S.I. Says Farewell to Yankee Stadium

This week’s Sports Illustrated pays homage to The Stadium, The Cathedral In The Bronx, The House That Ruth Built. Tom Verducci, writing as Yankee Stadium itself, recounts some of the things that took place inside the stadium walls - a place that has seen so much history in its 85 years that it truly is an iconic location.

From the “Gipper Speech” uttered by Knute Rockne, to Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech. The first overtime game in NFL history was played in Yankee Stadium. The Pope has delivered mass there twice. The list of stars who played there is endless, from Ruth to Ted Williams, from Derek Jeter to Cal Ripken, Jr..

There have been magical nights that transcended sports. June 22nd, 1938, when over 70,000 people came to watch Joe Louis fight Max Schmeling. President Roosevelt told Louis, “We need those muscles to beat Germany” and Louis delivered. Or October 30th, 2001, when a grieving nation and a grieving city joined together to celebrate America and try and move on from tragedy.

Of course baseball moments will be remembered the most. Boone’s home run, Maris’ 61st, August 6th, 1979, Larsen’s perfect game, Reggie’s three home runs, Mantle hitting the façade and yes, even the bloody sock. So much history and so many memories, it makes you wonder why they have to tear it down in the first place? Oh yes, the quest for more money.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Peter Trinkle in News on September 18, 2008 4:45 PM

Comments [rss]

JMH

It's a shithole, good riddance.

Of course, they built the new stadium in the same shithole.

Guest

Actually #8, if you're referring to Turner Field in Atlanta, the tickets to get in are hella-cheap compared to the outrageousness that is Yankee prices. They even have an entire sections that go for as little as $5 per seat.

spiritross

The strange thing is that the current Yankee Stadium really is a different stadium than the classic - the construction of the 70s really completely changed it anyway - so the history was lost back then

Total waste of money though

no need at all to build new ones

greedy bastards

cobalt420

The stadium technically belongs to the team -- so they can do what they want with it.

BUT... i'm really get tired of all the shmaltz about "oh its so historic" and "this was a piece of history" from the Yankee organization. They are trying to milk this for all its worth. If its so historic then why are you tearing it down?? Theres nothing wrong with the place that couldnt have been fixed up. Oh wait.. I know.. greed. Yes Greed is the answer.

Kind of hard to wax poetic about how historic and wonderful something is when you are going to turn it into a parking lot.

leonwestbrook

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Yankee Stadium is not special.

The same goes for shea. At least the Mets acknowledge that its a shithole and aren't wasting time for pomp and circumstance to give it the wrecking ball.

NannyState

I got my copy of this S.I. It's so thin, it's practically a pamphlet. The last days of Yankee Stadium and they couldn't find an advertiser.

Maybrick2001

I say people should just not go to any more games. Let the new stadium ROT!

Oh....I forgot....none of us 'average' folk could afford to get into the new TURNER Stadium in the first place!!!!!!!!!

LinkMan

Yankee Stadium is pretty far from Staten Island. Yet the whole borough is saying farewell?

Oh... the other S.I.

Steven

People in the northern suburbs have no excuse to drive to the stadium with a Metro-North stop being built and ready by next year.

Alex

Keep the facade, remove most of the seating and tiers, convert to a series of smaller baseball fields for kids in the Bronx to use.

Oh wait, just tear it down and put a parking lot there for all the rich white people coming in from westchester, long island, and jersey.

miz coaster

gag - stankee stadium is a dump.

further, the place where the nation remembers the healing after 9/11 was at SHEA when Liza Minelli delivered New York NY. anyway - enough already with this place... really.