Yankee Stadium Renovation 1973-1975

[The Monument]

Originally Posted by jimmyjimjimz

I heard Steinbrenner grows tomatos in the outfied sometimes.

No, Jim, those are money trees.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Originally Posted by The Monument

No, Jim, those are money trees.

um, no, I saw on TV. They had tomatos growing in the outfield once before a playoff game.

[Mike Wagner]

I also went to the last game. I brought a 1 quart Carvel tub and scooped dirt from where the second baseman played. A guy tried to pickpocket me while I was doing that!!! I also kicked out seats for souvenirs, as did my friends. Before we exited the Stadium, the police said we couldn't take the seats home, so we had to leave them.

By the way, I wish to thank you, BSmile for your fascinating and outstanding photos . What treasures of history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing them.

Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

[brooklyndodger14]

Originally Posted by Mike Wagner

I also went to the last game. I brought a 1 quart Carvel tub and scooped dirt from where the second baseman played. A guy tried to pickpocket me while I was doing that!!! I also kicked out seats for souvenirs, as did my friends. Before we exited the Stadium, the police said we couldn't take the seats home, so we had to leave them.

By the way, I wish to thank you, BSmile for your fascinating and outstanding photos . What treasures of history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing them.

Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

I think if you kept you seats or not depended on which way and when you were exiting the ballpark.

The bullpen gates was where most souvenir gatherers exited unhassled. They had direction signs, seat backs, seat bottoms (yup, I remember seeing the constant stomping & jumping to dislodge the bottoms from their anchors!), people climbing the pillars trying to take down the small square section signs, etc.

Several "teams" of fans were lugging large sections of the attached common-backed, flat-bottomed grandstand seats. Others had managed to snag one or two of the more upscale curved back seats.

As I remember, fans were on the field for about an hour after the game. After that, all the police gathered in one long line extending from bullpen to bullpen and, once the bullpen gates were closed, proceeded to slowly walk in a single-file formation slowly shepparding the remaining fans to exit via the field level ramps and ultimately, the grandstand gates.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Mike Wagner]

I did not go through the bullpen area. It was probably around the 1B or 3B side. At least they let me keep the infield dirt.

-Mike Wagner

[BSmile]

By the way, I wish to thank you, BSmile for your fascinating and outstanding photos . What treasures of history!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing them.

It's been my pleasure Mike. I'm glad I finally found a place (forum) that could really appreciate them....and thanks to everyone else for all their great photos too. Right now, I'm still working to add to my Babe Ruth Pic's thread in the "History of the Game" section. Anyways, I dug up this old polaroid of Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle playing cards together at what appears to be a vacation/hunting shack. Must be early 70's. I know it's not a "renovation" picture, but I thought it would be appreciated here nontheless...

p.s. I've got some more large scale NYY team pics to add to the "pre-renov." thread (1937 & 1939). I'll try to add them in a little while.


Cheers! ~B

[alpineinc]

Looks more like two fugitives on the run! baseball_grin.gif Great pic.

[locke40]

Originally Posted by alpineinc

Looks more like two fugitives on the run! Attachment 36278 Great pic.

[BSmile]

Looks more like two fugitives on the run!

Hahaha....you know, I thought that of the picture as well.
I wish there was a picture of their "bar". I'm betting it was pretty extensive.

[jimmyjimjimz]

where exactly did you get that pic? It looks like a personal picture.

[BSmile]

where exactly did you get that pic? It looks like a personal picture.

I forget exactly where I found it...it was on some auction website a few years ago. It might have been a part of the Billy Martin estate..it's definately a personal pic...

[Mike Wagner]

Dear BSmile,
It's a great HONOR to have you post such never before seen photos on my site. Even if it was someone else's site, it's a joy to see what you put up.
Thank you for sharing these priceless treasures.

Most Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

[BSmile]

Let's see if this triggers any memories:
A Yankee Stadium Food Vendor Shirt from the 70's. From the overall look of it...I'd have to guess that it's from the early 70's. Also, its ugliness is truly without equal. I mean....just WOW!

It's a little before my time, so does anyone remember this monstrosity?

