Yankees head for pastures new
After 85 years the most famous sporting lights in America are about to go dark forever.
... The 60,000-seat stadium was home to many of baseball's star players and characters - from "Babe" Ruth to current captain Derek Jeter - but it also hosted many a world title boxing contest, and several papal masses.
"It's time to change," said retired school principal Bill Blazek, who had driven to the Bronx with a group of visitors from Iowa.
"I've been in a lot of baseball stadiums and it's old. You've got to move on, and new is better," he added, wistfully.
11th hour plea
Visitors slowly milling around the asphalt walkways, gazing up at the concrete walls, were euphoric with a sense that history is being made in these final hours.
But one fan - conspicuous for not sporting a Yankees cap or shirt - said New York was making a terrible mistake in letting the stadium be torn down.
"It's ridiculous. It's a national icon," said Eric Jones. He said he had signed an online petition calling for an 11th hour reprieve for the building, which is owned by the city.
"There's 11 acres here they want to use for parkland, but they could go elsewhere. It's a place of American culture."
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... The 60,000-seat stadium was home to many of baseball's star players and characters - from "Babe" Ruth to current captain Derek Jeter - but it also hosted many a world title boxing contest, and several papal masses.
"It's time to change," said retired school principal Bill Blazek, who had driven to the Bronx with a group of visitors from Iowa.
"I've been in a lot of baseball stadiums and it's old. You've got to move on, and new is better," he added, wistfully.
11th hour plea
Visitors slowly milling around the asphalt walkways, gazing up at the concrete walls, were euphoric with a sense that history is being made in these final hours.
But one fan - conspicuous for not sporting a Yankees cap or shirt - said New York was making a terrible mistake in letting the stadium be torn down.
"It's ridiculous. It's a national icon," said Eric Jones. He said he had signed an online petition calling for an 11th hour reprieve for the building, which is owned by the city.
"There's 11 acres here they want to use for parkland, but they could go elsewhere. It's a place of American culture."