Yankee Stadium ( 1923 ) Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City , New York . It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008 . The stadium hosted 6 , 581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85 - year history . It was also the former home of the New York Giants football team . The stadium ' s nickname , " The House That Ruth Built " , is derived from Babe Ruth , the iconic baseball superstar whose prime years coincided with the stadium ' s opening and the beginning of the Yankees ' winning history . The venue was constructed for $ 2 . 4 million dollars ( equal to $ today ) between 1922 – 1923 specifically for the Yankees , who had been sharing the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants baseball team for 10 years . Yankee Stadium opened in 1923 , and at the time , it was hailed as a one - of - a - kind facility in the country for its size . Over the course of its history , it became one of the most famous venues in the United States , having hosted a variety of events and historic moments during its existence . While many of these moments were baseball - related — including World Series games , no - hitters , perfect games , and historic home run s — the stadium also hosted boxing matches , concerts , and three Papal Masses . The stadium went through many alterations and playing surface configurations over the years . The condition of the facility worsened in the 1960s and 1970s , prompting its closing for renovation from 1974 – 1975 . The renovation significantly altered the appearance of the venue and reduced the distance of the outfield fences . In 2006 , the Yankees began building a new $ 2 . 3 billion stadium in public parkland adjacent to the stadium . Many of the iconic features of the original stadium , such as the frieze and Monument Park , were incorporated into the design of the new venue . Yankee Stadium closed following the 2008 baseball season , and the new stadium opened in 2009 , adopting the " Yankee Stadium " moniker . The original facility was not demolished until 2010 , nearly two years after it closed . It is being converted into parkland . The name of the park is Heritage Field . History . Planning and construction . The Yankees had played at the Polo Grounds in northern Manhattan since 1913 , sharing the venue with the New York Giants . However , relations between the two teams were rocky , with the Giants harboring resentment towards the Yankees . For the season , the Yankees acquired star slugger Babe Ruth and in his first year with his new team , the Yankees drew 1 . 3 million fans to the Polo Grounds , outdrawing the Giants . In , the Yankees won their first American League pennant ( but lost the then - best - of - nine 1921 World Series to the Giants in eight games , all played at the Polo Grounds ) . This exacerbated Giants owner Charles Stoneham ' s resentment of the Yankees and precipitated his insistence that the Yankees find another place to play their home games . The Giants derisively suggested that the Yankees relocate " to Queens or some other out - of - the - way place . " Tillinghast L ' Hommedieu Huston and Jacob Ruppert , the Yankees ' owners since January 1915 , decided to proceed with building their team its own stadium . They did so at considerable financial risk and speculation . Baseball teams typically played in 30 , 000 - seat facilities , but Huston and Ruppert invoked Ruth ' s name when asked how the Yankees could justify a ballpark with 60 , 000 seats . The doubt over the Yankees ' lasting power was amplified by baseball ' s sagging popularity after the 1919 Black Sox Scandal , in which eight Chicago White Sox players were expelled for conspiring with gamblers to fix that year ' s World Series . Many people also felt three baseball teams could not prosper in New York City , but Huston and Ruppert were confident the Yankees could outlast the more established Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants of the National League ( which proved true , as both would eventually relocate to California following the 1957 season ) . Huston and Ruppert would end up footing the bill for construction of the $ 2 . 5 million stadium . Huston and Ruppert explored many areas for Yankee Stadium . Of the other sites being considered , the Hebrew Orphan Asylum , at Amsterdam Avenue between 136th and 138th streets in Manhattan , nearly became reality . Consideration was also given to building atop railroad tracks on the West Side of Manhattan ( an idea revived in 1998 ) and to Long Island City , in Queens . The area Huston and Ruppert settled on was a lumberyard in the Bronx within walking distance from , and in sight of , Coogan ' s Bluff . The Polo Grounds was located on the Manhattan side of the Harlem River , at 155th Street and Eighth Avenue . Huston and Ruppert purchased the lumberyard from William Waldorf Astor for $ 600 , 000 , equal to $ today . Construction began May 5 , 1922 , and Yankee Stadium opened to the public less than a year later . The stadium ' s walls were built of " an extremely hard and durable concrete that was developed by Thomas Edison " , with total of 20 , 000 cubic yards ( 26 , 000 cubic meters ) of concrete used in the original structure . 1923 - 1973 . Yankee Stadium officially opened on Wednesday , April 18 , 1923 , with the Yankees ' first home game . According to the " New York Evening Telegram " , " everything smelled of . . . fresh paint , fresh plaster and fresh grass . " At 3 p . m . , the composer - conductor John Philip Sousa led the Seventh ( " Silk - Stocking " ) Regiment Band in playing " The Star - Spangled Banner " . After a parade of the players and dignitaries , Babe Ruth was presented with a case containing a symbolically big bat . New York Governor Al Smith ( who would become the Democratic Party ' s candidate for president in 1928 ) then threw out the first pitch directly into the glove of catcher Wally Schang rather than the customary couple of feet wide . The Yankees went on to defeat Ruth ' s former team , the Boston Red Sox , by a score of 4 – 1 , with Ruth hitting a three - run home run into the right - field stands . Asked later for his opinion of the stadium , he replied , " Some ball yard . " Upon opening , Fred Lieb of the " New York Evening Telegram " dubbed it " The House That Ruth Built " . The Yankees also won their first World Series during the Stadium ' s inaugural season . Future Yankee manager Casey Stengel hit the first post - season homerun in stadium history while