Good bye old ballpark.
First time I went to Yankee Stadium, I was ten or eleven. The Angels were in town, and Reggie Jackson had been traded there either that year or the year before. I've seen Reggie, Willie, Rags, Donnie Baseball, Dave Winfield, Jeter, A-Rod, Mo, Joba and so many more of the greatest Yankees. Last time I went to the Big Ballpark in the Bronx was Monday. We won, and this year that's a special thing. I got to see a young kid throw six brilliant innings, another of next-year's stars pitch the seventh, Joba in the eighth, and Mo pick up the save that put him into 2nd place all-time.
Tonight was the final baseball game ever that's going to be played there, and that's sad. I kind of made my peace with them closing The Stadium walking out after Monday's game. It was kind of surreal, to tell the truth. But they gave her a hell of a send-off tonight, finishing a sweep of Baltimore (Gods, why couldn't we have played like this all freaking year?!), Derek gave one hell of a speech, and the players took a nice lap around saluting the fans.
The game's been over for half an hour now. Most fans are still there, all the players are still on the field, as well as many of the former Yankees that they introduced before the game. Players are getting scoops of dirt from the infield, pitchers' mound and warning track like little kids looking for souvenirs.
And if you need Trivial Pursuit answers for a few years from now:
Andy Pettite got the last win.
Jose Molina got the last home run.
and Mariano Rivera pitched the last pitch.
Goodbye, old friend.
Tonight was the final baseball game ever that's going to be played there, and that's sad. I kind of made my peace with them closing The Stadium walking out after Monday's game. It was kind of surreal, to tell the truth. But they gave her a hell of a send-off tonight, finishing a sweep of Baltimore (Gods, why couldn't we have played like this all freaking year?!), Derek gave one hell of a speech, and the players took a nice lap around saluting the fans.
The game's been over for half an hour now. Most fans are still there, all the players are still on the field, as well as many of the former Yankees that they introduced before the game. Players are getting scoops of dirt from the infield, pitchers' mound and warning track like little kids looking for souvenirs.
And if you need Trivial Pursuit answers for a few years from now:
Andy Pettite got the last win.
Jose Molina got the last home run.
and Mariano Rivera pitched the last pitch.
Goodbye, old friend.