Cheers! ~B

[Urbanshocker13]

Originally Posted by BSmile

Let's see if this triggers any memories:
A Yankee Stadium Food Vendor Shirt from the 70's. From the overall look of it...I'd have to guess that it's from the early 70's. Also, its ugliness is truly without equal. I mean....just WOW!

It's a little before my time, so does anyone remember this monstrosity?

Cheers! ~B

I dig some of the type faces, but not on a shirt. I said once I say it again the 70's where just an ugly time for cloths period!

[Mattingly85MVP]

I was looking into some articles about the old yankee stadium and how some of the artifacts were sold off. Does anyone remember where these retired numbers were hung, bc I don't remember seeing them in any pictures of the center field area where the monuments were...

Retired Numbers of Yankees Greats that Hung in Yankee Stadium - Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio
On April 15, 1976, Yankee Stadium reopened after two years of renovations. What was most noticeable was that the three monuments in center field were no longer there. The monuments erected to honor Miller Huggins (1932), Lou Gehrig (1941), and Babe Ruth (1949) had been moved behind the new outfield wall, as were the Ed Barrow, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Jacob Ruppert plaques. The framed swatches of actual Yankee pinstripes (with the blue felt retired numbers stitched on) and the name plaques that identified which number belong to which legend that were displayed inside the Stadium before its 1974-75 renovation were also gone. But unlike the monuments, the numbers and plaques were not placed back in the newly renovated stadium.

A 1997 letter from John Golden of Golden Glen Entertainment explains that he procured the retired numbers of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio (numbers 3, 4 and 5) from the owner of a sports collectable store in Nyack, NY in 1976. The owner of the store acquired the retired numbers and corresponding plaques through the contractor in charge of the Yankee Stadium renovation who had secured the right to sell certain Yankee artifacts and memorabilia.

The retired numbers were part of that transaction. In 1990, according to Golden, Nick Priore, who was the Yankees clubhouse manager and, at the time had been with the organization for 31 years, authenticated that they were, in fact, the retired numbers that hung in the stadium prior to the commencement of the refurbishing of Yankee Stadium. By comparing the relative toning of each retired number, it is clearly apparent that No. 4 was displayed for the longest length of time, and No. 5 for the shortest. More specifically the retired Yankees numbers include:

Lou Gehrig's Retired "Number 4" That Hung in Yankee Stadium - The First Number Retired in Professional Baseball
It is widely recorded that Lou Gehrig's No. 4 was retired on July 4, 1939, but that is not the case. That was "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at the Stadium, when 61,808 fans paid tribute to Gehrig when he told them "I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." It wasn't until January 6, 1940 that Yankees President Edward G. Barrow announced that Gehrig's No. 4 would never again be worn by another Yankee, the first time in baseball history that a major league club had so honored a player. Lou Gehrig's blue felt No. "4" is sewn on authentic Yankee pinstripes. Stitched in blue script below the number are the words "Lou Gehrig Number retired July 4, 1939." The piece is accompanied by the original bronze "LOU GEHRIG" plaque which hung beneath his retired number. The minimum bid is $5,000.

Babe Ruth's Retired "Number 3" That Hung in Yankee Stadium
One would think that Babe Ruth's No. 3 would have been retired when he left the Yankees or at least after he had retired from baseball, but that was not the case. The Babe and the Yankees did not part company amicably after the 1934 season. As a result he did not receive the dubious honor until 1948. Babe Ruth's blue felt No. "3" is sewn on authentic Yankee pinstripes. Stitched in blue script beneath the number are the words "Babe Ruth Number retired June 13, 1948." The piece is accompanied by the original bronze "BABE RUTH" plaque which hung beneath his retired number. Minimum bid is $5,000.

Joe DiMaggio's Retired "Number 5" That Hung in Yankee Stadium
On April 18, 1952, before the Yankees home opener, DiMaggio's No. 5 was ceremoniously retired. Joe DiMaggio's blue felt "5" is sewn on authentic Yankee pinstripes. Stitched in blue script below the number are the words "Joe DiMaggio Number retired April 18, 1952." The piece is accompanied by the original bronze "JOE DI MAGGIO" plaque which hung beneath his retired number. Minimum bid $2,500.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by Mattingly85MVP

I was looking into some articles about the old yankee stadium and how some of the artifacts were sold off. Does anyone remember where these retired numbers were hung, bc I don't remember seeing them in any pictures of the center field area where the monuments were...

