The New York Yankee Stadium is no longer. It is time for them to move into a newer facility with the latest offerings to bring the crowds. Oh I forgot the new ticket prices are so high the everyday New Yorker will have to use their retirement to go see games now. The prices are higher of course to cover the cost of the stadium. And we all know ole' George needs more cash.
I hope in building this new field of dreams for the next generation of Yankee players and fans, that they do not forget those players that built the team and the stadium they play in.
The players who built this team include:
Billy Martin
Number retired in 1986
Had as much "Yankee Pride" as any player or manager to wear pinstripes and he implanted his own fierce desire to win in his teams. Played an integral part in four World Series in the 50's as a player, and added another ring managing the Yankees in 1977. His .333 lifetime series batting average is fourth with at least 75 AB on the all-time series list. Combative and daring, Martin was a brilliant baseball strategist and a legend in Yankee history.
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Babe Ruth's career stats
Number retired in 1948
Baseball's greatest slugger and the most colorful figure in the game's history. Debuted as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, winning 89 games over six seasons before being converted to the outfield because of his tremendous power. Was sold to the Yankees for $120,000 in 1920 and his 54 home runs that year were more than any other American-League team. Enroute to 714 career home runs, won 12 home run titles, hitting 60 in 1927. Added 15 home runs in World Series competition as he led the Yankees to seven Series appearances and four World titles. A member of the inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees in 1936.
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Lou Gehrig's career stats
Durable, powerhitting first baseman who played in an amazing 2,130 consecutive games between 1925 and 1939. Drove in at least 100 runs for 13 straight seasons (1926-38) and established an American-League record with 184 RBI in 1931. Compiled a .340 lifetime batting average and belted 493 home runs in a career shortened by terminal illness. Was honored at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 and made memorable "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech. Life was immortalized in classic 1942 motion picture, The Pride of the Yankees, starring Gary Cooper. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939.
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Joe DiMaggio's career stats
The "Yankee Clipper" is considered by many experts as the best all-around baseball player in history. Was a sensational hitter for average and power, a splendid, graceful, ball-hawking center fielder with a powerfully accurate arm and a daring and alert baserunner. Compiled a .325 lifetime batting average from 1936 to 1951. The two-time batting champion and three-time MVP powered the Yankees to the first of four consecutive World Championships in his 1936 rookie season. Many rate his 56-consecutive-game batting streak in 1941 as the top baseball feat of all time. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955.
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Mickey Mantle
"The Mick" was the most feared hitter on the most successful team in history. In his best seasons, and there were many, Mantle was simply a devastating player. He could run like the wind and hit tape measure homers, like his famous 565-footer in Washington in 1953. He led the Yanks to 12 fall classics in 14 years, and seven World Championships. He still owns records for most homers, RBI, runs, walks, and strikeouts in World Series play. In 1956, Mantle had one of the greatest seasons ever at the plate. He hit 52 homers with 130 RBI and a .353 average to win the Triple Crown. Mantle was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. Beginning with Lou Gehrig's number 4 in 1939, the Yankees have retired 15 uniform numbers to honor 16 players and managers.
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Yogi Berra's career stats
Number retired in 1972.
A mainstay for the most dominating teams in history, the Yankee that played from the end of World War II until the early 1960's. Although he never led the league in a single major offensive category, he was just the third man to win three Most Valuable Player awards. Selected to play in 15 successive All-Star games. Played on 14 pennant winners and 10 World Champions, more than anyone in history. Led Yankees to the 1964 pennant as manager. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.
Bill Dickey's career stats
Number retired in 1972
Regarded as one of the greatest catchers of all-time. A durable and tireless worker, he caught more than 100 games in 13 consecutive seasons (1929-41), an American-League record. He did not allow a single passed ball in 125 games behind the plate, another AL record. Dickey also excelled at the plate, batting over .300 in 10 of his first 11 seasons while hitting 202 homers during his career. He handled Yankee pitching staffs on eight World Series teams, winning seven championships.
Roger Maris' career stats
Number retired in 1984
In one of the most dramatic assaults on a baseball record, Maris caught, then surpassed Babe Ruth's famous home run record of 60. In 1961, Maris hit 61 home runs, a Major-League record which stood until 1998 and still the American-League mark.The two-time American League MVP (1960-'61) is also considered as one of the best fielding right fielders in Yankee history.
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Phil Rizzuto's career stats
Number retired in 1985
Playing 13 years for the Yanks, "Scooter" went to the World Series in 10 of those seasons. That stat may best explain why the diminutive shortstop is regarded as a true Yankee legend. He was a durable, outstanding shortstop, skilled bunter and enthusiastic baserunner with a solid .273 lifetime batting average. In 1950 Rizzuto earned the A.L. MVP Award, batting .324 with 200 hits, 92 bases on balls, and 125 runs scored. He batted .320 in the 1951 World Series and was named Series' MVP. Spent 40 years as a Yankee broadcaster (1957-96). Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Thurman Munson's career stats
Number retired in 1979
Was the undisputed leader and most respected man on the Yankee teams that won three AL pennants in a row (1976- 78) and two World Championships. Munson was a tremendous defensive catcher, winning the Gold Glove Award in three consecutive seasons (1973-75). From 1975-77, Thurman drove in more than 100 runs and hit better than .300 in each of those three seasons. He hit the first Yankee home run in the "new" Yankee Stadium. There is no more tragic date in Yankee history than August 2, 1979. On that date Munson passed away when the plane he was flying crashed while landing.
