Farewell to Yankee Stadium, the greatest sports venue in the world. I know this is a week late, but better late than never right? Last Sunday was the final game ever at Yankee Stadium, and it went out in style with the Yankees beating the Orioles 7-3. Andy Pettitte got the win (and his 2000th career strikeout), Derek Jeter the last Yankee at-bat, Mariano the last pitch and the Stadium its 4,133 win since its inception 85 years ago. The last home run? No, it wasn't A-Rod, Matsui, Giambi, or Jeter. It was Jose Molina, the back-up catcher. But who cares? It was the difference in the game and the Yankees walked away winners. It had to have been one of the most amazing games I have ever been to at the Stadium, and I have seen some great ones (from David Cone's Perfect game to Tino's game tying two-run homer in game 4 in 2001) as the Yankees brought back so many greats.
Scott Brosius and Bernie Williams came back, and the Maris, Murcer, Mantle, Howard, and Munson families were acknowledged. In a 65 minute pregame ceremony the Yankees honored many of the greats from the past and and uncovered the AL Pennant flag from the 1922 season. Bob Sheppard, who has missed the whole season recovering from respiratory illnesses, introduced the Yankees' starting line-up one final time from his home in Baldwin. But maybe the most amazing moment was when Bernie Williams was introduced and brought back into centerfield for one final time, the first time since the end of the 2005 season. As he jogged out to center, he received an ovation so loud and so great that the Stadium was actually rocking and shaking. It was incredible to watch.
Finally the game was underway and the Yankees started off just like their season did, slow, but eventually they busted out when Johnny Damon fittingly hit a three run home run just over the short porch in right. When Pettitte gave the lead back, the Yankees answered with the final homer in Stadium history, a Jose Molina shot into Monument Park in the sixth. But that night was all about celebrating the Stadium and the great players that came through it as Andy Pettitte got a huge ovation from the crowd when Joe Girardi removed him from the game in the top of the sixth. Pettitte took a curtain call as the fans chanted An-dy Pett-itte. Joba pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings and then came the moment all the fans were waiting for, the entrance of Mariano Rivera. As Rivera came out to his famous Enter Sandman entrance song, the Stadium roared as their longtime closer came in one final time.
He was perfect, as usual, with Brian Roberts grounding out to Cody Ransom for the final out of the game. But before Roberts could do that, Girardi took Jeter out of the game with 2 outs in the top of the ninth to a huge ovation and chants of Der-ek Jet-er as Jeter took a curtain call and doffed his cap to the fans one final time. After the game Jeter went out to the mound with all his teammates so he could say "We just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world." Then Jeter and the rest of the team tipped their caps to the fans and took one final lap around the field saying thank you to all the fans. A fitting way to close out the greatest sports venue in the world. After 85 years in the House That Ruth Built, the Yankees will move across the street to the House That Jeter Built. It is extremely sad to see the old Stadium with so many memories go, but there will be many more memories to come in the new Stadium.
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