Last Rites for Baseball's Cathedral

NEW YORK -- The House that Ruth Built was gripped with an excitement usually seen in October on Sunday night, as Yankee Stadium was sent off in a manner befitting the storied venue. In a game defined much more by the fanfare surrounding it than the game itself, the New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-3, in the last game ever played at the stadium.

The night was dedicated to tradition and history. Following a performance by the US Army Field Band, who had played at the stadium's inaugural game under the direction of John Philip Sousa, reenactors dressed as members of the very first team to play at the stadium stood out in left field.

The salute to history continued, as Yankee greats from seasons past took their former positions. Former second baseman Willie Randolph eagerly slid into second, while a smiling Don Larsen scooped up some dirt from the pitcher's mound, where he had thrown the only perfect game in World Series history.

Perhaps the loudest applause came for members of the 1998 World Champions, the beloved team who not only won a record 125 games, but also served as the defining squad of the Yankees late-nineties dominance. Particular affection was shown to Bernie Williams, returning to the stadium for the first time since his playing days. The moment provided Yankees faithful the chance to show Williams gratitude for his service, a chance denied them after he was abruptly dropped from the roster following the 2006 season.

For longtime fan Alfredo Axtmayer, known to fans in his section as simply "Doc," last night’s ceremony was one more stadium memory of many. Axtmayer has been a Yankees fan for decades, ever since he arrived from Puerto Rico. Axtmayer still recalls the first game he attended, back in 1961.

“[That] turned out to be the [Mickey] Mantle and [Roger] Maris years,” said Axtmayer, in reference to the epic home run race between the two men in the summer of `61.

Of all the games he's witnessed over the past several decades, the one that stands out is a 2001 World Series game, held shortly after 9/11.

"The upper deck was shaking [from the fans celebrating]" Axtmayer said. "I was thinking this place was going to come down."

While Sunday's game might not have matched the excitement of 2001, Axtmayer still enjoyed himself and, in an appropriately Ruthian feat, "called" the exact location of Johnny Damon's home run in the bottom of the third.

After the game, the attention shifted from the players to the spectators, as the Yankees, extended their gratitude to the fans.

Team captain Derek Jeter, flanked by several of his teammates, delivered an emotional address to the fans, thanking them for their support, and encouraged them to join him in the new stadium next season. Jeter said the team would be leaving the familiar for a new venue, but said some things will never change.

”That's pride, it's tradition, and most of all - we have the greatest fans in the world," Jeter said. "So on behalf of this organization, we just want to take this moment to salute you."

Following Jeter’s speech, the team tipped their caps to the crowd, then walked the perimeter of the field. As they walked, they smiled and waved to the stands. The team briefly stopped in front of the left-field bleachers, home of the "Bleacher Creatures," die-hard fans who rarely miss a game. The “Bleacher Creatures” are known for their famous "roll call," in which they chant the name of each Yankee starter at the top of the game, only stopping when he acknowledges their presence. There was little doubt of the team’s acknowledgment last night.

Careen Falcone described being at the final game as surreal. Originally from the New York-Metro area, she came from quite a distance to witness the game.

"[My friend and I are] here from California." said Falcone, noting the distance they had flown out for the game. "It's worth every penny."

In a decision The Bambino himself might have applauded, the celebration was made an all-day affair, that began earlier that afternoon and didn’t end until early Monday morning, when many of the players were still lingering on the field

The stadium opened seven hours before the game, to allow fans a chance to see the memorials at Monument Park, and even walk along the warning track on the field itself.

Although access to Monument Park and the field ended several hours before it was scheduled to, fans were still allowed to go to their seats early, an option the majority of the crowd was happy to take.

Those fans lucky enough to walk on the field took full advantage, snapping countless photos and taking stadium dirt, to bring home with them. A number of fans stuck their hands in the dirt and used it to make handprints on the outfield wall. Even fans of the Yankees’ hated rivals the Boston Red Sox got in on the excitement.
Ross Wasserman, who dared to wear a Red Sox shirt at this celebration of all things Yankee,was there with his family of Yankee fans. Even he had to concede that, loyalties aside, there was something special about being there.

"It's the last game, so it really means something," Wasserman said.