Baseball, New York City

As they said in "Bull Durham..."

Some days you win
Some days you lose
and some days it rains...

...and today was one of those days.

So I missed my shot to see Yankee Stadium, but I have until 2009 to see it before it is rebuilt.

One tip I can verify for you, despite not getting in, is that the website is not kidding when they say "no backpacks allowed." Yankee Stadium has very strict regulations on what you can and cannot bring into the park, and, judging from all the folks carrying their belongings in see-through plastic bags, they enforce them. They don't allow umbrellas either, so if it looks like rain, bring (or buy) a poncho.

I was rained out, but I do have the option to trade my ticket in for a similarly priced ticket - subject to availability - anytime within one year. Since I only paid $5 for the ticket, I'm not sure I'll be able to do it, or that it will be worthwhile to do so. But I do plan to go back to New York soon, so I'll just have to try again.

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The NY Mets play at Shea Stadium in the borough of Queens. I went to a game against the Colorado Rockies on a Wednesday afternoon. My ticket, which I got off of the Mets website, was only $5, sitting in the Upper Reserved section. The view was just fine.

The number 7 subway goes right to the ballpark. Couldn't be easier to get here from Manhattan.

The main thing to know about Shea is that it can, and often does, get very windy and cold! Bring a jacket even if it is sunny and warm! Shea is also right next to LaGuardia airport and can get very noisy. You might also want to check if there are any promotions going on that day. I found out - the hard way - that the game I went to was "Kids Fitness" day, and that 10,000 kids were in attendance - all sitting in the same zone I was in! I simply couldn't take any more after about 6 innings and left, with the Mets losing 12-0 and everyone having pretty much lost interest.

Equipment: If you're going to an afternoon or early evening game, you may want to combine your baseball experience with a trip to the nearby Queens Museum of Art or some of the other sites in Flushing Meadows. Be advised though that Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a huge park, and you'll be walking a lot.

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Another location I got to just in the knick of time was Yankee Stadium it is scheduled to be replaced in 2009. I was excited to see the famous Yankee Stadium, it is one of the most famous baseball stadiums in history.

I sat in Section M1, Row B, Seat 4 directly behind the home plate for $71 USD. There was plenty of ambiance and atmosphere at the game just like I expected.

Stay tuned...

When I was attending a Yankees game I met Mr. Elvis "Bambula" and Domingo "Pujols". They are both barbers at the Jordan Sport Barber Shop. Apparently the owner used to be a baseball player and knew a lot of the ball players before they made the big leagues. After they made it and he became a barber they showed their support by getting their hair cut there.

They guys shows us lots of pictures of the famous ball players getting their hair done and I later checked them out online.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1938633457

So I thought if your in New York, need a hair cut and want to check out some sports memorabilia and possible meet a baseball player this seems like it is your best bet!

They guys were funny and seemed nice enough to me. Have fun!

Number one on any person's agenda for New York (tourist or otherwise) should be to go to a Yankees game. I'm not even a baseball fan, but after getting a Yankees vs Boston Red Sox ticket off a scalper I am now definitely a fan of the sport (at least when the right teams are playing). There is truly no better way to experience life in New York than to go to one of the games. After watching a Mets vs Atlanta Braves game, I was extremely disappointed in the fans (they didn't even get up to cheer). But the Yankees game was well worth seeing.

Equipment: DO NOT WEAR RED OR GREEN!!! Dark Blue or Black is preferred, but simply wearing Boston colors can get you in trouble here.

My son's second visit to The Bronx included going to see his first ever professional baseball game. Being that our host is a huge Yankee fan, he took us to see the Yankees. The game held Patrick's attention for all of about 5 minutes. After that he just wanted to explore the bleachers and see what everyone else was doing. About half way through the game he fell asleep on my lap. Thank goodness, I at least got to see the end of the game.

When visiting NY in the summer you should go to see the baseball.

We went as a group to the New York Mets. Up in the bleachers where you really get a feel for the atmosphere.

Baseball is a iconic sport for the Americans. And well to make sure everyone knows you're in the good ol' U S of A they marktet the game like you'd expect them to. The game comes second.

If you've never seem a game it goes - innings, advert, innings, marketing stunt, innings, advert, innings, marketing giveaway, innings, advert, innings, marketing giveaway... and on and on like that. When the focus of the game went from playing to marketing I do not know. But hey they had to keep the fans happy and coming in the era of television replay.

