It will never be the same as 86 years ago with Babe Ruth hitting a HR on opening day....nevertheless, a new era
starts today at the new Yankee Stadium.








Let's hear of your recollections of opening day's at your favorite ballpark ?



TED Z

"Let's hear of your recollections of opening day's at your favorite ballpark ?"

Was at the opening of the "New" Yankee Stadium in 1976
was wierd seeing them play at Shea Stadium in '74 & '75
Disco Dan Ford of the Twins hit the 1st Home Run and there
was a buzz about the place. They even went to the World Series
that year, 1st time since '64 and though losing to the Reds
they beat the Dodgers in '77 & '78.
Hopefully the New New Yankee Stadium will have that magic too!

My grandfather took me to the very first game of the Colt 45's (1962) at Colt stadium that was built in the parking lot of the Astrodome which was under construction at the time. Remember seeing Ernie Banks bat and Roman Mejias hit 2 Hr's for the Colts as the Colt's beat the Cubs for their first win in the National League. The opening day winning Pitcher for the Colt's was Bobby Schantz.

Colt Stadium was sold and used in Mexico for many years before finally being torn down for good

Great Memories

Thanks for sharing Ted.

I have been to a few opening days at the Stadium.

Mainly from 1996 thru 2000.

Steve

...that I brought the family to the new Yankee Stadium for the Friday night exhibition game against the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. That, to me, was "Opening Day" -- it was, in fact, the first game ever played there.

Also, brought my wife to NYY Steaks inside the new Yankee Stadium for dinner on Saturday night. Perhaps the best "surf and turf" I ever ate -- and the Yankees-Royals game was being broadcast throughout the restaurant in Hi-Def.

So, I've had some pretty memorable experiences at the new Yankee Stadium -- and they haven't even had "Opening Day" yet!



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visithttp://www.t206collector.com for Net54 T206 archive, signed deadball card galleries, articles and more!

how did you find transportation around the new ballpark, for the game, and then for the dinner visit?
drive?
take a train?
any different than the old stadium experience?

I went to the old stadium last year for my only visit and found that the subway is the best and easiest way to get there if you're not within walking distance.

Jason,

The new Stadium is right across the street from the old one, so trasnportation is no different than it used to be. Subway is the most convenient on game days. Pretty easy getting there. Very crowded after the game, but still doable.

Getting there by cab would be easy. Catching a cab to leave might be tougher. After a game, forget it. After a dinner, maybe easier, but it depends upon the time of day/night. It's not a great neighborhood.


If you're made of money, and only buy penultimate cards, use a car service.

Call three times for advice.

They hadn't quite figured out the parking yet a couple of weeks ago. We had quite a walk to the new Stadium. And parking for dinner is a bit sketchy if you plan on going on a non-day game and staying past 10:00pm -- which we did. But it was a pretty neat dining experience and the food was outrageously good (and expensive). They serve the meals on plates that have different retired numbers on them -- my dinner was served on a Thurman Munson numbered plate, and my dessert was on a Babe Ruth numbered plate. Only downside is you cannot see the field from the restaurant -- you instead get a view of the 4-train and, for now, the old Yankee Stadium and Babe Ruth Plaza.

I am looking forward to May 23 because that is the date that the Metro North railroad station opens at the Stadium. I live on the Hudson line about 20 minutes north and plan to do all of my Yankee Stadium commuting via train from that point on.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visithttp://www.t206collector.com for Net54 T206 archive, signed deadball card galleries, articles and more!

i hear that Metro North train (from Connecticut into NY) now goes directly to the stadium on game days? Previously you had to take the train to Harlem and then hop on the subway.

Can anyone confirm that metro north now goes right to the stadium?

Thanks,
Rob

i'm at work today (as i am everyday mon-fri )...and at around noon, i was thinking about the new Yankee Stadium, and the opening ceremony, etc...literally at that exact second, my phone rings...it was my dad, who was at a job site in upstate NY. he was like a kid in a candy store, explaining that there was a huge flat screen TV at the location where he was, and he'd be able to watch some of the game...not to sound corny, but without saying as much, i think we both thought of the legacy of the Yankees, and the importance of today...kind of a "field of dreams" moment...

I went to opening day Monday night at Citifield to see the Mets. The ballpark is fabulous. I had a great time even though the Mets lost and will be going back at least 15-20 times this year. I loved the fact that the seats were much closer to the playing field than Shea Stadium and there were much more concession stands and restrooms. It is much more family oriented and it didn,t feel over the top. CN

<<Can anyone confirm that metro north now goes right to the stadium?>>

Train Service to Our New Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station Starts May 23rd

Metro-North train service to the new Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station will begin on Saturday, May 23rd.



Regular Hudson Line train service will stop year-round, seven days a week at Yankees-E.153rd Street Station. In addition, there will be special game-day train service to and from outlying stations on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines, as well as Harlem-125th Street Station and Grand Central Terminal.



Tickets to Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station will go on sale Friday, May 1st at ticket offices, Ticket Vending Machines, and through WebTicket. Regular and game-day train schedules will be available at that time.



While station construction continues, the new covered pedestrian overpass connecting the parking areas with the stadium and local destinations will be open for exhibition games on April 3rd and 4th and for all home games before the station opens for train service.



Click here for an overview on the station and upcoming service. Please continue to check our home page for upcoming fare and schedule information.


_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visithttp://www.t206collector.com for Net54 T206 archive, signed deadball card galleries, articles and more!

I been to opening at Jocobs field and the Ballpark in Arlington.

