Farewell, Yankee Stadium

Last night, the New York Yankees bid a very fond farewell to their beloved home of the last 85 years, historic Yankee Stadium. Playing in their final home game under the lights of the 'house that Ruth built', the Yankees mustered a 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The occasion was marked by a whole slew of ceremonies, both before and during the game.

The gates to Ruth's house were opened some seven hours before the first pitch, allowing the fans to come down for one last walk through monument park in the outfield. As game time drew nearer, the spectators found their seats and were thrilled by some of the great Yankee legends taking the field in their old positions, one-by-one. Bernie Williams jogged out to center field greeted by the familiar chorus: "Ber-nie, Ber-nie." Willie Randolph took up his spot at second base and rubbed some of the coarse infield dirt into his clean uniform with a big smile. Some of the late greats were memorialized by their children, as Randy Maris, Michael Munson, David Mantle, and others stood in for their fathers. And of course, there was Reggie Jackson. It was a moment of overwhelming emotion for players past and present.

“It’s remarkable,” said Phil Coke, a rookie pitcher with just three weeks of major-league experience. “Totally and completely blows my mind. I turn around and look over and see Goose Gossage walking around our clubhouse. Wow.”

Wow, indeed. Prior to game time, all of the former players mingled in the clubhouse, all in full uniform -- right down to Yogi Berra's recognizable stirrups. During the game, the bench was so full that some of the players sat on the roof of the dugout. Jorge Posada was seen standing on the field, taking pictures for his own keepsake, just another mesmerized fan of Yankee Stadium.

Even the quotable Yogi was struggling to find the right words in his pregame news conference. “It will always be in my heart, it will,” he said, fumbling. "I’m sorry to see it over, I tell you that.”

When game time finally did roll around, Andy Pettitte got the start for the home team, working more than five innings and picking up the win. When he was relieved of the mound in the sixth inning, the crowd rose in boisterous ovation, and they didn't let up until he re-emerged from the dugout for a brief curtain call. After the game, Pettitte reflected on the moment: “The way I feel emotionally right now... and just physically so drained... it feels like a huge postseason win for us. I kind of feel embarrassed saying that because, unless a miracle happens, we’re not going to the postseason. But it was special.”

Although this season is indeed a loss for the Pinstripes, there was still something to play for last night. They were facing the prospect of being officially eliminated from postseason contention on the same night they were retiring their house, and that could not happen in such a historic and memorable venue. The team was playing, then, for the ghosts of the Bambino and Mickey Mantle, for Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, and all those who were responsible for creating and perpetuating the legend of Yankee Stadium.

In fitting fashion, it was Mariano Rivera who closed out the evening, storming through a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the deal. After the last batter was put out at first base, the ball was returned to Rivera, who knows just what to do with it. “Mr. George, he gave me the opportunity, and he gave me the chance,” Rivera said, referencing long-time owner Mr. Steinbrenner. “The least I can do is give the ball to him.”

Derek Jeter was lifted from the game with one out left by manager Joe Girardi, allowing him to take one final curtain call of his own. After the game, as the players gathered on the mound, he addressed the crowd. “We are relying on you to take the memories from this stadium. Add them to the new memories to come at the new Yankee Stadium. And continue to pass them on from generation to generation,” he said.

The Yankees will open their new home at the beginning of next season on April 16, 2009. It remains to be seen whether the ghosts of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Murcer, Mantle, and all of the others will make the trip across the street to their new home as well.

We can only hope so.