playing with the opposing New York Giants . The only other team to do so prior to the 2006 St . Louis Cardinals in ( the new ) Busch Stadium had been the Pittsburgh Pirates , who won the 1909 World Series in Forbes Field ' s inaugural season ; and the Boston Red Sox , who won the 1912 World Series in Fenway Park ' s first year . The Yankees accomplished this feat yet again in the New Yankee Stadium in the 2009 World Series . The Stadium was the first facility in North America with three tiers , although the triple deck originally extended only to the left and right field corners . The concrete lower deck extended well into left field , with the obvious intention of extending the upper deck over it , which was accomplished during the 1926 - 1927 off - season . As originally built , the stadium seated 58 , 000 . For the stadium ' s first game , the announced attendance was 74 , 217 ( with another 25 , 000 turned away ) ; however , Yankees business manager Ed Barrow later admitted that this number was likely heavily overestimated . Regardless of what the figure was , it was undoubtedly more than the 42 , 000 fans who attended game five of the 1916 World Series at Braves Field , baseball ' s previous attendance record . However , during the 1920s and 1930s , the Yankees ' popularity was such that crowds in excess of 80 , 000 were not uncommon . It was referred to as " the Yankee stadium " ( with the " s " in " stadium " sometimes lowercase ) until the 1950s . Yankee Stadium underwent more extensive renovations from 1936 through 1938 . The wooden bleachers were replaced with concrete , shrinking the " death valley " area of left and center substantially , although the area was still much deeper than in most ballparks ; and the second and third decks were extended to short right center . Runways were left between the bleachers and the triple - deck on each end , serving as bullpens . By 1938 , the Stadium had assumed the " classic " shape that it would retain for the next 35 years . In April 1945 , Yankees president Larry MacPhail announced that after the War , the Yankees would install an additional tier of bleachers to increase stadium capacity to 100 , 000 . In addition to the bleachers , he also planned to add 2 , 000 additional box - seats by lowering the field and shortening the distance from the backstop to home - plate from to . However , the plans were tabled and the expansion did not take place . In 1962 , Rice University Alumnus John Cox ' 27 gave Yankee Stadium to Rice University . In 1971 the city of New York forced ( via eminent domain ) Rice to sell the stadium for a mere $ 2 . 5 million . In the 1966 – 1967 offseason , during the period in which Rice owned the stadium , the concrete exterior was painted white , and the interior was painted blue . The metal frieze circling the upper deck was painted white . By the late 1960s , Yankee Stadium ' s condition had badly deteriorated , and the surrounding neighborhood had gone downhill as well . In 1971 , CBS , which owned the Yankees at the time , proposed extensive renovations to Yankee Stadium . However , this would have required the Yankees to play their home games at Shea Stadium in Queens , the regular home of the New York Mets . The Mets , as Shea ' s primary tenants , resisted the proposal , effectively delaying renovation . CBS then gave serious thought to building a stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands before selling the Yankees to George Steinbrenner in 1972 for $ 10 million . Finally , in mid - 1972 , Mayor John Lindsay stepped in and announced the city would buy Yankee Stadium for $ 24 million ( equal to $ today ) and lease it back to the Yankees . As the city already owned Shea Stadium , the Mets were ultimately unable to prevent the Yankees from sharing their venue . Yankee Stadium closed on September 30 , 1973 for the two - year facelift . 1974 – 75 renovations and beyond . While Yankee Stadium was being renovated , the Yankees played the 1974 and 1975 seasons in Shea Stadium , sharing the venue with the New York Mets . Since the renovation significantly altered the appearance of the ballpark , some consider the rebuilt Yankee Stadium a different facility from the pre - renovation stadium . For example , the ESPN Sports Almanac considers the renovated stadium to be " Yankee Stadium II , " and the pre - renovated facility to be " Yankee Stadium I " . Other books , such as " Green Cathedrals " , make no such distinction . Among the more noticeable differences resulting from the renovation was the removal of the 118 columns reinforcing each tier of the Stadium ' s grandstand . The Stadium ' s roof , including its distinctive metal frieze , was replaced by the new upper shell and new lights were added . A white painted concrete replica of the frieze was added atop the wall encircling the bleachers . The playing field was lowered by about seven feet and moved outward slightly . The original wooden stadium seats were replaced with wider plastic ones , and the upper deck expanded upward nine rows , excluding the walkway . A new upper concourse was built above the old and original concourse exits were closed in by new seating . A new " loge " middle tier was built featuring a larger press box and 16 luxury boxes at the expense of general seating . Roughly 1 / 3 of the bleacher seats were eliminated , their middle section converted to a blacked - out batter ' s eye . A wall was built behind the bleachers blocking the views from Gerard Avenue and the elevated subway platform above River Avenue . On this wall , the Yankees erected the first instant replay display in baseball , referred to in literature as a " telescreen " . All told , the Stadium was reduced to a listed capacity of 57 , 545 . The Stadium ' s playing field was substantially shortened , with monuments once in play relegated to a newly created Monument Park and deep center reduced by over . The cost of the 1970s renovations , $ 160 million ( equal to $ today ) , was originally borne by New York City and is now being paid off by New York State . The Stadium reopened on April 15 , 1976 . More than 54 , 000 fans saw the Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins , 11 – 4 , and the " new Stadium " hosted its first playoff and World Series games that October . In 1985 , the left field fence was moved in , and the stadium assumed its final dimensions in 1988 . In April 1998 , during the stadium ' s 75th anniversary , a . piece of concrete beam spall ed and destroyed one seat along