There's a New Book About Old Yankee Stadium, and I Helped!

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The first baseball game I ever attended was at Shea Stadium, mostly because I lived only three miles away from it. Shea wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing place in the world, but in the mid-1980's it was a perfect place to get a kid hooked on baseball. There was a palpable buzz in the crowded stadium at all times. As you shuffled through the dimly lit concourse the air was filled with a delightful smell concocted of hot dogs, popcorn, burnt pretzels and stale beer. The distinct aroma of baseball.

Once you found your section number within the concourse, you literally saw a light at the end of a tunnel. As you ascended up a ramp towards that light, excitement built with every step until you found the diamond that you came for, under the brightest lights you've ever seen and surrounded by grass that was impossibly green. I remember thinking, "I never wanna leave this place."

Millions of baseball fans across the country have likely had similar experiences in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore or Detroit. But shortly after I first experienced baseball at Shea, I visited Yankee Stadium and it turned the game up to eleven for me.

Yankee Stadium looked like a majestic cathedral rather than a laser light show. The buzz was just a bit louder and more aggressive. The popcorn was hotter, the pretzels more singed, and the stale beer more pungent. The lights were brighter, the grass was greener, and on the field I got to see my heroes in living color. Watching Don Mattingly rope a double down the line, or Willie Randolph play second base like Fred Astaire was a lot cooler from the upper deck than it was on TV. If Shea Stadium was utopia, Yankee Stadium was pure heaven.

That heavenly place originally opened in 1923, and April 18th of this year will mark the 100th anniversary of the grand opening. In order to celebrate the milestone, the good folks at SABR decided to publish a massive new book about the old stadium that closed in 2008. With the help of more than 70 writers, the book captures the essence of what I felt during my first experiences at Yankee Stadium plus much, much more.

Yankee Stadium 1923-2008: America's First Modern Ballpark

The book recaps 50 of the most memorable games that occurred at the old stadium, ranging from classics you would expect to oddball games that make for a great story. There are plenty of essays on the unique characters that played a role in the stadium's lore. You'll also learn a thing or two about the all too rare instances of women and Negro League stars playing at Yankee Stadium. The coverage isn't limited to just baseball, as you can read about football, boxing, concerts, and other events that happened in The House that Ruth Built throughout the years.

Yours truly even got in on the fun. My contribution was an essay detailing the mid-1970's renovation of the stadium. In doing the research for it, I learned that the situation was far more complicated than a simple renovation plan. I hope you find the dirty details as interesting as I did.

Obviously, this book is a must for any Yankee fan, but you don't need to be one - or even a baseball fan in general - to enjoy it. If you've ever been interested in 20th century American history, then there's something in this book for you. Click the links below to get your hands on it in time to celebrate Yankee Stadium's 100th birthday.


Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Stadium-1923-2008-Americas-Ballpark/dp/1960819011/

SABR (members get the paperback at half price, and the E-book for free!): https://sabr.org/latest/sabr-digital-library-yankee-stadium-1923-2008-americas-first-modern-ballpark/


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