Gettin’ Carried Away

Yankee Stadium
River Avenue & E 161
New York, NY 10001

Since the first pitch was thrown there in 1923, Yankee Stadium has hosted over 6,500 baseball games in a park that currently accommodates a little over 57,000 fans. There is so much history inside the stadium, and I feel privileged to have attended several baseball games at this legendary ballpark.

Yankee Stadium was one of the first sports facilities in the United States to be given the title of stadium, which, in Greek, means a place that holds footraces. While most venues are called parks or fields, Yankee Stadium was originally designed to be a multi-purpose venue with a quarter-mile running track (now warning track). The baseball stadium has been used for other sporting events, such as boxing, professional football, college football and soccer.

Although the stadium was rebuilt in 1974, much of the original structure was retained and re-used, preserving the idea that this was the same Yankee Stadium where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle played ball. Some of the updates over the years included:

Lights
A brand-new roof
Wider, more comfortable seats
New bleachers
Fresh paint
Additional restrooms
Extra parking

You may remember my mention of Babe Ruth in one of my earlier posts. The Great Bambino may have started his career with the Red Sox. However, his successful career with the Yankees made Ruth a legend and helped begin the team’s winning history.

In 2006, the Yankees organization began new construction on a $1.6 billion stadium in public parkland next to the current stadium. The 2008 Yankees have not advanced to the post-season this year, making tonight’s game against the Baltimore Orioles that last game to ever be played in Yankee Stadium. The new home of the Yankees is expected to open for the 2009 season, which begins in April. I guess I have another ballpark to visit!