When the homeplate umpire hollers "PLAY BALL" on Monday afternoon in the Bronx, it will signal the beginning of the end (1923-2008) of the big ballpark on 161st St. With fond memories of many Saturday and Sunday afternoons spent there, I will be sorry to see it close in October.

Here's a news flash: John Lindsey demolished the "old" Skankee Stadium in the 70's.

a true baseball fan!

Yes it is not the "old Stadium" but it is still the same field where the Greates ball players of all time have played. I was born across the street and lived on Walton Ave as a baby. We used to skip school hop the train and go see a yankee game. Im gonna miss the stadium.

Welcome to BITB! Scotty

The 1970's stadium is better then the 1920's one. no restricted views. They should have done what they did in the 70's. Rebuild in the same place. A good portion of the rebuilt part is orideginal. The people in the area hate loosing there parks. I lved 3 blocks from the stadium

Good point dbob.

Hey Mike,

Yeah, the Stadium holds some amazing memories for me too. Im 61, so I grew up in the Stengel,Skowron, Richardson, Kubek, Boyer, Berra/Howard, Tresh, Mantle, Maris/Lopez days. A lot of kids have no idea what it was like to grow up in the Bronx and ASSUME a World Series was comin around every September.

I woke up in a twilight zone today with a strange sensation, that I was at the Stadium, attending the LAST opening day, with about 65,000 other guys my age... we all had our old gloves we used to bring to the stadium, knowing that we would have ONE LAST CHANCE to catch a foul ball. And the game begins, and one by one, all the starters since game one of the first season line up on the foul line, and we gave them a standing ovation that lasted a full week, as time stopped, allowing each of us the opportunity to remember those good old days. I am getting chills just typing this. WOW, what memories.

Could you imagine if all the starters that EVER played for the yankees were able to take one more final salute, we'd be in the stands, in amazement seeing those faces, the numbers, 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,16.................time would stop, and we would see what the Stadium meant to the Brinx, and each of us, and the memories would pour out, as we think of the millions of people who had the blessing to sit in the granstands, or the bleachers, and see the greats in one final salute..........

.....this could be a Spielberg movie, couldnt it??

Im not sure about you, but the Stadium is still at the center of my Bronx experience.


Steve Heller
stephenbheller@aol.com

Steve, I'm 57 and so I share your memories...75 cent bleacher seats in center field behind the "Mick"..sneaking into the lower level grandstand seats for Game 2 of the Sunday Doubleheaders (It was always a good day to play 2!) I would have to say that Bobby Richardson was my all time favorite. I remember Ralph Houk (The Major) always standing in the dugout with one foot up on the steps

Yeah Mike,

We do share similiar memories.

What compared to sitting behind the Mick, in those 75 cent seats? That "number 7", sitting on those massive shoulders, and that little boys smile the Mick would share once in a while. I always think about how different it could have been, hadn't that water drain been there that day. Is it possible to explain the Stadium to somebody who never experienced the one we knew? It was a cavern, with those facades standing around from left to right field. And the dead center monuments, like nowhere else on the planet. Sorry but I did forget a few names in my previous message, particularly Joe Pepitone, and Mel Allen, Red Barber, Phil Rizutto, and, who could forget the golden, velvet-smooth Bob Shepard, who, in his slower-than-slow speech reminded us each game of the things we longed to hear, our starting line-up, and the seventh-inning stretch. I still hear his voice, and am reminded that he was an establishment in the Stadium, and not only for Yankee baseball. Phil added a flavor, called experience, to each game, and would often have some type of story to tell from the real old days that would liven our imaginations, and make each game even better than it already was.

By the way, what beat a frank at the stadium? They were usually cold, granted, but who cared?

Steve Heller

"HOW ABOUT THAT!...A BALLANTINE BLAST" (Mel Allen) and "YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN" (Bob Shepard).I have not heard him at the Stadium this week...hope he has not retired. I would think that this Voice of Yankee Stadium since 1951 would want to be around for this final hurrah!

