(Photo by perspectiveAerials.com via Getty Images)
So that's that.
They repeatedly mentioned that when Babe Ruth hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium back in 1923, he said after the game, "God knows who'll hit the last one."
This guy:
The Yankees win 7-3 thanks to homers from Jose Molina and Johnny Damon, with Molina hitting the final home run ever at Yankee Stadium. I can't feel bad about the loss. In this modern world, I got to watch this this game via the magic of DVR, about 45 minutes behind the live feed, because my girlfriend's birthday was today. I got to watch this spectacle in high definition. And make no mistake, this was baseball history, though it was a meaningless game unless something truly incredible happens for the Yankees.
I also couldn't help but find it a bit fitting from my own personal perspective that Yankee Stadium closes with the Orioles being swept back to Baltimore. Talk about modern times.
Yankee Stadium should mean something to anyone that considers themselves a baseball fan, I think. Again, it's love it or hate it -- I hate it. But it's Yankee Stadium, The House That Ruth Built, home of the greatest franchise in baseball history (by a mile, by the way).
Mike Royko once said that hating the Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your taxes. He was 100% correct. But there is a grudging respect that I hold for the New York Yankees, and for that stadium. They are the kings of this sport, and that was their castle. If you think I'm being too nice about the Yankees, then fill out a TTT form. It'll also be one of the only times this ever happens, anyway.
The new stadium will give us new reasons to hate this team, I'm sure. For the moment, I tip my cap to Yankee Stadium, and to that freaking Andy Pettitte, who beat us for the 25th time in his career.
Box score is after the jump.
| Batting |
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2B - K Millar (25, A Pettitte). |
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3B - A Jones (7, A Pettitte). |
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RBI - J Payton (41), M Mora (102), B Roberts (55). |
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2-out RBI - B Roberts. |
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Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1, N Markakis 1. |
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Team LOB - 7. |
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| Base Running |
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SB - B Roberts (38, 2nd base off A Pettitte/J Molina), A Jones (10, 2nd base off J Veras/J Molina). |
| Fielding |
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E - B Fahey (5, ground ball). |
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DP - 1 (B Roberts-J Castro-K Millar). |
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| Batting |
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HR - J Damon (16, 3rd inning off C Waters 2 on, 0 Out), J Molina (3, 4th inning off C Waters 1 on, 1 Out). |
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SF - R Cano. |
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RBI - J Damon 3 (69), J Molina 2 (17), J Giambi (94), R Cano (64). |
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Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Jeter 2, I Rodriguez 1, X Nady 1, R Cano 1. |
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GIDP - J Giambi. |
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Team LOB - 7. |
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| Base Running |
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SB - B Abreu (20, 2nd base off L Cormier/R Hernandez). |
| Fielding |
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E - A Pettitte (2, ground ball). |
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Pitches-strikes - C Waters 101-57; L Cormier 23-14; J Walker 5-4; R Cherry 18-13; A Pettitte 85-63; J Veras 16-8; P Coke 8-5; J Chamberlain 14-8; M Rivera 11-8. |
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Ground balls-fly balls - C Waters 6-9; L Cormier 0-1; J Walker 0-0; R Cherry 2-3; A Pettitte 6-6; J Veras 0-1; P Coke 1-0; J Chamberlain 2-2; M Rivera 3-0. |
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Batters faced - C Waters 26; L Cormier 5; J Walker 1; R Cherry 6; A Pettitte 24; J Veras 3; P Coke 2; J Chamberlain 5; M Rivera 3. |
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| Game Details |
Umpires: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Derryl Cousins. 3B--Eric Cooper.
Time: 3:05. (Plus ceremonies delay totaling 31 minutes in the 1st).
Attendance: 54,610.
Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, out to left. |
