Buzz
This past weekend, I traveled to New York to visit my brother-in-law, watch a Yankees game, and stop by the Brooklyn HQ to meet Mangesh and Jason. It felt wrong to post about Wrigley without mentioning Yankee Stadium, so I thought I'd share some history about it today.
1. It’s well known that Yankee Stadium is the House that Ruth Built, but it’s also the House that Edison helped build. Thomas Edison, who launched a cement company in 1899, developed a super-durable cement that was used in the original construction of the stadium’s walls.
2. The Stadium was nearly constructed on the grounds of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, located on Amsterdam Avenue between 136th and 138th Streets in Manhattan. Today, this location is the site of the Jacob H. Schiff Playground.
3. Alfred Smith, the Governor of New York and future Presidential candidate, had the honor of throwing the first pitch at the new stadium (or is it now old?) in the Bronx.
4. The original Yankee Stadium was the first sports venue in the United States to feature three tiers of seating.
The stadium also debuted the electronic scoreboard, a groundbreaking innovation, followed by the introduction of instant replay after the renovations later in the century.
5. Since much of the original Yankee Stadium was torn down for renovations in the early '70s, some consider the new version a different stadium altogether. It’s sometimes referred to as "Yankee Stadium II."
6. The iconic song "New York, New York" is played through the stadium speakers after every game. Initially, the Sinatra version was played after a win and Liza Minnelli’s version after a loss, but Liza wasn’t happy about that. In 2001, she requested her version be played only after a win, or not at all. The Yankees chose to play Sinatra's version after every game, regardless of the outcome.
7. Midway through each game, the grounds crew performs the YMCA dance. This used to trigger some fans in the bleacher section to taunt opposing fans with a modified version of the song, changing the lyrics to "Why are you gay?" However, this practice was stopped in 2006 after the NYPD began ejecting anyone who sang the altered version.
8. Like many other teams, the Yankees have a superfan who serves as an unofficial mascot. At Yankee Stadium, that role belongs to Freddy Schuman, who is in his 80s and lost an eye during a stickball game in the 1930s. Freddy attends games with a frying pan to bang on and carries signs that often begin with "Freddy sez." Examples include, "Scream, whistle, make noise! It helps the Yanks!" and "Fans, We Must Help the Yankees Out of Slumps." Word is, you can usually find him outside the stadium before games, though we didn’t make it there that early.
9. Monument Park was originally located in the center of left field. Prior to the 1970s renovations, the monuments were actually in play. Although the monuments stood about 460 feet from home plate, making it rare for a ball to reach them, it did happen occasionally. A-Rod and Thurman Munson were among those who managed to hit a ball all the way to Monument Park. The monuments will be relocated to the new stadium.
10. The Batter’s Eye at Yankee Stadium was once just a section of bleachers painted black. In the new stadium, it will be transformed into a restaurant encased in black glass.
I'm glad I got to experience the Stadium before it becomes a part of history, but I have to admit... I prefer Wrigley. Alright, Yanks fans, I know I'm going to get some heat for that one. Go ahead. Leave a comment. But please, be gentle!