Byy that seems forever ago even it was less that 15 years.  Jacobs had a ton of more energy than Arlington. THe fans in Cleveland seemed to lift that '94 team and they had a year to remember and forget... oh what might have been..

marty

Not a good Opening Day for the Yanks at the new stadium. With the game tied 1-1 after six, the Indians score 9 runs in the top of the seventh and lead 10-1. Tomorrow is another day.

Absolutely wonderful result thus far!

Damn shame.

So the trivia question answer is Posada (1st HR). However, G. Sizemore hit the first Grand Slam.

(oops - originally listed the HR following the GS.)

Glen,

BUZZZ!

Sorry, wrong answer! The Grand Salami was by Grady Sizemore.

honestly, i don't care that they lost...the important thing for today is that a Yankee got the first HR in the new stadium, much like Ruth did on April 18, 1923...

how's that for putting a positive spin on a loss?

how's that for putting a positive spin on a loss?

Wouldn't expect anything less from a Yankees fan. (smiley x 2)

We have had Yankee box seats located just a few rows from the field for many years

Today we attended our 16th Opening Day. Whilst the result of the game was disappointing,
the new stadium is fantastic. For those in the luxury seats, it is the ultimate in private
service. special entrance and comfort. Many notable New Yorkers including the Governor
Mayor, former Mayer and dozens of former Yankee and baseball greats (as well as host) of
the city's most famous and powerful were there to bless the new stadium.

The Yankees have a wonderful museum, countless high end shops and the best and most demanding fans
in the world. We hope that their relief pitching improves and that bats of bottom half of the lineup
come to life.

Perhaps the nicest part of the day was when the Yankees interviewed a 99-year old man who shared his recollections
of the first Opening Day in 1923. That game was witnessed by a crowd that was 40% larger than today's crowd

A great day, perfect weather in the world's greatest city with the world's most demanding fans.

Who could ask for anything more?


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

I was lucky enough to be at today's game. The stadium was beautiful and weather was perfect. Although the game didn't have the best results I had a fantastic time. I was in the bleachers and David Wells came and sat with the fans for 5 innings. He signed, took pictures, and had fun. It was a much more conservative bleacher crowd as I think many people paid hundreds of dollars for bleacher seats. Fortunately, I got mine from a Yankee pre-sale for former partial season ticket holders for $20.25 for 2 seats!!! The only thing missing from my experience was the feeling I used to get walking from the main concourse into the stadium. You would go through a tunnel and the field would bring you to you knees as you came out. Now it is open to the field all around and there is no striking aura that comes over you. Nonetheless, the stadium is a great tribute to the past with all the modern conveniences and advantages of modern technologies. Looking forward to going again on May 5th to see the Yanks play the Red Sox, in much better seats!!! Now, if we could only work on those $9 beers!!!!

I also was lucky enough to go to the game today. I paid a lot to sit in the bleachers, but I had a great time despite the loss. We were waiting in line to get in the Yankee Store and Jesse Barfield and Rickey Henderson walked in front of us. Henderson sign the cup I had for me and I didn't ask Barfield for an autograph. When we were leaving the store Don Larsen came out the restaurant right there, I asked him to sign the program but he said "I'm not here for that today" and I got to see David Wells leaving the bleachers. Weather was awesome and the stadium looks great even though we didn't make it to the museum. Overall, it was a pretty good day!
Matt

I, too, was lucky enough to attend the inaugural game. Unlike Bruce, I didn't have a seat a few rows from the field. I was way up in nosebleed territory. But then, unlike Bruce, too, I didn't have to go alone. I was there with my son, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. It truly was an ultra high grade experience.

A few photos. The National Anthem, Johnny Damon getting the first hit at the new ballyard, and an original 1923 opening day program (unlike the 1976 reprint pictured above.)

Bruce writes: "The Yankees have a wonderful museum . . . "

Did you even go in there? For a man with such discriminating taste I am surprised that you are satisfied with that accumulation. The centerpiece is a wall which is largely filled with common single signed balls. I understand a museum is there to tell a story, but its not like they can acquire everyone who ever donned the pinstripes. Unless they can accomplish that then who really cares about a single signed Ross Ohlendorf.

Munson's locker is obviously cool to see but other than that the museum is really lacking. Hopefully they will step it up.

NY teams are 2 for 2 in losing their OPENERS at their new respective stadiums. That was an ugly opening game for the Yanks.

Posada ended rallies in the 1st and 3rd innings and then hit the first HR in the new digs in the 5th.

Ransom really is looking for that one way ticket out of NYC. He was 0-5 and stranded 9 (that's right 9) runners. He K'd twice and came up with the bases jammed in the 9th and ended the game by hitting into a DP. I thought he'd be on his way out of town after the end of that game.

"Munson's locker is obviously cool to see but other than that the museum is really lacking. Hopefully they will step it up."

It seems the only way they could "step it up" would be to borrow more material.

There actually are some wonderful pieces in that museum--Gehrig's 1927 home jersey, Ruth's "Called Shot" 1932 road jersey, beautiful 1923, 1927, and 1928 signed balls...

The sad part is that all of those--and everything else of any real value or interest--is on loan from a few collectors--Richard Angrist and the Depace family for the most part. (No, Bruce is not one of the contributors.)

The Yankees' own collection is, indeed, pathetic.

My father took me to the first game yesterday. We were also able to attend the last game at the old stadium. Were thinking of getting the tickets framed together and make a nice display. But we sat in section 208, down by the right field foul poll.

