Yankee Stadium Pre-Renovation

[Sean Ryan]

Here's a classic shot (to say the least!) of Cy Young, Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Ty Cobb. Taken on September 28, 1947 - Babe Ruth Day at The Stadium.

Cobb even looks like an a-hole.

[The Monument]

Here's a classic shot (to say the least!) of Cy Young, Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Ty Cobb. Taken on September 28, 1947 - Babe Ruth Day at The Stadium.

Another Babe Ruth Day in Sept? They did have a Babe Day in April '47, and his #3 was retired in June '48. Did't know there was another Day in Sept '47. Note the scoreboard with the upcoming football Yankees game vs the Dodgers.

[BSmile]

Babe Ruth started the Babe Ruth Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. Another Babe Ruth Day held at Yankee Stadium in September 1947 helped to raise money for this charity. (from wiki)
~B

[The Monument]

Babe Ruth started the Babe Ruth Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. Another Babe Ruth Day held at Yankee Stadium in September 1947 helped to raise money for this charity. (from wiki)
~B

Ok thanks. Had never heard that before.

[Yankees73]

For those of you that were at the last game of the 1973 season, I know Kentucky Bomber was, was the game a sell out?

Attendance was around 35k. I was there as well with my father. I was 11 and as usual for that time, had practically the entire upper deck to myself. Tickets for upper grandstand was 1.50 and I still have the rain checks glued to a scrapbook. I also saved the parking stub 1.50 Parked in the dirt lot what is now the parking garage behind the new stadium.

[Yankees73]

Thanks Monument. I grew up in New Jersey and was only 11 at the time and was only at the old stadium once and that was a Giants football game and I dont remember anything conserning the renovation. My first Yankee game was at Shea, it was bat day and I got Lou Piniella. I remember I was upset, I wanted Ron Blomberg. BTW I still have the bat.
I used to LOVE Bat day!! In the early seventies The Yanks used to have two of them!! I found two bats lanquishing in an antique store once, A Bobby Murcer bat and a Blomberg with blue scrapes on it form the seats. They also didn't have the sponsors stamp on them like the later bats. I rescued them for about five bucks each and have them safe at home. I remember dad and I went to a Bat Day double header in 72 and couldnt find a seat! That was the year no one wanted the division and the Yanks were in the pennant race until late September. One last note.. I remember my first Bat day, I think it was 1970 and my father saying to me not to be disapointed if I did not get a Murcer bat, needless to say I didnt get the bat every kid wanted, I got a.... Curt Blefary!!! Dad said struggling, well he's good too!.. Endless memories that will be missed when they tear the place down..

[Yankees73]

He forgot about the fans who suffered at the Yale Bowl for 2 seasonsI actually saw a game at the Yale Bowl in 1974. Norm Snead was the qarterback and Doug Kotar as their star running back. Now that was a struggle for a fan..I think the Yale Bowl was designed by Osborne as well.. Not sure though. The place was a real dump back in 74

[Gehrig27]

Some great pictures from 1970-72

[Gehrig27]

continued...............

[drumzguy73]

sorry if these have already been posted

[Kentucky Bomber]

Yes, you are correct. Here is a zoomed in picture of the scoreboard from the same photograph. The first baseman is pretty famous too.

37197

The second baseman, centerfielder and shortstop are in the Hall, too.

[Yankees73]

sorry if these have already been postedAwesome pics!! what was the crowd about 15k? How did you come across them? For years I wanted to see pics like these but could not come find them.

[drumzguy73]

Awesome pics!! what was the crowd about 15k? How did you come across them? For years I wanted to see pics like these but could not come find them.

I found them on Getty Images... The pic of Mantle is from Larsen's perfect game in the '56 series. The shot of the facade is from somewhere between '70-'73.

[drumzguy73]

World Series-- October 1961

[BSmile]

1) Hawking 1947 World Series Programs - 9.30.1947

2) Allie Reynolds, George Wiltse, Ed Walsh, Carl Hubbell, Cy Young and Dazzy Vance in the locker room for the Old Timer's Game (color) - Yankee Stadium - 8.14.1954

3) Bucky Harris, The Babe & Batboy (color) - April 1947 (Babe Ruth Day #1)

4) Simon and Garfunkel throw out the first ball - Yankee Stadium 4.16.1969

5) Yankee Stadium - right field bleachers Summer 1947 (color)

[BSmile]

1) Great color shot of Tommy Henrich at The Stadium- 1947

2) Unveiling Of The Lou Gehrig Memorial - July 6, 1941

3) Pete Sheehey in the equipment room. That #5 jersey might be worth something, ya think?!?! April 12, 1950

4) Rogers Hornsby and Hank Bauer (color) - Aug.14.1954

5) Mickey takes some BP while the Kansas City A's look on in awe.

[stlfan]

Rogers Hornsby looks like George W. Bush in that photo.

[The Monument]

Rogers Hornsby looks like George W. Bush in that photo.

He's probably discussing strategery.

[bleacherbum73]

1) Hawking 1947 World Series Programs - 9.30.1947

2) Allie Reynolds, George Wiltse, Ed Walsh, Carl Hubbell, Cy Young and Dazzy Vance in the locker room for the Old Timer's Game (color) - Yankee Stadium - 8.14.1954

3) Bucky Harris, The Babe & Batboy (color) - April 1947 (Babe Ruth Day #1)

4) Simon and Garfunkel throw out the first ball - Yankee Stadium 4.16.1969

5) Yankee Stadium - right field bleachers Summer 1947 (color)

Love those pictures.In picture 4 with Simon and Garfunkel, note the attractive, but apparently extremely bored girl on the right. And is that the Marlboro Man a few rows in back?? The guy with his leg on the top of the seat, hands resting on knee with a ciggerette !!!

[willisraverchk77]

Love those pictures.In picture 4 with Simon and Garfunkel, note the attractive, but apparently extremely bored girl on the right. And is that the Marlboro Man a few rows in back?? The guy with his leg on the top of the seat, hands resting on knee with a ciggerette !!!

haha, don't forget Opie Taylor in between them.

[R Ryan823]

B Smile, great pics.
Not sure who out there has seen it, but in the movie "Serpico" there is a great shot of Al Paccino meeting up with the group of corrupt cops at the park on 161st., which is just south of the stadium. From there you can see a clear shot of the original stadium with the frieze in all its glory. The movie was released early 1974, so I'm guessing the shot was filmed mid-year in '73. Worth checking out.
Question:
Was the "Longines" clock above gate 4 (I think) taken down before the stadium was renovated..meaning, was the original facade exposed for the 1973 (or earlier) season(s)?

[The Monument]

R Ryan, the Longines clock was there in '73, right up to the end. Sports Illustrated ran a picture of it in an April '76 issue, along with a few other shots from the Last Game and a few early renovation shots. Also, in the Simon/Garfunkel pic, the lady to the far left is Betty Houk. Recognized her from the Yearbook photos.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Love those pictures.In picture 4 with Simon and Garfunkel, note the attractive, but apparently extremely bored girl on the right. And is that the Marlboro Man a few rows in back?? The guy with his leg on the top of the seat, hands resting on knee with a ciggerette !!!

in that pic, is there a reason Paul Simon is throwing the first pitch from the stands? Is that how they did it back then?

[alpineinc]

in that pic, is there a reason Paul Simon is throwing the first pitch from the stands? Is that how they did it back then?

Yep. They signed Paul for one day, just like Billy Crystal. Arty was his pitching coach, whispering encouragement. First pitch was a strike and they were on their way.

Seriously, sure, that's how it was done for decades. The field was maybe more sacred then, or something.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Yep. They signed Paul for one day, just like Billy Crystal. Arty was his pitching coach, whispering encouragement. First pitch was a strike and they were on their way.

Seriously, sure, that's how it was done for decades. The field was maybe more sacred then, or something.

when did they start doing the first pitch from the mound? does anyone know?

[locke40]

when did they start doing the first pitch from the mound? does anyone know?

I read somewhere (but can't find it now) that Bill Clinton was the first president to throw out the first pitch from the mound. As for non-presidents, I am not sure.

[alpineinc]

I read somewhere (but can't find it now) that Bill Clinton was the first president to throw out the first pitch from the mound. As for non-presidents, I am not sure.

Actually, they say Clinton was the first to actually reach the catcher from the mound; Reagan appears to be the first overall, apparently in 1988, at Wrigley.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Reagan_throws_out_opening_pitch%2C_1988.jpg/200px-Reagan_throws_out_opening_pitch%2C_1988.jpg

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Old UPI photos

1939 All-Star Game
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2308508545_6a43844551_o.jpg

1949
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2308508443_7dd1c8d8d9_o.jpg

1950 World Series
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2309313814_53d3e94606_o.jpg

Scoreboard 1947
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/2309313680_b1f3d15c87_o.jpg

1947 World Series
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2309313604_8d0c450ca8_o.jpg

1953
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2308507929_2ac43725dc_o.jpg

1953
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/2309313368_e12346ef9c_o.jpg

1961
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/2309313300_c4b48ff12a_o.jpg

1933 Baer Vs. Schmeling Fight
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2308507315_fc70f40048_o.jpg

[locke40]

Those were great, thanks!

[locke40]

Colorized photo from Opening Day, 1923.

http://members.aol.com/r1ch1ea/images/colorized%20opening%20day%201923%20photo%20cropped 2.jpg

[Mattingly85MVP]

Great color shot of the old yankee stadium from behind home plate in the upper deck, page 187 in the Official Retrospective...I would have scanned it but its not working like much of the technology in my home...

[Yankees73]

Back in the day in order to see the monuments you had to go on the field, so the Yankees would open the field after the game and allow you to see the monuments before you exited the ballpark.
Back in the day people were more civilized and they were able to allow the fans exit that way........Also saved on the chaos at the front gates with most people taking mass transit back then and utilized the subway. People who traveled from Westchester took the metro north Harlem line and walked from the Morrisania train station.

[CB22]

From "The Cameraman" (1928)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7FVY0qitc&feature=related

Enjoy

[Reds41]

From "The Cameraman" (1928)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7FVY0qitc&feature=related

Enjoy

That was cool to see the train run outside the outfield fence.

[David Atkatz]

That was cool to see the train run outside the outfield fence.

It runs there still on the very same elevated line. My son and I were on it today, to see the new stadium, and linger a bit with the old one.

[alpineinc]

From "The Cameraman" (1928)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7FVY0qitc&feature=related

Enjoy

Great stuff, thanks.

[jimmyjimjimz]

That was cool to see the train run outside the outfield fence.

that's the 4 train, right?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

From "The Cameraman" (1928)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7FVY0qitc&feature=related

Enjoy

Buster some talent. What I really liked was seeing so much of the outfield in the video. Maybe I'm way out on this one................but, could that be the Babe with his back to the camera. Looks a bit to big and I think if it was him they would let it be known, like he might turn and show his face.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Did Yankee Stadium always have an electric scoreboard? Or did they have a manual scoreboard when the stadium first opened?

[Yankees73]

that's the 4 train, right?
Correct!! Back in the 70s it was called the muggers express!! I would walk from McLean ave with my friends and take the train to the palace..

