The Tuesday Discussion – Yankee Stadium Memories
This week we posed the following to our writers:
The Yankees have won 17 games at Yankee Stadium this year –
the 29th consecutive year that they have had a winning season at home.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the longest current streak in the Major Leagues.
What is your greatest Yankees Stadium memory?
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Ed Botti – This is a very easy one for me. October 4-5 1995, Game 2 of the ALDS. I sat in the left field stands, way up high. The whole game was intense and loud. Pettitte went 7, a very young Mariano went 3.1 innings to get the win. Mattingly crushed one, O’Neill went deep, Sierra went deep and Jimmy Leyritz ended it in the 15th with a walk off 2 run homer. 7-5 Yanks!! That was a special group led by Manager Buck Showalter and Captain Don Mattingly that should have won it all in 1994. This is one moment in time that is permanently stamped in my mind. Just a great night!!!
Honorary mention is any one of the many times I saw Thurman Munson play in person.
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Mike Whiteman – My greatest memory was when I stepped into the bleachers for the first time. I had built up very high expectations of my first visit.
Upon entering the Stadium, there was brief disappointment walking through the concourse as there just seemed to be concrete everywhere, and no view of the field. Finally, I found the entry to the bleachers where our seats were and walked “towards the light”. It suddenly became one of the most enjoyable moments I can recall, just standing there and scanning the place where so many great memories had played out in front of me on television. I had made it!
I got to my seat and immediately called my dad, a passionate Yankee fan who never got to go to a game at the Stadium, and described what I was seeing. What a day!
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James Vlietstra – Soooo many great Yankees Stadium memories….Averaged about 20 games a year from 1993-2008. Here’s some that stand out…
First game as 8 year old with mom, 1986, 5-3 loss to Angels.
1988 doubleheader against Mariners right behind tarp. Standing by players exit as Henderson, Mattingly and company leave.
Driving the 60+ miles as a 16 year old as the designated driver almost every Sunday after church for brothers and their friends.
May of 1994 saw a big brawl in the upper deck and remember the players standing around watching it too.
The tailgating bar b q in the parking lot before games and figuring out the best way to the Major Deegan North after.
Had partial season plan in section 94 when Sheffield was lining bullets in our direction.
Friends’ cousin is “Cotton Eyed” Joey.
Would put video messages on the scoreboard for kids we would take to the game with us.
Explaining to everyone near me how rare the Velarde unassisted triple play was.
Watching A-Rod 500th home run fly out in front of us.
Sitting with Clemens’ family for 350th win.
The electricity and deafening noise as Boone walked off the ALCS.
The deafening chant of “Who’s Your Daddy” as Martinez stood on the mound.
Taking the Stadium Tour with toddler children and bringing them to watch Jeter and Mariano.
Thank you for sharing these memories with me. It really has been fun a fun journey.
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Paul Semendinger – There are so many to consider, but maybe the best memory I have was my first game I ever attended, with my dad and my neighbors from across the street. The date was May 17, 1977. The Yankees played the Oakland A’s.
The Yankees won the game 11-2.
Don Gullett earned the win.
Best of all, Graig Nettles homered (as did Mickey Rivers and Roy White).
