First trip to new Stadium ends in celebration
NEW YORK – I came to Yankee Stadium feeling tense.
I left Yankee Stadium in celebration.
For me, making the trip to new house was going to be an interesting experience no matter when it was going to happen.
If it took place in the middle of the season, I could treat it in the manner of enjoyment in a relatively stress free situation. However, this first trip was being done under far more stressful conditions.
After seeing the Yankees lose game 5 of the American League Championship Series to the Angels after trailing by four runs in the seventh inning and scoring six runs only to give up the lead in the bottom of the inning, I had visions back to the 2004 dancing in my head. Five games had been played in this series and the Yankees could have legitimately won all five games. This whole thing could have ended in a sweep had Joe Girardi managed things properly.
Instead here we were. Back at Yankee Stadium for Game 6, and the anxiety level among the fans was obvious. On the way to the game on Saturday night, you could sense it everywhere. In previous subway treks to Yankee games, there is always a lot of noise making and conversation among the masses about anything. This time, the subway car was mostly quiet as many braced themselves for what they were about to see.
As it turned out, we didn’t see anything on Saturday. My friend and I were at the 149th street platform attempting to make the connection switch, one stop away from the stadium when the news comes down that the game was postponed due to heavy rains in the area.
Now it was Sunday evening and we were back in the same place. We all had come to celebrate, but we still had old scars from previous postseason collapses. Those Division Series loses, the World Series loss to the Marlins back in 2003 and then of course, losing the final four games to the Red Sox in 2004 after leading three games to none. Over the last eight years, we have been conditioned to think this way. The belief that they would always win has been shattered and the onus is on them to fix that.
Along the route, I met some fellow Yankee fans from Long Island who were looking for directions. We told them to follow us since we were all heading to the same place.
When we got off at 161st-Yankee Stadium stop, the good feelings were coming back. Instead of going left as I used to for years, I would walk straight ahead. Right there, new Yankee Stadium was staring at me. The outside was so beautiful and with the sun setting, it looked incredible. You look at the Hard Rock Café and NYY Steak that is there for your consumption.
It is just after six o’clock and I have nearly two and a half hours to play with. Time to look at every my new home has to offer.
You go inside and it is as if you are in a walking museum. Yankees legends from the past are hanging high atop the walls. Paul O’Neill, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle, and many more that I could put down but cannot because I wouldn’t be able to write anything else.
I happened to see a photo with Reggie Jackson taking a swing at one of his homeruns from Game 6 of the 1977 World Series and the old scoreboard showing “REG-GIE” and I knew I had to get a photo with that for the collection. Just to be safe, I purchased a four pack of Duracell batteries. I couldn’t take any chances on this night.
We get to the field and the first that sticks out of course is the incredibly massive big screen in centerfield. You have to be blind to miss it. I go down a few rows to get a glimpse of the Yankees taking batting practice. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez getting their early cuts in as other fans like me are snapping pictures.
I have a seat in the cushy seats behind the plate. No, not the Legends Suites area, but this was good enough. Even had a chance to put the feet up and do my obligatory foot picture that has come to be a trademark of the road trip.
Now as we roam around the concourse area, you can see all of the changes. The big difference being how open it is compared to in the past. At the old Stadium, you would be walking into what looked to be down a tunnel and you would not be able to see any of the action going on. Here, while you are going to get food, you can still see the game.
Plenty of food choices abound. From Johnny Rockets, to Nathan’s to a sushi place, they had it all, but be prepared to spend. A quick look at the menu showed that chicken tenders and fries cost $10.50, quite the difference from what I’m used to paying.
NEW YORK – I came to Yankee Stadium feeling tense.
I left Yankee Stadium in celebration.
For me, making the trip to new house was going to be an interesting experience no matter when it was going to happen.
If it took place in the middle of the season, I could treat it in the manner of enjoyment in a relatively stress free situation. However, this first trip was being done under far more stressful conditions.
After seeing the Yankees lose game 5 of the American League Championship Series to the Angels after trailing by four runs in the seventh inning and scoring six runs only to give up the lead in the bottom of the inning, I had visions back to the 2004 dancing in my head. Five games had been played in this series and the Yankees could have legitimately won all five games. This whole thing could have ended in a sweep had Joe Girardi managed things properly.