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Did Yankee Stadium always have an electric scoreboard? Or did they have a manual scoreboard when the stadium first opened?


Behind the scoreboard at The Big Park.

[CB22]

Buster some talent. What I really liked was seeing so much of the outfield in the video. Maybe I'm way out on this one................but, could that be the Babe with his back to the camera. Looks a bit to big and I think if it was him they would let it be known, like he might turn and show his face.

The same thing also crossed my mind until I found this video, which contains the complete clip (check out the nice panoramic view from the bleachers when Buster enters the stadium).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAo65yjlPbE&feature=related

[SHOELESSJOE3]

The same thing also crossed my mind until I found this video, which contains the complete clip (check out the nice panoramic view from the bleachers when Buster enters the stadium).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAo65yjlPbE&feature=related

OK I see what you mean, not The Babe. Who would ever think that some of the best footage of the outfield at old Yankee Stadium would be seen on footage having nothing to do with the game itself, some of the best I've ever seen.

[The Monument]

Thanks for posting that great clip. Was that pulled from the NBC show on saturday night? I missed it. That's very likely the oldest existing footage from the Stadium. On a less serious note--I heard that in order to make the fans feel like they're in the 1923 Stadium on Opening Day '09, The Yankees will have Billy Crystal replicate Buster Keatons scenes in front of the crowd.

[lollar]

I know there is film from opening day 1923 as well as the first game of the '23 WS when Stengel hit the game winning inside the park HR (Its somewhat grainy)...so that is older footage than this....:)

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

The same thing also crossed my mind until I found this video, which contains the complete clip (check out the nice panoramic view from the bleachers when Buster enters the stadium).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAo65yjlPbE&feature=related


Here's a quick screenshot from the video with that rare shot from that angle.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/2356456985_9710fea33d_o.jpg

[CB22]

Thanks for posting that great clip. Was that pulled from the NBC show on saturday night? I missed it. That's very likely the oldest existing footage from the Stadium. On a less serious note--I heard that in order to make the fans feel like they're in the 1923 Stadium on Opening Day '09, The Yankees will have Billy Crystal replicate Buster Keatons scenes in front of the crowd.

The NBC show referenced it and showed a very short clip, so I immediately searched for it on YouTube.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Thanks for posting that great clip. Was that pulled from the NBC show on saturday night? I missed it. That's very likely the oldest existing footage from the Stadium. On a less serious note--I heard that in order to make the fans feel like they're in the 1923 Stadium on Opening Day '09, The Yankees will have Billy Crystal replicate Buster Keatons scenes in front of the crowd.

ok, so I'm definately not going to opening day in 2009. I guess I'll go to the
2nd game at the new stadium, then. How can Billy Crystal call himself a Yankee fan? Didn't he wear a Mets hat in a movie once?

[tdinan]

ok, so I'm definately not going to opening day in 2009. I guess I'll go to the
2nd game at the new stadium, then. How can Billy Crystal call himself a Yankee fan? Didn't he wear a Mets hat in a movie once?

What the hell does that have to with anything???

[vtbub]

Is there a particular reason the last scoreboard was propped up? Since they renovated in '68, why didn't they fix that then.

BTW, in the NESN show on the '67 season, there are some great video clips from the stadium complete with the red foul poles and the auxiliary scoreboards at field level. The current font, or one that's real close, are used on the outfield markers and you do see Monument Park.

[David Atkatz]

Is there a particular reason the last scoreboard was propped up? Since they renovated in '68, why didn't they fix that then.

It wasn't "propped up." It was designed to be supported that way.

[vtbub]

It wasn't "propped up." It was designed to be supported that way.

OK. So the braces then were screwed into the scoreboard base and into the seating area then? I'm not trying to be smart. From the pictures that I have seen here, it looked like a temporary fix.

[David Atkatz]

OK. So the braces then were screwed into the scoreboard base and into the seating area then? I'm not trying to be smart. From the pictures that I have seen here, it looked like a temporary fix.

It was not a temporary fix. The scoreboard was supported that way from its first day.

[vtbub]

It was not a temporary fix. The scoreboard was supported that way from its first day.

Was there a reason then that it was supported in such an unconventional way, as in the ties going into the seating area as supposed to being fully supported by the rear wall in right?

I'm not old enough to remember the old stadium, so my perceptions are clouded that it didn't look normal as compared to other stadiums scoreboards.

[reh303]

Was there a reason then that it was supported in such an unconventional way, as in the ties going into the seating area as supposed to being fully supported by the rear wall in right?

I'm not old enough to remember the old stadium, so my perceptions are clouded that it didn't look normal as compared to other stadiums scoreboards.


I'm by no means an engineer, so this is more conjecture than a guess, even. Since the Yankees had to be out of the Polo Grounds in relatively short order, perhaps that was the quickest method of erecting a scoreboard?

[cgcoyne2]

Was there a reason then that it was supported in such an unconventional way, as in the ties going into the seating area as supposed to being fully supported by the rear wall in right?

I'm not old enough to remember the old stadium, so my perceptions are clouded that it didn't look normal as compared to other stadiums scoreboards.

vtbub is right. I'm assuming he feels the same as I do. They (the scoreboard supports) look stupid, let's be honest!!!:eek:

[vtbub]

I'm by no means an engineer, so this is more conjecture than a guess, even. Since the Yankees had to be out of the Polo Grounds in relatively short order, perhaps that was the quickest method of erecting a scoreboard?


IIRC, only the last scoreboard, shown in the 3d model thread, looks to be supported in the "unorthodox" way. The others look like they were attached to the rear wall.

[brooklyndodger14]

vtbub is right. I'm assuming he feels the same as I do. They (the scoreboard supports) look stupid, let's be honest!!!:eek:

Originally Posted by reh303
I'm by no means an engineer, so this is more conjecture than a guess, even. Since the Yankees had to be out of the Polo Grounds in relatively short order, perhaps that was the quickest method of erecting a scoreboard?



It really had nothing to do with aesthetics, but with practicality and safety.

The earlier generations of scoreboards were lower and made of wood.

The last "Old" Stadium scoreboard (1959-1973) was made of a steel frame, was about 25% wider (the older boards spanned 5 bleacher pillars, this one spanned 7), and was 88 feet high (measured from field level) plus an additional 30 feet high at the tower portion (the part with the Yankee logo) for a total of 108 feet high. That is just about as high as the grandstand roof. (Source: 1964 Yankee scorecard/Robert O. Fischel, Editor.)

What is forgotten or not really emphasized is the fact that the Old Stadium could be a pretty windy venue at times. With that in mind, having an 8 to 10 storey structure that is about 10 feet deep can make a pretty threatening element if left unbraced. Thus, the beams. I personally found them to be just as essential to the look of the Old Stadium at that time as anything else.


Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[vtbub]

It really had nothing to do with aesthetics, but with practicality and safety.

The earlier generations of scoreboards were lower and made of wood.

The last "Old" Stadium scoreboard (1959-1973) was made of a steel frame, was about 25% wider (the older boards spanned 5 bleacher pillars, this one spanned 7), and was 88 feet high (measured from field level) plus an additional 30 feet high at the tower portion (the part with the Yankee logo) for a total of 108 feet high. That is just about as high as the grandstand roof. (Source: 1964 Yankee scorecard/Robert O. Fischel, Editor.)

What is forgotten or not really emphasized is the fact that the Old Stadium could be a pretty windy venue at times. With that in mind, having an 8 to 10 storey structure that is about 10 feet deep can make a pretty threatening element if left unbraced. Thus, the beams. I personally found them to be just as essential to the look of the Old Stadium at that time as anything else.


Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

This makes a ton of sense and gives those of us that are younger some perspective on why they did what they did.

Thanks.

[BSmile]

As usual, Dennis pretty much nailed down the facts here. As a reminder, attached is a picture of The Stadium on April 3, 1923...which is actually before the grand opening. You can pretty clearly see what the very first scoreboard looked like. Also, no advertisements on the walls yet...still pristine.

Cheers! ~B

[BSmile]

Here's a picture taken 6 months later during the 1923 World Series in October. Note the rounded-top clock that is now perched on top of the scoreboard...and the ad's that are everywhere now.

[Gary Dunaier]

I've always wondered about the ad in left field... specifically the slogan "Can't yank 'em out..." was Ever-Ready intentionally going for the pun with the use of the word "yank," or was it just a coincidence?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Here's a picture taken 6 months later during the 1923 World Series in October. Note the rounded-top clock that is now perched on top of the scoreboard...and the ad's that are everywhere now.

They talk about the "short porch" in RF although from news archives I have seen a great number that Babe did hit, many to right RF bleachers most were long gone in most other parks. But look at CF in this pic, look at the centerfielder distance to the CF bleachers.....a mile. Ruth hit at least a few maybe more into the CF bleachers and one that landed a few rows from the base of the scoreboard, deep RCF. 487 feet to CF, wonder how many he lost out there.

[YankeesFan]

continued...............

These are great pictures.

As can be seen in the first photo, below the Yankee Stadium sign there were many windows. Does anyone remember what was on the other side of these windows? Were they offices or just ramps to different concourse levels? Did they serve the same purpose at Gates 2, 4 & 6?

In the renovated Stadium, the escalator ramps now block this area, except Gate 2. Does anyone know what is in this area now?

Thanks so much.

[SultanOfWhat]

They talk about the "short porch" in RF although from news archives I have seen a great number that Babe did hit, many to right RF bleachers most were long gone in most other parks. But look at CF in this pic, look at the centerfielder distance to the CF bleachers.....a mile. Ruth hit at least a few maybe more into the CF bleachers and one that landed a few rows from the base of the scoreboard, deep RCF. 487 feet to CF, wonder how many he lost out there.

Bill Jenkinson ("home run historian") released a book last year called "The Year the Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs". In it, Jenkinson overlaid a typical 330-375-405-375-330 baseball field from today over all of Ruth's outfield drives.

He projects that if Ruth had played in today's parks, he would have hit 104 HRs in 1921, 91 HRs in 1927, and 86 in 1920. As for Yankee Stadium's effect on Ruth's totals, Jenkinson estimates that Ruth lost 81 net home runs during the years of 1923-1934 by playing in Yankee Stadium instead of today's parks (not including about 18 home runs in YS that were ruled foul because they landed in foul territory, despite leaving the field of play fair or right near the foul pole). Overall, Jenkinson estimates that Ruth would have hit 1,158 home runs playing his entire career in typical modern parks.

[cgcoyne2]

Here's a picture taken 6 months later during the 1923 World Series in October. Note the rounded-top clock that is now perched on top of the scoreboard...and the ad's that are everywhere now.

Notice the NIKE SWOOSH!!!!

HA HA HA HA


Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[monkeypants]

Bill Jenkinson ("home run historian") released a book last year called "The Year the Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs". In it, Jenkinson overlaid a typical 330-375-405-375-330 baseball field from today over all of Ruth's outfield drives.


Just curious-how in the heck did he calculate the distance of all of Ruth's HRs, fly outs, etc? Surely that information was not recorded in the 1920s.

