100 years ago today, the first-ever game at Old Yankee Stadium was played. 74,200 people entered what would be the largest crowd in baseball history at the time. The stadium was the world’s largest, most spectacular, and tallest baseball park. Governor Al Smith threw out the first ball, landing in the center of catcher Wall Schnag’s glove. With marching bands and floral wreaths all over the infield, it marked the beginning of what held many fascinating moments and stories until its final game in 2008. There was Mickey Mantle joining the 500 home run club to Chris Chambliss’ walk-off homer in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS. Eleven no-hitters were pitched, including three perfect games. It hosted 100 of 601 World Series games.
Here are some other memorable moments to honor the centennial birthday of baseball glory.
Old Yankee Stadium Stats
| Architect: Osborn Engineering Co. (1923)
Praeger-Kavanaugh-Waterbury (1973-76) |
First Game: (Reopening) April 15, 1976, vs. Minnesota Twins |
| Construction: White Construction Company | Last Game: September 21, 2008, vs. Baltimore Orioles |
| Opened: April 18, 1923, vs. Boston Red Sox | Demolished: March 16, 2009- May 14, 2010 |
| First Night Game: May 28, 1946, vs. Washington Senators | Record Attendance: 123,707 on August 3, 1958 (Jehovah’s Witnesses International Convention) |
| Last Game: (Renovations) September 30, 1973, vs. Detroit Tigers | Surface: Merion Bluegrass |
Old Yankee Stadium Moments
The House That Ruth Built
Sportswriter Fred Lieb called Old Yankee Stadium “The House that Ruth Built.” A very fitting nickname for a player who left his mark in the park, even long after his playing days were over. Ruth was the driving force behind the rise of the Yankees, winning three World Series championships from 1923 to 1932.
First Game, First Homer
In their first game at their new stadium, the New York Yankees defeated their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, to kick off the 1923 season. Of course, who else but Babe Ruth christened Yankee Stadium with the park’s first home run? Ruth hammered a three-run shot to right field off Howard Ehnke in the bottom of the third inning. The Yankees went on to win their first World Series championship, taking down the New York Giants in six games.
Luckiest Man
July 4, 1939, was an emotional day for baseball. Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse of Baseball, spoke the famous words at home plate in front of a sell-out Yankee Stadium crowd. Gehrig declared himself the luckiest man on Earth. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame without having to wait. Gehrig passed away from his battle with ALS two years following his courageous speech.
The Babe Bows Out
On June 13, 1948, the Yankees celebrated the 25th anniversary of Old Yankee Stadium, the same day Ruth made his final appearance at the ballpark. The cancer-ridden Hall of Famer was there as the team retired his No. 3 forever. The Sultan of Swat was there, the one who smacked 714 over his prolific career. On this very day, it was for Babe and himself only. Following the ceremony, Ruth never returned to the ballpark, he passed away two months later, on August 16.
Perfect in the Fall Classic
The Brooklyn Dodgers and Yankees met in the World Series five times between 1941 to 1954. The Dodgers lost every series but finally won it all in 1955. The two teams again met in the 1956 Fall Classic, with the Yankees prevailing in the series. This time, Don Larsen performed the ages, arguably one of the best pitching performances ever. In Game 5, Larsen faced then retired all 27 batters in a perfect. It’s something that hasn’t been done in the postseason since. Plus, it was the only playoff no-hitter until Roy Halladay threw one in 2010.
Maris Hits No. 61
Roger Maris went on an unlikely quest in 1961. On September 26, Maris went deep to tie Ruth with his 60th homer of the season. Five days later, Maris broke Ruth’s single-season home run record on the final day of the regular season. He set a new all-time mark until 1998 when Mark McGwire set the home run record, followed by Barry Bonds in 2001. Last season, Aaron Judge went on to break Maris’ record by hitting 62 home runs.
Reggie Goes For Three
Reggie Jackson became Mr. October in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. Against the Dodgers, no less, Jackson crushed three home runs on three consecutive pitches. Jackson hit five home runs in the final three games, driving in eight runs with 25 total bases. He was named the World Series MVP for the second time in his career, becoming the first player to hit five home runs in a Fall Classic.
George Brett and Pine Tar
Leave it to Billy Martin, who complained about George Brett’s bat having too much pine tar. Brett hit a go-ahead homer run off Rich Gossage with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. After umpire Tim McClelland carefully measured the bat against the 17-inch width of home plate, it violated the 18-inch pine tar rule. Brett was ruled out giving the Yankees the win. The decision was followed with one of the most iconic outbursts in sports as a fury Brett charged right from the dugout to argue. Kansas City filed a protest as AL president Lee MacPhail ordered the game to be continued from the point of the home run.
Mr. November
The Arizona Diamondbacks were an out away from taking a 3-1 World Series lead. That all changed with two moments that swung in favor of the Yankees. Tito Martinez crushed the game-tying, two-run homer off Byung-Hyun Kim in the bottom of the ninth inning. An inning later, the clock struck midnight to bring in the month of November. Derek Jeter comes to the plate and smacks the first pitch he saw from Kim for a walk-off home run that tied up the series at two games each. Jeter’s heroism that night was the birth of Mr. November.
Red Sox Make History
The Red Sox dropped the first three games of the 2004 ALCS. However, Dave Roberts’ Game 4 steal, two David Ortiz walk-offs, and Curt Schilling’s “Bloody Sock Game” forced a Game 7. Boston finished the historic comeback on the road thanks to Ortiz’s two-run homer at the top of the first. Then, Johnny Damon’s grand slam in the following inning. The Red Sox became the first team to rally from a three-games-to-none deficit to win a postseason series. They finally conquered the “Curse of the Bambino” as the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Final Game
Old Yankee Stadium hosted its final game on September 21, 2008. Ceremonies began with the Opening of Monument Park and Yankee fans walking on the warning track around the field. Many former Yankee greats were on hand for the final game. Ruth’s daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. It went out the way it opened, with a 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Jose Molina hit the last home run, a two-run shot to break the tie in the fourth inning. The Yankees even held off elimination with the victory, the eighth in their final nine games at Yankee Stadium.
Photo Credit: © Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
Players/managers mentioned:
Mickey Mantle, Chris Chambliss‘, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Don Larsen, Roy Halladay, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Aaron Judge, Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Billy Martin, Byung-Hyun Kim, Derek Jeter, Dave Roberts, David Ortiz Curt Schilling, Johnny Damon, Jose Molina
