First visitors to Yankee Stadium are left in awe
Photo credit: AP |
Yankees 10, Rays 2
October 4, 2009
Summary:Alex Rodriguez homered twice in a 10-run sixth inning. First, A-Rod hit a three-run home run and later added a grand slam to cap off the scoring. A.J. Burnett got his 13th win of the year and his 100th career win.
Key stat: For the 12th straight year, Rodriguez has at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
Yankees' record: 103-59
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The first thing Tim Kennedy did as he entered the new Yankee Stadium for the first time was take a picture of his son William, 7, one of the first fans to walk through the gates of the new ballpark yesterday.
Kennedy, 49, a teacher from St. James, and his son both took the day off from school for the monumental occasion.
"It's very exciting for us. We were at the last game at [old] Yankee Stadium, now we're at this one," said Kennedy, who first began attending Yankees games with his dad, Tom, in 1969. "We're going to go see our seats and then go check out the rest of the stadium."
Many fans were awestruck at the new venue but appreciated how much of the old stadium was reflected in its new design.
"That was very important [to me] because that was like hallowed ground over there,'' said Al Santiago, 51, of East Patchogue, "but they did a good job. It's beautiful."
When Debra Hoffman-Rowe, 39, of Merrick first entered, she was struck by the gigantic banner of Babe Ruth.
"I get the feeling that it's the house he built still," said Hoffman-Rowe, who brought her son Bradley, 4.
"When he gets older, he can say he was here the first day it was open," Hoffman-Rowe said. "I'm completely overwhelmed. It's beautiful, it's amazing and we're so optimistic. This is one of the best days of my life."
Bronx native Eric Rivera, 36, was glad the new stadium paid homage to the old ballpark he grew up attending.
"I like that they kept the flavor of the old stadium," Rivera said. "That helps a lot, because even though it's a new stadium, they tied it to the old stadium in that regard, and I love it."
Rivera said the whole day had a very nostalgic feel. "I grew up in the Bronx, so as a kid, that's what you do. To be part of something that's the new guard is exciting," he said. "This is going to be here for generations to come, and to think you're one of the first ones here, it's kind of like going back to when the first stadium opened and what they must have felt like."
Rivera said he was relieved the Yankees decided to stick to their roots and remain in the Bronx. "I can probably speak for everyone in the Bronx in saying that I'm glad it stayed in the Bronx,'' he said. "We wouldn't have wanted them to go anywhere else."
For college friends Lindsey Crowell, 26, of Toms River, N.J., and Jonathan Fishkin, 26, of Holmdel, N.J., the transition from old stadium to new was a moving experience.
"We got chills when we came in here," Fishkin said. "It's a new stadium and we're the first ones in our generation to be here."
"We walked around the old stadium and said, 'That's a chapter that's closed,' " Crowell said, "and now we see a new chapter opening for them. I have such a good gut feeling about this year."
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