Passing of a landmark
Iam sure for those of you who consider yourselves to be real baseball fans what I am about to tell you is old news. But in the off chance that there are some of you who cherish the American Pastime, as I do, who have not heard the news, I thought I would remind you that opportunities to see "The House That Ruth Built" better known as Yankee Stadium are numbered. With a new home for the New York Yankees in full construction and anticipated to be ready for occupancy next season, the old stadium is on its last legs so to speak.

The home of the boys in pinstripe, located on 10 acres in the South Bronx, was christened on April 18, 1923 with the Yankees defeating their arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox 4 - 1. It was built for the amount of 2.5 million dollars which represented quite an investment at that time. It later received a major renovation during the years 1974 - 1975 at a cost estimated to be at least 25 times more than the original construction price. It marked the only time since its opening in 1923 that the Yankees weren't able to play in the stadium. During those two baseball seasons the Yankees shared Shea Stadium with the Mets.

Since that opening day it has hosted 37 World Series, numerous divisional and league championships, and all-star games in addition to some of the most memorable moments in the history of Yankee and Major League baseball. It was here that Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel combined to manage the Yankees to 18 pennants. It is where Babe Ruth hit his 60th homerun and Roger Maris his 61st. It was on this site that Don Larsen pitched his perfect game, the only one of its kind in World Series history, during the 1956 series. It has been home to Murderer's row, the Iron Horse, the Yankee Clipper and the Bronx Bombers. The outfield has been roamed by legends like Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, and Jackson. The infield graced by the likes of Gehrig, Skowron, Mattingly, Richardson, Rizzuto, Kubek, Martin and more recently Jeter and Rodriguez. Greats like Lefty Gomez, Whitey Ford, Larsen, Roger Clemens, and Mariano Rivera have climbed its mound. Behind the plate stars like Dickey, Berra, Howard and Munson have toiled in the sweat and dirt that are the every day companions of a catcher. Famed announcer Mel Allen's voice has echoed across the stadium thousands of times over the years. It was here that Lou Gehrig uttered his never to be forgotten farewell speech on July 4, 1939 and Babe Ruth, "The Great Bambino" said his good byes to the fans in 1947 and then after his death a year later had his wake as over 100,000 fans passed by his bier to pay their final respects.

Beyond baseball the 'Great Old Lady' has been the sight of many other major events. In the world of sports it was at Yankee Stadium on a cold winter day in 1928 that Knute Rockne, with his Fighting Irish facing an undefeated Army team, urged his players to "win one for the Gipper". It was here, that in what some people consider "the greatest game ever played", the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in sudden death during the 1958 NFLChampionship game. It was also here, where many heavyweight championship fights were held, that Joe Louis claimed the heavyweight championship of the world. The great soccer legend Pele has even traversed its playing surface in international matches to score goals. Outside the world of sports, events like musical concerts by Bruce Springsteen and Pink Floyd have been held in the old stadium. It has even been the site of two Papal visits with Pope Paul VI delivering mass there in 1965 and Pope John Paul II doing so as well 14 years later. In a solemn but stirring event the great old stadium hosted a nationally televised "Prayer for America" two weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to honor those who had survived and pay respect to those who had died in the attacks.

I am thankful that I can say I have been to this great landmark twice to see a baseball game, once as a surprise gift from my wife and a second time on a trip we planned together which included taking our sons and their wives. I enjoyed both trips at the time they occurred and it meant a lot to me to have the opportunity to go. But I guess I didn't realize how much it would really mean until the rumors about replacing it began a few years back and the reality of its imminent demise set in.

If taking a trip to New York to see Yankee Stadium has always been on your wish list, I encourage you to get busy and make it happen this summer because by all accounts, this time next spring what was "The House That Ruth Built" will be a parking lot. Don't let this item on your wish list become one on your list of regrets.

Until next time ……be safe!

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