9-21-08 LAST GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM

YANKEE STADIUM 1922

YANKEE STADIUM 2008 NEW YORK EMBLEMS

America's most famous field had their final game Sunday September 21,2008. The Yankees against The Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles won 7-3. Yankee Stadium was known as "The House That Ruth Built."

Yankee Stadium was the largest ball park in the US. It was built in 1922. It cost 3 million Dollars and could seat 75,00 people.

February 6,1895, George Herman Ruth was born in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1914 The Orioles signed him to his first baseball contract. He was the teams youngest member and they nicknamed him "BABE".

BABE RUTHApril 18, 1923 played his first game with the New York Yankees. He hit his first ever home run in that stadium. He was also known as "The Sultan Of Swat", The Home Run King" and Herman The Great." Ruth pitched for the Boston Red Socks and when he was drafted to the Yankees he became an outfielder and hit many home runs. He retired in May of 1935. He was part of the first class to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium, celebrating the 25th anniversary of "The House that Ruth Built." His number was retired, and April 27 th was declared "Babe Ruth Day." August 16, 1948, Ruth passed away at the age of 53. He had cancer.

You may wonder why I'm interested in Baseball. I don't really know except that my husband John Allan Peters came from a family of baseball "nuts." Babe Ruth's number is 3, John's father's number (Eldred Hardy Peters) was 3, John's number is 3 and even our little truck is "Salty3". I think somewhere in our history of sports all of our children have worn the number 3 and I feel it is our lucky number. I remember the first pro baseball game I saw. It was in Idaho Falls, Idaho and we were with John's father. He taught me at a game you "eat, hot dogs, peanuts and pop corn." John has a baseball book that his grandfather started and I added to it when John was on his mission.

There are a few players that I know and have learned what great men they were and how their lives have touched many lives. One such player is: Lou Gehrig

HENRY LOUIS (LOU) GEHRIG

Henry Louis Gehrig was born June 6,1903 in New York, New York. His parents were of German descent. His nick name was "The Iron Horse." He was a first baseman and wore the number "4". He signed with the Yankees June 3, 1932. He received a bonus of $1,500. He was the first American League player to hit 4 home runs in one game. He won many awards. 1934, he won the Triple Crown award. (Most RBI's, most home runs and the highest batting average in one season.) He was an All Star in 1933, 34, and 35. In 1936 he won the MVP award. (Most Improved Player) Once again an All Star, 37 ,38, and 39.

June 19,1939 he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease, ALS.

A-myo-tropic comes from The Greek language; now called Lou Gehrig disease.

"A" ------- no or negative without
"myo"-----for muscle

"tropic"----for nourishment when a muscle has no muscle , it "atrophies" or wastes away.

"lateral"---identifies the area where the spinal cord and nerve cells are located
(of the spinal cord)
"sclerosis"----as motor neurons degenerates, they begin to harden or become smaller.

May 2, 1938 he took himself out of the game; ending a streak of 2,130 times at bat. He felt like he was no longer valuable to the team.

July 4,1934 New York sportswriter Paul Gallico suggested that date be recognized as a day to honor Gehrig. 60,000+ fans attended along with the 1927 and 1939 Yankee players. Many tributes were paid to him.

"He was the most talented and phenomenal baseball player of the year. He was kind, had a winning attitude, a square honest guy, tall, and strong, "A Gibraltar in cleats," his character was somewhere between average or myth. He was a dedicated athlete, a caring son, a good husband,and a real "American Hero."

Stanly Frank said that he was the most valuable player the Yankees ever had because he was the prime source of their greatest asset-an implicit confidence in themselves and every man on the club."

On that day, July 4th, Gehrig gave his farewell speech. "Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. When everybody down to the ground keepers come down and those boys in white coats bring you trophies, that is something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law that takes your side when you squabble with their daughter, that is something. When your father and mother work so you can have a education and build your body -that is a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed-that's the finest I know. So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break but I have an awful lot to live for.

" He was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame, December 1939.

"The Iron Horse," Lou Gehrig passed away June 2, 1941. He was 37. In 1989 a postal stamp was issued in his honor. Sam Jones said,"Lou was the kind of boy that if you had a son, he is the kind of person you'd like your son to be."

