Post by Chilehead on Sept 22, 2008 7:40:28 GMT -5
Microphone in hand, the New York captain stood on the mound and addressed the 54,610 fans who came to say so long to Yankee Stadium.
"So take the memories from this stadium, add it to the new memories that come with the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them on from generation to generation," he said Sunday night.
And with his words echoing throughout the 85-year-old ballpark - eerily reminiscent of famous goodbyes from the past - he shut the door and turned off the lights.
Next April 16 they open a $1.3 billion palace nearing completion across 161st Street, which also will be called Yankee Stadium. But it will not be the same.
Fans stayed around for 45 minutes, not wanting to walk through the exits one last time. Frank Sinatra's recording on "New York, New York" boomed out over and over. The organist played "Goodnight, Sweetheat, Goodnight." Two dozen mounted police galloped onto the field after the final out. The one fan who ran on the field was quickly tackled.
All the greats were remembered during a 65-minute pregame ceremony that included 21 retired players, six of them Hall of Famers.
"I feel like I'm losing an old friend," Reggie Jackson told the crowd.
Julia Ruth Stevens, 92-year-old daughter of the Babe, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of 54,610 - bringing the stadium total to 151,959,005.
"I'm very, very sad to think that the Yankee Stadium is not going to be in existence any longer," she said. "I wish it could have remained as a New York landmark, but I guess like all things it has come to its final days as we all do."
Outside the stadium, the marquee that usually has the day's start time and opponent said: "Thanks for the Memories."
Berra, a 10-time champion often considered the greatest living Yankee, didn't really need any more souvenirs - although he said he wouldn't mind leaving with the final home plate of the ballpark he loved.
"I hate to see it go," he said. "It will always be in my heart."
sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/bbdp/stars-say-goodbye-to-yankee-stadium/182062
"So take the memories from this stadium, add it to the new memories that come with the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them on from generation to generation," he said Sunday night.
And with his words echoing throughout the 85-year-old ballpark - eerily reminiscent of famous goodbyes from the past - he shut the door and turned off the lights.
Next April 16 they open a $1.3 billion palace nearing completion across 161st Street, which also will be called Yankee Stadium. But it will not be the same.
Fans stayed around for 45 minutes, not wanting to walk through the exits one last time. Frank Sinatra's recording on "New York, New York" boomed out over and over. The organist played "Goodnight, Sweetheat, Goodnight." Two dozen mounted police galloped onto the field after the final out. The one fan who ran on the field was quickly tackled.
All the greats were remembered during a 65-minute pregame ceremony that included 21 retired players, six of them Hall of Famers.
"I feel like I'm losing an old friend," Reggie Jackson told the crowd.
Julia Ruth Stevens, 92-year-old daughter of the Babe, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of 54,610 - bringing the stadium total to 151,959,005.
"I'm very, very sad to think that the Yankee Stadium is not going to be in existence any longer," she said. "I wish it could have remained as a New York landmark, but I guess like all things it has come to its final days as we all do."
Outside the stadium, the marquee that usually has the day's start time and opponent said: "Thanks for the Memories."
Berra, a 10-time champion often considered the greatest living Yankee, didn't really need any more souvenirs - although he said he wouldn't mind leaving with the final home plate of the ballpark he loved.
"I hate to see it go," he said. "It will always be in my heart."
sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/bbdp/stars-say-goodbye-to-yankee-stadium/182062