Over the last few days, there were a lot of rumors in the online media outlets that Metallica was set to play “Enter Sandman” live at Yankee Stadium to honor Mariano Rivera on his special day. They were playing the Apollo Theater in Harlem the night before, so they were already in town. Those rumors were confirmed yesterday, as a concert stage was set up in front of Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. And they put on quite a performance. This is the best footage I could find (I’ll update it if I can find something better):
Posts Tagged ‘Monument Park’
Photos: George M. Steinbrenner III Monument Unveiled
Posted in Yankee News, Yankee Stadium, Yankees Organization, Yankees Photos, tagged George M. Steinbrenner III, George Steinbrenner, Joe Dimaggio, Mariano Rivera, Mickey Mantle, Monument Park, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2010| 1 Comment »
Many people have said that nobody throws a ceremony like the New York Yankees. It’s so true. The Yankees held a very emotional tribute for the Steinbrenner family, as they unveiled the monument dedicated to the late George M. Steinbrenner III.
The whole Yankees team walked out to center field, leading the Steinbrenner family and former Yankees players and staff into Monument Park. Joan Steinbrenner pulled the curtain covering the monument, and fans were stunned by how big it was. George would’ve liked it like that. His monument trumps all of the others in size, and stands in between Mantle and DiMaggio. According to Yankees PR, the monument is manufactured by US Bronze (Hyde Park, NY). It measures 7 ft. by 5 ft. high, not including the base. It weighs 760 lbs.
After everyone left the park, Mariano remained kneeling in front of the monument, paying tribute to The Boss.
Steinbrenner Ceremony Rundown. First pitch moved to 7:35PM ET
Posted in Yankee News, Yankee Stadium, Yankees Miscellaneous, Yankees Organization, tagged Don Mattingly, Frank Sinatra Jr., George M. Steinbrenner III, God Bless America, Haley Swindal, Joe Torre, Monument Park, New York Yankees, West Point Color Guard, Yankee Stadium, YES Network on September 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »
“Just a reminder, the Yankees will hold a special ceremony to dedicate and unveil a monument in honor of George Steinbrenner in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park prior to tonight’s game against the Rays.
The Yankees are asking fans to arrive early and be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. Monument Park will be closed to fans prior to the game. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m. with a special introduction behind home plate, followed by the unveiling of Mr. Steinbrenner’s monument in Monument Park.
Mr. Steinbrenner’s granddaughter Haley Swindal, who is currently performing in the musical Cabaret at the Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, N.J., will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch in tribute to her grandfather. Frank Sinatra, Jr., will sing the national anthem prior to the game, while the colors will be presented by the West Point Color Guard.
Mr. Steinbrenner’s wife, Joan, and all four of the couple’s children – Hal, Hank, Jennifer and Jessica – are scheduled to be in attendance.”
First pitch was even moved to 7:35PMET:
“The Yankees have announced the full schedule for tonight’s pregame ceremony.
Everything will begin at 7:05, pushing first pitch back to 7:35. There will be a video tribute, the family will got to monument park and the monument itself will be unveiled at 7:20.
I’m guessing the whole thing will be on the YES Network.”
Welcome Back, Joe Torre and Donnie Baseball
Torre & Mattingly head to Yankee Stadium for the first time to attend Steinbrenner ceremony!
Posted in Breaking News, Yankee News, Yankee Players, Yankee Stadium, Yankees Management, Yankees Organization, tagged Babe Ruth, Don Mattingly, George M. Steinbrenner III, Joe Dimaggio, Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mickey Mantle, Monument Park, New York, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The Dodgers have the day off on Monday, which will allow both of them to attend. I didn’t see this coming. This is great news.
So big is the Yankees’ commemoration of a monument to George Steinbrenner at Yankee Stadium Monday night that Joe Torre and Don Mattingly are going to end their estrangement with the team to attend the ceremonies.
The Daily News has learned that Yankee brass extended an invitation to both Torre, the former Yankee manager who won four World Championships with the team before leaving under acrimonious circumstances after the 2007 season, and Mattingly, who joined Torre as batting coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being passed over as Yankee manager for Joe Girardi that same year, agreed to attend.
