hiway29

Just ordered the Yankee Stadium dvd, thanks. Hey, I'm a fan of Fenway. There are a few highlights I could live without on a Fenway dvd, myself, of course. So a decision had to be made. I can do one trip back east this year, either to get to the Stadium, or Thanksgiving with family and friends. People won out over the ballpark, but not until I thought about this. My last visit to Yankee Stadium was in 2003. They were out of town, but I took the Stadium tour with my best friend from childhood, Tom. I finally got into the clubhouse, dugout, monuments, walked the tunnel, the field. That night we went to a Mets game. I saw Tom one more time, meeting in Philadelphia and going to a Phillies game. Tom passed away in 2004. His wife asked me to do the memorial. He was my constant friend from childhood, and I miss him every day. Anyway-I decided that the day we took the Stadium tour together, is as fitting a sendoff to the place as I can think of for me. When I can catch some time, I'll dig out some pictures from that day (though I still gotta learn how to post em-sheesh)

Yeah, I do like the facade shots. I also like the neighborhood shots. Last time I was in the Bronx, I noticed it looked a lot cleaner and livable than the slums in the 60's and 70's. It looks even better now. (It's still the south Bronx, I know). I missed that Yankee Stadium show. Gotta look for that. I also need to get HBO again. I canceled it after the Sopranos, to save a few bucks (I'm somehow paying MORE now, by some convuluted cable pricing).

I'm heading to anaheim if at all possible . Something tells me this Hamilton has just become a hot ticket. It's great to see someone capture the public's imagination like this.

It's enough for me. Always has been. It's amazing to me how people are affected by schlocky 'journalism'. As bad as they mess with sports, it's scary when you realize it's the same tactics for presidential races, and other 'real life' matters. Overall, I still feel the good outweighed the bad last night. The presence of Yogi will squelch all negativity.

If it had gone one more inning, the AL would have been out of pitchers (or Francona could have left the Rays closer in until his arm gave out-that wouldn't have looked good) Drew reminded him that he pitched in high school and was 'ready' if they needed him. As I've said many times, I'm sick to death of the Sox-Yankee thing. In all my years on the east coast, it rarely seemed a big deal, except in huge games like the '78 playoff game. That kind of fervor, fueled by irresponsible 'journalists', would be enough to turn me off to the game after awhile. Baseball is supposed to be fun, not warfare. And it goes on in Boston too. I just read of someone in a car being chased down and beaten in Boston because they thought the driver was a Yankee fan. Nice. There are aholes everywhere, and the so called NY newspapers speak to the basest emotions . Joe Torre hasn't made the front page of the LA Times yet, and he must feel like he's resting in the tropics by comparison. The NY Post and News aren't really newspapers, so much as glorified Enquirers, with agendas to create exciting 'news'. You don't get that kind of nonsense in the NY Times, but then the Times isn't as easy to read on the subway, and doesn't have big pictures, and write in 2 syllable words. So now, Boston has to respond, and the next trip to Fenway will be extra crazy. Mstar is already extra motivated to see Papelbon get revenge( understandably so, I might add). For me, it ended in that sick game where Zimmer lost his mind, and got thrown to the ground. I decided I had to get off that carnival ride, and have distanced myself as much as possible since then, because it's never fun to go back to, as I saw last night.

The NY rags get worse every year. The only thing that sticks is that stupid Papel Bum picture on the back page, and so gas is thrown on a fire that never needs much to set off. The News and Post approach life like it's the Jerry Springer show, (or in the Post's case, Rush Limbaugh). At least they eat their own as well, based on some of the back page smears at various Mets, and Yankees I've seen recently. I didn't hear about Papelbon's wife, and I don't think I want to. I stayed up for the whole thing, but then I'm not on the east coast. That's not the JD Drew that was in LA. Maybe it was too laid back out here for him. He almost got to pitch, too! Glad to see the AL win again. This is making up for a lifetime of NL dominance. Weird game. So many missed opportunities to score. Russell Martin put on a show behind the plate. Looks like the Series opens in Fenway again this year. Stupid, stupid, rule rewarding the winner of this with something like that.

the opening ceremonies. wow. ok, I admit it. I'm the 12 year old Yankee fan geek again for one night. Favorite moment-Yogi, Whitey, Goose, and Reggie , throwing the first pitch to the current Yankees. Yogi looks healthier than George by a long shot. Live forever Yogi. Other fav moments. Willie McCovey, standing getting up out the wheelchair while being introduced. Of course the amazing roster of hall of famers. It's all almost overwhelming. Hope the game is good.

