Last night, I watched the last game to ever be played in Yankee Stadium. Too bad the Yanks couldn't make it to the post-season this year. We could have extended the building's run for a few more weeks. That wasn't the case, and last night was it. I really wish I could have gone to the game, but with tickets going for around $500.00 each, it wasn't really in my budget anymore
(2 kids will do that to you). Instead, I watched it on television.
I know some people out there will think of all the goings-on as Yankee fans and New Yorkers feeling too self-important and too Yankee/New York-centric. That's not the case at all. Popes have given mass there. Concerts have been played. Some of the greatest boxing matches and football games have taken place in Yankee Stadium. It's not only about the Yankees - they just provided most of the memories.
I've been there too many times to count over my lifetime, but I never got to go this year. In fact, it's the only year I haven't been to at least one game out of the past nine. Regardless, I'll miss the place. I've been to many different stadiums and arenas, and nothing beats coming out of the dark underground tunnel to the seating area - it's usually so bright - with the green and brown of the field and the blue of the seats with the white of the facade in center field. I loved it every time.
I've watched the new stadium grow ever bigger from across the river during my commutes to and from work, and it looks beautiful. I'm sure it will be a great place to watch a game. However, all of my memories with Donnie, Bernie, Jeter, Righetti, Willie, O'Neill, Tino, and the rest will be across the street.
Today, Mike Mussina notched his first 20 win season in his 18 year career by beating the Red Sox 6-3. It doesn't really make up for the fact that the Yankees are not going to the playoffs this year and the Sox are, but I get to be happy today. I really wanted Mussina to get to 20 wins this year because no one expected him to pitch like this coming into the season. It's too bad the Yankees finally got around to playing their best baseball of the season when it was too late.