the third - base line , resulting in the scheduled game being moved to Shea Stadium . A two - week inspection followed before the park was certified safe to reopen . Replacement , closing , and demolition . After years of speculation that the Yankees would build a new ballpark to replace Yankee Stadium , construction on a new facility began on August 16 , 2006 with a groundbreaking ceremony across the street in Macombs Dam Park , the site of the new stadium . This all but sealed the fate of Yankee Stadium , and the Yankees played their final two seasons in the stadium in 2007 and 2008 while the new venue was being built . After the final game in the Stadium ' s history was played on September 21 , 2008 , public tours of Yankee Stadium continued until November 23 , 2008 . November 9 , 2008 was the last day the public tours included Monument Park and the retired number area . On November 12 , 2008 construction workers began removing memorials from Monument Park for relocation to the new facility . On November 8 , 2008 former Yankees Scott Brosius , Paul O ' Neill , David Cone and Jeff Nelson , all members of the 1998 World Series championship team , joined 60 children from two Bronx based youth groups Youth Force 2020 and the ACE Mentor Program in ceremoniously digging up home plate , the pitcher ' s mound pitching plate ( rubber ) and the surrounding dirt of both areas and transporting them to comparable areas of new Yankee Stadium . An official closing ceremony was reportedly discussed to occur in November 2008 , but was scrapped when the organization decided the final event should be a baseball game . Yankee officials said that while the team had contemplated a final ceremony ( with any proceeds going to charity ) , talk of a concert was just media speculation . The front office staff vacated the premises on January 23 , 2009 . Demolition began in March 2009 with the removal of the playing field . On May 13 , 2009 , the process of removing seats began and was completed on June 8 . On September 3 and 4 , the iconic white facade was dismantled . On November 4 , 2009 , construction workers began tearing down the outfield bleachers , marking the first major structural demolition of the old ballpark . On November 12 , demolition work began on the field level grandstand . By the end of November , most of the grandstand and bleachers at field level were gone . By the first week of December , demolition of the midlevel loge seats had begun . By January 2010 , the loge level was gone and demolition began on the left field escalator bank adjacent to Gate 2 . In February 2010 , demolition work began on the upper deck and the outfield wall ; the final part of the outfield wall ( the Continental Airlines ad , the out - of - town scoreboard , and the remaining part of the advertising panel to its right ) was taken down February 24 , 2010 . By March 25 , the entire upper deck was taken down . Following an unsuccessful attempt to save Gate 2 ( the only portion of the original Yankee Stadium that mostly remained unaltered after the venue ' s renovation ) , demolition of the outer walls of the stadium began on March 29 . Demolition of the original Yankee Stadium was completed on May 13 , 2010 . A park complex called Heritage Field will be constructed on the old stadium site , accounting for 40 percent of the original parkland that is now occupied by the new Stadium . The groundbreaking ceremony for Heritage Field took place on June 29 , 2010 . Features . Design . Yankee Stadium was the first three - tiered sports facility in the United States and one of the first baseball parks to be given the lasting title of " stadium . " Baseball teams typically played in a " park " or a " field . " The word " stadium " deliberately evoked ancient Greece , where a " stade " was a unit of measure — the length of a footrace ; the buildings that housed these footraces were called " stadia " . Yankee Stadium was one of the first to be deliberately designed as a multi - purpose facility . The field was initially surrounded by a ( misshapen ) running track , which effectively also served as a warning track for outfielders , a feature now standard on all major league fields . The left and right field bleacher sections were laid out roughly at a right angle , and to the third base stands , to be properly positioned for both track - and - field events and football . The large electronic scoreboard in right - center field , featuring both teams ' lineups and scores of other baseball games , was the first of its kind . As Yankee Stadium owed its creation largely to Ruth , its design partially accommodated the game ' s left - handed - hitting slugger . Initially the fence was from home plate down the right - field line , referred to as the " short porch " , and to near right field , compared with to the deepest part of center field , nicknamed " Death Valley . " The right - field bleachers were appropriately nicknamed " Ruthville . " Although the right field fences were eventually pushed back after the 1974 - 1975 renovations , they were still relatively close to home plate and retained the " short porch " moniker . A little - known fact about the stadium ; the field level was actually several feet below sea level . Monument Park . Monument Park was an open - air museum that contained the Yankees ' retired numbers , as well as a collection of monuments and plaques honoring distinguished members of the New York Yankees . It was located beyond the left - center field fences , near the bullpens . The origins of Monument Park can be traced to the original three monuments of Lou Gehrig , Miller Huggins , and Babe Ruth that once used to stand in - play in center field . Over the years , the Yankees continued to honor players and personnel with additional monuments and plaques . After the 1974 – 1975 renovations of Yankee Stadium , the monuments and plaques were moved behind the outfield fences to " Monument Park . " A visual collection of retired numbers was soon added to this location . Monument Park remained there until the stadium ' s closing in 2008 ; after the new Yankee Stadium opened , the retired numbers , plaques , and monuments were moved into a new Monument Park in the new ballpark . The Facade . One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Yankee Stadium was the " facade " , a white frieze that ran along the bleacher billboards and scoreboard . The facade was an addition made by Osborn Engineering , when the owners of the Yankees asked that the stadium be