[SultanOfWhat]

Just curious-how in the heck did he calculate the distance of all of Ruth's HRs, fly outs, etc? Surely that information was not recorded in the 1920s.

There were up to 10 newspapers in NYC at the time, and often another 3-5 covering the Yankees opponents. So there were a lot of articles generated about what happened during the games. Plus, Ruth was by far the most famous player, and his exploits were often the center of attention. Therefore, there are detailed descriptions regarding the landing spots of many of his HRs and other long drives. Jenkinson spent 18 years researching this book.

BTW, Jenkinson is one of the writers who has championed a more scientific approach to measuring how far home runs fly (no 600-700 foot home runs, in his opinion). He actually looks at the aerial photos and architectural plans of ballparks past and present, and factors in how baseballs in flight actually behave. He has Ruth hitting an amazing 51 500-foot+ home runs. By contrast, Bonds has never hit even one, nor has A-Rod. Ruth was truly an anomaly, especially when you consider his heavy bat, which probably averaged about 42-ounces for his career.

Here are some of Ruth's most amazing shots:, according to Jenkinson. Yes, rows are often round off to the nearest 5, but overall, the estimates are probably good to within 10 feet.

"To 40th row in distant right center field bleachers" 525 feet Fenway
"Over wall in deep left center field; hit garage across street" 500 feet Fenway (building is still there)
"To 35th bleacher row in right field" 510 feet Fenway
"Over far corner of stadium in dead center field" 575 feet Detroit (18-mph wind aided; Jenkinson calls this longest proven HR in MLB history, as the streetcorner ball overflew to reach intersection is 560 feet from plate)
"To 35th row in right center field bleachers" 495 feet YS
"To 40th bleacher row in deep right center" 515 feet YS
"Deep into bleachers just right of dead center" 525 feet YS
"To 60th row in right field bleachers" 490 feet YS
"To 50th bleacher row in right center field bleachers" 500 feet YS
"Almost to top of bleachers in right center" 510 feet YS
"Line drive to 64th bleacher row in right field" 515 feet YS
"To 45th bleacher row in deep right field" 545 feet Fenway (well past Ted Williams' Famous "red seat")
"Over wall just left of dead center field; landed on garage" 515 feet Fenway
"To 25th bleacher row past 429-ft. sign in deep right center field" 505 feet YS
"Far to right field; cleared two rows of houses to Opal street" 535 feet Philadelphia
"To top bleacher row in deep right center field; into water barrel" 535 feet YS (probably longest HR ever in Yankee Stadium)
"Almost to top of right field bleachers" 505 feet YS

Remember, in Yankee Stadium, the bleachers were up to 70 rows deep in right field. And Jenkinson claims that Ruth did in fact hit balls over the bleachers in batting practice.

The book also has aerial photos of the ballparks (and, sometimes, the surrounding neighborhoods!) where Ruth's mightiest blasts were hit, with approximate arrows for landing spots. At $11 from amazon, it's well worth picking up. It also discusses the difficulty of opposition in Ruth's day vs. ours, impact of black ballplayers, etc.

[monkeypants]

Oh, I don't don't doubt that many a Ruthian blast was recorded with some precision. But those were HRs that you listed, which we already have recorded. What about the dozens and dozens of supposedly lost HRs? Are there many examples of newspaper articles saying things like "Ruth hit a fly ball 380' to right-center field for an out." That's the important evidence--we can't really determine how any HRs Ruth would have hit unless we know where all of his outs (and/or oubles and triples) landed.

[JohnCropp]

New parks are smaller than old parks.

Got it.

Maybe I can get a book deal on the fact that the Babe batted in a diluted talent pool of only white pitchers and how getting a hit off a guy the fourth time you see him is easier than the first or second.

I'd love to see a book on how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit if he was only facing the best pitchers of one race four or five times a game.

A hell of a lot more than 104, I bet!

[RoastedPeanut]

Notice the NIKE SWOOSH!!!!

HA HA HA HA


Sorry, I couldn't help myself.


The Yank's have always been ahead of the curve.. I mean, 41 years before the formation of Blue Ribbon Shoes..? Damn they're good.. If they could predict who will win the World Series and how, we would all be rich people..

[lollar]

Not all new parks are smaller than old ones.........

[Urbanshocker13]

New parks are smaller than old parks.

Got it.

Maybe I can get a book deal on the fact that the Babe batted in a diluted talent pool of only white pitchers and how getting a hit off a guy the fourth time you see him is easier than the first or second.

I'd love to see a book on how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit if he was only facing the best pitchers of one race four or five times a game.

A hell of a lot more than 104, I bet!

Now is that Bonds with or without weight training, modern training conditioning, smaller ballparks, better equiptment? ( not including his "little helpers") It's hard to compare players from different eras!

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Not all new parks are smaller than old ones.........

Correct but the most accurate way to judge would be to take the average.
Here you can see the AL parks in the year Ruth hit 60 in 1927 and compare that to NL parks in 1998. There have been some new NL parks built in the NL since 1998 but at a glance not much different in distance.

You can see the average distance down the lines is close comparing NL 1998 and AL 1927. There is a significant difference in CF older parks on average almost 40 feet deeper. Even in some of the smaller line distances in 1927 AL parks a ball has to be hit a long way to go out in CF. NL or even AL parks of today not even close to those centerfields in Ruth's time...NY 487-----Shibe 468----Comiskey 455
Fenway 488--- Detroit 467. Imagine hitting drives to some of those centerfields---- 450-460- and 470 and not reching the bleachers, today those ar gone in any NL CF.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Here are the comparisons. Tried to load this in my previous post, did not go through, here they are.

[monkeypants]

...in Ruth's time...NY 487-----Shibe 468----Comiskey 455---Fenway 488--- Detroit 467. Imagine hitting drives to some of those centerfields---- 450-460- and 470 and not reching the bleachers, today those ar gone in any NL CF.

Presumably some of those drives to the deep reaches of old parks would have simply turned into inside-the-park homers. Relatively few would have been caught, though of course some would have been outs.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I'm sure the "short porch" down the right field line is coming. First of all Ruth was not a pull hitter, did not make his living down that line. Anyone reading game recaps as I have, hundreds of them at the news archives will come away convinced that most of the drives in that section were long gone.
Did he poke a number down the line, sure he did but how many did he lose in the rest of that park. I'll listen to the short porch talk but take a look at the rest of the park once you get away from the line.

Overall Yankee Stadium is more than equal in difficulty to AT&T Park for LH hitters to hit one out.

Center field 399 at AT&T Park and 487 at Yankee Stadium, almost 90 feet deeper, hugh difference. Think of some of the 430-460+ drives that were home runs at AT&T Park, extra base hits and some long outs at NY.

What NL park can you hit a ball 450 feet to centerfield and it's not a home run. In 1927 there were at least 4 where it could be a long out. Look at the deep power alley in left center 382 at AT&T Park and almost 80 feet deeper at NY 460.
The deep right 429 and left field 460 power alleys at NY are both way deeper than dead center at AT&T Park 399.

[monkeypants]

It's interesting that you chose to compare Old Yankee Stadium and PacBell (or whatever it is called now). Except for dead center field, the dimension on the right side are actually comparable: 295' v. 309', 350' v. 365', 429' v. 421'. Those distance markers do not correspond exactly, but by and large, the two parks would have played pretty similarly to right field. Not so much to dead center and left field, though.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

New parks are smaller than old parks.

Got it.

Maybe I can get a book deal on the fact that the Babe batted in a diluted talent pool of only white pitchers and how getting a hit off a guy the fourth time you see him is easier than the first or second.

I'd love to see a book on how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit if he was only facing the best pitchers of one race four or five times a game.

A hell of a lot more than 104, I bet!

First of all Barry would have to be hitting the same ball. Not the super ball in use today, the one that lab testing at the Rhode Island University showed to be out of specs. BTW when a dozen phone calls were made to Bud Selig's office in 2002 to discuss the out of specs ball, Bud never returned the calls, doesn't care to talk about the ball. Lets remember Bud was not only the commissioner he was also an owner, home runs put people in the seats.
Second even though there is a mix of ethnicity and black pitchers in todays game and some very good ones, there are also pitchers who would be in the minor leagues if not for all the teams, to fill all those rosters.

Then what about the harder Maple bat that Barry and other use today, he wouldn't have that in 1927.

Not to say it's all one sided, Ruth had some things going for him and so does Barry in todays game. Look at both sides of the picture.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Presumably some of those drives to the deep reaches of old parks would have simply turned into inside-the-park homers. Relatively few would have been caught, though of course some would have been outs.

Maybe the average or even a bit above average hitter, he's got a shot at an IPH. I think when your Babe Ruth the outfield is going to be deep not much chance at an IPH. One article in the Chicago Tribune poked at that one, stating that "the only way opposing outfielders could play Babe Ruth any deeper would be to pay admission and sit in the bleachers."
Ruth had 10 career IPHs and 4 of them came in the first year of Yankee Stadium 1923. I think they soon realized he had the power to reach that warning track deep in the outfield, lets play this guy deeper.

I get your point some could be IPHs back then but in todays park, they would be gone, no doubt.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

It's interesting that you chose to compare Old Yankee Stadium and PacBell (or whatever it is called now). Except for dead center field, the dimension on the right side are actually comparable: 295' v. 309', 350' v. 365', 429' v. 421'. Those distance markers do not correspond exactly, but by and large, the two parks would have played pretty similarly to right field. Not so much to dead center and left field,
though.

I agree, I forgot to mention in that post comparing the parks in the league that I also want to compare Babe's and Barry's parks, their home games there.That was my reason for posting only two parks, where they play home games.

Yes comparable on that right side but the difference in CF is hugh and if you move not all the way to left but to deepest LCF where Barry has poked some out, would they all be out at that 460 at NY and 382 at AT&T Park, thats quite a difference.

[monkeypants]

Yes comparable on that right side but the difference in CF is hugh and if you move not all the way to left but to deepest LCF where Barry has poked some out, would they all be out at that 460 at NY and 382 at AT&T Park, thats quite a difference.

Interesting point. One of the huge changes in the game (IMO) that is often overlooked is how many more opposite field homers there are. Batters stand closer to plate and drive the ball the opposite way, and with shallower deep-center field fences, there is a better chance to put one out. In Ruth's day, and really until the 1980s, most HR hitters had to be pull hitters. Even Ruth, who according to previous posts was more of a CF/RCF hitter, was still hitting the great majority of his shots to the right side of the field.

For further comparison of Ruth's and Bonds' parks:

[Gehrig27]

Just found some good Corbis pictures: A good shot from 1937 with the right field extension under construction, crowds before the 1932 world series, Yogi and Elston in the tunnel to the clubhouse after a 1955 game, a view from the upper deck in 1925.

[Gehrig27]

…and a young fan in 1950 with a great view of the underside of the upper deck and the detail of the copper ends.

[David Atkatz]

Just found some good Corbis pictures: A good shot from 1937 with the right field extension under construction, crowds before the 1932 world series, Yogi and Elston in the tunnel to the clubhouse after a 1955 game, a view from the upper deck in 1925.

