Trip to Yankee Stadium

I decided to take a day trip to Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx borough of New York City. This has been planned at the last minute, since I felt like this would be my only chance to visit "The House That Ruth Built", without having to take off time from work.

I decided to get there as early as possible. I took the local train, first to Philly, then to Trenton via SEPTA. Then I hopped on the New Jersey Transit, to New York. Once I got there, I had to buy a new pair of binoculars since I forgotten mine. Then hopped on the subway to the Bronx.

I have been to the Big Apple many times, but never to Yankee Stadium, in all the years I've been a sports fan. I had to visit this year, since this is the final season before the team moves into their new place. I looked at their new place which is still being built, then I walked around the old one. When asking an usher about something, he would tell me that I had to check my bag. So I had to go to a bowling alley and pay $5 to check my bag. I had to use a plastic bag to carry some things I wanted to take with me.

I went to the ticket window, to pick up my ticket. Then I entered Yankee Stadium. Well, for starters, the concourse is very cramped. It just felt so tight. And the hot weather just made it worse. I went towards Monument Park, but learned that it just closed. So I tried to look at it from the side, which was not a good view at all. Then I looked around the stadium, taking pictures with a disposable camera.

This place has a lot of history, with greats like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and even Don Mattingly. I have to admit though, I couldn't help but also think of its Seinfeld associations. Like when George Costanza telling Steinbrenner off, who then gives him the job.

The scoreboard would only show 3 scores at a time, and the bleacher seats would be in the sunlight. I'm glad that I'm not sitting there. I walked towards my section, and had to endure a horrible stench, probably caused by the hot weather.

Speaking of weather, it was very hot and humid. I got to my seat, which was under the shade. But the shade did not provide any relief. I was sweating really badly. I sat in the upper deck, at the 1st base side.

There was a moment of silence for Jim McKay, a long-time ABC sports broadcaster who passed away that morning. Then the anthem and the game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. This would turn out not to be a mismatch, but a great high scoring game. The Royals scored first, and would go up 5-1, before the Yankees came back and take a 6-5 lead. Then the Royals scored 5 runs, which included a grand slam by  Jose Guillen.

Alex Rodriguez did hit a home run, but I missed where he hit it, because I was drinking my soda at the time he made contact with the ball. Whenever Jorge Posada came to bat, the fans would cheer "Hip, Hip Jorge!", which I thought was interesting. The Yankees chipped away the deficit and came back to tie the game at 10, going into the 9th inning. Mariano Rivera came in to pitch, but he gave up a home run to David DeJesus on the first pitch, putting the Royals up 11-10. But the Yanks came back in the bottom of the 9th inning, and end up winning the game, on a game winning single by Johnny Damon, who went 6-for-6 in the game.

After the game ended, the song "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra played over and over. I walked around the place for a little bit, then exited the stadium. I looked around the exterior. Then decided to head back home. Along the way, I did talk with a few Yankee fans, and even some Royal fans as well.

Getting back home would take a long time, with a delay and not so good connections on the trains. But I made it back. That is 4 ballparks that I have been to, and I plan to visit 4 more this year. I'm glad to finally see a game at Yankee Stadium, before it closes down forever.

[I had to scan and upload pictures]