David,
Was the Gehrig jersey one of the one's with-out a number on the back. Because i went in two times and thought there were no Gehrig items besides autographs. Also do you think that was Ruth's real bat he used to hit the first home-run. I can't see putting a 1.3 million dollar bat on the ground and then letting the players swinging it around. The yankees should try to get Ruths, Gehrigs and Mantle's locker back from the hall of fame for the museum.

......"unlike the 1976 reprint pictured above".


The 1923 Opening Day program I depicted in my initial post here is a 1973 Reprint....and, was a souvenir copy issued
on opening day in 1973 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1st game at Yankee Stadium.

FYI......I have the original one and the 1923 World Series program.


Get it....1923 + 50 = 1973

Or, are you...."mathematically-challenged"....?

"I thought he'd be on his way out of town after the end of that game."

He would be Fred, but then the Yankees would be the first major league team ever to play with four outfielders and no third baseman.

It was truly ugly.

Don't you ever get tired of being wrong, Ted?

The reprint was given out on Opening Day 1976, when the renovated Stadium first opened.

I know. I was there, and received one.

(1973 was, indeed the fiftieth anniversary of the original opening, but that has nothing to do with the reprint.)

And Ted--you can call me lots of things, but "mathematically challenged" is hardly one of them. I am a theoretical physicist after all. How strong are you, Ted, in, say, differential geometry, tensor calculus, non-Abelian group theory etc. etc.?

And why do you always have to get nasty and personal? You may be 70, but you sure do behave like a testy child.

Obama won. By a landslide.

Get over it!

While we're on the topic of Yankee Stadium ...

I took my wonderful 8 year old son Jarett to his first and only game at the old stadium last August. Yankees won 15-6 vs. Royals. We sat upper deck, between home and 1st. 2nd inning, a foul ball comes within 3 seats of us ... closest I've ever been to a foul ball in the couple of hundred games I've been to in my life. 7th inning, Cody Ransom, in his first at bat as a Yankee, hits a high arcing foul that is headed right at my son's forehead. Holding a soda in my left hand, I reach out with my bare right hand, and the ball magically lands in it. Received a significant (at least for me) ovation from the crowd, odd moment where I didn't know they were actually clapping for me. Next pitch ... yes, NEXT PITCH ... Ransom hits a homer! Crowd now clapping for Cody, not me! Talking about stealing my thunder, or at least my 2 minutes of fame!

What I most remember ... looking down at my beaming son who was very proud of his dad who just caught a ball, sitting in a stadium that I personally grew up in. My life instantaneously flashed before me, thought about the game in 1969 (when I was 8!), was sitting with my dad in the upper deck and saw Mantle hit a homer. My son looks up at me and sees a few tears (of utter joy) streaming down my face (I had to explain these were good tears ... VERY GOOD TEARS). I love my son, I love baseball, it won't get any better than that. The ball is now proudly displayed in holder with the tickets and a write-up for my future generations to enjoy.

I know many of you can relate ...

Sandy Schwartz

That's a great story, Sandy. Thanks for cleansing our collective palate.

David, it's nice to see that you never miss a chance to flash that psychotic personality. Maybe if you ask Bruce nicely you two could get a room?

The 1923 reprint was printed in 1973 (Copyright 1973....Terminal Printing & Lithographing....Hoboken, NJ)....and,
it's my understanding that it was first available in April 1973....check-it-out ?

I'm not impressed that you are a theoretical physicist. You ask......

"How strong are you, Ted, in, say, differential geometry, tensor calculus, non-Abelian group theory etc. etc.?"

I retired as a senior Electronics Engineer (after 31 years) from AT&T Bell Laboratories. I've applied more complex
mathematical equations in the process of designing electronic communications equipment than you can think of.
My Hi-speed modems and periphal equipment are still in service in AT&T comm. centers. My early mathematical
analysis programs have been Copyrighted. And, I have several Patents for my designs that have been put into
production (40,000 units).

Also, for many years, I have taught complex electronic courses (and RADAR) at Bell Labs....and, all my students
gave me positive reviews.

What can you boast....brainwashing your students with your "Socialistic-Karl Marx" ideology ?

And, speaking about Socialists.....boasting that "Obama won".....at this point is not something to boast about.


TED Z

Offered without comment or bias. (Sorry to "out" an auction.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yankee-Stadium-Opening-Day-Program-1923-Reprint-1973_W0QQitemZ130300365061

Sandy- great story, but Mantle retired in 1968. I'm sure that is the year you meant.

Yes, Barry, but he's got a 1969 baseball card!!!

He's got two- white letters and yellow letters.

Ooohh--an Electrical Engineer. So you know a bit of calculus, and how to manipulate complex numbers. BFD.

High school math, nothing more.

Admit it, Ted. You've never even heard of the mathematical fields I mentioned.
(No pun intended, as a "field" is another mathematical object you know nothing about.)

Your comments simply highlight your mathematical shortcomings.

(And your political comments highlight your complete lack of the ability to think critically.)

I can't vouch for what happened with those reprints in 1973, but they were definitely given out on the Stadium's re-opening day in 1976.

(Upon reading this post, I can't help but be a bit embarrassed. It sounds just like one of Bruce's bragging, ranting put downs. For that I apologize. But I've had it with Ted's unprovoked nastiness. You reap what you sow.)

Come on David...let's nip it in the bud. I know Ted responded to you in kind but you did provoke this. And it's getting tired.

Come on Barry. I pointed out that Ted pictured a reprint, and offered the real deal. That's all. For some reason, T. rex takes that personally, and begins the name-calling.

I'm sure if someone illustrated his post with a picture of a card reprint, no one would post a photo of the real item.

Of course, I was provoking Bruce. And for that, I received a nice, unsolicited nasty email from the Group.