Nice shot from the upper deck in '25.

Would you say the frieze was painted white?

I wouldn't.

[Gehrig27]

Nice shot from the upper deck in '25.

Would you say the frieze was painted white?

I wouldn't.

Indeed, it's definitely brown like slightly weathered copper. I think one of the problems some people have is wether or not it had a varnish on it because in pictures like this one, the frieze doesn't seem to shine in the sun.

[Reds41]

I'd love to see a book on how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit if he was only facing the best pitchers of one race four or five times a game.

A hell of a lot more than 104, I bet!

Koufax
Seaver
Ryan
Carlton
and
Sutton......

or

Gibson
Jenkins
Pedro Martinez
Gooden
and
Marichal.....

Bonds would screw himself into the ground whiffing at those rotations.

[Yankeefan90]

…and a young fan in 1950 with a great view of the underside of the upper deck and the detail of the copper ends.

I think this pic is pretty funny. It's a pic of a young Boston fan at Yankee Stadium but that's not the funny part, if you look to the upper left of the pic those three guys don't look to happy about sitting in back of a Boston fan. It looks like they're planning to rough the kid up.

[JohnCropp]

It's hard to compare players from different eras!

If not impossible.

The book is worthless.

Koufax
Seaver
Ryan
Carlton
and
Sutton......

or

Gibson
Jenkins
Pedro Martinez
Gooden
and
Marichal.....

Bonds would screw himself into the ground whiffing at those rotations.

As would Ruth or anybody else.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

If not impossible.

The book is worthless.



Most of the many books I have read, hard to say any were worthless. It's more like to what degree do I accept what is in the book and the conclusions. How much of the book do I agree with.

Your lead sentence your right on, I would say not completely impossible but very difficult to compare players from different time periods. We all have different takes on to what degree do the conditions then and now factor in.

[SultanOfWhat]

Oh, I don't don't doubt that many a Ruthian blast was recorded with some precision. But those were HRs that you listed, which we already have recorded. What about the dozens and dozens of supposedly lost HRs? Are there many examples of newspaper articles saying things like "Ruth hit a fly ball 380' to right-center field for an out." That's the important evidence--we can't really determine how any HRs Ruth would have hit unless we know where all of his outs (and/or oubles and triples) landed.

That's exactly the thrust of Jenkinson's book. He tabulates Ruth's long drives that were NOT home runs, but would have been in typical parks in the modern era. Ruth hit many 420-foot + fly outs (sometimes 2-3 450-foot outs in a single series!), and many doubles and triples that would be out of any park today.

Jenksinon has two baseball field charts for every year Ruth played, one home and one road. He has Ruth's home field dimensions (Polo Grounds or Yankee Stadium) overlaid on a typical modern field (330-375-405-375-300), and uses a typical modern field to track what Ruth did on the road. Black dots are used to represent non-HR drives that would have been home runs in today's parks. A few drives per year snuck into the short porch in Yankee Stadium (usually just 2-3 a year on average). Overall, Jenkinson estimates that Ruth lost about 440 home runs due to the extreme dimensions of those old American League parks (as you guys have posted, they were huge to the middle of the field, where pitchers tried to get Ruth to hit the ball).

BTW, saying LCF in YS in 1927 was 395 is not really accurate. We all know about that crazy cut that went back away from the plate, making the fence much farther away. LCF in YS in 1927 was actually 460 feet from the plate. Jenkinson says that Ruth never managed to hit a ball into the seats in that area (from where the crazy cut met the LF bleachers to where the LCF fence met the RCF fence (the latter is just left of the flagpole). However, Ruth did hit a 460-foot HR to straightaway LF, deep into the seats.

[SultanOfWhat]

New parks are smaller than old parks.

Got it.

Maybe I can get a book deal on the fact that the Babe batted in a diluted talent pool of only white pitchers and how getting a hit off a guy the fourth time you see him is easier than the first or second.

I'd love to see a book on how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit if he was only facing the best pitchers of one race four or five times a game.

A hell of a lot more than 104, I bet!

You're slightly confused. Let me help you out.

How can you even mention Bonds in the same breath as Ruth? Bonds put on 40-50 lbs. of muscle he could never have gained naturally (or could have naturally kept on while having to play an every day sport). That's why his HR numbers soared. You can't lift weights like a body builder and play baseball every day. That's why McGwire turned to andro (on top of using steroids). Bonds cheated every time he stepped on a baseball field with his ill-gotten muscle, and he BRUTALLY altered the outcome of games by that cheating. He doesn't even deserve to be considered for the Hall of Fame, either. Yes, I know he had 414 HRs and 450 SBs before he cheated, as well as Gold Gloves and MVP's, but he THREW IT ALL AWAY when he decided to cheat every time he stepped into the batter's box for 9 straight years. No HOF for Bonds, whose crime was far worse than Pete Rose's.

BTW, baseball was the ONLY major sport in the U.S. in Ruth's day, and the way Ruth completely dominated a baseball-crazed nation of 135 million people (with nearly every able-bodied male trying his hand at baseball) is still unmatched. Today, we have basketball, football and hockey siphoning off about 2,500 of our best athletes at a time away from baseball. That makes up to some extent for the lack of non-whites in Ruth's day. Also, in Jenkinson's book, he researches Ruth's performance against Negro League pitchers. Ruth absolutely shelled them, hitting even better against them than he did against white MLB pitchers. The bottom line is that Ruth was so dominant that he would have been a great player (probably the greatest player) during any era of baseball we have seen.

Lastly, there were relief pitchers in Ruth's day. Teams often brought in their most dominant left-handed starting pitchers (such as Lefty Grove) to face Ruth late in games in big spots.

It must be sad to worship a cheating, morose, pathetic liar like Barry Bonds.

[monkeypants]

That's exactly the thrust of Jenkinson's book. He tabulates Ruth's long drives that were NOT home runs, but would have been in typical parks in the modern era. Ruth hit many 420-foot + fly outs (sometimes 2-3 450-foot outs in a single series!), and many doubles and triples that would be out of any park today...

I will have to look at the book, but I am pretty doubtful that accurate records were kept of fly outs and such. Only in the last few years has SABR and the like started to record every, single ball hit by every, single player. I have a feeling that a close read of Jenkins' book reveals a lot of estimating and not so much actual evidence. That said, I'll reserve judgment until I read the book.

[JohnCropp]

You're slightly confused. Let me help you out.

How can you even mention Bonds in the same breath as Ruth? Bonds put on 40-50 lbs. of muscle he could never have gained naturally (or could have naturally kept on while having to play an every day sport). That's why his HR numbers soared. You can't lift weights like a body builder and play baseball every day. That's why McGwire turned to andro (on top of using steroids). Bonds cheated every time he stepped on a baseball field with his ill-gotten muscle, and he BRUTALLY altered the outcome of games by that cheating. He doesn't even deserve to be considered for the Hall of Fame, either. Yes, I know he had 414 HRs and 450 SBs before he cheated, as well as Gold Gloves and MVP's, but he THREW IT ALL AWAY when he decided to cheat every time he stepped into the batter's box for 9 straight years. No HOF for Bonds, whose crime was far worse than Pete Rose's.

BTW, baseball was the ONLY major sport in the U.S. in Ruth's day, and the way Ruth completely dominated a baseball-crazed nation of 135 million people (with nearly every able-bodied male trying his hand at baseball) is still unmatched. Today, we have basketball, football and hockey siphoning off about 2,500 of our best athletes at a time away from baseball. That makes up to some extent for the lack of non-whites in Ruth's day. Also, in Jenkinson's book, he researches Ruth's performance against Negro League pitchers. Ruth absolutely shelled them, hitting even better against them than he did against white MLB pitchers. The bottom line is that Ruth was so dominant that he would have been a great player (probably the greatest player) during any era of baseball we have seen.

Lastly, there were relief pitchers in Ruth's day. Teams often brought in their most dominant left-handed starting pitchers (such as Lefty Grove) to face Ruth late in games in big spots.

It must be sad to worship a cheating, morose, pathetic liar like Barry Bonds.

Allegedly.

:)

[Gehrig27]

Circa 1959

[Gehrig27]

Nothing better at the ballpark than Coca Cola (1957), and peanuts! (1956).

[tdinan]

Circa 1959


Is that Roger Clemens as a kid in that last pic? HAHA

[h-man]

actually thats lou gehrigs momument

[Mattingly85MVP]

This is from the USA Today tribute to Yankee Stadium...I've been looking for it for a while bc I once saw this photo during the 1940's portion of Ken Burns' Baseball. Probably one of my favorite YS photos

[Mattingly85MVP]

Check out the wall paper images on the Daily News YS tribute site...great photos

http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/

[Kentucky Bomber]

Amazon delivered my Yankee Stadium books today.

1) Memories of Yankee Stadium by Scott Pitoniak. A small format book, mostly print. The author actually is an editor of the recollections of many people in and out of the Yankee family about the ballpark. Has value from the oral history point of view.

2) A Yankee Stadium Scrapbook by David Fischer. Almost completely pictorial, lots of pics of the Stadium, events held there and ephemera like the Yanks' 1932 Series ring and the Beach Boys in concert. Nice if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive pictorial.

3) The Official Retrospective by Mark Vancil and Alfred Santasiere III. This is the big format, large book that the Yankees gave their blessing to. Lots of heavy duty color imagery, vintage shots, stuff only somebody on the inside would be able to get. A couple of stunning Kodachrome shots of Babe Ruth in his last visit to the Stadium in 1948, a shot I hadn't seen before of Don Larsen back at YS the day after the Perfect Game posing with the Football Giants. Little inserts of the Famous giving their impression of Yankee Stadium including Paul McCartney telling how he became a fixture at the park after 9/11. Big, glossy and pricey.

I got all of these as a freebie from the points I accumulated on my Amazon Visa. I probably only would have gotten the Official if I had to pay full price.

[locke40]

I was recently browsing the history page on mets.com, and I came across a major mistake: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/history/ballparks.jsp I think it's actually kind of funny that the Mets can never escape the wrath of the best team in New York, not even on their history page. :rofl:

[spm1976]

I was recently browsing the history page on mets.com, and I came across a major mistake: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/history/ballparks.jsp I think it's actually kind of funny that the Mets can never escape the wrath of the best team in New York, not even on their history page. :rofl:

Haha..that backstop is pretty familiar ... :)

[jimmyjimjimz]

I was recently browsing the history page on mets.com, and I came across a major mistake: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/history/ballparks.jsp I think it's actually kind of funny that the Mets can never escape the wrath of the best team in New York, not even on their history page. :rofl:

I don't see anything. What am I looking for?

[Yankeefan90]

I don't see anything. What am I looking for?

The picture next to the Polo Grounds description isn't the Polo Grounds, it's Yankee Stadium.

[jimmyjimjimz]

The picture next to the Polo Grounds description isn't the Polo Grounds, it's Yankee Stadium.

how can you tell?

[Chef Bill]

Check out the wall paper images on the Daily News YS tribute site...great photos.

Great photos, but it's ironic that of all the pictures of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio in the archives that the Daily News could have used, the one they picked were not taken at Yankee Stadium - they're wearing a road uniforms!