Instead here we were. Back at Yankee Stadium for Game 6, and the anxiety level among the fans was obvious. On the way to the game on Saturday night, you could sense it everywhere. In previous subway treks to Yankee games, there is always a lot of noise making and conversation among the masses about anything. This time, the subway car was mostly quiet as many braced themselves for what they were about to see.
As it turned out, we didn’t see anything on Saturday. My friend and I were at the 149th street platform attempting to make the connection switch, one stop away from the stadium when the news comes down that the game was postponed due to heavy rains in the area.
Now it was Sunday evening and we were back in the same place. We all had come to celebrate, but we still had old scars from previous postseason collapses. Those Division Series loses, the World Series loss to the Marlins back in 2003 and then of course, losing the final four games to the Red Sox in 2004 after leading three games to none. Over the last eight years, we have been conditioned to think this way. The belief that they would always win has been shattered and the onus is on them to fix that.
Along the route, I met some fellow Yankee fans from Long Island who were looking for directions. We told them to follow us since we were all heading to the same place.
When we got off at 161st-Yankee Stadium stop, the good feelings were coming back. Instead of going left as I used to for years, I would walk straight ahead. Right there, new Yankee Stadium was staring at me. The outside was so beautiful and with the sun setting, it looked incredible. You look at the Hard Rock Café and NYY Steak that is there for your consumption.
It is just after six o’clock and I have nearly two and a half hours to play with. Time to look at every my new home has to offer.
You go inside and it is as if you are in a walking museum. Yankees legends from the past are hanging high atop the walls. Paul O’Neill, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle, and many more that I could put down but cannot because I wouldn’t be able to write anything else.
I happened to see a photo with Reggie Jackson taking a swing at one of his homeruns from Game 6 of the 1977 World Series and the old scoreboard showing “REG-GIE” and I knew I had to get a photo with that for the collection. Just to be safe, I purchased a four pack of Duracell batteries. I couldn’t take any chances on this night.
We get to the field and the first that sticks out of course is the incredibly massive big screen in centerfield. You have to be blind to miss it. I go down a few rows to get a glimpse of the Yankees taking batting practice. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez getting their early cuts in as other fans like me are snapping pictures.
I have a seat in the cushy seats behind the plate. No, not the Legends Suites area, but this was good enough. Even had a chance to put the feet up and do my obligatory foot picture that has come to be a trademark of the road trip.
Now as we roam around the concourse area, you can see all of the changes. The big difference being how open it is compared to in the past. At the old Stadium, you would be walking into what looked to be down a tunnel and you would not be able to see any of the action going on. Here, while you are going to get food, you can still see the game.
Plenty of food choices abound. From Johnny Rockets, to Nathan’s to a sushi place, they had it all, but be prepared to spend. A quick look at the menu showed that chicken tenders and fries cost $10.50, quite the difference from what I’m used to paying.
Saw the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar from the outside, but did not feel like going in. Who goes to a bar inside a stadium during a baseball game? Just a little too excessive for my taste. Also, I’m noticing that there are photographic images from every championship team of the past, starting from the 1920’s all the way until their last championship in 2000.
My early surprise of the night came when the usher told us that Monument Park was open and we were free to go inside, as it was available to peruse two hours before the game. I had never visited it before, and under the impression, you had to reserve time in order to go. For me, it was the ultimate treat.
I saw all of the plaques of the immortal Yankee players and the retired numbers. It was all very nostalgic to take it. It felt like I was a child at holiday season getting all the presents I wanted.
Once that was over, it was time to head to the seats. There was just under an hour to go, but I was ready to sit down. I had taken down most of the stuff I wanted to see and there really wasn’t much left. Whatever I missed I would simply check out next season.
My tickets read that they were wheelchair accessible seats and that had me concerned I would have problems. When we got to our section and showed the security person our seats, he pulled out two folding chairs and set them up for us. It was that easy. Our view was inside the foul line with a dead shot on from left field. Certainly not homerun territory unless the win was blowing out ridiculously and a man hit it about 450 feet, but this was perfect.
