Hooray! The Yankees are back in town. Some of them reportedly checked out the new Stadium last night, and they’ll all be in the ballpark for the team’s workout. I won’t get to see the Yankees in person this weekend, but I am looking forward seeing the new Stadium later this month.
However, I was a little sad to read that there is no longer an outside players’ parking lot at the Stadium. Instead, the team’s lot is literally inside the new ballpark. One of the traditions I liked about the old Yankee Stadium was watching the players enter and leave the parking lot before and after games. It was cool to see what they were wearing, what they drove, and how they interacted in the fans.
For example, Paul O’Neill was in bad shape, health-wise, in the fall of 1996, but I didn’t know just how bad he was hurting until I saw him limp into the Stadium before Game 1 of the World Series. Seeing him in person that way made me appreciate his great catch to end Game 5 even more.
On the other hand, I never felt quite the same about one of the late 70s’ Yankee dynasty players (who shall remain nameless) after I saw him snap at some fans after a 1979 game.
I’m sure the new lot is better for the players, but I did enjoy seeing what they looked like before – and after – the game. The YES Network usually filmed the players entering the ballpark at the beginning of the pre-game. Wonder what they will show now.
I won’t get to be at the new Yankee Stadium this weekend, but would love to hear from readers who are getting first dibs at checking out the new digs.
What do you think? Tell us about what you’re looking forward to at the new Yankee Stadium!
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