given " an air of dignity . " It originally ran around the roof of the grandstand ' s upper deck . This original facade was made of copper , and over the course of time , developed a patina ( just like the Statue of Liberty ) . It was painted white in the mid - 1960s . When the stadium was renovated in the 1970s , 10 rows were added to the top of upper deck , and the support columns were removed . The original roof had to be removed ; the facade was removed and sold as scrap . A smaller , concrete version was erected above the scoreboards and billboards behind the bleachers . In the new stadium , the facade was replicated in its original position along the roof of the upper deck , although now constructed of steel painted white . It does not cantilever out over the upper deck as much as the original did . The iconic facade is employed in graphics for the YES Network and was incorporated into the logo for the 2008 All - Star Game held at the Stadium . The term " facade " is actually a misnomer . The scalloped arches are actually a frieze , and it was originally known as such . It is unknown when or where the term " facade " came into use , but it has become the more common name , used by fans , broadcasters , and personnel . With the move to the new stadium , the organization has made a move to return to the term " frieze " , exclusively using it in public statements and literature . Outfield dimensions . In its existence , Yankee Stadium changed its dimensions several times . Many photographs taken throughout the stadium ' s history are used as references , as the Yankees were among the first to post distance markers on the outfield walls . The 415 sign , and its 367 counterpart in right field , were both covered by auxiliary scoreboards during the 1949 season . Those boards displayed the current game inning - by - inning along with runs - hits - errors . When the stadium reopened in 1976 , the distance in straight - away center field was . The deepest part of the outfield was in left center at . The most recent field dimensions were reached primarily by moving the Yankee bullpen to left - center from right and making a few other changes so as to bring the left - center field wall in . The 1973 - era left - center field wall locations could still be seen in 1976 , as this is where the outfield bleacher seats began . The following is a partial list of the stadium ' s dimensions throughout the years : After a mid - 1960s remodeling , the 461 marker was replaced by a 463 marker slightly farther to the left of the pair of double doors , and a 433 marker was added between the 463 and 407 markers ostensibly to represent true straightaway center field ( being roughly at the midpoint of the batter ' s - eye screen ) . Traditions and mainstays . Bob Sheppard . From 1951 through 2007 , Bob Sheppard was the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium . His distinctive voice ( Yankee legend Reggie Jackson has called him " the Voice of God " ) , and the way he announced players for over half a century made him a part of the lore of the stadium and the team . Before a player ' s first at - bat of the game , Sheppard announced his position , his uniform number , his name , and his number again . Example : " Now batting for the Yankees , the shortstop , number 2 , Derek Jeter , Number 2 . " For each following at - bat , Sheppard announced just the position and name : " The shortstop , Derek Jeter . " Due to health reasons , the 97 - year - old Sheppard announced his last game on September 5 , 2007 . He did sign a new two - year contract with the Yankees in March 2008 but lacked the strength necessary to do the job and missed the entire 2008 season , including the 2008 All - Star Game , which was played at Yankee Stadium . He could not announce the final game at the old stadium in September 2008 , but recorded a video address that was played during the pregame ceremonies and also recorded the lineups for the game . He officially announced his retirement before the 2009 season . Sheppard died in July 2010 . Hammond Organ . The Hammond Organ was installed at Yankee Stadium in 1967 , and was primarily played by Eddie Layton from its introduction until his retirement after the 2003 season . The playing of the organ has added to the character of the stadium for many years , playing before games , introducing players , during the national anthem and the rendition of " Take me out to the ball game " during the seventh inning stretch . After Layton ' s retirement , he got to pick his replacement , Paul Cartier . In recent years , the use of the organ has been decreased in place of recorded music between innings and introducing players . Since the 2004 season , the national anthem has rarely been performed by the organists , opting for military recordings of the Star Spangled Banner . In 2005 , a new Hammond Elegante was installed replacing the original Hammond Colonnade . Music . One of the most famous traditions for Yankee Stadium was playing Frank Sinatra ' s version of the " Theme from New York , New York " over the loudspeakers after a victory following a home game . In past seasons , Liza Minnelli ' s version has been occasionally played after a loss . After the September 11 attacks , all American Major League Baseball stadiums started playing God Bless America during the seventh - inning stretch for the remainder of the 2001 season . Many teams ceased this practice the following season , although it has continued in post - season events at many cities and become a tradition at Yankee Stadium alongside " Take Me Out to the Ballgame . " Usually , a recording of the song by Kate Smith is played , although sometimes there is a live performance by Irish tenor Ronan Tynan . For part of the 2005 season , the Yankees used a recording of Tynan , but the Kate Smith version was reinstated due to fan complaints about the long duration of the Tynan version . For the final game at Yankee Stadium , Tynan performed " God Bless America " live , including the rarely - heard introduction to the song . When the Yankees scored a run , a version of the Westminster chime played as the last player to score in the at - bat gets to home plate . The version of the chime is the beginning of " Workaholic " by the music group 2 Unlimited . Since , the Yankees ' World Series championship has been celebrated with the playing of Queen ' s " We Are The Champions " followed by Frank Sinatra ' s " New York , New York . " Meeting at " the bat " . Outside the stadium ' s main