The House That Ruth Built

This weekend will mark the end of something special. Sunday, the New York Yankees will host the Baltimore Orioles in what will be the final game ever played in “The House That Ruth Built”. After the ballgame this Sunday, the lights will dim for the last time and the sun will set on an iconic sports cathedral.

Yankee Stadium was completed in 1923 and was something of a wonder. It was the first triple decked stadium in the country. The extra seats were necessary to accommodate the throngs that clamored to the park to see Babe Ruth hit. Fittingly, Mr. Ruth connected on that April 23 opening day to become the first player to homer in this soon to be historic venue. On hand that day were baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, New York Governor Al Smith, and thousands of fans decked out in topcoats and fedoras. Baseball history was made that day and would continue to be made over the next eight decades.

Yankee stadium hosted many major sporting events over the years. Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling here in 1938. Alan Ameche scored in overtime to lead the Baltimore Colts to an NFL championship over the New York Giants in 1958, in what many call the greatest football game ever, at Yankee Stadium. Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles nearly killed Frank Gifford there, knocking him out cold, in 1960. Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali battled there in 1976. Pele helped popularize soccer in 1977 when he came to play for the Cosmos, who called Yankee Stadium home.

However, it is the success of the Yankees and their many great players that have truly made Yankee Stadium unique among stadiums. This is where Ruth hit his 60th home run in 1927, Roger Maris his 61st in 1961, and Alex Rodriguez his 500th in 2007. This is where the legendary Mickey Mantle came within a foot of being the only player to hit a fair ball completely out of the stadium when his monster home run off of Kansas City’s Bill Fischer hit the right field façade, 110 feet above field level, in 1963. It was here, at Yankee Stadium, that Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three consecutive Los Angeles Dodger pitches in the 1977 World Series. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Yankee Stadium mound. Perhaps, the two most famous and bitter-sweet moments were Lou Gehrig’s “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech in 1939 and Babe Ruth’s farewell address eight years later.

To think of the greats that called Yankee Stadium home is to take a trip down the Yankee wing of the baseball hall of fame. Tony Lazzeri, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Goose Gossage, Dave Winfield, and Wade Boggs come to mind along with personal favorites Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams, Graig Nettles, and Dave Righetti. Future hall of famers like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez have graced the playing field in recent years. Twenty-six world championships were won in Yankee Stadium's eight decades of life.

It is true that the old Yankee Stadium has been gone for many years. The place has been extensively remodeled twice over the years. Yet despite changes in appearance, you could sit in the stands and look upon the very spot where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Mickey Mantle stood. It was something special to gaze upon Monument Park and relive the memories of great Yankees players and managers past. True baseball royalty called this place home. Going to a game at Minute Maid Park or Bank One Park just isn’t the same sort of experience.

I was fortunate enough to get to see a game at Yankee Stadium a couple of years ago. To see a game there had been on my “to do before I die” list since I was a kid. I saw a great inter-league game between the Yankees and San Diego Padres. It was a very well played pitcher’s duel the Yankees won 3-2. The winning run was manufactured in classic fashion. Derek Jeter singled, stole second, was sacrificed to third, and driven home via a sacrifice fly. Ironically, no home runs were hit that afternoon. It didn’t matter. It was a glorious day for me. I grinned like an idiot the entire day. I did see, however, that Yankee Stadium was dying. Concrete was crumbling, some seats were in bad shape, and the concourses smelled bad. While I’m sad that Yankee Stadium will be gone soon, I saw that a new stadium was badly needed.

It is true that “The House That Ruth Built” will soon be gone but the franchise that Ruth led to relevancy will remain. It is sad that this year’s team will miss the playoffs. Yankee Stadium will not go out with a bang but with a whimper. It deserves better. Life doesn’t always serve up a fairy tale ending, however. Not even for twenty -six time world champions. Hopefully, the ghosts of Yankee Stadium are only in hibernation and not truly dead. Maybe, just maybe, they will find their way across 161st street to the new Yankee Stadium. I hope so.

My best…