drizzle did not dash the hearty. Many began tailgating in the lots in the early morning. I arrived on the D train from Penn Station and met Glamourbee and off to services we went.

It was about noon as we entered hallowed ground, I tithed obtaining my 2008 Yearbook, Opening Day Pin, Program and Opening Day shirt. Up to our lofty perch in the loge we went to view the final consecration of this grand stadium; we thought. I easily found my seats, in the same space I have been since 2002. Next year I will have to be attentive when the great move is made. Time to watch and wait.

There were scattered announcements about a rain delay, and not much till 1:30. John Sterling and the YES casters presented messages of hope, Joe G and Brian C took in the field around 2:00PM and then 3 Blue jays came out to play catch. My optimism rose, only to be dashed around 2:30 when the faithful were sent home. No game today, bad weather approaching.

To this I must say the Yankee weatherman must go. The current meteorologist lacks skill, The rain remained away, and had they started at 2:00PM they could have gotten the game in. The Yankee weatherman is a wimp. Please hire Bill Evans, Lee Goldberg and/or Sam Champion. They were correct, the Yankee weather guy was wrong.

I took a PTO day to go today, no big deal I have 30, and have hardly dented them yet. Others who were there had skipped school or also played work hooky. But we will all adjourn in the same location again tomorrow night.

Opening Night isn't as much fun as Opening Day. There is still the announcement of players and staff to look forward to; but the game will be under lights in the dark; and like it or not, some of the anticipation of first pitch will have left; but Glamourbee and I will be there again, hopefully to see baseball played and not rain delayed.

The Beginning of the End

Although there has been no firm statement as such, the last season of Yankee baseball is about to begin at The House that Ruth Built.

The Cathedral of Baseball as many call it was built for $2.5 million dollars and opened it's gates on April 18, 1923. The under construction stadium was originally priced at ~$800,000,000. However the latest figures put final costs at $1.3 billion, just a little bit over budget roughly 39%. That seems just about right since the cost of gasoline has risen about the same since 2006 when construction began.

With the changing of the playing field has come the changing of the Steinbrenner management. Younger sons have taken the reins from George Steinbrenner. Rumors fly about George's health. However even for all his faults and follies, you do have to hope that if the rumors are true, and his health is failing, that George gets to see the first pitch tossed in the the new Yankee digs next year; after all he paid for most of it; and among fanatical sports owner-fans, George will always rein at the top.

There are 31 days till first pitch of the NY Yankee's Opening Day is tossed in the old stadium. I will be there as always, but this year, I am wondering if it will be the last time I feel that energy I get when I look at the playing field. My awe is based on the history that has been made in the Bronx in that old stadium; the many baseball hosts who must be walking the concourses and sitting next to the current crop of Yankees.

You have to wonder if that feeling will continue in the new stadium. Surely the baseball ghosts can walk across the street, but the new stadium is just that, brand spanking new. No history will have been made in it when it opens in 2009. Well I just guess I will have to wait and see if that occurs next year.