entrance gate , stands a tall exhaust pipe in the shape of a baseball bat , complete with tape at the handle that frays off at the end . It is sponsored by Hillerich & Bradsby , makers of the famous Louisville Slugger line of baseball bats , which is specifically designed to look like a Babe Ruth model . As the most prominent feature on the stadium ' s exterior , recognizable even to first - time visitors , the bat was often used as a designated meeting spot for fans to meet their ticket holding friends before entering the stadium . The " Bat " continues to stand outside the Metro North Station , built in 2009 . A 450 - foot long pedestrian walkway and its staircase meet at the " bat " . Roll call . Beginning in the 1990s , and after the first pitch was thrown at the top of the first inning , the " Bleacher Creatures " in Section 39 , usually led by a man nicknamed Bald Vinny , began chanting the names of every player in the defensive lineup ( except the pitcher and catcher , with some rare exceptions ) , starting with the center fielder . They did not stop chanting the player ' s name until he acknowledged the Creatures ( usually with a wave or a point ) , who then moved on to the next player . Other names called out during roll call from time to time have included Yankee broadcasters John Sterling and Michael Kay , or Aaron Boone , Bucky Dent , and Babe Ruth when the Yankees hosted the rival Boston Red Sox . Sometimes , after a long rain delay , the Creatures started another Roll Call for comedic effect . Often when a player was replaced in the field , their replacement was also welcomed with a chant . In 2008 , center fielder Melky Cabrera booted a routine grounder while attempting to wave to the fans . Stadium usage . Baseball . In its 86 years of existence , Yankee Stadium hosted 6 , 581 regular season home games for the Yankees . Only Fenway Park ( Boston ) , Wrigley Field ( Chicago ) , Sportsman ' s Park ( St . Louis ) and Tiger Stadium ( Detroit ) have hosted more games . Due to the Yankees ' frequent appearances in the World Series , Yankee Stadium played host to 161 postseason games , more than any other stadium in baseball history . The Stadium hosted 37 of the 83 possible World Series during its existence ( not counting 1974 - 75 , and the 1994 strike ) , with the Yankees winning 26 of them . In total , the venue hosted 100 World Series games . Sixteen of the seventeen World Series won in the Bronx were clinched at the 1923 Yankee Stadium , nine by the Yankees and seven by their opponents : Perhaps the most memorable moment in the venue ' s history came on July 4 , 1939 , designated as " Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day " . Gehrig , forced out of action permanently by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) and facing his impending death , gave a legendary farewell speech thanking his fans and colleagues for making him " the luckiest man on the face of the earth . " Many memorable and historic games have been played at Yankee Stadium . All three perfect game s thrown by Yankee pitchers have occurred at the Stadium . Don Larsen threw a perfect game on October 8 , 1956 , in the fifth game of the World Series , while David Wells and David Cone threw theirs on May 17 , 1998 , and July 18 , 1999 , respectively . No - hitter s were thrown by Monte Pearson , Bob Feller , Allie Reynolds , Virgil Trucks , Dave Righetti , Jim Abbott , Dwight Gooden , and a combination of six Houston Astros pitchers in one game . The Stadium was the site of a nationally - televised game on August 6 , 1979 , the same day as the funeral for departed Yankees captain Thurman Munson . The team attended the funeral in Canton , Ohio earlier in the day and flew to New York for an emotional game . Bobby Murcer drove in all five runs for the Yankees , including a " walk - off " two - run single that defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5 – 4 . Many historic home runs have been hit at Yankee Stadium . Babe Ruth hit the ballpark ' s first home run on its Opening Day in 1923 . Ruth also set the then - league record for most home runs in a single season by hitting his 60th home run in 1927 . Roger Maris would later break this record in 1961 at Yankee Stadium on the final day of the season by hitting his 61st home run . In 1967 , Mickey Mantle slugged his 500th career home run . Chris Chambliss won the 1976 American League Championship Series by hitting a " walk - off " home run in which thousands of fans ran onto the field as Chambliss circled the bases . A year later , in the 1977 World Series , Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three consecutive pitches in the championship - clinching Game 6 . In 1983 , the Pine Tar Incident involving George Brett occurred ; Brett ' s go - ahead home run in the ninth inning of the game was overturned for his bat having too much pine tar , resulting in him furiously charging out of the dugout . In Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series , Derek Jeter hit a fly ball to right - field that was interfered with by fan Jeffrey Maier but ruled a home run . In Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series , Aaron Boone hit an extra - inning " walk - off " home run to send the Yankees to the World Series . On August 6 , 2007 , Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run against the Kansas City Royals at the Stadium . In , six weeks after the September 11 attacks , Yankee Stadium hosted an emotional three games in the World Series . For Game 3 , President George W . Bush hurled the ceremonial first pitch , throwing a strike . In Game 4 , Tino Martinez hit a game - tying home run off Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung - Hyun Kim with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning . Derek Jeter hit the winning " walk - off " home run in extra innings off of Kim , earning himself the nickname " Mr . November . " The following night in Game 5 , the Yankees replicated their heroics from the previous night ; Scott Brosius hit a game - tying home run off of Kim with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning en route to a win . All - Star Games . On July 11 , 1939 , Major League Baseball held the league ' s seventh All - Star Game at Yankee Stadium , in concert with the World ' s Fair being held at Flushing - Meadows in Queens . Yankees manager Joe McCarthy loaded his American League team with pinstripes : Bill Dickey ( catcher ) , Joe DiMaggio ( outfield ) , Joe Gordon ( second base ) , Red Rolfe ( third base ) , George Selkirk ( outfield ) , and Red Ruffing ( pitcher ) were all in the starting lineup . Reserve players included Frank Crosetti ( shortstop ) , Lou Gehrig ( first base ) , Lefty Gomez ( pitcher ) , and Johnny Murphy ( pitcher ) . The American League won , 3 – 1 , behind a home run by DiMaggio , in front of more than 62 , 000 . This was the second All - Star Game held in New York ; the Polo Grounds had hosted the event in 1934 . From 1959 to 1962 , Major League Baseball held two All - Star Games each year . On July 13 , 1960 , Yankee Stadium hosted baseball ' s second All - Star Game in three days . The National League won both games . In the latter game , Whitey Ford was the starting pitcher . Yogi Berra ( catcher ) , Mickey Mantle ( outfield ) , Roger Maris ( outfield ) , and Bill Skowron ( first base ) were in the starting lineup ; Jim Coates ( pitcher ) and Elston Howard ( catcher ) were reserves . The National League won the Yankee Stadium game , 6 – 0 , tying a record with four home runs , including one by hometown favorite Willie Mays . The 38 , 000 fans who attended the game also saw the Red Sox ' Ted Williams in his final All - Star appearance . Showcasing its new renovation , Yankee Stadium hosted the All - Star Game on July 19 , 1977 . With the Yankees defending their 1976 pennant , Billy Martin managed the American League team on his home field . The National League won its sixth consecutive All - Star Game , 7 – 5 , in front of more than 56 , 000 fans ; the senior circuit ' s streak would reach 11 . Reggie Jackson ( outfield ) and Willie Randolph ( second base ) started for the American League ; Sparky Lyle ( pitcher ) , Thurman Munson ( catcher ) , and Graig Nettles ( third base ) also made the team . Jim Palmer was the game ' s starting pitcher because Nolan Ryan refused to play when Martin asked him . In honor of its final year of existence , in July 2008 , Yankee Stadium hosted 2008 All - Star Game festivities . The Yankees were represented by Derek Jeter , Alex Rodriguez , and Mariano Rivera . In the Home Run Derby , Josh Hamilton set a single - round record with 28 home runs in the first round . At one point , he hit 13 straight home runs , many of which landed in the stadium ' s upper deck and deep into the right field bleachers , spurring the crowd to chant his name . Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau won the competition defeating Hamilton in the final round . The following evening , the American League won the 2008 All - Star Game 4 – 3 in 15 innings . Michael Young hit the game winning sacrifice fly in the 15th inning off Brad Lidge . The game was the longest in All - Star Game history by time , lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes , and tied for the longest in history by innings , tied with the 1967 All - Star Game , and was played in front of 55 , 632 people . J . D . Drew was named game MVP going 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBI . Final game , 2008 . Yankee Stadium hosted its final baseball game on September 21 , 2008 . The ceremonies for the final game at Yankee Stadium began with the opening of Monument Park , as well as allowing Yankee fans to walk on the warning track around the field . Many former Yankee greats , including Yogi Berra , Whitey Ford , Reggie Jackson , Bernie Williams , Paul O ' Neill , Willie Randolph , Roy White , and Chris Chambliss took their positions in the playing field as their names were announced by the legendary Bob Sheppard . Julia Ruth Stevens , daughter of Babe Ruth , threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the final game in " The House That Ruth Built . " With Andy Pettitte as the starting pitcher , the Yankees played their final game at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles , recording the final out at 11 : 43pm EDT in a 7 – 3 Yankee victory . Among many lasts to be recorded , a long - time standing question was answered . It was first wondered by Babe Ruth after he hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium on its opening day of April 18 , 1923 : That person turned out to be Jose Molina , as he hit a two - run home run in the fourth inning . Other lasts were Jason Giambi recording the last hit in Yankee Stadium , driving in Brett Gardner , who scored the last run in Yankee Stadium . Mariano Rivera made the final pitch in the stadium with Cody Ransom recording the final out at first base . In the eighth inning , Derek Jeter became the final Yankee to bat in Yankee Stadium . After the game was over , captain Derek Jeter delivered a speech on the field surrounded by his teammates . In the unplanned speech , Jeter thanked and saluted the fans : Afterwards , the team circled the stadium on the warning track waving to fans and wishing the stadium goodbye . Boxing . When Yankee Stadium opened in 1923 , the Polo Grounds continued to host boxing matches ; however , Yankee Stadium was home to prizefighting beginning in its first few months . Benny Leonard retained the lightweight championship in a 15 - round decision over Lew Tendler on July 24 , 1923 , in front of more than 58 , 000 fans . It was the first of 30 championship bouts to be held at the Stadium . ( This excludes dozens of non - title fights . ) The boxing ring was placed over second base ; a vault contained electrical , telegraph , and telephone connections . In July 1927 , the aging former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey came from behind to defeat heavily favored Jack Sharkey by delivering several questionable punches that were deemed illegal . Sharkey had similarly bad luck in a July 1930 heavyweight championship bout at Yankee Stadium , when his knockout punch to Max Schmeling was ruled illegal ; Schmeling won by default . In July 1928 , Gene Tunney upheld the heavyweight title against Tom Heeney at Yankee Stadium , and then retired as champion . Perhaps the most famous boxing match ever held at Yankee Stadium was on June 22 , 1938 , when Joe Louis , an African - American , squared off against Schmeling , a German . Adolf Hitler followed the rematch carefully , imploring Schmeling to defeat Louis , whom Hitler publicly berated . This left some with what they perceived as a moral predicament : root for the black fighter , or for the Nazi . Schmeling had defeated Louis in 1936 , but in defense of his title , Louis knocked out Schmeling in the first round . This was one of eight championship fights the " Brown Bomber " fought at Yankee Stadium . On July 