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Yankee Stadium goes out on a whimper as planned finale axed

By Garett Sloane, amNewYork Business Editor | gsloane@am-ny.com

October 8, 2008

Fan cheers during a game at Yankee Stadium. (amNewYork photo/ RJ Mickelson / September 17, 2008)

The Yankees have scratched plans to host one final farewell to the stadium, disappointing New Yorkers who were counting on a last visit to the House that Ruth Built.

The team had promised a final salute in November, which fans speculated would be a star-studded goodbye to the doomed stadium.

"The Yankees were considering having a charitable event at Yankee Stadium," team spokesman Howard Rubenstein told amNewYork, reading from a prepared statement. "However, the Yankees realize that the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21, 2008."

Yankee fans who were anticipating a last goodbye were disappointed Tuesday.

Jowi Perozo, 19, lives near the stadium and missed the final game. The cancellation bummed him out.

"They are? Why?" Perozo said when told the news. "Everybody was waiting for it I wanted to say goodbye."

Rubenstein would not elaborate on why the charitable event was cancelled and what exactly was planned, but the tribute was reportedly set for Nov. 9.

Instead, the team will donate $500,000 to Baseball Assistance Team, an organization that helps struggling families in the baseball community.

SEG Events was involved in producing the stadium's closing activities, according to its Web site. Calls to SEG's offices were not returned.

The last home game at the stadium featured a parade of Yankee old-timers. There were a couple of noticeably absent former Yankees: Roger Clemens and Joe Torre.

The Yankees at the time said it was not an intentional snub. Tino Martinez, the former first baseman, told The Associated Press he thought Torre would receive a proper sendoff at the now-canceled November event.

No firm plans had been made for the stadium's goodbye, no tickets sold and no acts booked, but there was plenty of speculation. Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Jay-Z were all rumored to be among possible performers.

A farewell concert, similar to what Shea Stadium had with Billy Joel, could have served as a way to send out the 85-year-old edifice that served as more than a baseball field. The stadium has hosted NFL championship games, championship prize fights, soccer games with Pele, papal Masses and rock concerts.

It's not just fans who are upset.

"You don't have to be a fan to appreciate the stadium," said Oneika Ramos, 28, of TriBeCa. "Everybody assumed they would announce some big celebration before they took it apart."

Added Mets fan Liam Mecniallias: "They should do something to consecrate that ground before it goes."

Other non-sporting highlights at Yankee Stadium over the years:

Oct. 4, 1965: Pope Paul VI is the first pope to say mass at the house that Ruth built.

Oct. 2, 1979: Pope John Paul II becomes the second.

June 10 and 11, 1994: Pink Floyd played two shows.

June 21, 1990: Nelson Mandela spoke against apartheid in South Africa, and famously uttered, "You now know who I am. I am a Yankee."

June 22 and 23, 1990: Billy Joel became the first star to rock the stadium with his music.

Aug. 29 and 30, 1992: U2 brought their high-tech Zoo TV tour there.

Sept. 23, 2001: Some 20,000 mourners gathered to grieve for the victims of 9/11 and pray for the city in a memorial hosted by Oprah Winfrey and featuring Placido Domingo singing "Ave Maria."

April 20, 2008: Pope Benedict said Mass for thousands.

Compiled by Marlene Naanes