Nice to hear from you, too, Jeff!

Barry,
How right you are ... it was a typo ... I was 8 in 1968, and the game was that year. And yes Jeff, still have my 1969 card (yellow letters unfortunately).
Sandy

Great story SANDY.


My daughter, Zoe, was 7 years old when I took her to her first BB game. In the Summer of 1973, we were at the
Old Timer's Day game at Yankee Stadium.

I recall it as it was yesterday......Whitey Ford was pitching and Mantle was at bat. Ford grooved one to Mantle.
Mickey hit it into the stands. The 67,000 fans went wild. I think that this was Mickey's last HR at the Stadium.

Zoe was really thrilled; and, since then #7 has always been her favorite number.


TED Z

David- when I saw the picture Ted posted I knew it was a reprint. And when I saw your posted scan I recognized it was an original.

Does it matter? I'm more concerned with the continual aggressive responses that are so unnecessary. Why you fight with Bruce, Ted, and Jeff all the time is a mystery.

Ted,
Wonderful recollection, these are the lasting memories we cherish and pass along. I was at an old-timer's game in the early 70's too, but I don't recall Mantle hitting a homer, so must've been a different year.

Oddly, I grew up in Brooklyn a Met fan but wound up going to many more Yankee games cause my father worked a 2nd job setting up concessions for Harry M. Stevens at Yankee Stadium on game days (weekends), and he'd drag me along (happily) to many games cause he had keys to a stadium gate and could get me in for free! We'd need to be at the stadium at some ungodly hour (6 AM or so as I recall) to get the concession process started. Will always remember the morning drives from East New York in Brooklyn to 161st St. I did this as far back as 1964-65 when I was only 4 or 5. Needless to say, I'm sorry to see the old stadium go away.

What is the deal with Bruce. Is it one person or a whole group of them?

It's a one man group, but he chooses to use the editorial "we."

Well, Barry, as any priest or Rabbi would tell you, there are mysteries in this world.

And, if you'll notice, I wasn't fighting with Ted or Jeff. Each of them, for their own reasons, just decided to get nasty and personal. Jeff didn't even have a dog in this "fight." (Where was Calvin?)

To explicate one of those mysteries, let's just say that Bruce's inability to post anything without referring in some way to how much better he is at something, or how much better his collection is than anyone else's, or how much better his seats are, or... ad infinitum, just pisses me off. I'm not naive enough to think that provoking him will change his absurd and obnoxious behavior, but I'm no saint, and I just can't resist.

(And should the criteria for posting a photo of an original when a reprint has been posted be "Did Barry recognize it as a reprint?" Must we check with you first?)

For the record, I suck at math.

David,

Jeff's post wasn't even to you. It was directed to Sandy and Barry's witty repartee concerning the date of Mantle's retirement. (Just kidding guys.)

Jim, do you mean this post of Jeff's above?

"David, it's nice to see that you never miss a chance to flash that psychotic personality. Maybe if you ask Bruce nicely you two could get a room?"

No. I was speaking of the other post. But since you went off on Ted for "being wrong", when in fact he wasn't, couldn't you just say: "Sorry Ted. I didn't realize they issued them in 1973. I picked mine up in 1976 at the "new" Stadium opening." ?

Then we could all move along with out talking about math, politics, physics and psychological problems.

Maybe we could even talk about old baseball cards.

Bruce's posts are grating but he is not going to change and most of the board understands that. There's no need to keep going after him every time he posts.

OK.

Sorry, Ted. You were not wrong. But neither was I.
(Still, there was no reason for you to be nasty. I simply posted a photo and said the reprint was given out in '76. I was not correcting you, as you hadn't said anything about the program at that point.)

(I think a simple re-reading of the posts, Jim, will show that Ted "went off" on me, tather than the other way 'round.)

Now, Jim, how about you apologize for missing Jeff's uncalled-for name-calling, and mistakenly accusing me of picking on our poor helpless, resident defense attorney? (Although I really wouldn't call "Nice to hear from you, too, Jeff" an "attack." Would you?)

You are absolutely correct, Barry. There is no "need."

(Are you familiar with Bob Dylan's "Memphis Blues Again"?
Penultimate verse:

Then Ruthie says come see her
In her honky tonk lagoon.
Where I can watch her waltz for free
'Neath her Panamanian moon.
And I say 'Ah, come on now.
You know you know about my debutante.'
And she says 'Your debutante just knows what you need.
But I know what you want.'

I've always loved that song.)

Blonde on Blonde is a great album. I love "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands."

Concerning Ted: You said: "and an original 1923 opening day program (unlike the 1976 reprint pictured above.)"
The ticklish comment is the part in parenthesis, in case you were wondering. Without that tone, the comment probably would have passed unnoticed.




Concerning Jeff: He said you had a psychotic personality. First, it's a medical opinion offered by a defense lawyer. Take it for what it's worth. Second, I'm not 100% sure it's wrong. Whether or not you're a peach of a guy in person, I don't know. On the board, his comment has a ring of truth. And sometimes "Nice to hear from you too." is an attack. It's all about tone, again.




Concerning the Bruces: No one has more fun poking fun at them than I do. My first suggestion is just block emails from his email address. Most Internet Service Providers have this option. Bruce brings it on himself, and I don't think he minds it so much. Your differences with Ted and Jeff are different. They're not about cards, or memorabilia. They're about politics. That's what doesn't belong here. No one has more different political opinions than Barry and Ted, yet they get along just fine.


Concerning me: I just want board peace. If I offended you, by "missing" Jeff's post, I am truly sorry.

