Goodbye to All That: A Tribute to Yankee Stadium

“You know, I played in a World Series, won a World Series, with the Mets. I was a veteran player by the time I became a Yankee, but the first time I put the pinstripes on and walked out of the dugout and up on the playing field—and I had been there before, but when I walked out and I was a Yankee, had the pinstripes—man, that was special. I felt the little short hairs on my neck go up, and I went: ‘Wow.’ I wasn’t prepared to be awed, but I was.”—Ron Swoboda (Mets, 1965-70; Yankees, 1971-73), quoted in Rob Trucks, “They Played in Both,” The Village Voice, September 17-23, 2008

(Somehow, it seems appropriate that the last game in the stadium would be played on a Sunday—they don’t call it “The Cathedral of Sports” for nothing. Me, I’m hoping for an Andy Pettitte win, a Mariano Rivera save, and a Derek Jeter walkoff homer—but this season, like life, has had a funny way of working out. In any case, I’m grateful for 85 years of memories.

For my loyal Mets fans, for the sake of equal time, I’ll try to supply an equivalent tribute for you next week, on the occasion of your team’s regular-season finale at home.)