Haha,

Pretty good memory there. "A Ballantine Balst"..lmao

I too remember "Your attention, Ladies and Gentlemen", mainlt because it took hom about three minutes to get those words out...lol.

I believe that Bob Shepard retired about three or fours years ago, and maybe, if my memory serves me correct, he has passed away.

You have to admit, Mel Allens accent didnt exactly fit in with the bronx accent. Where was he from, anyway? Thinking of him certainly brings back memories. Think about HIS career, what incredible things HE announced and what a life and job he had (sure beats working for the Cubs...lol)

Steve Heller

Bob Shepard worked right up to the end of last season and is still alive. Mel Allen was born and raised in Alabama.

Mike,Shepard is out sick. Their hoping that he can return later in the season. Listen when
Jeter is announced. He had Shepard tape his intro. I went to the game yesterday, Jaba is
electric. Reminds me of Gossage. Give the man the three ring sign and ask the man for Balantine.

Thanks Gibby, I was hoping he had not retired yet.

Im glad Bob Shepard is alive, and hope that he continues to get well. I can think of countless games I went to where you could hear his voice announcing the line up, who was up next etc. He sure is a part of Yankee history. I think of all that he witnessed at the stadium, all the greats, the incredible history. The Mick was, of course, my idol, and I STILL see him running around the bases, arms held high, elbows bent so his lower arms were parallel to the ground, as he ran, head lowered, around the bases to complete yet another circle in celebration of yet another monstrous shot somewhere in the bleachers, or better yet, busting a lights in the nightlights over the gransstand facade. It was truly a special blessing growing up in the Bronx just to see the Mick making his run, touching all four........

Steve, I remember one occasion when Mick lost his temper. It was late in his career, a Sunday afternoon. It was dreary from on again off again rain. I had sneaked into the lower grandstand seats for Game 2 and was sitting perhaps 4 or 5 rows back of the Yankee dugout. Mick came up late in the game with the Yanks losing and promptly struck out swinging. He walked back to the dugout, down the stairs and the next thing I hear is WHAM, BAM, SLAM... He was beating the daylights out of the water cooler in the corner with his bat!

I got to jump in here as this is a topic dear to my heart. I'm 57 and as a kid I used to walk to the stadium down the L Grant highway from University & 176 St. to save the 30 cent train fare I was given to buy a hot dog. I usually went to the Sunday doubleheaders that were scheduled every Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Reading all of the posts brought back great memories. The MICK was the man and still is! I always remember asking 'what the Mick do' before asking if the Yanks won or lost. To me he was more important than the Yanks. As great as he was, like someone wrote in a posting if he didn't step in that drain I cannot imaging what records he'd have broken. I was lucky enough to meet him as I went to his last fantasy camp in Ft. Lauderdale in 1994. Although I been to many memoriable games, 1976 game 5 against KC, Reggie's 3 HR game going to his camp was the greatest thrill. For the record, according to Michael Kay Bob Shepard is expected back in June. For anyone that is interested, the Yankees offer tours of the existing stadium for about $20. I am scheduled to go in July. It's the last chance!

More great memories of the Mick. Yeah, stepping in that drainage ditch did who knows what untold damage. Despite that, he still was able to fly around the bases, and do a pretty good job chasing fly balls. But it was his SWING, that amazing extension he was able to get out of his arms, as his shoulder stretched below his chin that gave him so much power. Comparing him to current players, he really isnt that large, but between his extension he was able to get from his arms, and the way he was able to rotate on his hips, well....you guys saw some of those shots he hit...ROCKETS. As far as striking out, well, that is a whole different story.......lots of folks thought he should have retired years earlier than he did, but, honestly, he always was THE strike out king. Hit or miss, he always gave you a full cut. I can see him trashing that water cooler Mike, and I can also see him going down on three pitches......with the Mick, it was 475 feet or none, but to me, my heart still skips a beat when I think of those rockets he hit, and the way he rounded first base, head down, arms up, a real jocky jog. I still get a chill thinking about the man who was the center of so many young boys life in the 50's and 60's. The MICK!!!!!!!!!