Yankee Stadium is Forever

The last game at Yankee Stadium?

In reality there is no such thing. And there will be no such thing. For as long as Major League Baseball will be played, there will always be a Yankee Stadium.

The day there is no Yankee Stadium…the world will have bigger things to worry about.

Sure, it is bittersweet that the Stadium you know will no longer stand.  But that's only because the new stadium hasn't had a chance to create new memories yet. Yankee fans will see to it that the new Stadium rocks when the team comes from behind to snatch a late season win from a divisional foe.

The greatest team in sports deserves the best stadium. That was the thinking in 1923, and that thought makes sense for 2009 as well.

What players will create the new memories? If the marketing folks have their way, A-Rod will christen the new stadium with nine years of impressive seasonal statistics, culminating with the all-time Home Run record. If the baby Jesus has his way, the captain will earn another ring or two before he hangs up his spikes, Joba will pave out his impressive Hall of Fame career, and Marino will save the last game of the Yanks' 27th World Championship.

I've always felt THE Yankee Stadium was torn down after the 1973 season. The old stadium was regal, cavernous, a cathedral. The remodeled stadium lost that majestic feeling. As a product of the 1970s, the new Stadium had too many modernistic elements from an architectural standpoint. It just didn't seem intimidating.

The original Yankee Stadium was the ball park of my youth. I was 7 years old when my Father took me to see my first Yankee game: July 16, 1967. Mickey Mantle hit a home run in the 2nd inning and I entered a state of youthful euphoria. The game went 14 innings before the Orioles pulled out a 2-1 win. (By the way, that 14 inning game was played in just 3 hours and 1 minute.)

Besides the Mantle home run, what I remember most was the hilarious and creative heckling of Bird right fielder Russ Snyder. Poor Russ took a home run away from Joe Pepitone in the 6th inning. Had Snyder not made a headlong leap into the stands, the game would have ended in regulation.

Snyder then suffered through a barrage of insults that I have yet to hear equaled in any forum. I never saw my Father laugh so hard. My mother, always the Mom, said: "I hope Russ' mother isn't here to listen to all this."

The day man first walked on the moon? I was at Yankee Stadium, of course, and the event was announced over the loudspeaker by Bob Sheppard. As a nine year old, I was already on the moon and I never wanted to leave the Bronx. I thought to myself, "Hey that's great for Neil Armstrong. But can Jack Aker hold on here to beat the Senators?" I had my priorities.

My seat cost 1.50 and I'm pretty sure my Father fed three kids, himself, and parked his car for all under $20. Not that he didn't complain about it.

In 1972, the Yanks were in a pennant race for most of the year. In August, they won 3 out of 4 from the Tigers to move within 2 games of first place.  This was the year Sparky Lyle came over from the Red Sox and entertained the rabble with 3 inning saves. The Yanks won the final game of the Detroit series 1-0. Sparky got the save and the old building rocked. Impromptu parties erupted outside the stadium to welcome back the Yanks' winning way. The celebrations were a bit premature, but they were heartfelt.

My fondest memories of Yankee Stadium II include two World Championships in the late 1970s, the Game #2 playoff win in 1995, and the Scott Brosius HR in Game #5 of the classic 2001 World Series.

But I've never been more proud of the Yankees than I was after the last game at Yankee Stadium II on Sunday night. From the top echelons of the organization…to all the players…and the remarkable fans, everyone combined to make a memorable night. Derek Jeter's speech to the fans will go down in history. Simple. Perfect. Direct.

And welcome back Bernie…we missed you.

As Yankee Stadium II now gives way to Yankee Stadium III, I am thankful the Yankees never bolted for California like the Dodgers and Giants. I am thankful they never left the Bronx. I am thankful they are building another beautiful cathedral worthy of the name: Yankee Stadium.

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As every Yankee fan knows, Yankee Stadium has been the venue for 26 World Championship and 39 American League Pennants.

But through the years, it's seen many notable non-baseball events-heavyweight championship fights, NFL playoff games, key college football games, concerts, Papal visits and more.

The most significant NFL game played at the Stadium was the "Greatest Game Ever Played," the first overtime playoff game in NFL history. On December 28, 1958, the Johnny Unitas-led Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants 23-16 for the NFL championship. Many sports historians point to this game as the moment the NFL entered the consciousness of the average sports fan.

Among other significant NFL games:
· December 30, 1956: NFL Championship Game (New York Giants 47, Chicago Bears 7.)
· December 30, 1962: NFL Championship Game  (Green Bay Packers 16, New York Giants 7.)
· December 10, 1972 (Miami Dolphins 23, New York Giants 13. Fish improve to 13-0 on way to their perfect 17-0 season)

Yankee Stadium has also been one of Boxing's most glorious venues:
· Jack Dempsey KOd  Jack Sharkey in the first $1 million non-title fight  (July 21, 1927)
· Joe Louis knocked out the German Max Schmeling (June 22, 1938)
· Muhammad Ali defeated Ken Norton (September 28, 1976)

Notable College Football Games at Yankee Stadium:
· November 10, 1928:  Notre Dame 12, Army 8. Scoreless at halftime, Knute Rockne gives his famous "win one of the Gipper" speech in the locker room
· November 11, 1946: Notre Dame 0, Army 0. Battle featuring four Heisman Trophy winners (Doc Blanchard, 1945; Glenn Davis, 1946; Johnny Lujack, 1947; and Leon Hart, 1949)

Papal visits at Yankee Stadium:
· Pope Paul VI (October 4, 1965)
· Pope John Paul II (October 2, 1979)
· Pope Benedict XVI (April 20, 2008)