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The Stadium where Mantle and Maris when back to back in that famous home run battle in 1961. The Stadium where my friends went to games and The Stadium from which we would listen to crowds roar from two blocks away at night games while we sat in Joyce Kilmer Park directly across from Bronx County Court on 161st Street between Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue. Dear House that Ruth Built, I will always remember in my heart the great memories of my youth you hold for me and I'm sure my friends. I salute you with hand on heart and hope the House that Ruth didn't build will bring similar memories to others.

Unfortunately my computer wasn't working Friday and I missed out on this segment. But I have got to leave my thoughts on this salute to The Stadium, and so I do it with no one to see it. I grew up 8 blocks away from--or as I like to say "in the long shadow of"--Yankee Sadiium in the mid '50s and early '60s. I hate sports in general but baseball in particular, I think it's the dumbest sport there is (excluding cricket!). But I sat here and wept like a baby when I heard this is the final week of "my" Yankee Stadium. The Stadium where the friends I grew up with loved to be; my friends who played baseball at Macombs Park just across the way from The Stadium at least 3 times a week. The Stadium where my friends who would go to greet the players like Whitey Ford among others as they left The Stadium and went to spend the night at the Concourse Plaza Hotel on the n/e corner of Grand Concourse @ 161st Street, diagonally across from the Bronx County Court building....

My first game at Yankee Stadium in 1964 at age 13. Whitey Ford pitched and Mantle and Maris each hit homers. It doesn't get much better than that.

In the late 80's & early 90's I worked for the radio station that broadcast the Yankee games. As a result, I had access to a press pass and season tickets, which I used as often as possible. I got to know a lot of the employees and one season began dating a hot dog vendor. After the last game of each year, there was an employee party at the stadium, to which I was invited. At my urging, my boyfriend & I snuck down to the field and had a wonderful, romantic interlude in the Yankee dugout. I smile every time I think of it.

Brian, thank you for the comments about sitting in the seats 8 rows behind third base. It brings back wonderful memories. I was lucky enough to use those same seats on occasion while I worked for the jv partner of your dad's company. For someone who grew up sitting in the upper deck, seeing the games up that close will always be a special memory.

September 10, 1999
Pedro pitched perhaps the best game of his career. In the middle of the team's longest road trip against their strongest competitors, he took the mound at Yankee Stadium. He threw a complete game one-hitter, facing only one batter over the minimum. Pedro struck out the side in the 5th, 7th, and 9th innings, for a total of 17 in the game - a new career high! He fanned every Yankee who came to bat at least once. In fact, it was the first time in history that the Yankees have ever struck out 17 times in a game! The Yanks only managed to hit one fair ball after the 4th inning, and the Sox won, 3-0.

the Sox would never destroy their ball park or move it. hope we enjoy the house that greed built

Two wonderful memories:

The first time I saw Yankee Stadium was in the mid-70s. I had been watching games on our old TV and was so excited to see a game in person. I wound around the outside ramps to the top of the left field section. As I entered the seating area, it took my breath away. It was in COLOR - blue!white! green! So much more beautiful than on the old black and white small screen.
Also saw Dave Righetti's no-hitter on the 4th of July (yr?)Priceless.

96 world series. I and my three little girls, ages 12, 8 and 6, waited 27 hours in line for tickets. Game six, four tickets per person. People repeatedly came up to me in line asking how I could have my little girls in line. I simply held up four fingers. My girls refused to leave. Made for a great game. Next year new policy: 2 tickets per person over 18 years.

But I don' **wanna** say goodbye to Yankee Stadium!! >sniffle<

I just hope Mets fans get equal time for Shea. Not everybody lives in a Yankee-centric universe.

I'll never forget the way the stadium shook for David Wells Perfect Game. What a game!!!!
From the 7th on I dont think anyone sat down. CRAZY!!!

I was at Yankee Stadium when Nelson Mandela spoke there after his release from Robben Island. The Ticker tape parade was great, but being at "The House that Ruth Built" was far more important and more special than any World Series game. He was electrifying!!!!

July 19 1988.

Irishman newly emigrated.

First baseball game - Yankee Stadium, box seats (only time ever!).

Yankees V Texas. It rained like crazy, Lou Piniella was manager, the Yankees lost, got out of the car park at 1.30am on July 20, 1988.

I was forever hooked.

Saw my last game there on Monday.

I was sad.

Augh. Don't FORGET me Mateys.

today is Intenational Talk like a Pirates Day.

markbnj.blogspot.com/2008/09/arguh-me-mateys-talk-like-pirate-day.html

Arguh... The Stadium walks the plank. The Yanks miss the playoffs. The scavengers get to sell the remains. Ark.

maybe the Yankees asked both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin to attend the last game, and both parties declined so it would not appear to be politically motivated.

but really - who cares. if the city had let the Yanks move to the Meadowlands rather than renovate the stadium back in the 70s (and what good did that renovation do if they need a new ballpark now?), the Bronx children would have kept their playgrounds, and we'd all be better off, financially and otherwise.

btw - if the Mets had needed a renovation, do you think the Yankees would have let the Mets use their stadium (remember - the Yanks played at Shea while their ballpark was renovated)?

adios, and mala suerte.

For me, the original Yankee Stadium has not existed for 35 years. The reconstruction that started in 1973 was, let's be honest, a 1970's renovation. Was there a single nice thing created in the 1970's????? The soul went right out of the place. If the drawings are reasonably accurate, it is possible that the new stadium will feel more like the original than the remains of the original do now.