Yankee Stadium [I] Demolition

[mets16]

IIRC they did install an indoor batting cage at OYS. After the rennovation no?

Yes, I'm pretty sure they did. But I hope that is making it not seem justified for the Yankees to move. Fact is, the best baseball team was playing in the worst ballpark. From a realist's standpoint (a world without "ghosts" and "mystique") Yankee Stadium was a dump. The players deserved a much better ballpark experience for the money they were getting. Do you think half of them really care about Ruth, Mantle and DiMaggio? I think not. They want lockers with T.V.'s and a world class training facility. Not a "Babe Ruth sat here."

[Rob R]

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[RichardLillard1]

Yes, I'm pretty sure they did. But I hope that is making it not seem justified for the Yankees to move. Fact is, the best baseball team was playing in the worst ballpark. From a realist's standpoint (a world without "ghosts" and "mystique") Yankee Stadium was a dump. The players deserved a much better ballpark experience for the money they were getting. Do you think half of them really care about Ruth, Mantle and DiMaggio? I think not. They want lockers with T.V.'s and a world class training facility. Not a "Babe Ruth sat here."

Batting cages were under the right field grandstand, right next to the famous Gehrig room.


Richard

[Mary Ellen]

Last year I was discussing YS with an elderly couple who grew up in the Bronx. They told me there used to be tennis courts below YS. I never heard this before.

Were they removed in the renovation during the 1970's? Or are they abandoned below the stadium. I remember when I toured Grand Central Terminal I was surprised to find old bowling alleys in there along with old TV studios.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

Batting cages were under the right field grandstand, right next to the famous Gehrig room.


Richard

I'm not really up on my Yankees history, but what is "the Gehrig room"?

[brooklyndodger14]

Last year I was discussing YS with an elderly couple who grew up in the Bronx. They told me there used to be tennis courts below YS. I never heard this before.

Were they removed in the renovation during the 1970's? Or are they abandoned below the stadium. I remember when I toured Grand Central Terminal I was surprised to find old bowling alleys in there along with old TV studios.

I believe the couple might have been referring to a set of tennis courts located in the present day area of the former player's parking lot west of Gate 4 during the late 1920's and early 30's.

Among tbe pictures posted a couple of years ago by TJH1923 from the NYPL photo archives showed the courts.

Because of the rake (angle) of the main grandstand, the limited space, and the numerous pillars and column footings, it would have been extremely difficult to create tennis courts within the footprint of the Stadium.

i'll try to locate that picture. It might even be in an earlier posting on this thread.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Strawman]

Yes, I'm pretty sure they did. But I hope that is making it not seem justified for the Yankees to move. Fact is, the best baseball team was playing in the worst ballpark. From a realist's standpoint (a world without "ghosts" and "mystique") Yankee Stadium was a dump. The players deserved a much better ballpark experience for the money they were getting. Do you think half of them really care about Ruth, Mantle and DiMaggio? I think not. They want lockers with T.V.'s and a world class training facility. Not a "Babe Ruth sat here."

Sputtering - the PLAYERS deserve a better experience? Or to put it another way (also sputtering) the players DESERVE much better ballpark experience??!!

This reasoning is insane to me.

What happened in the Bronx is a preservation crime, no more, no less. And it has nothing to do with the quality of the new ballpark.

[The Monument]

Yankee Stadium was a dump?!? Granted, space was limited and facilities were outdated as far as press and players were concerned, but a dump? Nope, not realistic.

[JoeDOYS]

I'm not really up on my Yankees history, but what is "the Gehrig room"?

A place that the NYS does not have, or ever will. Maybe in 60 years they will uncover some sort of "Arod Room" - a back closet where he brings his women.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/hidde...idbEf32mPtReoO

[Gary Dunaier]

I believe the couple might have been referring to a set of tennis courts located in the present day area of the former player's parking lot west of Gate 4 during the late 1920's and early 30's.

I agree. If you look at the opening credits in one of the "Odd Couple" seasons, some of the scenes were filmed around Yankee Stadium, and there's a scene where Felix jumps over a tennis net and Oscar, unable to jump, instead just climbs over it. There's also a scene that has the intersection of the Macombs Dam Bridge Approach and 161st Street in the background, a vehicle can be seen making a right turn onto 161st.

Maybe someone can post some screenshots.

[mets16]

Yankee Stadium was a dump?!? Granted, space was limited and facilities were outdated as far as press and players were concerned, but a dump? Nope, not realistic.

Yes, it was a dump. In every sense of the word. Take all the moments away and look at it from a building standpoint. There were no amenities, cramped concourses, small legroom, and a poor ballpark experience for a bystander, someone who cared little about the Yankees/baseball. The new park was a necessity not up for debate.

[JoeDOYS]

I agree. If you look at the opening credits in one of the "Odd Couple" seasons, some of the scenes were filmed around Yankee Stadium, and there's a scene where Felix jumps over a tennis net and Oscar, unable to jump, instead just climbs over it. There's also a scene that has the intersection of the Macombs Dam Bridge Approach and 161st Street in the background, a vehicle can be seen making a right turn onto 161st.

Maybe someone can post some screenshots.

or...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS6jakN89zo

[Celerino Sanchez]

I think I was about 10 years old when I went on a town sponsored trip to Yankee Stadium. The classic little kid bus trip, we marched in group off the bus and lined up against the outer wall of the left field side of the Stadium waiting to go in. It happened to be the day they were filming this Odd Couple scene. We all got to go across the street and watch for awhile, then we had to get back in line. I remember going home and asking my mother , WE got to see the odd couple today, who are they ? LOL

[Aviator_Frank]

WE got to see the odd couple today, who are they ? LOL

"Why, George and Billy, dear."

[orioles667083]

I'm not really up on my Yankees history, but what is "the Gehrig room"?

According to Eleanor Gerhig, Lou's widow in her book My Luke and I, after Lou gave his famous speech he found a room and broke down and cried. The room is now called the Gehrig room.