On April 18, 2023, baseball fans and historians will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the original Yankee Stadium, the iconic ballpark that hosted some of the most memorable moments and players in the sport's history.
The original Yankee Stadium was built on land purchased from the William Waldorf Astor estate for $675,000 in 1922. It was designed by Osborn Engineering and took just 284 working days to construct. It was America's first three-deck stadium and had a capacity of 58,000, which was later expanded to over 70,000.
The first game at the new stadium was played on April 18, 1923, between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees won 4-1, thanks to a three-run home run by Babe Ruth in the third inning. Ruth's blast was the first of many that would make the stadium famous for its short right-field porch and low fence. The game was attended by 74,200 fans, which was then a record for a baseball game.
The original Yankee Stadium soon became known as "The House That Ruth Built", as the legendary slugger led the Yankees to their first World Series title in 1923 and six more championships during his tenure with the team. The stadium also witnessed the greatness of other Yankee legends, such as Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera.
The stadium hosted 100 of the 601 World Series games played until its closing, including 37 clinchers. It also saw 11 no-hitters, including three perfect games by Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone. It was the site of many historic events, such as Gehrig's farewell speech in 1939, DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941, Mantle's 565-foot home run in 1953, Jackson's three-homer game in 1977 and Jeter's "flip play" in 2001.
The original Yankee Stadium underwent a major renovation in 1974-75, which altered some of its features and reduced its capacity to 54,000. It closed after the 2008 season when the Yankees moved to a new stadium across the street that replicated some of its design elements. The old stadium was demolished in 2010 and replaced by a public park.
The original Yankee Stadium will always be remembered as one of the most iconic venues in sports history. It was a place where legends were born, records were broken and championships were won. It was a place where generations of fans witnessed history and shared their passion for baseball. It was a place that revolutionized baseball with its grandeur and the success of its team.
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