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Whitey Ford's career stats
Number retired in 1974.
"The Chairman of the Board" was the ace pitcher on the great Yankee teams of the 1950's and early 60's. The wily southpaw's lifetime record of 236-106 gives him the best percentage (.690) of any 20th century pitcher. He paced the American League in victories three times, and in ERA and shutouts twice. The 1961 Cy Young Award winner still holds many World Series records, including 10 wins, 33 consecutive scoreless innings and 94 strikeouts. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974.
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Don Mattingly's career stats
Number retired in 1997
"Donnie Baseball" was only the 10th captain to be named by the Yankees in their storied history. The premier first baseman of his era, Mattingly was a nine-time Gold Glove winner. The 1985 American League MVP set records for most grand slams in a season (6), most home runs in seven consecutive games (9) and eight consecutive games (10). A humble man of grace and dignity, Mattingly carried on the legacy of the pinstripe tradition and dedicated his career to the pursuit of excellence.
Elston Howard's career stats
Number retired in 1984.
Became the first black player in Yankee history when he made the club in the spring of 1955. The versatile two-time Gold Glove catcher was an important member of the A.L. pennant-winning Yankee teams in nine of his first ten seasons with the club. The 1963 American League MVP, Howard was a clubhouse leader who was respected as both a player and a man. Howard's dignified manner off the field and competitive spirit on the field were positive influences on the Yankee team.
Casey Stengel's career stats
Number retired in 1970
In a distinguished 54-year professional career, "The Old Professor" emerged as one of the game's greatest managers. His feat of guiding the Yankees to 10 pennants and seven world titles in a 12-year span ranks as the top managerial accomplishment of all time. Simply put, Casey Stengel was one of the best things to ever happen to the game of baseball. He was an authentic baseball ambassador, making the game fun for millions of Americans. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966.
Jackie Robinson's career stats
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American man to play in the Major Leagues.
• Number retired throughout baseball in 1997.
• Played for Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-56. From his Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque: "Leading NL batter in 1949. Holds fielding mark for second baseman playing in 150 or more games with .992. Led NL in stolen bases in 1947 and 1949. Most Valuable Player in 1949. Lifetime batting average .311. Joint record holder for most double plays by second baseman, 137 in 1951. Led second baseman in double plays 1949-50-51-52."
Reggie Jackson's career stats
Number retired in 1993.
One of the game's premier power hitters, "Mr. October" blasted 563 career roundtrippers, sixth all-time. In Game Six of the 1977 World Series, Jackson hit three home runs, all on the first pitch, as the Yankees beat the Dodgers to wrap up the club's first World Championship since 1962. Jackson was an exciting clutch player and an intimidating cleanup hitter with a .490 career slugging percentage. The 1973 American League MVP once said, "Some people call October a time of pressure. I call it a time of character." Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.
Ron Guidry's career stats
Number retired in 2003.
Won 20 games three times, in 1978 (25-3), 1983 (21-9) and 1985 (22-6). Compiled one of the most dominating seasons in baseball history in 1978 and became known as "Louisiana Lightning." He went 25-3 with a 1.74 earned run average in leading the Yankees to a dramatic comeback-from 14.0 games behind the Boston Red Sox-to capture their second straight World Championship. In 1978, he compiled a club-record 248 strikeouts and nine shutouts en route to a unanimous selection as the American League's Cy-Young-Award recipient. On June 17, 1978 vs. the California Angels at Yankee Stadium, Guidry shattered the club's single-game record for strikeouts with 18. The Yankees' co-captain-with Willie Randolph-from 1986 through his retirement in 1989, he remains in the Top 10 on the Yankees' all-time list in games pitched (368), innings pitched (2392.0), wins (170), winning percentage (.651), strikeouts (1778) and shutouts (26). A four-time American-League All-Star.
Yankee Stadium Footnotes - Facts & Figures
# Construction cost: $2.5 million (Osborn Engineering)
# Designed by the same architect firm that built Fenway Park.
# Construction began on May 5, 1922 and the first game was on April 18, 1923.
# Built on 10 acres of land purchased for $675,000 by the team from the estate of William Waldorf Astor.
# The Yankees owned their stadium until 1972, when they sold it for $24 million to the city of New York.
# From 1913-1922 the Yankees played in the Polo Grounds, which was located directly across the Harlem River from their current home. The Polo Grounds was demolished in 1964.
# Monument Park is located behind the left/center field fence. Since 1932, monuments and plaques have been built to honor Yankee greats. Manager Miller Huggins was the first recipient of a monument, which stood in fair play in deep center field until the 1976 renovations moved all monuments to their present location.
# The Yankees retired the number 8 twice in 1972, once for Bill Dickey and once for Yogi Berra.
# After each Yankee victory the Stadium blares a looping rendition of "New York, New York" sung by Frank Sinatra. When the Yankees lose, the song remains the same but the lyrics are sung by Liza Minelli.
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