In ten days, it will be all be over. Eight-five years of memories along with countless photos will be all that remains of Yankee Stadium.
Over the next week and a half, we’ll hear more than we ever wanted to about the final days of the Stadium. We’ll see old Yankees return to say their final good byes. We’ll see fans making the exodus up the House that Ruth Built one more time. We’ll see countless pieces — such as Sweeney Murti’s excellent read of his Top 25 Yankee Stadium Moments — laud the stadium’s place in both baseball history and New York City lore.
Right now, though, before the ten-game homestand to end all homestands, the Yankees aren’t inspiring much confidence in their fan base. Yankee fans have given up on the season, and everyone and their uncles have suggestions on how to “fix” the Yankees. Before we get to that point in our discussions though, the Yankees have to wrap up what they started in 1923.
It’s not easy for a team of veterans who expected to make the playoffs to maintain to play in the face of disappointment. I’ve played enough sports in my life to know the drain of a long season and the weight of impossible expectations. I know what it’s like to watch another team win when that trophy was supposed to belong to you. I can only begin to guess what it’s like, after 146 games, to push through to the end when there’s nothing left for which to play.
But for the fans, for the history and for the stadium, the Yankees should and will find a way to bring some semblance of respect to the last 10 games at the stadium. They’re facing tough teams; two of their three opponents this week will probably play well past the end of September. But I have to believe the Yanks have one last hurrah in them. The ghosts of Yankee past that haunt the stadium will see to it that we won’t be disappointed as their prepare to tear down the Cathedral in the Bronx.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.