Yankee Stadium opens its gates for the final time

Justin Saks / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

Former New York Yankee hall of famer Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” After 85 years of history, Yankee Stadium will be no more. Its doors were shut, and its lights were turned off after the Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles this past Sunday night in a score of 7-3.

During their game with the Orioles, the Yankee Stadium recorded a couple of historic plays. Yankees catcher Jose Molina will forever be known as the last player to hit a home run at Yankee stadium, and his teammate Andy Pettite will be known as the man to get the last win in Yankee stadium history. For the Orioles, a journeyman outfielder by the name of Cody Randsom will forever be the last out recorded.

In the stadium’s inaugural game on April 18, 1923, Babe Ruth hit the first home run. Fittingly, it was this past Sunday night that another Yankee great ended what Ruth began. Mariano Rivera, the team’s closer since 1997, came into the game in the bottom half of the ninth inning and?recorded the final three outs at Yankee Stadium.

Normally, the closing of a sports venue is of no huge concern, but the history and memories that were created at Yankee Stadium made this closing an?emotional event. The Yankees won the World Series at Yankee Stadium in its?first year of existence. In the 85 years that the Stadium has stood, it has been home to 37 World Series and the Yankees have won 26 of those championships. This past July, the Stadium hosted its fourth and final All-Star Game as well.

Besides the historic games that took place, there were also many memorable events. For example, in 1927, Babe Ruth set the Major League Baseball record of 60 home runs in one season, only to have it broken 34 years later by another Yankee, Roger Maris. In 1939, Lou Gehrig delivered his famous luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech. In October of 1977, Reggie “Mr. October” Jackson hit three home runs against the Dodgers in Game Six of the World Series to help the Yankees win a championship. In the late 1990s, both David Wells and David Cone threw perfect games from the mound of Yankee Stadium. The list goes on and on, but the thought of Yankee Stadium being demolished in the coming year brings sadness to any baseball fan.

This is a sad moment. “I can’t believe they are taking down Yankee Stadium,” said Scott DeNault, a USD senior and pitcher for the Toreros who made it a priority to attend a game at Yankee Stadium this summer. Another USD senior and New York native Janice DeVito is a bit more optimistic, saying, “There is still going to be a Yankee Stadium; it’s just a new one.”

The Bronx will play home to the new stadium, which is actually located across the street from the now decommissioned Yankee Stadium. It will also boast the same name and will retain the same look.

The new Yankee stadium cost the city of New York and the Yankees over one billion dollars to build. It contains seats that are priced as high as $2,000 a seat per game, but is considered to be the new standard for ballparks.

Two of the most recognizable and distinct features of Yankee Stadium will be reincarnated at the new ballpark. The white frieze, also known as the façade, that runs along the bleacher billboards and scoreboard will be placed around the roof of the grandstand’s upper deck. Also, Monument Park, a collection of retired numbers, which consists of six free standing monuments and 24 plaques dedicated to Yankee players and managers, will be situated beyond the centerfield wall of the new stadium as well.

Right before the first pitch of the final game, Berra announced over the PA system, “only this time when it’s over, it’s over.” On Sept. 21, 2008 at 11:35 p.m. eastern time, was it actually all over. Derek Jeter, the Yankee’s captain, addressed the fans, “Although things are going to change next year and we’re going to move across the street, there are a few things about the New York Yankees that will never change. That’s pride, tradition, and most of all, we have the greatest fans in the world.” He then led the players on a lap around the field to salute the fans as “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra played over the speakers for one final time.