I have been researching Harry M. Stevens, Inc. If you don't mind, can I email you and with some questions ?

Harry M. Stevens produced all the World Series programs from the 1920's to the 1950's. Also, the 1st Yankees
Yearbook (Sketch Book in 1950) and many subsequent yearbooks.

His firm (NYC based) was into everything related to BB souvenirs and concessions. Also, I think he is credited
for introducing the "ballpark hot dog"

..............\/.....................................................\/



TED Z

OK, Jim. I'm not going to argue any longer. There was no "tone" in my original comment. I can see how it could have been misinterpreted, though. And I disagree with you about Jeff's comments, but so be it.

I will no longer respond to Bruce. I'll just roll my eyes, and bite my tongue (or fingers, to update the expression.)

We'll see what happens.

No! No! No!


Please continue to respond to Bruce!


LOL

Jim- you've noticed that Ted and I are political opposites? But I've moderated recently, and now I am a diehard Mugwump.

Sure Ted ... zjams@optonline.net

Not sure I'll have many answers, but my father may be able to help ... he's 85 and lucid (in between his moments of insanity and delirium! ). He remembers more about the 1938 Tigers than what he had for lunch yesterday, that may help in this case!

Barry,

Only because the Whigs stopped accepting members?

"No! No! No!


Please continue to respond to Bruce!"

Have I received your imprimatur?!

(If so, I promise to leave Ted and Jeff alone. And if they chime in when I reply to Bruce, I'll simply say "Jim said it was OK.")

That was an awesome story. That is what collecting and baseball is all about. Thanks for sharing.

I have a BA in General Studies. I was going for a BS degree but the math got to me (well, with my adolescent distractions anything could have gotten to me).....

Lets have a "happy board" please...best regards

No imprimatur needed or implied. I just seem to enjoy those posts more. It was simply a request.

I'm 70....and, memories of the Yankees when I was a kid (1947 to 1961) are clearer in my mind
than what I did yesterday.

I'll email you later today.

TED Z

I became a Mugwump because it is such a cool word...is there a better word in the English language than "Mugwump?" I doubt it.

I'm trying to be "cool"........but...."I didn't start this fire". I simply posted my 1923 Yankees (re-
print) program to have a meaningful discussion about Opening Days.

I expect now, that I've posted my original 1923 World Series program....it, too, will be "trashed"
by the usual suspect.


Regards,

TED Z

Thx Leon. As for the math, unlike you, I have no excuse, my major was actuarial science.
Ted, got it, I'll look for your email later tonight.

Geesh, if we're doing full disclosure here, I was an "A" student all the way through Calc I. I immediately "got" Basic Statistics and Inferential Stat. After that, I was dead in the water. As soon as it got more theoretical and less practical, I was clueless.


I'm unsure how that relates to this board. I seem to get by just fine.

"I expect now, that I've posted my original 1923 World Series program....it, too, will be "trashed"
by the usual suspect."

Ah, come on, Ted. All I did was say the '23 Opener was a reprint.

As far as your original 1923 WS program, it's one of the nicest ones I've seen. Nicer than mine, in fact.

(You do know, of course, that while these programs were printed in 1923, they weren't distributed until the 1926 World Series. )

Jim,
Easy connection to this board ... you were able to understand the stats on the back of the cards! No need for differential calc there!
We all have our strengths & weaknesses .. I couldn't hack biology or chemistry ... but then again, never needed those subjects to appreciate the underlying essence of an E107!

Sandy,

A funny and somewhat related story: In Elementary School when it came time to convert fractions to decimals, many kids were stumped. I always got it instantly. The teacher asked me if an older brother or sister had helped teach it to me. I responded that I got it from baseball. If a guy goes 3 for 8, he's hitting .375. If you can do that, how hard can decimals be?

Yes Jim, the many benefits of being a baseball nut! If only baseball could have somehow helped me with mitosis, cytoplasm, molecules, etc. I still don't know what a damn mole is! And I wouldn't understand it even if someone explained it to me!

It's a little animal that tunnels in your garden, and eats the roots of your favorite plants.

I remember as a kid, when I used to keep stats in my Strat-O-Matic league, that the Sporting News published a book that gave batting averages for virtually every possible combination of hits and at bats. So if I guy had 70 hits in 223 at bats, you would go to the 70 column and the 223 row and it would read .314. It was called "Batting Averages at a Glance." Did anyone else have that?

And I too was able to correlate batting averages with converting fractions to decimals. It came naturally to me.

David's 100% correct. A good pesticide to kill the grubs will usually force the moles to move on. Be sure to stick with a selective pesticide that will not harm beneficial insects and earthworms!


That's not it? Consult a dermatologist.


By the way David, not to be argumentative, but moles don't eat roots, they are insectivores. they eat the grubs that eat the roots. You're thinking of voles or gophers.

Barry,
I spent many a day playing Strat-O-Matic, still have the old game sitting in my dad's garage somewhere. Never got the Almanac ... just did the long division to get the decimals ... early signs of actuarial tendencies. Money I saved on the Almanac was spent trying to complete the 7th series of Topps each year.

It brings this Jays fan joys to see the Yanks and Sox stumble out of the gates. I know it won't last long but the Jays are doing well and Halladay is 3-0. (Halladay is imho the best pitcher in the game today)

"By the way David, not to be argumentative, but moles don't eat roots, they are insectivores. they eat the grubs that eat the roots. You're thinking of voles or gophers."

I grew up in the Bronx, so you should be amazed that I at least know that a mole is a tunneling mammal.

I learned about grubs about ten years ago, when I walked across my lawn and the grass just came away under my feet.