No one would be in front and there was next to us to cramp our space. Nothing worse than a 300-pound man, who should be taking up two seats infringing on your turf.
I was slowly revving up into “game mode”. My mental playoff intensity was rounding into form. I’m usually this way before these games, but being in the stadium and being at work (where I was at for Game 5) where my cheering had to be limited to quiet fist pumping and random noises.
Before the game, I had a song being played in the Stadium and I loved every second of it. I asked the usher what the name of it was and he said it was called “It’s My Time by Fabolous”. That song was a perfect theme for the Yankees and this championship series.
It’s was our time.
I look out and there is Andy Pettitte warming up. Joe Saunders for the Angels is in the outfield. The crowd is slowing starting to fill up and it was time for me to get some food.
I spotted a stand that had a pulled pork sandwich, but I couldn’t find it. On my original list were shrimp cocktail, garlic fries, ribs and a Nathan’s hot dog. Looks like I was going to have the sombrero because I couldn’t find any of these items.
Just my luck.
Instead, I settled in with the French fries, hamburger and a Brooklyn Lager beer. Total cost came out to $22.75. The stuff sure wasn’t cheap.
Now it was time for the ballgame and you can hear the electricity in the crowd. The last time I attended for a pennant clinching game was Game 5 in 2001 against the Seattle Mariners. A lot has changed since then, but things felt right being right back here for this.
Admittedly, I was still a nervous wreck. For the first two innings, Pettitte was soothing my feelings, but the offense was not. They had two runners on in the first with two and did not score and then in the second, loaded the bases and could not get the run home to take the early lead.
It was frustrating and it got worse when Bobby Abreu’s run-scoring single gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third. You could hear nothing but silence in the stadium. 2004 continued to flash into my mind as it was in the fourth inning of that game with no score when Jason Varitek battled Yankee starter Jon Lieber for a 10-pitch at bat before singling to center to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead that eventually became 4-0 when Mark Bellhorn hit an opposite field three-run homer.
Pettitte held the score at just one run and the Yankees put themselves in another good position in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases for Johnny Damon. The crowd was just hoping for a hit, but if you took bets, about 50 percent of the crowd would not have taken action on the Yankees getting a clutch knock. When Damon drove in two runs with a single to left center to make it 2-1, the place roared.
Hearing the noise, it didn’t sound like the old stadium, but we were doing our best to make it feel that way. With all of the open air in the concourse area, the old sound that encapsulated the building now goes into the sky. As Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate, he was met with a thunderous ovation. All of us standing, believing that he would come through. It was one thing seeing it on TV, but watching it in person was quite another. On the 3-1 pitch, he takes a close pitch inside for ball four as the Yankees increased their lead to two.
In the sixth, a little tension comes about as with two out, Pettitte walked Torii Hunter and a double to Vladimir Guerrero, who swung at a pitch about an inch from the dirt and the ball landed fair inside the right field line.
Now, a single by Kendry Morales could tie game. The count grew to 3-0, and that puts all of us on high alert. Pettitte would deal and Morales would hit a ball sharply right back to him, throwing to first for the out to end the inning.
Pettitte got one out in the seventh and left to an amazing round of applause from the home fans. He was brought back this season at a minimal salary (for his terms) and now with eight more outs to get, had put them in a great position to get back to the World Series.
Joba Chamberlain got the remaining two outs to close out the seventh and Mariano Rivera was brought in to get six outs. He would give up an RBI single to right by Guerrero to trim the deficit to a run, but got Morales to ground out to end the inning.
Three outs to go.
Everyone (including Robinson Cano) was stunned when he drew a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the eighth. When Nick Swisher’s bunt attempt was fielded by new pitcher Scott Kazmir and dropped at first base by Howie Kendrick, good vibes filled the air. Now Melky Cabrera would look to bunt the runners over. Kazmir fielded and his sailed high over the head of Kendrick and went into foul territory. Cano scored and the Yankees now lead 4-2. The stadium was literally shaking.
Because of the seats that we had, normal cheering could not be done because they were technically “wheelchair seats” and I was impeding the view of those who had standing room tickets behind me. However, I could not help but to react in complete jubilation. Security did not mind either. We were all rooting for the same team and us closing in on a celebration.
