The History Of Yankee Stadium

"The house that Ruth built" will be closing its doors when the New York Yankees play the Baltimore Orioles tonight. The "stadium" is a place where so many of the greats played. It is a place rich with baseball memores, and has provided its fans with so many unforgettable moments over the years. Yankee Stadium is a cultural landmark with a history like no other ballpark.

In 1921, The New York Yankees purchased 10 acres of land in the Bronx for $675,000. For years, the Yankees played their games at The Polo Grounds, home stadium of the New York Giants baseball team. However, they were eventually forced to leave The Polo Grounds and build a stadium of their own.

With the increased attendance and profit generated by "The Babe", the Yankee organization was able to build the most spectacular ballpark in the country. On Opening Day in 1923, a crowd of more than 70,000 baseball fans showed up to see The Bambino hit Yankee Stadium’s first home run against the Boston Red Sox.

For forty years, the Yankees produced consistant championship teams. Legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Phil Rizzuto made the team so popular that it forced the Giants and Dodgers to relocate in California.

George Steinbrenner bought the team in 1972 for $10 million. In 1973, a major stadium renovation forced The Yankees to play at Shea Stadium for two seasons. When they finally returned to "The Stadium" in 1976, a new dynasty began. With Steinbrenner's aggressiveness and desire to win, the yankees were able to be a powerhouse once again.

The new Yankee Stadium is set to open in 2009. The new ballpark is being constructed across the street, on the site of Macombs Dam Park. It's cost is estimated at 1.6 Billion Dollars.