Torre announced on Friday that he will be stepping down as skipper of the Dodgers at season’s end and Mattingly will be his replacement.
It will mark the first time since either Torre or Mattingly left the Yankees that they have been at Yankee Stadium, the old or the new.
Ceremonies in which Steinbrenner will join Yankee immortals Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins with a monument in Monument Park, will bring together many of the Yankee living greats, including Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, David Cone, David Wells, Greg Nettles, Goose Gossage, and Roy White.
Steinbrenner will get his Monument on Sept. 20th
Posted in Yankee News, tagged George M. Steinbrenner III, Monument Park, New York Yankees on August 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »
From the Yankees Official Website:
There’s no question that late former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner occupies an important space in Yankees history. In September, Steinbrenner will take his place among the club’s other legends in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.
Steinbrenner’s monument will be dedicated on Monday, Sept. 20, before that evening’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
At the news of the honor, the Steinbrenner family expressed its immense gratitude.
“We remain profoundly grateful and touched by the many expressions of sympathy and support from so many,” the Steinbrenners said in a written statement. “We wish to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers, which we continue to hold close. We are especially appreciative that our family’s privacy was respected as we grieved the loss of George.
“We know we will always share George’s memory with Yankees fans everywhere, and a monument in his honor to be located in Monument Park will reflect the special connection, appreciation and responsibility that George felt for New York Yankees’ fans everywhere as they were always uppermost in his mind.”
Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, returned the storied franchise to prominence both on and off the field and won seven World Series titles. He passed away on July 14 at his home in Tampa, Fla., at age 80.
The Yankees are also planning a special tribute to Steinbrenner’s life in Tampa before the opening game of Spring Training in 2011.
Frankie Babilonia scoops up A-Rod’s 600th Homer
Posted in Yankee News, Yankee Players, Yankee Stadium, Yankees Memorabilia, Yankees Miscellaneous, Yankees Photos, tagged Alex Rodriguez, Frankie Babilonia, HR #600, Monument Park, New York Yankees, Press Conference, Yankee Stadium, Yankee Stadium Security on August 4, 2010| 6 Comments »

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
Do you remember that Yankee Stadium security guard who retrieved the 600th HR ball in Monument Park? Well, Jack Curry has his back-story:
Frankie Babilonia was the 23-year old security guard who retrieved A-Rod’s 600th homer in Monument Park. “That was really cool,” he said.
Babilonia was filling in on the Monument Park post for another security guard so that’s why he was in position to get A-Rod’s 600th homer.
Frankie Babilonia told me that scooping up A-Rod’s 600th HR in Monument Park was “one of the coolest things in my life.” Kid was elated.
Frankie Babilonia has worked security at Stadium for 2 years, but has never met A-Rod. By day’s end, my guess is that will change.
As I spoke to Frankie Babilonia about retrieving A-Rod’s homer ball, someone joked he should have kept it. He said that was never a choice
As you can see from the picture above, Babilonia was invited to the press conference and he got the chance to meet Alex. He shook his hand, was given a autographed bat and posed for photos on the stage. I guess he was in the right place at the right time.
When will No. 6 be retired for Torre?
Posted in Baseball Statistics, Yankees History, Yankees Management, Yankees Opinion, tagged #6, Joe Torre, Monument Park, New York Yankees on December 22, 2009| 1 Comment »
We all know Joe Torre left the Yankees on bad terms, but one has to think that his #6 will eventually be retired by the Yankees organization. Mr. T donned the #6 on his uniform for 12 years with the Yankees before getting let loose by them after the 2007 season.
Joe’s overall record with the club was (W-L) 1173–767. He won four World Series’, three of them in a row, and made it to six Fall Classic’s in total. He won 10 AL East titles, a Manager of The Year award, and a record-setting (W-L) 113-48 regular season record in 1998. Not only that, but he never failed to bring them to the playoffs during his tenure with the Yankees. With 2,246 wins (through the end of the 2009 season), he presently ranks 5th in all-time Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins list.
The guy is not only a beloved manager in New York, but he is widely considered a Hall of Fame manager. Some predict Torre will even be a first-ballot Baseball Hall of Famer upon his eligibility. He loved his players and the game of baseball, he handled the media very well, and shined on the biggest stage in the sports world. (more…)