The rules be damned.
Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2 going into the ninth inning. There was no doubt this was ours. The Angels, who have had a hex on us over the last seven years, were close to being extinguished. Actually, the way the series had gone, it was amazing the Angels had even won two games, more or less one. The Yankee thoroughly outplayed them for what were now six games and somehow the Angels had won two games.
Now, with Rivera staked to a three-run lead, it was time to turn off the lights.
Kendrick, a noted “Yankee killer”, grounded out to second.
One out.
Juan Rivera flew out to Swisher in right.
Two out.
Now the stadium, criticized for not being too loud, too corporate and missing some of it old feel was a madhouse. It was just like old times. One more out to go, and fans everywhere were banging on mats, chairs, anything they could that would make noise.
Think of an airplane leaving the ground and how ear splitting that is. This is what Yankee Stadium had become.
Gary Matthews Jr. was the Angels last hope. With the count 2-2, the noise got louder. I held up my video recorder on my camera trying to capture the final out. Suddenly my memory card ran full after all the pictures I had taken during the night. By the time I get everything straightened out, Rivera had blown a fastball past him up and away.
Ballgame over.
The Yankees win the pennant.
Hugs and high-fives were in order to anyone within reach. Young and old, male or female, it did not matter. The Yankees were going to the World Series. It had been so long since any of us could say that. Now it was official.
After the final out, both Rivera and Jorge Posada had a lengthy embrace while giving each other a hug near the mound. Derek Jeter was doing his victory fist pump. Rodriguez held up his arms in celebration along with Teixeira. Suddenly, everyone was jumping in as the pile began to grow.
It was a long time coming. After years of frustration and near misses, this team had given us a season to die for. Now, they were four wins away from being world champions. For me, this was one hell of a way to make a first trip to the new house. Leaving the building and walking the street on the way to the subway, the celebration was on outside. Chants of “Let’s go Yankees” and an eventual “Phillies Suck” broke out loudly.
I was slowly revving up into “game mode”. My mental playoff intensity was rounding into form. I’m usually this way before these games, but being in the stadium and being at work (where I was at for Game 5) where my cheering had to be limited to quiet fist pumping and random noises.
Before the game, I had a song being played in the Stadium and I loved every second of it. I asked the usher what the name of it was and he said it was called “It’s My Time by Fabolous”. That song was a perfect theme for the Yankees and this championship series.
It’s was our time.
I look out and there is Andy Pettitte warming up. Joe Saunders for the Angels is in the outfield. The crowd is slowing starting to fill up and it was time for me to get some food.
I spotted a stand that had a pulled pork sandwich, but I couldn’t find it. On my original list were shrimp cocktail, garlic fries, ribs and a Nathan’s hot dog. Looks like I was going to have the sombrero because I couldn’t find any of these items.
Just my luck.
Instead, I settled in with the French fries, hamburger and a Brooklyn Lager beer. Total cost came out to $22.75. The stuff sure wasn’t cheap.
Now it was time for the ballgame and you can hear the electricity in the crowd. The last time I attended for a pennant clinching game was Game 5 in 2001 against the Seattle Mariners. A lot has changed since then, but things felt right being right back here for this.
Admittedly, I was still a nervous wreck. For the first two innings, Pettitte was soothing my feelings, but the offense was not. They had two runners on in the first with two and did not score and then in the second, loaded the bases and could not get the run home to take the early lead.
It was frustrating and it got worse when Bobby Abreu’s run-scoring single gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third. You could hear nothing but silence in the stadium. 2004 continued to flash into my mind as it was in the fourth inning of that game with no score when Jason Varitek battled Yankee starter Jon Lieber for a 10-pitch at bat before singling to center to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead that eventually became 4-0 when Mark Bellhorn hit an opposite field three-run homer.
Pettitte held the score at just one run and the Yankees put themselves in another good position in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases for Johnny Damon. The crowd was just hoping for a hit, but if you took bets, about 50 percent of the crowd would not have taken action on the Yankees getting a clutch knock. When Damon drove in two runs with a single to left center to make it 2-1, the place roared.