Having said the negative side of the experience I still enjoyed the day immensly. Transport to the game via the subway was smooth and quick. The seating was spectacular although somewhat scary for the angle which the stadium is built. Those food vendors are amazing for their skill in not falling on the stairs.

And the ticket prices in the cheap seats are reasonable. It's good value for a few hours entertainment.

Warning though. Some drink and food prices are ridiculous. Don't drink beer without increasing your mortgage.

Equipment: Sunscreen for the bleachers on a hot sunny day. Gee it was a lovely day in the sun watching the game.

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Opening Day, Yankee Stadium, April 11, 2006. Yesssssss!!!!! There are only two more opening day's at this venerable landmark. In a few years they'll be throwing out the first pitch at (name of corporate sponsor) Ballpark. This was the purpose of our visit to Yankee Stadium in 2006, to see, feel, touch and smell the Grand Dame of the American ballparks.

Lemme tell yeh, this was one tough ticket. Of course, nowadays, there is no such thing as a "sold-out" event. We shopped all of the online ticket brokers and ended up getting outfield tickets (NOT bleachers) from hailstorm.com for a nominal price. We also splurged for the NY Waterways Ferry (from Pier 17) that dropped us off 5 minutes from the Stadium entrance. The Ferry also had spectacular views of Manhattan all the way up and back, well worth the $20.00USD.

The sold-out crowd (54,000 strong) was somewhat sedated (tense) until Derek Jeter jacked one out in the 8th inning to score three runs and win it for the home team. The crowd went WILD!! That's what I'm talkin' about, that's what wins 26 World Championships...

Equipment: Bring lots of cash, drink and food can add up fast. Also, they have great souvenirs, and you can use plastic at most outlets. Be careful with the photography equipment, the ushers/security are very hesitant regarding "big" lenses. I barely got in with my 75-300mm lens, I had to swear that I was a "non-professional" (which I am!).

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Shea Stadium is named after William Alfred Shea, an attorney who was instrumental in acquiring a new team for New York following the city's abandonment by the Giants and the Dodgers in the 1950s.

Shea Stadium Trivia:

Designed to be expandable to 90,000 seats.
Right-center scoreboard is one of largest in the majors, 175 feet long and 86 feet high with Bulova clock on top, about 25 feet behind the outfield fence.
Behind the fence in center, just to the right of the 410 mark, is a Mets Magic Top Hat. When a Met hits a homer, a red Big Apple rises out of the black top hat, which actually looks more like a big kettle.
Worst visibility for hitters in the majors.
Churchlike spire beyond center-field fence formerly graced by "Serval Zippers" sign.
Christened April 16, 1964, with Dodgers Holy Water from the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn and Giants Holy Water from the Harlem River at the exact location where it passed the old Polo Grounds.
The only All-Star game to be played at Shea Stadium was in 1964, its inaugural season.
The Beatles played before 53,275 fans in August 1965 and again in August 1966.
The New York Yankees played there from April 6, 1974, to September 28, 1975 while Yankee Stadium was renovated.

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On February 6, 1921, the Yankees announced the purchase of 10 acres of property in the west Bronx. The land, purchased from the estate of William Waldorf Astor for $675,000, sat directly across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds, where the Yankees' had played since 1913. Renovations were made in 1966 and 1967, but more than that was needed. In 1972, the team sold their stadium to the city and signed a thirty year lease.
The revovated Yankee Stadium opened with much fanfare in 1976, and the Yankees wasted no time living up to their "new" stadium. The team appeared in the World Series in each of the next three years, winning the fall classic twice. Players like Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter and Ron Guidry picked up where Mantle and Berra left off a decade earlier. Except for brief period in the early 1990s, the Yankees have always fielded winning teams since their ballpark was renovated. In the late 1990s and 2000s, the Yankees have been the team to beat, appearing in six World Series while winning four of them. A cavalcade of stars, including Derek Jeter and Roger Clemens, have graced Yankee Stadium during these years.
Watching a Yankees Game is a real MUST when you visit NYC! Inside the Stadium you'll find the Monument Park with memories of all great Yankees players ever. See my travelogues!

Equipment: Backpacks and bag must be left outside. There are safes placed around the stadium that keep your luggage for 4-5 $ each.