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

3 snapshots that I don't think have been posted yet

1946 prior to Notre-Dame Army game
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2399298275_c88b906a3a_o.jpg

Probably early '50's
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2400141822_a8c6ca0d90_o.jpg

1957. Were fans were allowed on the field after the game?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2400178680_8ea30297a5_o.jpg

[Kentucky Bomber]

how can you tell?

The Stadium is triple decked; the Polo Grounds was double decked.

[Reds41]

Yes, you are correct. Here is a zoomed in picture of the scoreboard from the same photograph. The first baseman is pretty famous too.

37197

I noticed that the Phillies are playing the Cubs in Chicago and the White Sox are playing the A's in Philly.

An all Chicago vs Philadelphia day.

Also, the St. Louis Browns are playing the NY Yankees in NY and the NY Giants are playing the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis.

A New York vs St. Louis day too.

Interesting scheduling.

[jimmyjimjimz]

The Stadium is triple decked; the Polo Grounds was double decked.

wow, I didn't even realize that.

[brooklyndodger14]

Nice side by side comparison shot from Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock, and one shot by my brother on September 30, 1973...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2400178680_8ea30297a5_o.jpg
http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36748&stc=1&d=1204327574

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[reh303]

Nice side by side comparison shot from Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock, and one shot by my brother on September 30, 1973...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2400178680_8ea30297a5_o.jpg
http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36748&stc=1&d=1204327574

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

I love color pictures of the pre-1973 version of YS. Having been born well after the renovation, it helps me imagine what it would look like.

[locke40]

Was the pre-renovated Yankee Stadium the most perfect ballpark of all-time? It had everything, from the quirky dimensions to a work of art adorning the upper grandstand, that contributed to an experience unlike anything else.

[locke40]

I think they should have brought back the see-through fencing down the lines for the New Stadium.

39819

[locke40]

Screencap from "MLB Vintage World Series Films - New York Yankees: 17 Championship Seasons 1943-2000" showing the right field upper grandstand.

39820

[locke40]

Another screencap.

39826

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36748&stc=1&d=1204327574


Amazing how easy it is to date photos. This is so early-mid 70's. Great photo, Dennis. It makes me wonder if the digital ballpark photos taken today will be as easy to date in 30 years. I think not, but then we always say that.

[NYaDiO]

Okay I have a question. When were the lights first installed? Because the first night game wasnt held til around the 1940s.

[Aviator_Frank]

Installed in 1946

[NYaDiO]

Thanks my second question. Are there any aerial photos of the stadium without the lights.

[Mattingly85MVP]

locke40, is that "MLB Vintage World Series Films - New York Yankees: 17 Championship Seasons 1943-2000" dvd set worth getting, as far as old footage goes, is there a lot of color footage from games at the pre-renovated stadium?
I've been thinking about buying it

thanks

[parlo]

Amazing how easy it is to date photos. This is so early-mid 70's. Great photo, Dennis. It makes me wonder if the digital ballpark photos taken today will be as easy to date in 30 years. I think not, but then we always say that.Goatees, shaved heads, short cropped haircuts, bling, oversized shirts and hoodies will all stick out like a sore thumb 20 years from now.

[locke40]

locke40, is that "MLB Vintage World Series Films - New York Yankees: 17 Championship Seasons 1943-2000" dvd set worth getting, as far as old footage goes, is there a lot of color footage from games at the pre-renovated stadium?
I've been thinking about buying it

thanks

There is color footage shown in the 1958, 1961 & 1962 films and the 1996-2000 films, of course; all the others are in black and white, but still contain fantastic footage. My absolute favorite parts are when the B-17 Flying Fortress makes it's flyover before games at the Stadium; someone posted a picture of it a few pages back. The earlier films themselves are okay, sometimes they can get a bit boring. But I absolutely love seeing any footage of the old stadium, and comparing it to the stadium now. The 1996-2000 films are the same exact ones as the "The New York Yankees Fall Classic Collector's Edition 1996-2001" DVD set, since both sets were produced by A&E.

I used to love the old Looney Tunes cartoons from the 40's and 50's, and these World Series films from this set remind me of those, especially the opening segments. But like I said, they can get somewhat boring at times. Overall, I would recommend them because I feel they capture a great part of the history of my favorite team.

[RichieA13]

This photo is proported to be Opening Day - 1923

[Gary Dunaier]

The photograph is, indeed, from Opening Day 1923, according to Yankee Stadium: 75 Years of Drama, Glamor and Glory by Ray Robinson and Christopher Jennison, where it's described as such.

[cgcoyne2]

:eek:Allegedly.

:)


Hat size increased!!!!

Shoe size increased!!!!

Allegedly my ass!!!!

[brooklyndodger14]

This is a continuation of pics I posted on #904 (page 37 in this thread).

These were taken by TOM LANGAN, a fellow Stadium vendor. (If anyone knows his current whereabouts, please PM me). The quality is poor for now but I will do a clean-up of these later.

This shows a better idea of the crowd that took over the field after the game.

Note the bemused 2 policemen at the left bottom center of the shot. As you can see, they do not have their guns drawn, as I suspect they will come Closing Day, 2008..... j/k..

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40257&stc=1&d=1208470711

This picture shows a pair of fans trying to take down the Field Level Section 23 sign off the pillar. Without any pliers, chances are he bent that sign good.
The pair of signs taped to the mezzanine facing say "Yankee Stadium Forever" and Bring Back (former Yankee president under CBS, Michael) Burke. In 35 years old retrospection, both messages are heavily ironic.

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40258&stc=1&d=1208470711

In fairness to Michael Burke, despite all the derisive attitude of the so-called "Horace Clarke Era", Burke made the Yankees a more accessible presence both within the Stadium (anyone remember the frequent Autograph Room sessions?) and the community. Yes they were lean years, but we did have Stott, Murcer, Munson, Nettles, Stick and Lyle. They did make the lean years exciting though they did have the propensity to fade at the season's end from '72-74.


Enjoy!

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Gehrig27]

Those pictures are awesome Dennis! It really gives you a sense of the chaos that ensued after the game. I can only imagine how dull the security and police presence will make the last game at the current stadium, unless it's a World Series game.:)

[Yankees73]

Wasn't the stadium actually kind of built for multi-use, for baseball,football, boxing and whatever? I know it was mostly built for baseball, but didn't they have multi-use in mind when they designed it? You know, thats why there was that safe thing under 2nd base for cables and boxing ring and other stufflike that.
Don't forget bicycle racing. That was huge in the 20s

[jimmyjimjimz]

Originally Posted by Urbanshocker13
Wasn't the stadium actually kind of built for multi-use, for baseball,football, boxing and whatever? I know it was mostly built for baseball, but didn't they have multi-use in mind when they designed it? You know, thats why there was that safe thing under 2nd base for cables and boxing ring and other stufflike that.


I really wanna know if that safe is still there.

and, if it is, is that where they're keeping the stage for the Pope's mass this weekend? I was supprised at the mass today at Nationals Park that they used the infield. I thought they wouldn't be allowed to use the infield. I heard yesterday that theyre building the stage over 2nd base, and theyre not gonna use the infield at all. Theyre gonna have stages going up the baselines, and around the warning track. Theyre gonna try to keep as much off the grass as possible.

edit:
I just realized they didn't use the infield. I thought the people I saw in the crowd on the field were in the infield, but I just looked at pics, and the infield was blocked off.

[Kentucky Bomber]

The box under 2nd base was removed in the 70's renovation.

[withfood]

:homeplate:Keeping score at the big park in 1949.[/QUOTE]
GREAT PIC.....Is it from a book?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

:homeplate:Keeping score at the big park in 1949.
GREAT PIC.....Is it from a book?[/QUOTE]

It is from a book I looked over at the public library. Don't recall the name, I think I posted that one a few months ago. I think from a book dealing the Yanks history or the history of Yankee Stadium.

[MarcianoNY]

Credits go to Bridgeport Mike and Photoscream for the photos, respectively. The second one is interesting because I had heard the stadium was painted white but always assumed that meant a similar battleship gray to the current stadium. Compare the second photo to the third one, it doesn't look so run down but many of the original details are painted over

[Urbanshocker13]

A movie where you can get a good look at the old stadium is "Serpico", it's only a quick shot but it's when he is metting with some crooked cops and he's on a hill overlooking the stadium and you can see it from above. It's been awhile since I've seen it but I remember that you can see the old stadium in it.

[Pinstripes]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36748&stc=1&d=1204327574

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14I hope you don't mind (I couldn't resist), I played around with this picture to clean it up a bit!

Just let me know and I can remove it if you want.

http://i26.tinypic.com/21jno7m.jpg

If anyone has any pictures they want cleaned up post or link to them. :)

[parlo]

A movie where you can get a good look at the old stadium is "Serpico", it's only a quick shot but it's when he is metting with some crooked cops and he's on a hill overlooking the stadium and you can see it from above. It's been awhile since I've seen it but I remember that you can see the old stadium in it.You are right. There is also a late 50s/early 60s movie with Jimmy Stewart that shows the entrances, and concourses in color.
There is also a Shirley McClain movie from about 1970 that has a quick shot of her out on the field.

[brooklyndodger14]

I hope you don't mind (I couldn't resist), I played around with this picture to clean it up a bit!

Just let me know and I can remove it if you want.

http://i26.tinypic.com/21jno7m.jpg

If anyone has any pictures they want cleaned up post or link to them. :)

Hey great job! Go ahead and try the others!
They are on this thread (Page 37, Post #904, 2/29/08).

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Kentucky Bomber]

You are right. There is also a late 50s/early 60s movie with Jimmy Stewart that shows the entrances, and concourses in color.


That's "The FBI Story". Shot at a Giants' football game.

[Pinstripes]

Hey great job! Go ahead and try the others!
They are on this thread (Page 37, Post #904, 2/29/08).

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36750&stc=1&d=1204327593

http://i30.tinypic.com/15oz5i1.jpg


http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36739&stc=1&d=1204324842

http://i26.tinypic.com/hrlkc6.jpg

:cap:

[Pinstripes]

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40258&stc=1&d=1208470711
For some reason I liked this picture :D It reminds me of something I would have tried to do.

I was on a roll:

http://i29.tinypic.com/117wdiq.jpg

[Chevy114]

Why did they paint the outside of yankee stadium white? Was it because white looked cleaner?

[locke40]

Why did they paint the outside of yankee stadium white? Was it because white looked cleaner?

Because it was the 60's, and they whitewashed everything in the 60's. Unfortunately for us, this was the beginning of the end for the greatest stadium in the world.

[Chevy114]

Because it was the 60's, and they whitewashed everything in the 60's. Unfortunately for us, this was the beginning of the end for the greatest stadium in the world.

Yeah I noticed they did that with other older stadiums like comiskey and tiger stadium. Was that their way of making it look new without any major renovations?

[six4three]

Yep, I'm sure it was.