There were many players mentioned before , during and after the final game. Some I remembered , some I didn't.

WHITEY FORD

Edward Charles "Whitey " Ford was born October 21, 1926. He is a former Major League Baseball picture who spent his entire 18 years with the New York Yankees. He was signed as an amateur free agent in 1947. He was given the name "Whitey" because of his exceptionally blond hair. As a "Rookie" he wore #19. July 1, 1959 he began his Major League Baseball career and won his first 9 decisions before losing a game in relief. He was voted the AL (American League) rookie of the year by the Sporting News. In 1951 and 1952 he served in the Army. When he came home he rejoined the Yankees and was issued the number "16". He became picture #1 for the Yankees and was known as "Chairman of the Board," because he remained so calm and was in command during high pressure situation. He was also known as "Slick" for his craftiness on the mound. His fast ball wasn't that fast but he could throw several other pitches that gave him pinpoint control. He was left handed. He won 236 games and lost 106. He had 1,956 strikeouts. His ERA (Earned run average) was--2.75. He was selected as an All-Star 8 times; 1954, 55, 56,58 ,59 ,60, 61, and 1964. He was in 6 World Series Championships; 1950, 53 ,56 , n61, and 1962. In 1961, he received the Cy Young Award and was also selected as the World Series MVP, 3 times ALT SN Pitcher of the Year, 1955, 61, 1963. In 1961, he was presented with the Babe Ruth Award. Ford ended his career because of poor health. August 1966, he underwent surgery for a circulatory problem with his throwing arm. May 1967, he lasted just one inning on the mound and announced his retirement at the end of the month. He was 40 years old. After Ford retired he admitted to occasionally cheating by doctoring baseballs in various ways. His final game was May 21, 1967. In 1974 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and his number 16 was retired. Ford was ranked number 52 on The Sporting News List of Baseball's Greatest Players and nominated for The Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
In 2008 Whitey Ford threw the first pitch at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star League.

YOGI BERRA

Lawrence Peter Berra (The Little Squat Man") or Yogi Berra as we know him, was born Tuesday, May 12,1925 in St. Louis, MO USA. He was 21 when he played his first game for the New York Yankees. On September 22, 1946 and wore the #8. He was a catcher. "He was quick as a cat and had the fastest bat I ever saw," said Casey Stengel an Hector Lopez.
The cartoon "Yogi Bear" was named after him. He served in the Navy during World War 11. He played baseball 19 years and received much recognition. Between 1948 and 1962 he was an American All-Star 15 times. MVP 3 times, 1951, 54, and 1955. (Most Valuable Player) His offensive numbers are good but the combination of excellence and great defense is what makes him legendary. Yogi had 100 RBI'S (Runs batted in). In 1950 he scored 100 runs. He won 10 world series when he was with the Yankees. He played his final games May 9, 1965. He was a player/coach in 1963. 1948 his picture appeared on a baseball card. In 1995 his photo was on a 1995 Stoffers (#1) box. In 1972 he was inducted into the BASEBALL OF FAME.

JOE DiMAGGIO

Guiseppe"Joseph "Paolo" Paul DiMaggio ,Jr and was born 21 November, 1914 in Martinez, CA He was named after his father, Joseph and Paul for his father's favorite Saint. November, 1934 was sold to the Yankees for $2500.00 and 5 players. His knee injury forced him to play with the Seals for one final year. Joe made his baseball debut May 3, 1936. He batted before Lou Gehrig. Joe DiMaggio is "the only athlete in North America pro sports history to be on four World Series Championship" in his first 4 seasons. He was given he nickname "The Yankee Clipper " because of his gracefulness of his play on the field." He was a picture player. He was the greatest hero of the radio era. He retired before television was a fixture in the American home. He led the Yankees to 9 titles in 13 years. His # was 5. He played 13 years before retiring in 1951. He was married twice and they both ended in divorce. His second wife was Marilyn Monroe, a sex symbol whose career was just starting when they married. Joe was retired and ready to retire so things didn't work out. Joe never quit loving her. He was inducted into the National League of Baseball in Cooperstown, NY 1955. His cult of personality that grew with the 1968 Simon and Garfunkel song, "Mrs. Robinson". He loved little children and did many great things to improve their lives. His last public appearance was September 27, 1998. He died March 8, 1999 of lung cancer. A long and painful death. He never invited any Yankee players to his funeral. His head stone has these words: Grace Dignity and Elegance Personality.