1 , 1939 , Max Baer defeated Lou Nova at Yankee Stadium , in the first televised boxing match in the United States . The event was broadcast by television station W2XBS , forerunner of WNBC - TV . ( The World Series was not televised until 1947 . ) On September 27 , 1946 , Tony Zale knocked out New York native Rocky Graziano for the middleweight crown ; it was the first of three bouts between Zale and Graziano . On June 25 , 1952 , middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson sought his third title against light - heavyweight champ Joey Maxim at Yankee Stadium . More than 47 , 000 saw Robinson outfight Maxim but lose due to heat exhaustion in round 14 ( due to the weather that topped 104 - degrees Fahrenheit ) . The referee who declared Maxim the winner was the second that night ; the first had left the fight due to heat exhaustion . After its 1970s renovation , Yankee Stadium hosted only one championship fight . On September 28 , 1976 , a declining Muhammad Ali defended his heavyweight crown against Ken Norton . To that point , Norton was one of only two boxers who had beaten Ali ( in 1973 ) ; this was their third , and final , meeting . Norton led for most of the fight , but Ali improved in the later rounds to win by unanimous decision . College football . When an ill Ruth could not lead the Yankees to the World Series in 1925 , college football took center stage at Yankee Stadium that fall . The fiercely competitive Notre Dame – Army game moved to Yankee Stadium , where it remained until 1947 . In the 1928 game , with the score 0 – 0 at halftime , legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne gave his " win one for the Gipper " speech ( with reference to All - American halfback George Gipp , who died in 1920 ) ; Notre Dame went on to defeat Army , 12 – 6 . The 1929 game between the two teams had the highest attendance in the series at 79 , 408 . The 1946 Army vs . Notre Dame football game at Yankee stadium is regarded as one of the 20th century college football Games of the Century . Notre Dame played 24 games at Yankee Stadium , going 15 - 6 - 3 . Army played 38 , compiling a 17 – 17 – 4 record ( including the best - attended game , on December 1 , 1928 when Army lost to Stanford 26 – 0 before 86 , 000 fans ) . New York University played more games there than any other school , 96 , using it as a secondary home field from 1923 to 1948 , with a record of 52 – 40 – 4 . Nearby Fordham University played 19 games there , going 13 – 5 – 1 . Eight college football games were played at Yankee Stadium on Thanksgiving Day , the first seven by New York University . Perhaps , the most famous Thanksgiving Day game was the first . Oregon State Agricultural College ( now Oregon State University ) was the first West Coast team to travel across the country and play an East Coast team . 8 – 1 NYU was a 3 – 1 favorite to beat 5 – 3 OSAC , but Oregon State upset the hometown favorites 25 – 13 . Will Rogers lamented what the " Oregon apple knockers " had done to his " city slickers " in a column after the game . After the 1928 game , NYU beat Carnegie Tech ( now Carnegie Mellon University ) in 1931 and 1932 , defeated Fordham in 1936 , lost to Carnegie Tech in 1929 , and lost to Fordham in 1934 and 1935 . In the eighth game , in 1963 , Syracuse University beat Notre Dame , 14 – 7 . This was a rematch following the teams ' controversial 1961 game won by Notre Dame , 17 – 15 . The Gotham Bowl was scheduled to premiere at Yankee Stadium in 1960 , but was canceled when no opponent could be found for Oregon State University . The 1961 game was moved to the Polo Grounds , and when just 6 , 166 people came to Yankee Stadium for the 1962 game , in which the University of Nebraska defeated the University of Miami , 36 – 34 , the Gotham Bowl was never played again . The Miami - Nebraska game remains the only college bowl ever played at the stadium . In 1969 , Notre Dame and Army reprised their long series at the Stadium ( 1925 – 1946 except 1930 ) with one final game . Starting in 1971 , the Stadium hosted the Whitney M . Young Urban League Classic , a game between historically black college s , often featuring Grambling State University of Louisiana , coached by Eddie Robinson , the first college coach to win 400 games . The Classic helped to spread the fame of Grambling and other similar schools . Yankee Stadium hosted its final Classic during the 1987 season , also the last time a football game was played there . Grambling lost to Central State University of Ohio , 37 - 21 . The Classic has been held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey ' s Meadowlands Sports Complex ever since , though the Yankees remain a supporter of the event . Professional football . In 1926 , after negotiations failed with the fledgling NFL and the Chicago Bears , Red Grange and his agent C . C . Pyle formed the first American Football League and fielded a team called the New York Yankees based in Yankee Stadium . The league failed after only one year , but the team continued as a member of the NFL for two seasons before ceasing operations . A second New York Yankees football team , not related to the first , split its home games between Yankee Stadium and Downing Stadium as it competed in the second AFL in 1936 and 1937 . A third AFL New York Yankees took the field in 1940 and became the New York Americans in 1941 . The New York Yankees of the All - America Football Conference ( AAFC ) played their home games at Yankee Stadium from 1946 to 1949 . Following the 1949 season , the NFL New York Bulldogs acquired many of the players from the 1949 Yankees . Using the name the New York Yanks they played two seasons at Yankee Stadium , 1950 and 1951 . The New York Giants of the NFL played their home games at Yankee Stadium from 1956 to 1973 . On December 28 , 1958 , Yankee Stadium hosted the NFL championship game , frequently called " The Greatest Game Ever Played " . The Baltimore Colts tied the Giants , 17 – 17 , on a field goal with seven seconds left . Led by quarterback Johnny Unitas , the Colts won in overtime , 23 – 17 . The game ' s dramatic ending is often cited as elevating professional football to one of the United States ' major sports . Additionally , one of the most notable plays in NFL history occurred at Yankee Stadium on November 20 , 1960 when the Philadelphia Eagles ' Chuck Bednarik forcefully tackled the Giants ' Frank Gifford in the last minute of a close game , forcing a fumble recovered by the Eagles that clinched the victory