I must say that picture from the new stadium gets me excited. You're so right about the steep upper deck. I remember once, as a teenager. getting dizzy , sitting in the top row deep in left field. My friend's uncle, who brought us, decided to move closer, and we somehow wound up in right field, field level just beyond the fence-sitting down just in time to be close to a Bobby Murcer home run that landed nearby !

I saw it before it went down. While it bore little resemblance to the time when people like Pressed Down, Selah, and others were turning us on, I really can't say it was much different from way productions by the late 70's, early 80's. The singers just looked older and goofier. Same fake smiles, orchestrated movements, and any semblance of life, energy, or originality stripped clean- only more so.

Surely, the luxury boxes, restaurants, etc are the bottom line here. It's all about the money of course. Beyond that , though, from what I understand, the new park will look as much like the pre-70'e renovation as possible. That means features like the cool frieze pattern that ran around the top of the stadium will be back. In the 70's, they took it down , and put an 'homage' to it in the big concrete pattern in the outfield. Not the same. Somehow I doubt they'll restore the 457' left center field wall, or put the monuments back in center field. The days of watching players chase balls behind the Babe's monument won't be back. You're right. They're duplicating the stadium as much as possible right next door, which is probably the best way to go.At least it's not the Meadowlands in Jersey, as George used to threaten. I'm glad I took the tour and got into the clubhouse, tunnels, dugout, and press box in time. I know you're right, mstar. I know I should get out there. I don't know how right now. If I don't, I'll never blame you- but I will kick myself for sure.

A nice sidenote to Hamilton's feats is his pitcher Clay Counsel, who is 71 years old. This was his second trip to Yankee Stadium, according to Mike and Mike. The first time being there for Don Larsen's perfect game in '56.

That was a fun home run contest. They made it seem easy to reach the upper deck in Yankee Stadium, which I can assure you, it's not. I suffered my first real pangs of realization that the Stadium's days are numbered. Maybe the Murcer passing helped trigger it, but I spent much of the home run contest reliving what the place has meant to me, from 1961, my first year of baseball awareness(and Maris' 61), to my first game in person in '63, through the collapse of the dynasty, the Reggie years, the Mattingly years, to my favorite Yankee team of the late 90's, to whatever they are right now. I'm hoping to really like the new place, but the reality is setting in hard.

Is Ryan Howard soon a free agent? Good grief-I hope he stays with the Phillies. I can only imagine the money thrown at him though, so Philly may as well get ready. Sometimes you wonder what the point is for most teams. I only caught a little of the Angels, stRangers series, but those guys from Texas are looking tough. As usual, the pitching may keep them from the top.Plus that is one strong division. Now if they were in the NL west they'd be looking at the magic number pretty soon.

Thanks, mstar. My memory was a bit fuzzy before. Bobby hit 4 home runs in a row-but they were over 2 games. He did hit 3 in one of them though. Another memory was when Thurman Munson died. Bobby and Thurman were best friends, and the night game on the day of Thurman's memorial, Murcer insisted on playing because he believed Munson would have wanted him to. Bobby only drove in every run that night for the win (one of those rare occasions when winning a game has some real life meaning). Since the Yankees are on the road, I wonder how they'll handle the tribute. Will it be more than a mention at the All-star game, or will they wait for the next home game. That is something I hope to see somehow.

Bobby Murcer meant a great deal to me way back when. He was one of the few worthy players on the worst ever Yankee teams of the late 60's early 70's that I loved with a passion that would rival mstar and his Sox. I became a Yankee fan as a lad during their last burst of dynasty, only to see them collapse right when I was becoming a teenager. Hard to explain what that lousy Yankee team meant to a guy who was drowning in high school and life. While I gamely clung to the team of Horace Clarke, Jake Gibbs, Jerry Kenney, Gene Michael et al, there was always Bobby Murcer. Not Bob, not Robert, he was Bobby. He was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle-yeah, that's not difficult to live up to-of course it didn't happen. I do remember him hitting 4 home runs in one game, hitting .331 one year at a time when just hitting .300 was rare. Mostly I remember just liking the man. Great attitude, worked hard,and holding his head high at the Yankees lowest point. I'm glad I read his book, 'Always a Yankee' that he thankfully finished before he died, where I learned what a class person he was in his family life as well. He won't be throwing out the first pitch in new Yankee Stadium now, which hurts me more than it should, for some reason. Those long gone days of endless summer afternoons listening to Phil Rizzuto cheer(yes, cheer) when Bobby hit a home run will be with me forever. Thanks Bobby, and rest well.

