The First Season At The House That George Built

Well, it's official. The inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium (for the regular season at least), is over, and it was a very successful one for the Bombers as the Yanks went 57-24 in their luxurious new park.

The Yankees opened up their brand-spanking new stadium on April 16th, against the Indians. The opening ceremonies were great, as Yankee legends were introduced, Bernie Williams played "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", John Fogerty sang "Centerfield", and Kelly Clarkson sang a great rendition of our National Anthem. The game then started on a beautiful sunny April day, as CC Sabathia made his home debut against his former team and Cliff Lee. Sabathia tossed 6 innings of 1-run ball, and Jorge Posada hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium in the 3rd, a solo shot into Monument Park. But the Yankees first game at their new stadium was one to forget, as the Indians scored 8 runs in the 7th inning to beat the Bombers 10-2.

But the following day, the Yankees got their first win at the new stadium when they hit 5 home runs and beat Cleveland 7-3. Mariano Rivera got the save, to officially put the Yankees in the win column at their new home.

After loosing a historically bad game 22-4 the day after, the Yankees quickly turned it around and turned the new Yankee Stadium into a home-field advantage, as they went on a tear and started playing their best baseball as A-Rod returned in early May.

In fact, a couple games after A-Rod returned in Baltimore, the Yankees went back to Yankee Stadium to start a 4-game series against the Twins. And that started the pies, as the Yankees had 3 consecutive walk-off wins - a walkoff single by Melky Cabrera on May 14th, a walkoff home run by Alex Rodriguez on May 15th, and another walkoff home run by Johnny Damon on May 16th. And that started a 9-game winning streak as the Yankees started to rise in the standings, and were closing in on the Red Sox.

Following loosing a 3-game set against the Nationals in June, the Yankees would go on a tear, not loosing a single series at the Stadium until early August. And in August, the Yankees took over first place, and for good, as they swept the Red Sox in the Bronx in an epic 4-game set, to end an 0 for 8 slump against Boston. The first game showed the Yankees come out and crush John Smoltz and the Sox as they won 13-4. Then the following night, I attended a game that at the time was the greatest game yet at the new Stadium, as A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett went head-to-head through 8 innings. And then both bullpens battled for another 7 innings before Alex Rodriguez sent everybody home with a walkoff 2-run home run in the 15th, to put an end to an instant Yankee classic. Following a great performance by CC Sabathia and a 5-0 win in game 3, the Yankees completed the 2009 Boston Massacare by beating the Red Sox 3-2, thanks to back-to-back home runs by Mark Teixeira and Johnny Damon in the 8th.

The Yankees finished up a great month at home with a couple more walkoffs, and headed into September on a roll. And on the 8th anniversary of 9/11, Derek Jeter made history, as in the bottom of the 3rd against the Orioles, Jeet singled through the hole in right, for his 2,772nd hit, to pass Lou Gehrig and become the Yankees all-time hits leader.

In the next 2 weeks the Yanks would slow down a bit, loosing a couple series at Yankee Stadium. But on September 26th, just about a week ago actually, the Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-2 in the Bronx. And not only did they sweep Boston again, but the Yankees clinched the AL East, home-field advantage, and the best record in baseball, to start a party in the Yankees spacious new lockeroom.

And as you know, the Yankees just took 2 of 3 from the Royals to wrap up the regular season schedule at the new Yankee Stadium.

So a very successful first year in the "House That George Built", as the Yankees drew 3.7 million fans and went 57-24 at the new park. The ticket prices may be outrageous, but you're not wasting your money, as the Yankees have had one of their most successful seasons since 1998!

But as Greg puts it, the real season hasn't even started yet, as the Yankees begin their quest for a 27th World Championship next week when they play either the Tigers or Twins in Game 1 of the ALDS. And it will be a very historic game, as it will be the first postseason game at the new Stadium. Hopefully there will be many more.