Andrew Clem, Staunton, VA -- Aug 29, 2006 15:35 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 7
After dreaming about it for 40+ years, I finally seized the opportunity to make a pilgrimmage to this grand basilica in the Bronx on July 22, 2004. The #4 subway train (Green Line express, highly recommended) emerges from the ground just before it reaches Yankee Stadium, giving us a brief glimpse of the field from the train through the gap between the bleachers and the grandstand, where the right-field bullpen used to be. Both outside and inside, it is truly magnificent, beautiful, and awe-inspiring, more than living up to my expectations. Even though I had scrutinzed photos of the place for years, I found myself disoriented more than once as we walked around the perimeter. Overall, the physical condition of the stadium is pretty good, and the bathrooms are clean. If you want a beer, you can choose between Bud Light, Bud Light, or Bud Light. Attendance that day was about 54,000, nearly full, and I had to push hard through the massive crowd outside to get my tickets at the Will Call window. The Yanks beat the Blue Jays, 1 - 0, in a tense pitchers' duel between Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Ted Lilly. We had a great panoramic view from the upper deck near the right field corner, but much of right field was completely out of sight. Fortunately, the game-winning home run hit by Ruben Sierra landed in a spot beyond the center field fence that was visible from our seats, though just barely. To my surprise, the main scoreboard was awful: the old fashioned light bulbs (25 watts?) in it made it hard to read the score. We could hardly see the video screen in right center either. Fortunately, the brightly colored mini scoreboards on the front edges of the second deck were much better. After the game I found plenty of shops underneath the subway station where you can buy souvenir items at decent prices.
michael Fronda, Montreal, AL -- Oct 01, 2006 13:19 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 8
Yankee Stadium diagrams are awesome, but there is one tiny error. The distance to the LF bullpen area was 387 ft in 1976 (after the renovation). It was shortened to 379 after the fences were drawn in 1985. The distance is not clear now since the those markers (including the 353 in RF) have been removed. I suspect it's even closer these days, but that's just a hunch.
James Sutton, St. Louis, MO -- Oct 09, 2006 15:17 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 7
I visited Yankee Stadium in 1997 with my cousin. We had press passes so we were able to be down on the field before the game. I am glad that the Yankees are building their new park right next to the old one. The location in the Bronx is where they belong. You can't help but feel the history when at Yankee. I hate the Yankees with a passion but I do respect their tradition and the house that Ruth built. I can't say that that I can complain much about it. It did seem a little cramped and the only reason I rate it a 7 is based on the post remodeling of the 1970's. Sure, it gave the stadium an extended life, but stripped it of a lot of its character and identity. What I wouldn't give to have experienced Yankee in it's hey day before they remodeled it.
John Crozier, New York, NY -- Jun 08, 2007 13:51 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 7
Although I am young, my respect for the history of the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium is tremendous. I have many books about the Yanks and Yankee Stadium which shows pictures of the Old Stadium. My first visit to the Stadium was on September 27, 2003 against the Baltimore Orioles. The highlights of the game for me were Juan Rivera's 2 home runs and Roger Clemens' last regular season start in Pinstripes, which is more special now that Clemens is back. Great diagrams! Keep up the good work.
P.S. The only reason I rate Yankee Stadium a 7 is because after the '75-'76 renovations, most of the history was erased. I am overjoyed that the Yankees and George Steinbrenner, who recognizes the history and tradition of the stadium is building a new stadium next door which has more of the look and feel to the old stadium than the current one.
Martin Freund, Phoenix, AZ -- Jun 05, 2008 16:34 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 9
It was simply referred to as "The Stadium" as I was growing up among three NY ballparks back in the 50's. One might as well substitute the word "Heaven". Space does not permit more elaboration, so let me just say that I live in view of Chase field in Phoenix, and there is no comparison as far as baseball ambiance goes. Yankee Stadium had flags flapping around the roof perimeter, light standards, and the stench of cigars and beer. Now that's baseball at its best. From the first row behind 3rd base (where the tarp used to sit rolled up), I sat as a 12 year old on October 1, 1961, and watched as Roger Maris hit a high fly ball that was high as the 108 foot Stadium roof. As the ball headed toward the packed right field stands, I watched the right fielder look up, drop his arms, and watch the ball land over his head into an abnormally frenzied crowd. It was number 61 for Rajah, and the ball was worth $5,000 to the fan that caught it. Oh yes..I have it all on an 8mm home movie that my Uncle took that day.
Joe Johnston, Covington, LA -- Jul 05, 2008 19:46 PM
3 visit(s). My rating: 7
1. July 4, 1963. Doubleheader, split w. White Sox. Stadium was full of charisma as we could see in from 161st Street walking there from the hotel. Arches were surprisingly green, not the yellow/white seen in the backdrops of baseball cards. (Copper does that.) Saw Elston Howard hit batting practice into the Death Valley bleachers. Good lower deck seats, RF line. Sat behind a drunk standing in seat heckling Maris.
2. Stadium tour, July 17, 2007. Nice chat w. tour guide afterwards, who agreed with me that the new Stadium under construction would have looked better with original dimensions. Players wanted/got modern dimensions.
3. Game that night. Yanks beat Toronto in 10, so we got our money's worth. Front row mezzanine, near RF foul pole. Usherette fussed at us for placing our hot dogs on rail in front of us.
Great place.
Jim Meyer, Overland Park, KS -- Jul 28, 2008 23:14 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 8
I was very pleasantly surprised on my one and only visit to the "House That Ruth Built". Although my seat was in the very top row of the upper deck down the right field line, I was pleased by how close to the action I really was. Hearing Bob Sheppard, the Yankees' legendary PA announcer, in person was quite a treat, too. One treat I missed, unfortunately, was Monumment Park (and that was my fault for not getting to the ballpark earlier).
The only negatives I saw for Yankee Stadium were: (1) The location; despite all the efforts NYC has made to clean it up, the neighborhood around the Stadium is still a dump. (2) Access by car is a major headache; lots of traffic jams and not much parking. (3) The Yankees need to make better choices of music they play over the PA system; too much loud, angry hip-hop, rap and head-banger music.
Charles Alvarez, Bronx, NY -- Aug 02, 2008 10:30 AM
10 visit(s). My rating: 9
I have lived in The Bronx my entire life, and despite being a die-hard Mets fan, I was fortunate that I have had many friends whom have had season tickets to Yankee Stadium. The best place that I have ever seen a sporting event at. The stadium is filled with charm and character, I even got to see footbal games here, albeit high school football games and even then, the stadium is a wonderful place to enjoy a sporting event. I played baseball and football at the new Yankee Stadium site and I will be sad to see the old stadium come down.