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Posted: |
Sep 19, 2008 - 11:04 PM
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By: |
Eric Paddon
(Member)
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The end draws near for the House That Ruth Built. I have to admit, I really wish the last game were not a Sunday Night ESPN game because I can not stand Miller and Morgan as an announcing team, and the last game should be called by the regular Yankee broadcast crew.
On October 2, 1976 I attended my first game at Yankee Stadium, a Saturday doubleheader against Cleveland (hard to believe that there are now a generation of fans who will never know what it's like to go see two games on one ticket) which they swept. Oscar Gamble was the first Yankee I ever saw hit a home run in person. They ended up being the last two wins of the 76 season as the next day's doubleheader which would have ended the year was rained out.
The next game I went to on September 10, 1977, a year the Yankees won their first championship since 1962, was a disaster as the Yankees were drubbed by the expansion Blue Jays by a score of 19-3!! Roy Howell ended up getting ten RBI's in the game for Toronto.
Then it was jacket day, May 27, 1978 against Toronto again. This one was a 4-1 loss with a near-thrill in the bottom of the 9th when Jim Spencer missed a game-tying HR by a matter of four feet.
August 26, 1978 Photo Album Night against Oakland was the next game I saw, and this was a 4-3 win as the Yankees were showing the charge that led them back from 14 out to win their second straight title.
My final record at Yankee Stadium for the home team in 33 seasons was 21 wins and 13 losses. And the best game in that batch along the way was without question, July 2, 1998 against Philadelphia in a game that defined the 125 win Championship season, as they fell behind 5-0, kept trying to climb back and then in the bottom 9th, Tino Martinez sent a game tying HR into the upper deck that set up an extra-inning win.
Thanks for the memories, Yankee Stadium, and here's to the coming memories in the new ballpark!
(Addendum. My first game at Shea Stadium was August 1980 against the Dodgers and Rick Monday hit a home run that landed under the seat next to me. Final Mets record in games I saw at Shea was 4-6)
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