Bobby Murcer passed away. I'll have more to say, but can't bring myself right now.

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Thanks- It was one of those emergency room things, but I don't need to go into the ugly details. Doing much better. I saw the game I missed on tv at 1 in the morning, when I got home. Seems Dodger and Angel games are re aired same night and the next day. I remember when they aired 25 Dodger games in a season-and never home games. This is one way the world's improved.

Baseball is funny that way. As I've often quoted Yogi-'in baseball, you don't know nothing'. I never made it to the Dodger game last night, due to emergency circumstances. Nothing sadder than an unused ticket sitting in the drawer.

So far the Yankees have helped you out , mstar. It's interesting ( to me at least), that I've rooted for the Red Sox on several occasions over the years, certainly in the '67,'75,'and '86 series. It's only been in head to head meetings with the Yankees that I've of course rooted against them. I don't know what it all means. A Connecticut lad who lived for the Yankees (at a time when they were AWFUL by the way), who also liked the Red Sox. The one team I actively despised were the Mets. These days I'll root for Jeter any day without shame. Good luck frying in Fenway. I'm off to see the Dodgers-Braves tonight in record heat myself. Hopefully the evening will cool things down a bit. My money is on Bonds going to the Mets. And they're welcome to him. C.C. Sabathia going to the Brewers was a surprise. Nice to see a 'small market' team making the big deal. The Brewers still seem like a team without an identity-or a league. When they switched from the AL to NL they were hardly missed, and I still don't think of them as an NL team. I'm sure the good folks in Milwaukee would say differently.

I can 'handle' anyone's opinion in here. I shake my head at wierwilleites, but have no issue with them opining. It's not exactly a free speech issue to me though, as most everyone posts under assumed names. Internet bravery is a strange phenomena to me. Say any offensive thing you like then call yourself 'captain stinky'. I will say this-the most ardent vpw supporter in here at least uses his real name.

any 'fan' that wants to 'taunt' arod or anyone else about their divorces or whatever ought to be squeaky clean in their own life. Of course they're not, and of course they will.

My favorite picture is from Kirk Gibson's game winning home run in the '88 series-as the ball lands you see the taillights of cars leaving Dodger Stadium in the background. No one in LA has learned from it though. Biggest surprise with Rocky's game is that Gagne wasn't to blame. Now could someone in the NL Worst get above .500 ? They talk about the Dodgers like they're in a pennant race because they're just a couple games back of the Dbacks. Sounds good until you look at their record. I suppose it's possible for a division to be won by a team with a losing record, who could get lucky in the playoffs, and go all the way. The Rockies were close to that last year. An aberration in the last month if I ever saw one.(I think that's what aberration means).

How did they get your email? Of course, noone is going to 'defect' because Don Zimmer sends them a letter, but it is fun to see Tampa finally with a team they can get behind. I can name most of the players from the '75 and '86 Sox, so I guess I don't qualify anyway. Until they build the new stadium, there are no 'sunny skies' in the Rays republic-just the ugliest indoor park this side of the Kingdome.

On my first trip to Yankee Stadium, box seats were 3.50-which was way too pricey for my parents, so we settled for reserve-which turned out great as I was right between home and first-right next to a pole , which was only a slight annoyance. I don't know how people can afford to do anything anymore, starting with driving to get there. Of course at the time of my first game, gas was 30 cents a gallon, comic books were 12 cents, a Hershey Bar was a nickel, and my parents sold their house for 17 thousand. Which is not to excuse the high price of paying for todays ballparks, and players, and everything else they factor in. You can still buy a cheap seat at Dodger Stadium (the seats high behind home plate are 8 bucks and it's a nice view). If you want to eat you better come prepared though. The other night I ordered 2 Dodger Dogs, nachos, and a 'small' coke (not all for me , by the way),and it cost 27 bucks. I don't know how a family coming to the park does it, but then I don't see how anyone is keeping their head above water these days. I love that proposed Tampa park. Maybe the only 'covered' stadium I've ever approved of. If you've ever been to Tampa, you know that some protection is crucial, and that sail by the water has a nice feel to it.