Hearing the noise, it didn’t sound like the old stadium, but we were doing our best to make it feel that way. With all of the open air in the concourse area, the old sound that encapsulated the building now goes into the sky. As Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate, he was met with a thunderous ovation. All of us standing, believing that he would come through. It was one thing seeing it on TV, but watching it in person was quite another. On the 3-1 pitch, he takes a close pitch inside for ball four as the Yankees increased their lead to two.
In the sixth, a little tension comes about as with two out, Pettitte walked Torii Hunter and a double to Vladimir Guerrero, who swung at a pitch about an inch from the dirt and the ball landed fair inside the right field line.
Now, a single by Kendry Morales could tie game. The count grew to 3-0, and that puts all of us on high alert. Pettitte would deal and Morales would hit a ball sharply right back to him, throwing to first for the out to end the inning.
Pettitte got one out in the seventh and left to an amazing round of applause from the home fans. He was brought back this season at a minimal salary (for his terms) and now with eight more outs to get, had put them in a great position to get back to the World Series.
Joba Chamberlain got the remaining two outs to close out the seventh and Mariano Rivera was brought in to get six outs. He would give up an RBI single to right by Guerrero to trim the deficit to a run, but got Morales to ground out to end the inning.
Three outs to go.
Everyone (including Robinson Cano) was stunned when he drew a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the eighth. When Nick Swisher’s bunt attempt was fielded by new pitcher Scott Kazmir and dropped at first base by Howie Kendrick, good vibes filled the air. Now Melky Cabrera would look to bunt the runners over. Kazmir fielded and his sailed high over the head of Kendrick and went into foul territory. Cano scored and the Yankees now lead 4-2. The stadium was literally shaking.
Because of the seats that we had, normal cheering could not be done because they were technically “wheelchair seats” and I was impeding the view of those who had standing room tickets behind me. However, I could not help but to react in complete jubilation. Security did not mind either. We were all rooting for the same team and us closing in on a celebration.
The rules be damned.
Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2 going into the ninth inning. There was no doubt this was ours. The Angels, who have had a hex on us over the last seven years, were close to being extinguished. Actually, the way the series had gone, it was amazing the Angels had even won two games, more or less one. The Yankee thoroughly outplayed them for what were now six games and somehow the Angels had won two games.
Now, with Rivera staked to a three-run lead, it was time to turn off the lights.
Kendrick, a noted “Yankee killer”, grounded out to second.
One out.
Juan Rivera flew out to Swisher in right.
Two out.
Now the stadium, criticized for not being too loud, too corporate and missing some of it old feel was a madhouse. It was just like old times. One more out to go, and fans everywhere were banging on mats, chairs, anything they could that would make noise.
Think of an airplane leaving the ground and how ear splitting that is. This is what Yankee Stadium had become.
Gary Matthews Jr. was the Angels last hope. With the count 2-2, the noise got louder. I held up my video recorder on my camera trying to capture the final out. Suddenly my memory card ran full after all the pictures I had taken during the night. By the time I get everything straightened out, Rivera had blown a fastball past him up and away.
Ballgame over.
The Yankees win the pennant.
Hugs and high-fives were in order to anyone within reach. Young and old, male or female, it did not matter. The Yankees were going to the World Series. It had been so long since any of us could say that. Now it was official.
After the final out, both Rivera and Jorge Posada had a lengthy embrace while giving each other a hug near the mound. Derek Jeter was doing his victory fist pump. Rodriguez held up his arms in celebration along with Teixeira. Suddenly, everyone was jumping in as the pile began to grow.
It was a long time coming. After years of frustration and near misses, this team had given us a season to die for. Now, they were four wins away from being world champions. For me, this was one hell of a way to make a first trip to the new house. Leaving the building and walking the street on the way to the subway, the celebration was on outside. Chants of “Let’s go Yankees” and an eventual “Phillies Suck” broke out loudly.
Fun times were here again.
Maybe Jeter was right, perhaps the ghosts were moving across the street.
I was glad to move along too.
Maybe Jeter was right, perhaps the ghosts were moving across the street.
I was glad to move along too.
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