So if moles eat grubs, they're good, no?

Sandy- the two years I played Strat-O-Matic were 1964 and 1965. Once during that time I came home with a bad report card and my parents took the game away until my grades improved. True story.

Let's get back ON TOPIC......

The Good News......

My last attended Opener at Yankee Stadium was in April 1992. Boston was in town; and, the starters were Clemens
for the Red Sox and Scott Sanderson for the Yankees. We were situated in the 3rd deck behind homeplate and sur-
rounded by a huge contingent of Red Sox fans.

In the 1st inning I was distracted when Phil Plantier was at bat. I'll never forget it, I heard one of the sharpest cracks
of the bat as it struck the ball that I have ever heard....as Plantier drove the ball deep into the RF stands. Mo Vaughan
followed with a "back-to-backer" and the Red Sox were up 2-0. The Red Sox fans around us were going wild. Fortunately,
Sanderson settled down and the Sox didn't score anymore off him. I told my buddies not to worry and that the Yankees
would find a way to get to Clemens.

Sure enough, in the bottom of the 6th, Randy Velarde led off with a Single....Don Mattingly, Roberto Kelly and Danny Tar-
tabull followed up with hits and the Yanks were ahead 4-2.

The Yankees won it and a great start for their new Manager, Buck Showalter.


The Bad News

The Red Sox fans around us started a few fights and resorted to actions too nasty to mention here.


TED Z

"Blond on Blond is a great album. I love Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowland."

I believe there is some disparity as to who that song was written about. Joan Baez has claimed it was written about her, while others maintain it was written with one of Dylan's other former lovers in mind (either Suze Rotolo or Sara Dylan--I forget). I don't recall ever reading Dylan's take on the subject. Knowing him, he likely remains ambiguous!

"I was a Mugwump"

Funny, Barry. I never made the connection between you and Momma Cass.

I think the Yankees reprinted the program from that 1992 opener, but they didn't distribute them until '95.

Jodi- I recently read Suze Rotolo's book, but I have no recollection if she discussed that song.

"So if moles eat grubs, they're good, no?"


Sure. Except for the damn tunnels they seem to like.

"I think the Yankees reprinted the program from that 1992 opener, but they didn't distribute them until '95."



Rob D. = troublemaker

but, isn't it "Blonde on Blonde?"

I have talked to people who went to the Yankee museum and I took a tour of it via the telecast and I must say, they put $1.5 Billion into this carnival and gave the visitors a rather shabby museum. The ball wall is a total joke. Below the Babe Ruth ball, is an Ian Kennedy??? They have basically "two" staples...Ruth and a personalized side panel Gehrig? You would expect a franchise with such a tradition to give us more of a history (memorabilia wise) like uniforms, historic items and such. I'm sure they could get people to donate stuff.

DJ

As he is the resident spelling despot, I did not want to point that out to Barry!

I know I spelled it wrong, but I was too lazy to fix it. I also think it's "Lowlands", not "Lowland."

I just fixed it. I have a reputation to uphold.

"I believe there is some disparity as to who that song was written about. Joan Baez has claimed it was written about her, while others maintain it was written with one of Dylan's other former lovers in mind (either Suze Rotolo or Sara Dylan--I forget). I don't recall ever reading Dylan's take on the subject. Knowing him, he likely remains ambiguous!"

One of the lines in Dylan's later song "Sara" is

"Staying up all night at the Chelsea Hotel
Writing Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands for you."

That's right, too, David. It WAS Sara. Sorry--outside of "Blood on the Tracks", my taste (and, therefore, knowledge) of Dylan's ouvre predates 1970.

Edit: Baez DOES maintain that the song was written about her, though.

Mine basically predates 1966. As far as I'm concerned Dylan reached his peak with Blonde on Blonde.

I nearly agree with you on that. In my mind, his greatest accomplishment rests solely on Bringing it all Back Home . The concept of having an acoustic A-side coupled with an electric B-side has been copied ad nauseum by countless artists, most successfully IMHO by Dylan devotee Neil Young (with his classic Rust Never Sleeps ). "It's Alright, Ma" might be the greatest lyric ever conceived. Even 44 years after the fact, it fails to lose resonance.

I would have to say Blood On The Tracks is post-66 but excellent IMO. Occasionally, there's a lot of "Idiot Wind" blowing around these parts.

I likewise agree that Dylan's great work ended in 1966.

Wasn't Suze Rotolo the Girl from the North Country?

And no question "It's Alright Ma" has the greatest lyrics of any popular song ever written. Even Dylan himself is confounded today about how he was able to do it.

I was very happy that Dylan mentioned that song in the Ed Bradley interview. It seemed as though he ascribed the song's creation (as well as much of the early material) to divine intervention. I for one can hardly dispute that.

Exactly Jodi. When Ed asked Dylan about his lyrics, that was the song he cited. He admitted he could never do anything like that today, and didn't even know where it came from. The version of "It's Alright Ma" from "Don't Look Back" is on youtube and well worth a listen.

Wow, Sandy that was an awesome story.

Now as for the rest of this thread, be careful fellas because it's always fun and games until someone gets published in the New York Daily News Blog.

As Uri Testikov said of Tolstoi: "He didn't need any inspiration....God spoke through his pen."

War- what is it good for?

That O'Keeffe -- he hates psychotic Net 54 members.

Greatest single line in a rock n roll song:

"The ghost of 'lectricity howls in the bones of her face."

It's Alright, Ma is brilliant, no doubt. But I don't think it's his best.
And the electric side of Bringin' it All Back Home (although I love that album) isn't all that electric.

