I attended my first New York Yankees game at the new Yankee Stadium this past Wednesday, when the Yankees played the Cleveland Indians. I went to the game with my mother, which was only fitting, because she brought me to my first Yankee game way back in 1970’s at the old Yankee Stadium when we lived in northern New Jersey. The Yankee team of my youth was one with Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Thurman Munson, Greg Nettles, Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers, Lou Piniella and Manager Billy Martin.
Our trip to the new Yankee Stadium was a first for the both us. Visiting the new stadium has been on my to-do list since I moved back to Pennsylvania from San Diego a few years ago, but I didn’t want to go the last couple of seasons because the Yankees were not playing real well. This year the team has shown a significant improvement and look like a they should at least secure the wild-card slot in the American League playoffs.
I knew the stadium would be impressive based on what I had read about and the pictures I have seen of it and the many times I’ve seen the stadium on television, but seeing it in person exceeded my expectations. As soon as you emerge from the D train subway stop at 161st street in Bronx you can see the massive limestone facade of the stadium and imposing Gate 6 stand right across the street. The building seems like a temple to baseball, which is appropriate for the baseball team with the richest history and tradition in Major League Baseball. The stadium is filled with tributes to multiple generations of great Yankee players that have played on teams that have won a total of 27 World Championships during the storied history of the team. There is a museum at the stadium that includes displays for the Yankee greats spanning the generations.
All in all, I had a great time and I look forward to future visits to this magnificent stadium
Here is the view from section 209 as the fans sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame..