MICKEY MANTEL

Mickey Charles Mantel was born October 20, 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. His father wanted him to become a professional baseball player so he named him after a catcher, Mickey Cochrane, a catcher with the Philadelphia Athletics. Mickey's father and grandfather took turns pitching him tennis ball after they got off work. He batted right handed from his father and left handed from his grandfather. He played center field and the last two years of his career he played first base.
In 1946 Mickey was kicked in the shins and got a bone infection; "osteomyelitis", a wonder drug called Penicillin saved his leg but the leg continued to plague him the rest of his career.
He graduated in the spring of 1949, he signed with the Yankees for $140.00 a month and a bonus of $1,150. He played in the minors for a while and was shortstop, his first # was 12. In 1951 he moved to the Majors, April 17, 1951. His # was 6 but that proved not to be good for him and he returned to the minors and then brought back to the majors and #7 became his # until he retired. He played with many injuries but was still clocked at 3.1 seconds from home plate to first base. He was known as "The commerce-comet" because of his blinding speed. That records still stands. His home run blast of 565' stands today as the longest home run in the history of baseball.
In 1956 Mickey was the hero in the World Series game where Don Larsen pitched his historic perfect game. That year he also won the Triple Crown Award, male athletic of the year award and player of the year. MVP (Most Improved Player) 1957-1962 and the Golden Glove Award. Mickey hit the first indoor home run in baseball history at the Astrodome. It was a pr-season exhibition in 1962.He played in 12 World Series with the Yankees during his 18 years with the club. As a first baseman Mickey participated in a triple play in his final season, 1968. The Yankees have not performed once since, covering 37 seasons. September 28,1968 his final time at bat, he broke his bat and popped out to Rico Petrocelli in Fenway Park. He was inducted into the National Hall of Fame August 12, 1974. He was known as "The greatest switch hitter of all time."

This is where a journal is so important and we are relying on memory. My grandma, Lillian Rebbecca Elmer Lewellen Hancock came to CA for a visit. While she was there she was honored as the oldest grandmother visiting in the ward. (It was Mother's Day ) and we were living in Buena Park. Our children wanted to take her to Angel Stadium.. When we ask her if she wanted to go, who are the Angels playing and we told her The New York Yankees. She was so excited, she ask "Is that who Mickey Mantel plays for", we told her yes and she was so excited. We went to the game and we saw Mickey swing the bat many times. We thought she was getting tired after the 7th inning stretch and wanted to know if she wanted to go home. The game isn't over is it and we said no, and she said no, if it is not over. The Angels won and the Yankees lost, we were happy she was sad. Later on that week we spent the day at Disneyland. I'm sure we wore her out. She was a real trooper and she was in her late 70's I think . When she got home and the family ask" what was the most fun for her she replied,"seeing the Great Mickey Mantel play baseball at Angel Stadium and then my trip to Disneyland. His baseball cards are the most sought after and very valuable if you have certain dates on them. A postage stamp was issued with his photo on in 2006.

Mickey Mantel died of liver cancer August 13, 1955.

The Cathedral of Baseball,
The House that Ruth Built, The Stadium
and The Voice of Yankee Stadium- Bob Sheppard.
Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Yogi, Jackson,
Mo, Jeter, Jorge and A-Rod. Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Sis
the greenest grass, the bluest sky,
the 4 train, the ghosts,s the roar and the goose bumps.
Home of the greatest franchise
in the history of sports...
26 and counting.

Yankee Stadium
Forever

DON LARSEN

9-21-08 was very emotional for me and when Don Larsen walked out to the pitchers mound,
reached down and scooped a cup of that sacred Yankee soil I realized I was seeing history of baseball that I would never see again and I am thankful for John and his parents teaching and showing me there are great things besides "Life on the Farm", that I truly love and miss.