What other Major League park in the world do you find a shine to the legends of the past. This is the "House that Ruth Built." This is the home of 26 World Champions. Let there be no doubt, in the two hours before game time, the Yankees are certain to ensure that you are aware of their past. Highlight films on the big board, Memorial Park, announcer calls from the past on the loud speakers. Psychological Warfare is the first thing that comes to mind when you watch the opposing team (this time the Texas Rangers) take batting practice while being bombarded by the audio visual production that is the Yankee pregame.
But no trip to Yankee stadium is complete without a trip through Monument Park. Next year, this stadium will be gone and the park will be moved. Given the new Steinbrenner in charge of the organization, you will probably have to pay to get in, but it will still be worth it. The three granite memorials (to Lou Gehrig, Miller Huggins, and Babe Ruth) that used to be in the field of play when the left field power alley was 475 feet. Gehrig is the one to read about here and at the hall of fame. A triple crown winner, a Most Valuable Player, he ran his streak of games through 13 broken bones and no one knows haw many other injuries. Now a blister gets you a trip to the Disabled List. 
The latest addition is the plaque to the heroes of 9-11 who gave their lives to save others in New York. One thing that we have consistently found in all of the parks so far, as well as in Cooperstown, is a strong tie between Baseball, the country and, many times, the military. We have been moved by the support that the deployed troops have gotten at every venue.
Every players number that the Yankees have retired is honored in Memorial Park. I have only shown a few here. Reading these plagues is worth the time.
Bob Sheppard has been the voice of Yankee Stadium since 1950. Recently he has been ill, but the current announcer was hired after an audition that was looking for someone who would sound the same. This is a voice that any baseball fan is familiar with, and anyone who watched the 2001 World Series broadcasts from Yankee Stadium knows how important his voice was in helping us return to normalcy.
Hired and fired by George Steinbrenner multiple times (once within a week), Billy Martin was a legend both as a player and as a manager. Famous for Billy Ball (aggressive base running and stealing), Martin brought entertainment in his own right.
One of the many stories about the Dimaggio era is told by the then usher for the Yankees who went on to play AAA ball in their farm league. Once, short of popcorn vendors, the usher was assigned new duties. During his trip through the stands, he sold to Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood stars who were there to watch Joltin' Joe.
Of course one of our favorites is Yogi. No last name is required. The only player to earn 10 World Series rings, Yogi is an American Classic. From Yogi-isms to managing the upstart Mets to AFLAC to catching a perfect game in the World Series, Yogi has done the things that other players dream of.
After all of that history, it comes down to the park itself. What a place to watch a game. Of course there are always the stories of how rude the fans are and how bad the Bronx is. Frankly, I was surprised how into the game and "normal" the fans were. Yes there were a few drunks, but the ushers were not very tolerant. We really enjoyed the game. As for the Bronx, everything that you have heard is true and then some. Further, for a city that never sleeps, the subways and trains certainly take long naps making getting away from the Bronx at midnight a real challenge. 
This was our first time to see Josh Hamilton play. Knowing that there are some reading the blog who are personal friends of his, I had to include this shot of him up on the big board on Yankee Stadium. This is a 5 tool player--the first new one on the seen that we have watch so far during the trip. We will see him several more times during the season.
Now for the ranking thus far of the stadiums--purely subjective, unscientific, and sure to annoy:
- Baltimore
- Toronto
- New York
- Cleveland
- Washington
- Boston
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