Story: Final Innings for Yankee Stadium

Words by Mike Mostransky
everywheremag.com/people/mcmost1

Last spring, while listening to the radio on my way to work, I heard the DJ say "today is the last opening day at Yankee Stadium." This was no newsflash: The Yankees' decision to replace the stadium where the team has played since 1923 has been a hot topic of conversation in the New York area. As a lifelong and loyal Yankee fan, hearing that statement on the radio was gut-wrenching. Even if you hate the Yankees, it's a sad moment for America'a pastime when a ballpark like Yankee Stadium closes for good.

I attended my first game there when I was a seven year-old kid. I went with my father, grandfather, and brother, and I remember feeling that there was no better moment than the one I was in. Decades later, my wife and I took our son to his first game. Over the years I've caught a foul ball, watched countless games with my buddies in the bleachers, and I never tire of recalling all the great playoff games or Red Sox vs. Yankees moments I've experienced first-hand. Who could forget that Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle all played on this very same field?

For me, the rituals of attending a game at Yankee Stadium are an essential part of the experience. To avoid paying those steep ballpark prices, I like to hit the bars, restaurants, and food stands along River Avenue and 161st Street. Personally, I'm partial to local hangouts like the Dugout, Stan's Sports Bar, Yankee Tavern, and of course, Ball Park Lanes, where you can actually bowl before, during, and after a game.

So here's a travel tip: If you find yourself in New York between now and October, attend a game at Yankee Stadium — before it's gone forever. The 2008 All Star Game & Home Run Derby will be there as well. And if you go, please try to be nice. Don't be rude, drunk, or obnoxious, because those are memories we can all do without, and chances are there will be someone like me sitting nearby who is savoring every last moment in the stadium with a history that will be impossible to reproduce.