The framed swatches of actual Yankee pinstripes (with the blue felt retired numbers stitched on) and the name plaques that identified which number belong to which legend that were displayed inside the Stadium before its 1974-75 renovation were also gone.

They hung in the Stadium Club.

And, they were not cut from actual player-worn uniforms.

Some people spent a lot of money on junk.

[Mike Wagner]

From research I've done, I understand that Unistress Corp. in Pittsfield, Mass, makes pre-formed or precast concrete. During the renovation, did they do so for the parking garage, outside walls of the Stadium?...where did these precast concrete sections go?

Thank you.

-Mike Wagner

[Mike Wagner]

Also, from what company did the Yankees get sod for the field in 1976?

-Mike Wagner

[brooklyndodger14]

Originally Posted by BSmile

Let's see if this triggers any memories:
A Yankee Stadium Food Vendor Shirt from the 70's. From the overall look of it...I'd have to guess that it's from the early 70's. Also, its ugliness is truly without equal. I mean....just WOW!

It's a little before my time, so does anyone remember this monstrosity?

Cheers! ~B

I actually have one of these (in great shape) and I will post a pic of the back shortly...

Just for the heck of it, I want to get it appraised at "Gotta Have It!", the memorabilia outfit that handles all the displays at Mickey Mantle's sports bar in NYC.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[coney12]

Originally Posted by YankeesFan

That is quite alright. Just thought I'd toss those questions out there.

Just to add, I think the idea of the book is great!

- Russ

I can answer those questions now. I just went on the tour of the Stadium today. The Main Gate entrances were demolished to make room for the spiral ramp towers. The only remaining original gate entrance is Gate 2 between third base and left field. The spiral tower on that side of the stadium was installed in between wear the grandstands end and the bleachers begin, thus no reason to demolish that gate entrance. The original entrance is still there, complete with the 3 original balconies. The "Yankee Stadium sign" and two circular ornamental displays were removed though.

[stlfan]

I have been posting photos from the book "Yankee Stadium - 75 Years of Dreams, Glamor, and Glory" over in the Pre-Renovation thread. This book has a renovation photo I have never seen before. It's near the end of the renovation. I have seen quite a few photos on this site of the renovation, but photos usually show the very beginning or very end of it. I'd love to see more photos from all stages of the renovation.

BTW in the book the photo was incorrectly flipped. I have flipped it to be correct.

"The renovation is nearly complete in this picture, taken during the winter of 1975-1976. Seats are missing, as is the scoreboard, but the playing field appears ready for action."

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by stlfan

BTW in the book the photo was incorrectly flipped. I have flipped it to be correct.

You must have the hardcover edition, as I do. In the softcover, it's correct.

That's a great picture.

There's also another great picture earlier on in the book, almost worth the price all by itself, showing an awesome aerial view of YS and environs on Opening Day 1923.

[stlfan]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

You must have the hardcover edition, as I do. In the softcover, it's correct.

Yup, it's the hardcover. The next large spread photo after that is an aerial shot of opening day 1976. This one was also incorrectly flipped.

I believe I posted the Opening Day 1923 photo you spoke of over in the Pre-Renovation thread, along with many other great photos.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by stlfan

I believe I posted the Opening Day 1923 photo you spoke of over in the Pre-Renovation thread, along with many other great photos.

Yes, you did. (At the time I posted the earlier comment I hadn't yet seen that post.)

[Sooperdon]

Originally Posted by cong

We attended the last game in 73.... My brother grabbed some outfield sod and we planted it in our backyard were it grew (and may still grow) till our family moved out of that home in the late 90's.

I thought of doing that with Tiger Stadium. But I was gonna let the grass go to seed, harvest it, plant a new section, let that go to seed too, over and over till my front and back yard was all Tiger Stadium grass..