Personally, I think the real beginning of the end was when they defaced the grand facade in favor of a hideous digital clock visible from Pennsylvania:

http://www.designdepot.com/store/media/OldYankeeOutside.jpg

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Interesting piece.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/sports/baseball/30stadium.html?ex=1364616000&en=efe5903ed75efdf2&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Scroll down and cllick on the multimedia link for audio slide show The Hidden Yankee Stadium.

Some screenshots below

Players corridor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2435937961_8c3aa14da9_o.jpg

Workshop underneath the stadium
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2436756668_d23f408357_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2436756992_38a2641720.jpg

[Chevy114]

Interesting piece.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/sports/baseball/30stadium.html?ex=1364616000&en=efe5903ed75efdf2&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Scroll down and cllick on the multimedia link for audio slide show The Hidden Yankee Stadium.

Some screenshots below

Players corridor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2435937961_8c3aa14da9_o.jpg

Workshop underneath the stadium
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2436756668_d23f408357_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2436756992_38a2641720.jpg

I remember they did something like this for the dodgers spring training a few years ago when they thought it was the last spring at dodgertown. 3 years later the dodgers are still talking about at least having a split squad team there lol.

[MarcianoNY]

A movie where you can get a good look at the old stadium is "Serpico", it's only a quick shot but it's when he is metting with some crooked cops and he's on a hill overlooking the stadium and you can see it from above. It's been awhile since I've seen it but I remember that you can see the old stadium in it.

I've been trying to get a screen capture of those shots on my computer but the grab utility won't let me. The viewpoint is pretty cool.

[Urbanshocker13]

I've been trying to get a screen capture of those shots on my computer but the grab utility won't let me. The viewpoint is pretty cool.

Try this, it was in another thread I been woundering how to do that for a while too.

As Donut says, its Cmd-Shift-4, but for a DVD you have to trick the Mac by stopping, restarting and hitting those keys immediately, then spacebar when the shot comes up, then mouse to capture - not as bad as it sounds:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20051225092538379

Definitely works for Tiger, not sure about Leopard...

[Aviator_Frank]

I've got PowerDVD which allows for screen caps, also I have the DVD. If someone could point me to the time of the movie where the scene is at I'll post a pic. I've seen the movie a couple of times but don't know where they meet timewise.

[kobathecat]

That comes close to the very first stadium naming rights ever sold. Scary.

[MarcianoNY]

I've got PowerDVD which allows for screen caps, also I have the DVD. If someone could point me to the time of the movie where the scene is at I'll post a pic. I've seen the movie a couple of times but don't know where they meet timewise.

I believe its about an hour twenty or so. The title of the chapter is "meeting in the park" or something like that.

[Aviator_Frank]

Here it is. The whole scene lasts about 10 seconds as Frank walks towards the camera.

[spiderico]

Man, would this look nice in the basement:

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/19616-1923-Yankee-Stadium-Terra-Cotta-Figural-Piece_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ28270QQihZ007QQit emZ170210941670QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[spm1976]

I can see six more of that exact same one, and three of the "NY" ones in between here on the balconies at gate 2, not to mention the other two in between the windows.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00033.jpg

And a closeup..
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00324.jpg

I would love to have the NY one..

[six4three]

Oh, man. So would I. That's very cool.

[The Real McCoy]

I went to my first major league game at Yankee Stadium, Cleveland Indians. I remember Rizzuto pushing two bunts up the first base line for hits, I don't think Luke Easter has fielded either one of them, yet.

All those photos are great and a couple give a wonderful perspective on just how steeply banked the upper deck stands were in those days (that was one of the major changes in the renovation). The Indian game was an outing (either PAL or CYO) and we sat far back in the upper deck in right. Stenciled into the back of each seat was some very sage advice, given the steep angle of the seats: "Sit Tight"

[parlo]

I can see six more of that exact same one, and three of the "NY" ones in between here on the balconies at gate 2, not to mention the other two in between the windows.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00033.jpg

And a closeup..
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00324.jpg

I would love to have the NY one..The ones on the renovated stadium are most likely not terra cotta. They are most likely concrete.

[Astros]

Interesting find from a 1966 article in Sports Illustrated.

OUT WITH THE NEW
No doubt the new stadiums we see sprouting on sports pages everywhere are right up to the minute, but they leave us a little melancholy. The architects have removed the posts, which were among the lesser faults of the old parks, but they also seem to have buried the old rowdy intimacy of those parks beneath the bland symmetries and lollipop hues of the new. We'll take Yankee Stadium, posts and all, over Shea in New York, and after viewing pictures of St. Louis' vast new saucer we have a feeling that the players will look like pygmies from our seat, wherever it is. Stan Musial never looked small in Sportsman's Park when he rifled a shot into the right-field screen, nor did Carl Furillo in Ebbets Field when he played one off the wall.

[David Atkatz]

The ones on the renovated stadium are most likely not terra cotta. They are most likely concrete.

No. They are the originals--just coated with the textured concrete spray that was applied to the entire facade.

[Yoda]

Interesting find from a 1966 article in Sports Illustrated.

OUT WITH THE NEW
No doubt the new stadiums we see sprouting on sports pages everywhere are right up to the minute, but they leave us a little melancholy. The architects have removed the posts, which were among the lesser faults of the old parks, but they also seem to have buried the old rowdy intimacy of those parks beneath the bland symmetries and lollipop hues of the new. We'll take Yankee Stadium, posts and all, over Shea in New York, and after viewing pictures of St. Louis' vast new saucer we have a feeling that the players will look like pygmies from our seat, wherever it is. Stan Musial never looked small in Sportsman's Park when he rifled a shot into the right-field screen, nor did Carl Furillo in Ebbets Field when he played one off the wall.

Nice find.

Even then they knew the cookie-cutter were a bad idea. Too bad owners were so greedy and wanted places they could host 1000 different events.

[David Atkatz]

IAll those photos are great and a couple give a wonderful perspective on just how steeply banked the upper deck stands were in those days (that was one of the major changes in the renovation).

The steepness of the upper deck was not changed. All they did was add more rows to the top in order to counterbalance the deck and allow it to be supported by "hidden" columns.

[80SHOCK]

Wow great pictures.
You the more I look at pictures of the old stadium the more I'm kind of upset that they even remolded it.
I'm only 23 which the old stadium was well before my time. and I don't like that they changed the whole stadium.
It would have been interesting though if they kept the way the original stadium was though.
Looked pretty darn big.
Maybe it would have not attracted certain FA over the years.

[locke40]

I love this picture, 1956.

http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/img/wallpaper/wallpaper03_800.jpg

[six4three]

No. They are the originals--just coated with the textured concrete spray that was applied to the entire facade.

Yeah - there's no way they would have remolded those forms when they renovated the Stadium.

[brooklyndodger14]

No. They are the originals--just coated with the textured concrete spray that was applied to the entire facade.


Interesting item to become available after 35 years... The item (though pictured upside down in the listing) appears to be the real deal.

Let's see.... With three sets of balconies on each demolished gate (4 & 6), and a pair for each balcony, that equals 6 ornaments per gate and 12 overall that were removed. For the "NY" fixtures removed, the overall total is 6.

At $8,000 each, that would make a potential grand total of $96,000 if all the "baseball" fixtures were gathered together, and an additional $48,000 for all the "NY" fixtures, if priced at same value. Potential total purchase: $144,000!!!! (or the cost of 5 or 6 A-Rod at bats... LOL)

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[kobathecat]

Which is gorgeous and has me salivating, likely came from the front gate (was it 6?) where they removed the Yankee Stadium sign and one can now find the Yankee store.

[YankeeStadium1923]

http://members.aol.com/bridge1883/Stadium[/IMG]m[/IMG]I can see six more of that exact same one, and three of the "NY" ones in between here on the balconies at gate 2, not to mention the other two in between the windows.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00033.jpg

And a closeup..
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/spm76/DSC00324.jpg

I would love to have the NY one..
I was browsing the web a few years ago and I came across one of the original NY Terra Cotta panels......

"One of the most unique items in the Cypres collection is an original cornerstone from Yankee Stadium."

http://members.aol.com/bridge1883/Stadium

[MarcianoNY]

Interesting item to become available after 35 years... The item (though pictured upside down in the listing) appears to be the real deal.

Let's see.... With three sets of balconies on each demolished gate (4 & 6), and a pair for each balcony, that equals 6 ornaments per gate and 12 overall that were removed. For the "NY" fixtures removed, the overall total is 6.

At $8,000 each, that would make a potential grand total of $96,000 if all the "baseball" fixtures were gathered together, and and additional $48,000 for all the "NY" fixtures, if priced at same value. Potential total purchase: $144,000!!!! (or the cost of 5 or 6 A-Rod at bats... LOL)

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

Man you better take that down before some wise-ass goes down there with a sledgehammer

[six4three]

http://members.aol.com/bridge1883/Stadium[/IMG]m[/IMG]
I was browsing the web a few years ago and I came across one of the original NY Terra Cotta panels......

"One of the most unique items in the Cypres collection is an original cornerstone from Yankee Stadium."

http://members.aol.com/bridge1883/Stadium

Wow. That's amazing. I remember reading about his collection a couple years ago -do you know if he ever opened his museum?

[yankees82]

check out this kid in his "box seat" at the old stadium.

http://www.vintageball.com/files/Boy_Yankee.jpg

[J2K]

I always wondered about those old time box seats. How do you get in and out?!?!?!:rofl:

[RichieA13]

Sure looks like "Mr. Coffee" to me ... peeking out of the dugout in the photo on the right??!

[YankeeFanBx]

That's Mr. Coffee, for sure!

[YankeeFanBx]

That's Mr. Coffee, for sure:hide:

[Aviator_Frank]

That's Mr. Coffee, for sure:hide:

Yep. Something's brewing there. :coffee

[brooklyndodger14]

"Let the Yankees move to the Bronx, they will wither on the vine" - John McGraw commenting on the Yankees departure from the Polo Grounds and their search for their own venue. (Paraphrased)

Here are 2 pictures from almost the same perspective taken about 40 years apart. The 1923 shot is from the NY Public Library Photo archives, while the 1963 color shot is from Corbis.


Enjoy!

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[YankeeStadium1923]

Wow. That's amazing. I remember reading about his collection a couple years ago -do you know if he ever opened his museum?
Yes....According the the website the museum is called....

The "Little Collection" of the Cypres Family Sports Museum

[dabigyankeeman]

I don't want to start an argument on here (because I have seen this topic argued so many times on other threads I have been reading) but I would just like to state my opinion.

While the Yankees have always been about moving forward with fresh young talent, one thing they have always had is "Mystique and Aura" (NY fans even made signs saying that exact phrase during the '01 series agaianst Arizona). They have always been the amazing team that has an amazing history and they play inside the hollowed halls of baseball. A place where fans watched as players like Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, and Maris pranced around the outfield making their job look way too easy.

With the rennovation the stadium lost a great bit of character. But what it lost in its looks it more than made up for with new historic events (who could forget Jackson's three homers off three pitches in the '77 series, the 9/11 ceremonies or even November baseball).