for Philadelphia and ultimately helped the Eagles dethrone the 2 - time defending champion Giants as NFL Eastern Division champions . The hit left Gifford with a concussion and forced his temporary retirement from football for the remainder of the 1960 season and all of the 1961 season . The Giants played their first two home games at Yankee Stadium in 1973 , concluding their tenancy on September 23 with a 23 – 23 tie against the Philadelphia Eagles . In October , they moved to the Yale Bowl in New Haven , Connecticut , for the rest of the season . Soccer . Celtic F . C . defeated in the first major soccer game to be played at the Stadium on June 28 , 1931 . In the coming three decades , a number of games between Jewish Palestinian teams and American all - stars were played . European club exhibitions first came in 1952 , when on June 14 , Liverpool drew 1 - 1 with Grasshopper - Club Zürich . The next day , Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Manchester United 7 - 1 , just a year after United had taken over for Spurs as champions of England . The following year , on June 8 , the English national team defeated the U . S . national team 6 - 3 , in a rematch of the Miracle on Grass match at the 1950 World Cup . Major international clubs returned to the Stadium in 1966 , with Pele ' s Santos of Brazil beating Inter Milan 4 - 1 on June 5 . Beginning around 1967 , C . A . Cerro of Uruguay played in the United Soccer Association during the summer months under the title " New York Skyliners " . They played major games against Hibernian F . C . of Scotland , renamed " Toronto City " , Cagliari F . C . of Italy , renamed " Chicago Mustangs " , and Bangu Atlético Clube of Brazil , renamed " Houston Stars " . Eventually , the Skyliners gave way as the team calling Yankee Stadium home to the less foreign - influenced New York Generals of the , which soon became the North American Soccer League , or NASL . In 1968 , in addition to league competition , the Generals took on Santos , winning 5 - 3 , and Real Madrid , losing 4 - 1 . That year , Santos also played and beat S . S . C . Napoli of Italy 4 - 2 at the Stadium , along with S . L . Benfica of Portugal , with whom they drew 3 - 3 . The next year , four major international club games were played at the Stadium : Barcelona beat Juventus 3 - 2 on May 30 , Inter Milan beat Sparta Prague 4 - 0 on June 27 , and A . C . Milan defeated Panathinaikos 4 - 0 also on June 27 . Finally , on June 29 , Yankee Stadium hosted its own version of the Derby della Madonnina , with A . C . Milan defeating Inter 6 – 4 . The latter three games that year were all part of a three - day " United States Cup of Champions . " On September 15 , 1968 , the played an against the Israel national team at the Stadium . It was the first game for the U . S . in fifteen months and 10 , 118 saw Israel and the U . S . draw 3 to 3 . In 1971 and 1976 , the New York Cosmos of the played their home games at Yankee Stadium . During the 1971 season , they also hosted Hearts from Scotland , and Apollon Kalamarias of Greece . In 1976 the team ' s star attraction was Pelé . The Brazil native , known as " The King of Football , " was considered the best player in the world . Also that year , in Yankee Stadium ' s final international match on May 28 , England defeated Italy 3 – 2 as part of the Bicentennial Cup Tournament . Finally , on August 10 , 1976 , the last ever soccer game was played at Yankee Stadium , with the Cosmos thrashing the Miami Toros 8 - 2 . The Cosmos moved to Giants Stadium for the 1977 season . Other events . Beginning in 1950 , the stadium began holding religious conventions of the Jehovah ' s Witnesses . The first convention attracted 253 , 922 people , more in a single day than any other stadium event up to that time . These conventions would continue on until the late 1980s . When room ran out in the stands , the ladies were asked to remove their heels , and people were brought in to sit in the outfield . There was also a makeshift camp nearby where the program was broadcast for hundreds others to listen to . On July 20 , 1957 , evangelist Billy Graham attracted a crowd of 100 , 000 to a televised " crusade " at Yankee Stadium . A " New York Times " article of the following day described the turnout as " the largest crowd in stadium history " to that time . Cardinal Francis Spellman ( 1957 ) , Pope Paul VI ( 1965 ) , Pope John Paul II ( 1969 as a cardinal , 1979 as pope ) , and Pope Benedict XVI ( 2008 ) all celebrated Mass at the ballpark , along with numerous clergy and lay Catholics . On June 21 , 1990 , a rally was held at Yankee Stadium for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison . On September 23 , 2001 , Yankee Stadium hosted a memorial service for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City . The first concert ever held there was an ensemble R & B show on June 21 , 1969 , put together by the Isley Brothers ; the first rock concert held at the stadium was on June 22 , 1990 , by Billy Joel . It was also the site of two dates of U2 ' s Zoo TV Tour in 1992 . During one song , Bono paid tribute to the show ' s setting with the line " I dreamed I saw Joe DiMaggio / Dancing with Marilyn Monroe " . Pink Floyd also performed two sold - out shows at this venue on their final North American tour in 1994 in support of their album " The Division Bell " . On March 10 , 2006 , Yankee Stadium saw its first and only wedding at home plate . Blind sportswriter Ed Lucas , who has been a member of the Yankee family for over 40 years , got special permission from the Yankees , the City of New York , and Major League Baseball to exchange vows with his fiancée , Allison Pfieffle , on the same spot where Lou Gehrig made his famous farewell speech , among the many notable events . Over 400 people , including present and former members of the Yankee family were in attendance to see the happy couple united , and the ceremony was broadcast on ESPN , the YES Network , NBC ' s " Today Show " and other national media outlets . National Hockey League ( NHL ) executives inquired about the possibility of using Yankee Stadium for an outdoor ice hockey match featuring the New York Rangers in the 2008 - 2009 season after the successful reception of both the 2003 Heritage Classic and the 2008 NHL Winter Classic outdoor games . If approved , it would have been the final sporting event at the current stadium . The NHL , however , decided to hold the second Winter Classic in Chicago , at Wrigley Field .