UPPER TIER BEHIND HOMEThis shot offers perhaps the best panoramic view of the entire stadium. Even after 85 years and multiple changes, Yankee Stadium still has the largest capacity of any major league ballpark (57,545), but that’s far fewer than the 74,200 who witnessed the first game at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923, when Babe Ruth hit the first home run in stadium history. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com BEHIND INSIGNIA 1All is quiet when the stadium is vacant, but the grounds crew works feverishly to get the field into playing shape hours before each game. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done in advance to prepare the stadium for about 50,000 for each of the 81 regular-season games -- and usually more games than that since the Yankees haven’t missed the postseason since 1993. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com BEHIND INSIGNIA 2Fans are trickling into the stadium, but by the time the game starts, the stadium will be near capacity. The Yankees have broken the American League attendance record each of the past three seasons. In 2007, they drew 4,271,867, or an average of 52,739 each game. The Yankees have led the major leagues in attendance every year since 2002.
Todd Bennett for ESPN.com OUTSIDE CLUBHOUSE RAMPYankees players emerge from the blue doors of the clubhouse and head down the ramp to the dugout and then onto the field. Above the ramp is a sign with the famous quote from Joe DiMaggio, “I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee.” Lining the wall outside the clubhouse are framed pictures of former Yankee greats, beginning with No. 4, Lou Gehrig. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com MONUMENT PARK 1This exhibit was added beyond the outfield wall in 1988 to honor Yankees whose numbers had been retired. In all, there are six monuments, 23 plaques and 16 retired numbers honoring 17 players and managers. And only one number is repeated: No. 8, for Hall of Fame catchers Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra. The numbers are listed in order of when they were retired, beginning with Lou Gehrig in 1939. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com MONUMENT PARK 2The Yankees have honored their all-time greats with monuments and plaques in the outfield area since 1932. The monuments for Miller Huggins, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were in play in center field, with the plaques 10 feet behind them on the center-field wall. But after the 1974-75 renovations, the monuments and plaques were moved beyond the wall in left-center field. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com PRESS BOX VIEWDue to the abundance of media outlets in the New York metropolitan area, no other sports franchise has been covered with as much fervor as the Yankees. Here’s where the media -- mostly newspaper reporters -- have sat, watched and written their stories, transitioning from typewriters to laptops. It was sportswriter Fred Lieb who dubbed Yankee Stadium “The House That Ruth Built.” Todd Bennett for ESPN.com DEEP RIGHTThis is where Babe Ruth played, stationed in right field from 1920 to 1934. While the right-field fence is now 314 feet from home plate, it was at 295 feet during Ruth’s career. Opposing right fielders stood and watched in awe as Ruth sent towering drives over their heads into the right-field seats. This is also where Roger Maris’ ball landed when he hit No. 61 in 1961. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com BEHIND HOME PLATEThe Yankee Stadium grounds crew puts the final touches on the field after batting practice. They'll no doubt have a bigger task come All-Star week. The 2008 All-Star Game will be the fourth that Yankee Stadium has hosted. The other three seasons were 1939, 1960 and 1977. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com DEAD CENTERHall of Fame center fielders Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle combined to roam these parts for more than 30 years. But both players had much more ground to cover. The center-field fence was 461 feet from home plate, and it was a 457-foot shot to left-center field, known as “Death Valley.” When the stadium was renovated in 1974-75, the fences were moved in -- and it’s now 408 to dead center and 399 to left center. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com DUGOUTName any all-time Yankee great, and at one time or another, he’s emerged from this dugout on the first-base side of the field -- whether it’s Mickey Mantle getting ready to hit, Billy Martin going out to argue with an umpire or Ron Guidry preparing to take the mound. What’s a reality for Yankee players is the dream of every Yankee fan -- to wear the pinstripes and run up the dugout steps out onto the field every day. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com UPPERDECK RIGHT FIELDSome monstrous home runs have been hit into the upper deck in right field, but one ball went well beyond this spot and nearly out of Yankee Stadium. On May 22, 1963, Mickey Mantle crushed an 11th-inning home run off Bill Fischer of the Kansas City A’s that hit the decorative frieze to the left of the upper-deck seats. It was inches from being the first official home run ball ever hit out of Yankee Stadium. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com FROM SUBWAY PLATFORM 1Those arriving by the No. 4 New York Metro subway train are dropped off at the Yankee Stadium station on 161st Street, located on the back side of the stadium. They then have to walk down to the street level and wade through the sea of vendors and fans, who are either making their way to the entry gate for the bleachers or to the other side of the stadium. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com FROM SUBWAY PLATFORM 2Just getting off the No. 4 train, the granite and limestone exterior of the new Yankee Stadium is clearly visible from the subway platform. The $1.3 billion stadium, on the north side of 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx, is scheduled to open in time for the 2009 season. The field dimensions will be the same as the old stadium, which will be converted into a park. Todd Bennett for ESPN.com OUTSIDE GATE 4Fans have the best view of Yankee Stadium’s famous and familiar exterior as they approach Gate 4, the main entrance to the stadium. Hanging just underneath the blue-lettered “Yankee Stadium” is the banner that lists all 26 world championship seasons for the Yankees. It’s a Kodak moment for fans, especially those visiting the ballpark for the first time.
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