In my opinion if the Yankees move across the street they will become nothing more than every other team out there. Their feeling of invincibility will suddenly be gone and they won't have anything but a typical baseball stadium of modern standards. No more will the screaming fanatics in the upper deck be so close to the action and able to amaze the players with how close they are to the action (as well as loud). And no more will Jon Miller be able to call the home runs hit by Giambi and other lefties a "True Ruthian clout fitting of the house that Ruth built" as I have heard him do on ESPN. Instead they will just be a baseball team that has been around for a long time and had some very historical players.

They won't be able to say that the Yankees play in the place where Ruth hit 60 and Maris hit 61. Where Gehrig felt so lucky and Mantle hit the facade. The magic will be gone. A loss of a place and time when the players loved the game and didn't need millions per yer. And of course we can't forget... 26 world championships and 39 pennants.

Anyway that is my feelings of the matter.

Brilliantly said, I have been to the stadium in every decade from the 1950's thru 2 years ago, and its always been Yankee Stadium. On another plot of land, there will never again be a Yankee Stadium.

[JohnCropp]

Pre-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/tjorphanage/bob_dylan.jpg


Post-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/anarkish/Bob-Dylan.jpg


New Yankee Stadium
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/billiemasody/music/jakob.jpg


The first two are the same thing. They look a bit different, but if you really look hard you can see them in each other.

The third one is something completely different than the first two, but shares alot of the same features.

The first and second share a history but also made history in their own right.

The third has all the oppertunities and expectations that come from sharing a name with the first and second, but only time will tell of the third ever really escapes from one and two's shadow.

[David Atkatz]

...I have been to the stadium in every decade from the 1950's thru 2 years ago, and its always been Yankee Stadium. On another plot of land, there will never again be a Yankee Stadium.

As have I.

And yankeeman, you're absolutely right.

BTW, after this year, the only stadium in the AL in which Ruth, and Gehrig, and DiMaggio, and Mantle, and every other great Yankee has played will be Fenway Park.

I wonder where the Karma will be in 2009.

[Chevy114]

Pre-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/tjorphanage/bob_dylan.jpg


Post-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/anarkish/Bob-Dylan.jpg


New Yankee Stadium
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/billiemasody/music/jakob.jpg


The first two are the same thing. They look a bit different, but if you really look hard you can see them in each other.

The third one is something completely different than the first two, but shares alot of the same features.

The first and second share a history but also made history in their own right.

The third has all the oppertunities and expectations that come from sharing a name with the first and second, but only time will tell of the third ever really escapes from one and two's shadow.

lol good one!

[alpineinc]

Pre-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/tjorphanage/bob_dylan.jpg


Post-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/anarkish/Bob-Dylan.jpg


New Yankee Stadium
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/billiemasody/music/jakob.jpg


The first two are the same thing. They look a bit different, but if you really look hard you can see them in each other.

The third one is something completely different than the first two, but shares alot of the same features.

The first and second share a history but also made history in their own right.

The third has all the oppertunities and expectations that come from sharing a name with the first and second, but only time will tell of the third ever really escapes from one and two's shadow.

Brilliant.


I'd add that the Yankee's Shea years are maybe after the motorcycle accident - out of it for a couple years, "where am I?", etc.

[parlo]

Pre-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/tjorphanage/bob_dylan.jpg


Post-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/anarkish/Bob-Dylan.jpg


New Yankee Stadium
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/billiemasody/music/jakob.jpg


The first two are the same thing. They look a bit different, but if you really look hard you can see them in each other.

The third one is something completely different than the first two, but shares alot of the same features.

The first and second share a history but also made history in their own right.

The third has all the oppertunities and expectations that come from sharing a name with the first and second, but only time will tell of the third ever really escapes from one and two's shadow.

I am laughing really hard!!!!!!
How does it feel ?

[jimmyjimjimz]

Pre-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/tjorphanage/bob_dylan.jpg


Post-Renovation Yankee Stadium
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/anarkish/Bob-Dylan.jpg


New Yankee Stadium
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/billiemasody/music/jakob.jpg


The first two are the same thing. They look a bit different, but if you really look hard you can see them in each other.

The third one is something completely different than the first two, but shares alot of the same features.

The first and second share a history but also made history in their own right.

The third has all the oppertunities and expectations that come from sharing a name with the first and second, but only time will tell of the third ever really escapes from one and two's shadow.

So, Bob Dillon and Rod Stewart are the same guy?

The first guy is Rod Stewart, isn't he?

[David Atkatz]

So, Bob Dillon and Rod Stewart are the same guy?

The first guy is Rod Stewart, isn't he?

Wow.

(BTW, who's Bob Dillon?)

[Aviator_Frank]

I think Joan Rivers will demonstrate the theory a little differently. New facade, cantilevered the cheekbones a little, some grillework . . .

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

^ :rofl:

These analogies are pretty funny (and fairly accurate)

The picture of Joan Rivers reminded me of this "transformation":

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/02_03/Wildenstein2L_800x1132.jpg

As bad as the YS renovation was, it wasn't quite THIS bad.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Here's some larger sized aerials

1950's?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2444600222_996bc8327d_b.jpg

1960's
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2444623864_ac4464f4e2_b.jpg

1928
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2443833261_7f02909b75_b.jpg

1940's exterior shot of line for the Louis-Schmeling fight
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2444661162_54a19b7091_o.jpg

[80SHOCK]

^ :rofl:

These analogies are pretty funny (and fairly accurate)

The picture of Joan Rivers reminded me of this "transformation":

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/02_03/Wildenstein2L_800x1132.jpg

As bad as the YS renovation was, it wasn't quite THIS bad.-

That face is so jacked up it's not even funny.

[MarcianoNY]

-

That face is so jacked up it's not even funny.

Yes. The new pictures are great but its not even worth getting sick every time I have to scroll past these Joan Rivers pics. Please, PLEASE get them off!

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Yes. The new pictures are great but its not even worth getting sick every time I have to scroll past these Joan Rivers pics. Please, PLEASE get them off!

OK, I changed the image for a link. It was starting to get ME sick. Now 80Shock must do likewise or else he'll be the offender.

FYI, that wasn't Rivers, but 62 year old European socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein. She makes Michael Jackson look normal.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Wow.

(BTW, who's Bob Dillon?)


Bob Dillon is that guy who sings the song about everybody getting stoned.

That's the only song I can think of that he sings right now. He also plays the harmonica and the guitar at the same time.

Oh yeah, he sings that song about Hurricane Carter (the boxer who went to jail for doing something he never did) too.

[MarcianoNY]

Man just stop while you're ahe.... err... just stop. Lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_dylan

[MarcianoNY]

OK, I changed the image for a link. It was starting to get ME sick. Now 80Shock must do likewise or else he'll be the offender.

FYI, that wasn't Rivers, but 62 year old European socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein. She makes Michael Jackson look normal.

Indeed. Thanks for the correction. At least this kind of disproves the notion that Americans are the only ones guilty of such reckless superficiality.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Man just stop while you're ahe.... err... just stop. Lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_dylan

stop what?

wow, I spelled his last name wrong. big f'n deal.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Bob Dillon is that guy who sings the song about everybody getting stoned.

That's the only song I can think of that he sings right now. He also plays the harmonica and the guitar at the same time.

Oh yeah, he sings that song about Hurricane Carter (the boxer who went to jail for doing something he never did) too.

:crazy................

[Gary Dunaier]

The new issue of the New York Daily News' "The Stadium" magazine, with Reggie Jackson on the cover (included with copies of the Sun 4/27/08 paper), has a picture of fans walking on the field after the last game carring pairs of stadium seats. I don't have access to a scanner right now, but here's the caption:

Yankee fans make off with seats from the old Stadium after an 8-5 loss to Detroit in the last game, Sept. 30, 1973. The finale draws 32,238. The remaining seats wind up in minor-league parks or are sold through a promotion with Korvettes stores.

There's also a photo of a nun carrying a piece of Stadium turf.

[kobathecat]

stop what?

wow, I spelled his last name wrong. big f'n deal.

I don't think the problem was your spelling. Bob Dylan, in many music circles, is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. In other words, God. I can't say I disagree as I am a huge fan of his as well and been to quite a few of his concerts as well. But Dylan is also an acquired taste; either you get him and love his music or he is like nails on a blackboard. He influenced just about everyone who came after him. Before him, performers sang other people's songs. After him, performers, now ARTISTS, wrote their own material, and sang it whether they were professionally trained or if they sang like...well, like him. He is also the original Mr. Rock Star Attitude. Nobody else, nobody can lay claim to both playing as an invited artist in front of the Pope (John Paul II) as well as having had his music covered by Guns 'N Roses (Knockin' On Heaven's Door).

Sorry for getting off topic!

[tdinan]

So, Bob Dillon and Rod Stewart are the same guy?

The first guy is Rod Stewart, isn't he?

You just hit an all-time low, champ. Mission accomlished.

[CB22]

I know there is film from opening day 1923 as well as the first game of the '23 WS when Stengel hit the game winning inside the park HR (Its somewhat grainy)...so that is older footage than this....:)

Here is the footage of the inside the park homerun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV29V3eqVTY

[Mattingly85MVP]

Here's a link to some old footage from the stadium back in the early 70's...

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/new%20york%20yankees/video/xtby6_yankeeshamiltonfamousfollyfloater_news

[Mattingly85MVP]

Also found some color footage from around 1960-62 from an old movie, there's a great opening shot of the stadium at night, just wish the quality was better. Can someone rent it and take a screen shot? I believe the movie is called "That Touch of Mink"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1omvlBMP4

[jerseyyankeefan]

Here's a link to some old footage from the stadium back in the early 70's...

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/new%20york%20yankees/video/xtby6_yankeeshamiltonfamousfollyfloater_news

Look at Thurm go, wow!

[six4three]

Here's a link to some old footage from the stadium back in the early 70's...

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/new%20york%20yankees/video/xtby6_yankeeshamiltonfamousfollyfloater_news

Wow.

That might be the most amazing pitch I've ever seen.

Very, very cool.

[cgcoyne2]

Removed...

[six4three]

People might be a little more kindly disposed to help you in your quest had you not spammed the board, friend.

You started a new thread. Interesting question. You don't need to advertise your new thread on every other one....

[Gary Dunaier]

Before I discovered Flickr and learned how to download photos from the Internet, I used to search Ebay for interesting ballpark photos. Here are a couple of Yankee Stadium shots from my collection which, if memory serves me right, the seller said were from 1962...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/YankeeStadium1962-1-cropped.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/YankeeStadium1962-2-cropped.jpg

EDIT: ...but they're actually from 1961. I figured it out from the two movies that were playing at the Earl Theatre as shown on its marquee - "The Innocents" with Deborah Kerr and "The Hustler" with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. Both films came out in '61, ergo that must have been when the photos were taken.

[Gehrig27]

Those are great pictures Gary. In the first one it looks like they are removing the ornate siding; hence the scafolding.

[Aviator_Frank]

That lower foto also definitely dispels the is-it-copper frieze question. YS and the frieze have a nice green patina.

Great pics, Gary.

