Wrecking Ruth’s House

No bad trade, no bad free-agent signing, no bad season and certainly no good Red Sox team ever did it. No owner like the one who moved the Brooklyn Dodgers out of Ebbets Field or the one who moved Manhattan's Giants out of the Polo Grounds did it. Nobody ever took down the Yankees or the Stadium. Only Father Time and the pursuit of the almighty dollar have done that. Now, the city has requested bids from companies to demolish Yankee Stadium. They’ll put a wrecking ball hit on the House that Babe Ruth built for a $27,000,000 contract. New York City has given the New York Yankees until February 28, 2009 to "vacate the premises." And so they shall, to create a proud new tradition right across the street in their new Stadium. From March to May of 2009, asbestos will be removed from the old ballpark. The month of May will bring memorabilia collectors and recyclers to remove the stadiums treasures and valuables. The seats will be removed along with many of the smaller items. The well known "smokestack bat," a familiar meet-up spot and the white frieze along the roofline will be tougher items to sell. They may be moved to Heritage Field once it replaces the Stadium. Demolition will begin once everything worth taking has been removed, probably through early 2010. Many Yankee fans, find it hard to believe that the Stadium’s days are numbered. But we should remember is that we’ll remember uniform numbers even more than the Stadium. #3 Ruth. #4 Gehrig. #5 DiMaggio. #8 Berra. #10 Rizzuto. #7 Mantle. #16 Ford. #15 Munson. #49 Guidry. #23 Mattingly. #42 Rivera. #2 Jeter. The list of Yankee greats, near greats and others who have worn the pinstripes is a long one. With a tear in one eye to the end of an era, we look with a dry eye across the street. Yankee fans can start now to imagine the all-time players and memorable moments yet to come.

MLB - Retire Ruth’s 3

Babe Ruth was the greatest player of any sport to don a sports uniform in New York City’s history. His bigger-than-life New York Yankees legend and many of his records have endured for well over 70 years since his retirement! Now, a new effort led by granddaughter Linda Ruth Tosetti is urging Major League Baseball to retire his #3 throughout the league. Baseball achievements aside, they cite his strong stance against fascism and racism as the reason he’s as deserving of the honor as Jackie Robinson and his #42. The Connecticut-based Ms. Tosetti is working tirelessly with researchers and historians to come up with more facts to supplement what’s already known about the Bambino. MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney said that all number-retirement efforts are “under advisement.” It doesn’t sound like MLB will be hitting one out-of-the-park for the Babe anytime soon. That’s a shame. He deserves the honor and respect. But then again, NOBODY hit them out like the Babe did. Ever. Contact MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Let him know what you think.

NOTE: Friends, family and many Latinos are also looking for the same respect for their greatest player, #21 Roberto Clemente.


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