Memories of Yankee Stadium

#1_War_Poet_ForLife · Sep 20, 2008

Recollections of favorite moments at Yankee Stadium:
— —
<small>Yogi Berra</small>
“(Don) Larsen’s no-hitter. It was a perfect game at that.”
<small>David Cone</small>
“People are surprised, but really the first big memory I have was the ‘95 playoffs, Don Mattingly’s first playoff game. The city was so hungry. Yankee fans were so hungry. And when Don Mattingly ran onto the field to do his wind sprints before the game, he got a standing ovation, a thunderous standing ovation that lasted for 20 minutes. The perfect game is right up there, of course, on a personal level. But I think the first playoff appearance (of the 1990s). It was so in your face. It was my first experience with Yankee fans and what that meant.”

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<small>Rudy Giuliani</small>
“I would say I would have to make No. 1 my first time at Yankee Stadium, when I was about 5 or 6. And it was the Yankees and the Red Sox, of course. That was first my game ever. And Joe DiMaggio was playing center field for the Yankees and Dominic DiMaggio was playing center field for the Red Sox, and they hit singles to each other. The thing that was unusual to me was that two brothers were playing for different teams.
“My next great moment was watching Roger Maris hit his 61st home run. I was sitting basically between the first baseman and right field, about 30, 40 rows back. And Reggie Jackson’s three home runs, I was there for that. For that one I was on left-field side. Also, kind of deep. Then in ‘96, when the Yankees won the World Series, I sat in the first row because I was the mayor. I moved up by then to the first row. I would say that was probably my happiest moment because the Yankees winning while I was the mayor, being a Yankees fan since the day I can remember, was just pure excitement, and the idea that we were going to have a big parade. And then David Cone’s perfect game, that’s another great memory. I was back in my mayor’s seats. It was Yogi Berra Day. And then finally (Aaron) Boone’s home run.”
<small>Reggie Jackson</small>
“What I remember most was seeing Mickey Mantle (on April 15, 1968). I played against Mickey Mantle, man. I looked down at his shoes. He had No. 7 on them. He stopped and let me go past him. He knew my name. He said, ‘Go ahead, Reggie.’ It was Mickey Mantle. That’s what I remember most.”
<small>Derek Jeter</small>
“‘96—winning the first championship is probably the one that stands out the most, but it’s kind of hard to pick one. The first time you do anything it stands out. We weren’t supposed to win. We were supposed to lose that Series and we lost the first two games, and we had to come back. I think the excitement of the city—it was just everything that was involved with the whole thing.”
<small>Don Mattingly</small>
“That first time coming up from Triple A, driving into New York, coming across (the) George Washington (Bridge) and pulling into the stadium—walking that tunnel into the stadium the first time is one of my most vivid memories. Yankee Stadium is such a special place, the dimensions, the way it plays, the porch in right, it’s big in center and the way it’s configured I think it’s special, you want to keep that. I remember flying over last year you’d see the fields next to each other and they look exactly the same, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
<small>Paul O’Neill</small>
“`For some reason, I remember that (2000) Subway Series more than anything, just because it was all in New York. Not only Yankees fans were into it, but Mets fans, so all of New York was into it. I remember that series.”
<small>Andy Pettitte</small>
“I’d have to say the World Series in ‘96. Just being able to win that first championship. I’d say that’s probably one of the most special. Another one for me, too, is being able to start Game 1 of the World Series. Personally, getting the nod to start Game 1 in ‘96 was incredible. … I think probably my favorite is Charlie Hayes catching that ball and just the rush of waiting for that last out. The thing that I remember most about that Series is how bad I pitched in Game 1. Seriously. That’s what strives you and just determines you to pitch that Game 5, the fear and determination of not letting that happen to you again.”
<small>Lou Piniella</small>
“We’re going to New York in a week and if I get real nostalgic, I can go spend a few hours at Yankee Stadium Monday through Thursday of next week. Look, how can you not remember the time you spent playing there and your teammates and the successes we had? It’s been an integral part of my baseball life and I’ve always been proud of the fact that I was able to wear the pinstripes. I’ve got bases in my office from the first renovation. I even got a chair. So I think they are going to sell all that stuff (from the current stadium). I’m going to have to go on eBay and bid on it.”
<small>Mariano Rivera</small>
“Seeing Charlie Hayes catching that ball, the last pitch, for the final out. No. 2 would be I think Aaron Boone’s home run.”
<small>Alex Rodriguez</small>
“I would just say any time we clinched at home, playoff spots. Clinches at home are big.”
<small>George Steinbrenner</small>
<small>(Through spokesman Howard Rubenstein)</small>
“It was the first time I walked into Yankee Stadium as the new owner. What a thrill it was for me.”
<small>Joe Torre</small>
“Well, the postseason. … Growing up and knowing what the Yankees represented, it was a great opportunity for me, then to be able to have the success we had—it’s incredible that stadium, just the power of it. I always used the expression, you can feel the heartbeat of the people in the stands, especially when you’re playing the Red Sox or the Mets but especially the Red Sox and then, of course, postseason play. Although postseason play, it’s interesting. In 1996 it was terrific, but the last couple of times, it’s like the people who make most of the noise during the season can’t afford the tickets and that’s the sad part of it. It (Yankee Stadium) is something I’ll never forget—I don’t have to go back there, trust me. I have great memories and when I left there for the last time, I pretty much knew it would be the last time.”
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#1_War_Poet_ForLife · Sep 20, 2008

Any big games you've attended at the Stadium. Any one that really stick out in your mind?

I was at the Home Closer in 2005, Tino Martinez's last season (and Bernie's Contract year). Tino had been one of my favorites when I was younger, along with Jorge, so while everyone else was cheering for Bernie (who I thought was going to come back anyway), my row and I got everyone in our section to cheer for Tino.

I think it was against the Jays, but I forget who was pitching.

ghoti · Sep 20, 2008

Forget the Mayor's Trophy game, forget Fort Lauderdale, forget St. Petersburg. This was New York, and this was for real.
For the first time in 40 years, two New York teams played a regular-season baseball game last night, and the Mets won it, 6-0. They will have to win at least one of the other two games in this Subway Series -- produced by baseball's revolutionary interleague play -- to claim city bragging rights for the year, but the Yankees will be hard-pressed to match the impressive performance that the Mets staged at Yankee Stadium.
Dave Mlicki and John Olerud, a pair of American League expatriates, inflicted the most severe damage on the Yankees and their psyches. The Mets' fans in the house matched their team's efforts.
The Mets' lightning-like three-run outburst in the first inning took the Yankees' part of the crowd of 56,188 out of the game, and their fans never let them back in it. The Mets' fans scored a more lopsided victory than the Yankee fans who at times seemed to outnumber the Marlins' crowd in Miami last weekend.
Of course, in being host for the first all-New York game since the Giants defeated the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds on Sept. 8, 1957, the Yankees did not give their fans much reason to cheer, and for most of the game those fans retreated into their pinstriped shells.
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Dave Mlicki!

Moo2K4 · Sep 20, 2008

I would honestly have to say my favorite Yankee Stadium moment (that I've witnessed) was Aaron Boone's walk off home run. I was watching that with my brother, who happens to be a Red Sox fan, and I just rubbed it in his face beyond belief.

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Memories of Yankee Stadium

#1_War_Poet_ForLife The Baker of Cakes

#1_War_Poet_ForLife The Baker of Cakes

ghoti A PhD in Horribleness

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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Memories of Yankee Stadium

#1_War_Poet_ForLife The Baker of Cakes

#1_War_Poet_ForLife The Baker of Cakes

ghoti A PhD in Horribleness

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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