It was on September 21, 2008, the last night of the original Yankee Stadium, the Yankees’ captain Derek Jeter held a wireless microphone and hit perfect notes from the middle of the legendary baseball stadium. “Take the memories from this stadium and add them to the new memories we make at the new Yankee Stadium,” the captain told the fans.
When the Yankees moved to the new Yankee Stadium across East 161st Street in 2009, it was the start of a new chapter in their history. The glittering ballpark has already seen a lot of great things and performances. Here are the 10 greatest Yankees moments at the new Yankee Stadium:
#1. The first World Series title on Nov 4, 2009
The Yankees won their 27th World Series title in their first year at the new ballpark by beating the Phillies in a six-game thriller series. The last out was made when Mariano Rivera got Shane Victorino to hit a ground ball to Robinson Cano at second base. Mark Teixeira was on first base to catch the throw. Hideki Matsui went on to score six RBIs to win that game and it made him the Series MVP.
#2. Jeter’s Hollywood finale on Sept 25, 2014
In his last game at home in pinstripes, Derek Jeter beat the Orioles 6-5 with his signature inside-out swing to hit a walk-off single and score the winning run. Jeter raised his fists, creating a Hollywood ending. He had already doubled and driven in the winning run earlier in the game that the Yankees later need him to win.
#3. Jeter reached a historic milestone on Jul 9, 2011
Derek Jeter hit Tampa Bay’s David Price over the left stand on a sunny Saturday in The Bronx. This made him the 28th player and the first Yankee to enter the 3,000-hit club. Jeter’s historic hit was one of five hits he had in a 5–4 Yankees win, which gave the shortstop a chance to breathe and let go of the pressure that the milestone brought.
#4. Sandman’s emotional exit on Sept 26, 2013
Mariano Rivera’s amazing career came to an end when his longtime teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte went out to the field. As Jeter smiled and told his close friend, “It’s time to go,” Rivera cried and buried his face into Pettitte’s right shoulder. Rivera tipped his cap as he left, taking his first steps toward the Hall of Fame, where he would be inducted as the first unanimous player five years later and one of the finest Yankees.
#5. Didi Gregorius made impossible possible on Oct 3, 2017
The Twins shocked the crowd at the ballpark with three runs in the first inning of the American League Wild Card Game. It came when many people hadn’t even found their seats yet. This made it look like the Yankees’ season might be over. In the bottom of the inning, Gregorius brought the Yankees back into the game with a three-run homer. The Yankees won it 8-4.
#6. The risk was paid off on Oct 10, 2012
In the ninth inning of ALDS Game 3 against Baltimore, 40-year-old Raul Ibanez was chosen to pinch-hit for Alex Rodriguez. This was one of the riskiest moves Joe Girardi has ever made as a manager. Ibanez made the whole Yankee Stadium go crazy when he hit a home run off Jim Johnson to tie the game. Ibanez did it again in the 12th when he hit a home run off Brian Matusz and the Yankees win the game.
#7. A-Rod reclaimed his glory on Jun 19, 2015
Four years after Jeter’s 3,000th MLB hit, Alex Rodriguez entered the same club. He did this by hitting a home run to the opposite field in the first inning off of Justin Verlander of the Tigers. Rodriguez then pointed to the seats behind the Yankees’ home plate and blew a kiss to his daughters Ella and Natasha while saying that he was glad he could keep wearing the Yankees uniform.
#8. Mariano’s record standing on Sept 19, 2011
Rivera got his 602nd save when he got rid of all three Twins he faced. Rivera even broke a bat with his signature cutter. Rivera’s teammates told him to enjoy the moment, so he stood alone on the mound and celebrated being the player with the most saves in baseball history. He later said that the moment was “priceless.” Rivera would leave the game with a record 652 saves, plus 42 more in the playoffs for the Yankees.
#9. The era of Baby Bombers began on Aug 13, 2016
A day after Alex Rodriguez hit a double in his last game, the Yankees have two new heavyweights on their team. The Yankee Stadium crowd went crazy after seeing consecutive homers from Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge on their first day. Austin hit the ball over the short porch in right field, and Judge hit a 446-foot home run becoming the third ever to hit to the stands above Monument Park.
#10. Sabathia’s biggest moment on Jun 19, 2019
After getting his 3,000th strikeout on the road earlier in the year, CC Sabathia celebrated a big moment of his final season for the Yankees by becoming the 14th pitcher to have both 3,000 strikeouts and 250 wins. Sabathia said it was important to be in the same group as African American pitchers Bob Gibson and Fergie Jenkins after he pitched six strong innings in a 12-1 win over the Rays.
Do you have any other moment to add to the list? Let’s know in the comment below.