[LetsGoMets687]

Whoa, this pic is cool. Look, you can see the scaffolding and work in progress removing the copper ends off the grandstand, like Gehrig says. Wasn't there an argument about exactly when this occured? Here's your answer!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/YankeeStadium1962-1-cropped.jpg

[Astros]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/YankeeStadium1962-1-cropped.jpg

Take a look at the facade around the first and third base sides. It looks as if you cannot see through the openings in some parts. Any ideas?

[MarcianoNY]

Question: does anyone here have a copy of 61* and the ability to take screenshots? I would love to see some of the shots of Tiger Stadium dressed up as Yankee Stadium for comparisons sake.

[Aviator_Frank]

FYI the third deck & frieze were added post-production.

[h-man]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/coinboynyc/YankeeStadium1962-1-cropped.jpg

Take a look at the facade around the first and third base sides. It looks as if you cannot see through the openings in some parts. Any ideas?

nevermind.

[MarcianoNY]

FYI the third deck & frieze were added post-production.

Thanks, I'm aware of that. I just think it would be cool to compare some photos of the actual stadium to the one in the movie.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Question: does anyone here have a copy of 61* and the ability to take screenshots? I would love to see some of the shots of Tiger Stadium dressed up as Yankee Stadium for comparisons sake.

Ask and you shall receive. They did a great editing job for the movie.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2453636318_96b976ef58_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/2453611518_27b24082f5_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2452781889_5bc833bf10_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2452780001_d87a5b2a3a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2452782819_e1edc6eecc_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2452778489_87fa6d1eaf_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/2452778977_84efd7bedf_o.jpg

[Gary Dunaier]

Ask and you shall receive. They did a great editing job for the movie.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2453636318_96b976ef58_o.jpg


Of course, you're going to get killjoys such as myself who are going to point out that 1020 Grand Concourse, the large white apartment building beyond the left field wall, wasn't built until 1963 (http://nyc.everyblock.com/property-sales/by-date/2007/7/12/861571/), two years after Mantle and Maris... :eek:

[Aviator_Frank]

Plus, the shadows come across the 1st-base line in YS, not the 3rd.

And the frieze doesn't curve so sharply around the . . . oh never mind.:rofl:

They did a fine CGI job. Good movie, too.

[Pinstripes]

Yeah, in that one picture they have the seats/frieze "curving" in foul territory before you get to the foul pole, when in reality it curved in fair territory on the left (fair) side of the pole moreso than in that picture.

However, all things considered (this wasn't a big budget theatrical production, it was a cable movie), they did an unbelievable job capturing the "essence" of the original stadium. It really shows you just how different the stadium is now.

[TnNYYfan]

61* is a great movie. The extras on the DVD really shows how much Crystal loves the game and the Yankees.

[locke40]

This is a pretty cool view I haven't seen before. It was at the bottom of the All-Star Game voting ballot on mlb.com. I wonder what other photographs are out there that we don't know about.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/events/all_star/y2008/footer_ballot_al.gif

[Astros]

This is a pretty cool view I haven't seen before. It was at the bottom of the All-Star Game voting ballot on mlb.com. I wonder what other photographs are out there that we don't know about.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/events/all_star/y2008/footer_ballot_al.gif

I bet the team photo archive has A LOT of photos showing all types of subjects. It probably has photos of the construction as well as the renovation. They are probably all filed away safely...I hope.

Most teams have large photo archives that most people never get to see. :cap:

[Astros]

Does anyone have any idea as to the difference in appearance in these areas of the facade? Were they doing work here? Most photos show the facade with openings in it all the way around the roof of Yankee Stadium.

[stlfan]

Does anyone have any idea as to the difference in appearance in these areas of the facade? Were they doing work here? Most photos show the facade with openings in it all the way around the roof of Yankee Stadium.

I noticed the same thing. If you look at the side frieze it is the same way.

[RichieA13]

I think it's a combination of an optical illusion, as well as the position of the sun/light. I have seen photos of the facade installed in the New Yankee Stadium & the same thing happens. The facade doesn't look exactly the same all around the ring of the Stadium. It's sort of like a ventian blind-effect. Depending on where you standing in regards to the degree it is open & the light source behind it, you're going to see more (or less) light.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

A few more that may not have been posted here yet (there may be a few reposts).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2017/2460943986_4cb6b7f3d2_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2460942376_4bae216a1f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2460942016_8135078e20_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/2460942446_ae621392b3_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2460942524_84bbcea024_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2460107571_8286e51bed_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2460107671_64b340fa65_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2463030492_9248a0e71a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/2460107861_50e8152e97_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/2460108249_503ce23c9c_o.jpg

[Urbanshocker13]

I love that photo of Mickey, it's really worth a 1000 words!

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

An original seat
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2460943446_ff2e9c408e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2460943522_6be15229c5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2460943654_b776bf1793_o.jpg

Can anyone explain this? :confused:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2460108657_6d00c9caac_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2460943862_472b09f4c7_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2460109001_cb910e1ab0_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2460944160_32901aa3b2_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2460109133_921523c291_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2460109187_1280c4a391_o.jpg

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2460195779_8cae1c3e42_o.jpg

A few from the NYT
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2460109335_1b9fd53e1f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2460109551_cc1a38de51_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2460944670_49684a1799_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/2460944772_abf9f38fa8_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/2460109833_059eda012d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2460944968_9f1ae7f315_o.jpg

For good measure, here's one from Hilltop Park, 10 years before YS was even built.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/2460945080_0b063838ae_o.jpg

[MarcianoNY]

Amazing photos Mario, thanks! In the New Yankee Stadium thread, we've been arguing about the importance of details (or lack thereof) in the new stadium when comparing it to the old. Here's something I noticed for the first time upon seeing these photos. Does anyone have a color pic or remember what these looked like in the old days? It really goes to show how much intricate detail was wiped away, starting with the white paint in the late 60s.

[Gary Dunaier]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2460943654_b776bf1793_o.jpg

Awesome photo of the Yankee Stadium scoreboard from 1969... you've got the two mentions of Mantle, plus you've got the Seattle Pilots on the out-of-town scoreboard.

[stlfan]

Awesome photos. I love the one football shot from the endzone and the way the sunlight is coming into the stadium. It looks like heaven. 2nd, I have a question. The "YANKEE STADIUM" lettering that is on the top facade above gate 4 that is blue when the facade was white washed, is it the same as the white lettering in that photo of the guy pointing at the stadium when they painted part of the upper facade black and put the white lettering up? I know one instance the lettering is white and the other it is blue, but I was curious.

[brooklyndodger14]

Awesome photos. I love the one football shot from the endzone and the way the sunlight is coming into the stadium. It looks like heaven. 2nd, I have a question. The "YANKEE STADIUM" lettering that is on the top facade above gate 4 that is blue when the facade was white washed, is it the same as the white lettering in that photo of the guy pointing at the stadium when they painted part of the upper facade black and put the white lettering up? I know one instance the lettering is white and the other it is blue, but I was curious.

The letters are one and the same from 1956 or '57 thru the 1966 refurbishing where they were changed to blue to contrast against the white exterior.

They are also the same signage that exists on the Stadium today.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[stlfan]

The letters are one and the same from 1956 or '57 thru the 1966 refurbishing where they were changed to blue to contrast against the white exterior.

They are also the same signage that exists on the Stadium today.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14
Thanks for the info. Wow, those letters have been there for a long time. What are they planning to do with them when the current stadium comes down?

[brooklyndodger14]

Thanks for the info. Wow, those letters have been there for a long time. What are they planning to do with them when the current stadium comes down?

It is my personal hope that they retain the letters and hang them outside the back of the upper deck to echo the way they are now.

I would'nt bet the farm that they would be so accomodating, however.

I'm not a fan of their concept drawing of the main gate stlyle font spelling out "Yankee Stadium" to be placed on top of the roof, but we'll see....

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Mattingly85MVP]

Love the pics mario- where did you find the shot of the stadium with the fisheye lens...its a great photo

[Reds41]

Awesome photo of the Yankee Stadium scoreboard from 1969... you've got the two mentions of Mantle, plus you've got the Seattle Pilots on the out-of-town scoreboard.

That picture was taken Friday, June 6, 1969.


CHI A 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 5 0
NY A 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 x - 3 9 0

BOX+PBP
WP: Bahnsen (2-8)
LP: Peters (4-7)
HR: Knoop (6)

[six4three]

It is my personal hope that they retain the letters and hang them outside the back of the upper deck to echo the way they are now.

I would'nt bet the farm that they would be so accomodating, however.

I'm not a fan of their concept drawing of the main gate stlyle font spelling out "Yankee Stadium" to be placed on top of the roof, but we'll see....

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

See, I have the opposite view.

Not a fan of the current letters, and I won't miss them. I love, however, echoing the classy and traditional letters from the gates.

[80SHOCK]

Does anyone know why the (the New York Highlanders before they where the Yankees) moved out of Hilltop Park into the Polo Grounds?
It was their own park anyway so why move to someone else's?

[Urbanshocker13]

Does anyone know why the (the New York Highlanders before they where the Yankees) moved out of Hilltop Park into the Polo Grounds?
It was their own park anyway so why move to someone else's?

Because of fire like most of those 19th century wooded parks.

[Lpeters199]

I'm a new member, so I haven't had time to review all the posts on pre-renovation Yankee Stadium--sorry if this is old news. Two episodes of the TV series Naked City have scenes from 1961 and 1962 that show pre-renovation Yankee Stadium.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0656749/


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0656796/

If anyone is interested, I'll post some screen captures from these shows.


.

[Mattingly85MVP]

Lpeters199 please post those screen shots, would love to see them.

[alpineinc]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2460944160_32901aa3b2_o.jpg


Love the binocular vendor.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Love the pics mario- where did you find the shot of the stadium with the fisheye lens...its a great photo

I can't remember exactly where on the net I got that one. Perhaps a library archive or an auction site. I rarely direct link to ballpark pics, since it pisses off the host, plus the link could go dead. I've been saving old ballpark pics for years, and have purchased some originals as well. Most of the ones I've saved have been posted by other contributors here, which makes Baseball-Fever perhaps the preeminent site for finding old baseball related pics on the net.

PS It seems your photo somehow "flipped".

[Lpeters199]

Thanks for the reply. I'll get my VHS tape transferred to a DVD now that I know someone's interested, and I'll post screen shots as soon as possible.

[YankeeFanBx]

Wonderful shots from the past, they make me even more nostalgic about the 'Big Ballpark in the Bronx', I welcome the new stadium and know it's time, but I'm really going to miss the big greenish palace where I saw my first baseball game.:sorry:

[YankeeFanBx]

I remember the show and would love to see the shots of the stadium, thank you!

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

A few more

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2027/2462197177_137c1e2dcb_o.jpg

He looks a lot friendlier than the YS ushers today
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2463030874_56f4c11d2b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2462197449_29510421a5_o.jpg

Somebody can figure out the date based on the scoreboard info
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/2463031388_a628558129_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2462198173_ddc882f3b8_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2463032122_11840fda00_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2463032558_4a57182633_o.jpg

Some original drawings from Osborn
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2381/2462196521_855d5e7808_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2463029608_8469ee122e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2462195847_d0104e1dd1_o.jpg