Musically, and to my mind, lyrically, BoB can't be beat. Those Nashville session musicians--Charlie McCoy, Kenny Buttrey, Joe South... as well as Robbie Robertson and Al Kooper... Man, those cats could play!

Bruce, stop with the unsolicited emails. Words can not describe what a vile, ugly person you are.

"Greatest single line in a rock n roll song: "


We'd need a dedicated thread to get everyone's opinion.


Mine always was:

"She's so fine, there's no tellin' where the money went."

Kenny Buttrey (RIP) was on a few incredible albums, and many other decent ones. Neil Young's "Harvest" and Lightfoot's "Summer Side of Life" come to mind. Buttrey was more than a little peeved with Young for refusing to let him show his stuff on "Harvest". To achieve the sparse back beat found on "Harvest", Neil went so far as to make Buttrey drum using only one stick, holding the free hand behind his back. The versatile Buttrey threatened to quit more than once, and many times demanded sharp pay hikes to compensate for what he felt was a massive blow to his ego. Leave it to the eccentric Young to hire the best in the business, then demand that he perform a task that a lower primate could be trained to do. Conversely, both Young and Dylan have also been known to utilize the services of musicians on instruments with which they have little-to-no experience (Al Kooper on organ on "Like a Rolling Stone" and Nils Lofgren on piano on "Southern Man" being the two most prominent examples).

Sorry for the ridiculous hijack, Ted. It seems as though a few of us get a little carried away when it comes to other mutual interests!

Dylan didn't exactly "employ" Kooper on LaRS. As Kooper tells it, he wanted to play guitar, but Dylan had already picked Mike Bloomfield. Kooper went into the studio anyway, saw that no one was playing organ, and said to himself "Well, [producer Tom] Wilson said I can't play guitar... He never said I can't play the organ."

The rest, as they say...

Sorry to say that I have never been at an opening day......but it would have been a pleasure to see the yanks lose soooooo bad.

Yes, that's true, but Dylan didn't exactly kick him out of the session, either. Kooper says that he wasn't familiar with the chord sequence prior to the actual cut; that's why you hear his organ come in slightly behind everyone else. That, to me, is musically the best aspect of the track. Pure happenstance.

You're right about Kooper's entries.

That slight delay is magic!

Here are a few of my pictures from the game. Thats Jeter with Ruth's bat.
Matt

MATT.....thanks for posting your photos


JODI B
OK....I'll play your silly game....one of the best....circa 1976

"You can check-out any time you like....but, you can never leave"


TED Z

Ah, the Eagles!

To get a bit off track since we have gone there anyway...

O'keefe can't hate psychotic board members. When he and I talk he seems like he likes me? We get a long fine and dandy....I think part of why he likes the hobby is there are just so many warm fuzzy feelings that go around...Such pleasantries and men and women acting like true ladies and gentlemen. No one would ever do anything unscrupulous, or say bad things, would they?

And back to on topic. I have never been to an opening day game....I have in Little League, Pony League, High School etc.. though!! I have even pitched in a many a opening day games.....Nothing in the Professional Majors though...don't really care to.

I think the ghost of Babe Ruth must be very mad right now.

Indians just put up 14 runs in the second inning. Every single player in the Indians lineup has at least one hit and one run scored.

I turned it off at 7-2. Should have stuck with it. Wang has absolutely nothing.

"Wang has absolutely nothing."

They make medicine for that now.



Sorry.

Looks like the Yankees have a sore Wang.

I bet there wasn't a 14 run inning in the 85 year history of Yankee Stadium. It only took three games in the new park. They were just saying that balls have been flying out of the park in right field. Could be an interesting season.

The Yankees are cursed. You can't abandon and demolish (the real) Yankee Stadium, and expect to win.

The Universe will not allow it.

"Looks like the Yankees have a sore Wang."

Florida?! That's America's wang!

I suspect 14 runs in an inning has been done. What has surely never been done is 18 hits in 3+ innings. It's all about pitching. A healthy Wang and this team is probably the AL East champs.

The record for runs in one inning by one team is 18 by Chicago (NL) in 1883...the modern record is 17 by the Red Sox in 1953.

Jeff- there have only been a handful of 14 runs or more innings in the history of baseball. I doubt it was done even 10 times in the major leagues.

Even more amazing when you consider how bad the Indians are. You'd think the new Yankee Stadium was built on a sacred Indian burial ground.

Texas had a 16 run inning in a 26-7 win over the Orioles. I forget the year, but probably around 1990.

Didn't the Rangers beat the Orioles 30-3 just a year or so ago?

Even more amazing when you consider how bad the Indians are.

Hey, Jeff:

Jesus, an arrow into my heart. (Seriously)

Um I mean, what a freaking ugly card.

Now that was a low blow.

Jeff - Is it that the Indians are bad or the Yankees are just over rated?

Texas scored 30 runs against Baltimore in 2007. They had innings of 10, 9, 6, and 5 runs, and were scoreless in the other 5.

19-2 and counting.

20-2 before I could blink.

Thank god it only count's as one loss. Thats whats good about baseball, it's a whole new game the next day. And for all you red sox fans talking crap your team is in last place right now. And they have more problems then the yankees!

The home plate umpire has seen enough - just called strike three on Hafner on a pitch that was a foot and half outside.

Kevin, the Indians were bad before today's game. I don't think the Yankees are overrated; it's a 3 team race in the AL East and they have (had) the best pitching, which is usually a harbinger of good things. Wang when healthy is one of the top pitchers in baseball; when he's not healthy, he clearly sucks. That's a huge loss for this team.

I can't wait to see what the yankees do against Carl Pavano tomorrow.

