So long Yankee Stadium

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Posted By: Chad

I really hope Steinbrenner never wins another Series. Babe, if you're out there, how about another curse?

--Chad

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I have no idea what this post is about...

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Posted By: Chad

Steinbrenner along with Bloomberg and Pataki are unveiling the plans for the New Yankee stadium to be built in the Bronx today. The House that Ruth Built is coming down except for a section that will become a museum. So, Fenway and Wrigley will be the last of the "vintage" parks.

--Chad

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Posted By: john/z28jd

I was at Yankee Stadium last night for the first time in over 15 years,instead of building a new stadium they should do something about the neighborhood or the traffic,or the ticket prices or the parking or the food prices.Leave the old stadium like it is and put the money into everything else.

For something thats supposed to be one of baseballs treasures it sure is a very uninviting place to visit.I wouldnt go back if the whole trip was free

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Let's not get too teary-eyed here; Yankee stadium of today was drastically "modernized" in the mid 70s. In making his pitch for a new Yankee stadium, Steinbrenner promised to make it look more like the original House that Ruth built....

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Posted By: jay wolt

The key in doing this is ....luxury boxes...jay

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Posted By: T206Collector

I have been a Yankees fan my whole life. I used to go to Yankee Stadium for birthdays every year. I have been to World Series games there in 1981, 2000, 2001 and 2003. I have been to playoff games there every year between 1996 and 2004, except for 1998. I saw David Cone and David Wells' perfect games there. Basically, in my short time on this earth, I have seen a whole lot of great baseball at Yankee Stadium. And I can't wait for the new ballpark.

What you have now is a 1970's version of a classic stadium. It hasn't been the House That Ruth Built since 1973. The new stadium will include improvements on food, parking, etc. But most of all, it will be a return to some of the roots of the place that no longer exist. And I welcome the change with open arms.

It is sad to be a Yankees fan, but then tell people that you prefer the experience at Camden Yards and Fenway Park to Yankee Stadium. I am hopeful that the new stadium will give me a new favorite stadium to talk about.

I am especially looking forward to the new frieze. I have no idea why they took it down in 1974. I guess it was the lighting requirements? I dunno...

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

T206 Collector,

DITTO.... I say to everything you just said. As a Yankee fan,
I go way back to 1947. One of the greatest Yankee-Dodger World
Series was played that year, and as an 8 year old, it made me
a "die-hard" New York fan. I still recall many exciting games
I was at in Yankee Stadium during the '50s and early '60s.

I haven't gone to the Stadium much since the 1973 Old Timer's
game (saw Mantle's very last HR....Whitey Ford grooved one to
him). And, I can't stand Steinbrenner, but if he builds a new
stadium very like the old ballpark, I might just modify my at-
tiude towards him.

As Kevin Costner said...."if they build it, they will come".

And, it has to remain YANKEE STADIUM....not some coporate name

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Posted By: tbob

Yankee Stadium hasn't been Yankee Stadium since 1973. If Steinbrenner wants to pay to recreate the "old" ballpark for his aging, overpriced players to play in, it's fine with me. Maybe he can call in Billy Crystal as a consultant to show him what the park should like.
Now if they build a new stadium which bears no resemblance to the old Yankee Stadium, then I will be sad. Having seen the old Tiger Stadium and the old Comsikey Park, I wince when I see the new ballparks in Chicago and Detroit which didn't seem to care a flip about the tradition and history of the old parks. They may be pretty but they are sell-outs.
Just my 2 cents worth...

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Posted By: warshawlaw

of Municipal Stadium at the Jake

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Posted By: Paul

My understanding is that Yankee Stadium wasn't merely renovated in 1973. It was torn down and the ground scraped clean. Then they built a new one. The only connection between the current stadium and the old one is the dirt and the preservation of a portion of the original upper deck facade (which was moved to center field). The current stadium is entitled to no nostalgiac feelings, except by fans of Ron Guidry and Thurman Munson.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Paul, that's not accurate. The old Yankee Stadium was not torn down; for a year major renovations were made and the Yanks played at Shea. The "new" stadium never really worked its way into the hearts of NY fans despite the many championships that followed in the late 70s to the present. For this reason, along with the fact that Steinbrenner's idea for a truly new Yankee Stadium includes replicating much of what the original stadium looked like, the NY tabloids are strongly supporting the endeavor.

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Posted By: jay wolt

I think its great that the new stadium will be in the same area, and that it won't be in Manhattan or Jersey.
The current stadium does have many ties to the past. Monument park is pretty neat and stands in the same spot. Only difference is, they added a lot more monuments and that area is no longer in play as they brought in the fences.

I've been to over 100 Yankee games incl pre'74 for the renovation and '76 and up. I was at their 1st game in the "new" stadium vrs the Twins where Disco Dan Ford hit the 1st Home Run.
When my boy comes home on leave in 2 weeks, I promised to take him there, its a 4-5 hour ride without traffic and it will be our last chance to see the current stadium...jay

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Not to mention Rivers, Chambliss, Dent, Randolph, Figueroa, Nettles, Piniella and Jackson. I went to the old stadium in the early 70s for Giants games with my father and I was at the stadium in 76 and at the 76 series and the facility was not that pleasant then, either with the old decrepit bad sight lines or even brand spanking newly renovated. If they are going to erect a serious ballpark with many of the iconic design elements restored and lots of amenities, more power to them.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

As a lifelong New Yorker who's traveled far and wide to many parks throughout the country, I can honestly say that the only park worse than the "refurbished" Yankee Stadium is probably Shea. While I appreciate greatly the prospect of a new park with modern amenities, I would be much happier if the park wasn't in like the worst neighborhood this side of Kabul. Alas, we can't have it all, I suppose.

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Posted By: Paul

My apologies if I've been passing along misinformation.

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Posted By: dennis

i hope they put the monuments back in the playing field.

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Posted By: jay behrens

Yankee Stadium is far from the worst in the league, although it's getting there with all the new parks opening. With the closing of the Kingdome, the Metrodome now rules as the worst park in the game. Right behind them is the Oakland Colesium, Busch and then Shea.

Prior to all the new construction, I had been able to make it to every park. Of the new ones, I've been to PacBell/SBC, Camden and BOB. PacBell is by far the best of all the new stadiums. The knothole area in right field is the best feature any new park has com up with. I watched many a game from there. And best of all, it's free.

Now if Minnesotans can stoop being such idiots and appove this new stadium, I'll be a happy camper, but there better put a roof on the damn thing. In typical MN fasion, they don't want spend the extra money on something they "don't really need".

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.

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Posted By: T206Collector

...is the worst, with all due respect to the Metrodome. And the worst thing about it? The Devil Rays hold the lease for another 20 years. I am still looking for a T206 O'Hara Devil Rays variation, if anyone has one (my weak attempt to keep this thread vintage).

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Posted By: jay behrens

Sorry, forgot about that stink hole too. But it's still not worse than the Metrodome. Thank goodness the days of multipurpose fishbowls and domed stadiums are gone.

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.