INDIANS 20 to 2 in the 5th. Stands are now half empty. Typical NY fans. They would not be going home in Boston, just the fair weather Yankee fans.

Yeah, they wouldn't go home in Boston -- they'd just boo the players.

We do like to Boo

New Yankee stadium>>>Coors field

Jeff - I think you'll find with Sabathia that he'll be lights out against mediocre and bad teams but he'll come up short and frustrate you against the good teams. I watched it in Cleveland for years. He'll finish the season at something like 18-10 and then come up short when you need a big performance in the post season or need to beat Boston or Tampa to make it to the post season.

Kevin, I tend to agree. I'm a Mets fan and I've been somewhat stunned to watch as the NY media paints CC the second coming of Johan -- which he surely is not.

I can't wait to see what the yankees do against Carl Pavano tomorrow.

Excellent point. If your team can beat the likes of Carl Pavano, well, you've got no worries.

After today's game, Johan's ERA is 0.46.

The new stadium is playing like a little league field,almost everything in the air to RF is leaving the playing field and that last HR by Hafner to LF was a joke

Hafner just hit one out...21-4 now. The next best thing to my team winning is seeing the Yankees lose...it warms the heart.

Greg,
Who do you like?

So who has the nicer new stadium - the Yankees or the Mets?

Sunday, April 24, 2005

One day after getting blasted by owner George Steinbrenner, the Yankees blasted the Devil Rays and accomplished something they'd never done before: score 13 runs in one inning at Yankee Stadium.

In Monday's 19-8 victory over Tampa Bay, the Yankees sent 17 men to the plate in the second inning, collecting 11 hits and three bases on balls.

The 13-run inning was the biggest -- in any inning -- for the Yankees since June 21, 1945, when they scored 13 in the fifth inning of a 14-4 win at Boston. It matched the largest second inning in major-league history, and the most productive second inning in the American League since the Kansas City A's hung 13 on the White Sox on April 21, 1956.

The 11 hits in the frame are the most in a single inning by the Yankees since April 11, 1987, at Kansas City.

The Yankees' club record for runs in an inning is 14, which they accomplished on July 6, 1920, against Washington at Griffith Stadium.

Wang is off to a nice start this year. His ERA was over 28.00 BEFORE today's game.

Brock...the A's are my team

It's interesting that the Yankees biggest home and road losses (in terms of giving up runs) all belong to the Indians. They gave up 24 runs to the Indians in Cleveland in 1928(?) (or so they said on the TV). The Indians also posted the 22-0 game in August 2005 in New York at the old place and now 22-4 in the new place.

Cavs won by 18 today and so did the Indians.

34.50 after today's fine outing.

Why not try Nick Swisher in the rotation? He certainly can't be any worse than Wang has been.

Gee - and I thought Wang Chen Ming would have LOWERED his ERA with today's performance.

I can't wait to see what the yankees do against Carl Pavano tomorrow.

Pavano: 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run (earned), 1 BB, 4 K

I can't wait to see what the yankees do against Dana Eveland tomorrow.

You have to be impressed with Pavano. Big pressure start and he lowered his ERA to below 10.

Oh, I have little doubt that at the end of the season Indians fans will look back at April 19 as the high point of Mr. Pavano's campaign.

Here is something for you Ted.

I have always thought Harry Stevens was underrated in the grand scheme of Baseball History. He might have done more to shape the overall game from a spectators standpoint than anyone else.

Rhys

Carl did pitch well but the yankees were able to pull off the victory 7-3.

Nice to see Jeffrey Maier's dad in attendance.

Kevin - that 22 run game by the Indians in 2005 was the most scored against the Yankees at home - ever. Yesterday's game tied the record, albeit in a new stadium.

Also, the 14 in the 2nd is the most ever in an inning 2...in ML history.

As an aside, I had the privilege of taking someone to their first major league game ever, Thursday night at Safeco Field....my friend is 53!

Scott <=== loves seeing records set against the Yankees.

Rob,
What are you talking about? Tht ball was over the fence so the fans have every right to touch/grab it.

Fun Wang facts: 6 innings, 23 runs this year (in 3 starts). He needs to pitch 47 scoreless innings for his ERA to go back down to his lifetime ERA of 3.79.

Of course it was, Brock. My bad.

I'm sitting here with DirectTV, flipping between TBS, YES and whatever the Cleveland station is called. According to the three different stations, the ball was, 1)clearly a home run, 2)clearly fan interference and should be an out, and 3)maybe interference but the outfielder wasn't going to catch it anyway, so the runners should be placed on 2nd and 3rd.

I guess they all had different angles (or paychecks signed by different companies.)


The play ened up being insignificant anyway. You guys should start in Little League teaching your Left Fielders to run hard after fly balls. Maybe that would bubble up to the big guys.

Were the Indians taking BP today vs the Yankees, dammit!

marty

"Were the Indians taking BP today vs the Yankees, dammitt....."


Nah. BP was yesterday. Today they were just jogging around the outfield shagging flyballs.

Barry,
I remember that "Batting Averages at a Glance" book very well. My dad probably still has it somewhere. We used it to figure out our batting averages in little league.

As for Dylan, I agree that he probably wrote his best stuff in the '60s, with the exception of Blood on the Tracks, which is an absolute masterpiece. However, if you saw him perform live in the late '90's or early 2000's, he was phenomenal, as was his touring band. He has also written good stuff recently. It is not in the same league as Blonde on Blonde, etc., but very good.
JimB

".......with the exception of Blood on the Tracks, which is an absolute masterpiece."

Agreed!!!