BRONX, NEW YORK CITY: The final game at the iconic Yankee Stadium -- "The House That Babe Ruth Built" -- took place on September 21, 2008. The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the series finale, 7-3, with future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera pitching a flawless ninth inning to end the match.
The stadium's opening in 1923 featured a distinctive design, with a small porch in the right field and covered seating in the deep center.
It was the setting for many of Major League Baseball's most iconic events, such as Babe Ruth's first home run in the stadium on April 18, 1923, Reggie Jackson's three-home run game to end the 1977 World Series, and Aaron Boone's Game 7 walk-off home run in the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, per History. Today, we look back at the interesting final event at "The House That Babe Ruth Built"
Who had the last hit at old Yankee Stadium?
Jose Molina, a catcher for the New York Yankees, hit the final home run in the old Yankee Stadium, per the New York Times.
He hit it in the fourth inning against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Waters on September 21, 2008, which marked the final game at the historic Stadium.
"The way I feel emotionally right now and just physically so drained, it feels like a huge postseason win for us," Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte told the outlet.
What happened to Yankee Stadium in 2008?
The original Yankee Stadium, which had served as the home of the New York Yankees since 1923, was demolished after the 2008 season. On September 21, 2008, the historic stadium hosted its final game.
The New York Yankees reportedly defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-3, in the series finale. The stadium was eventually demolished and replaced by a new ballpark, also known as "Yankee Stadium," which is located just north of the old stadium site. The new stadium opened in April 2009.
60,000 spectators packed "The Yankee Stadium," as it was initially known, on April 18, 1923, to watch the American League champions take on their rival Boston Red Sox.
Only a few months after being acquired by the Yankees from Boston in December 1919, star slugger Babe Ruth was batting third for the Yankees and playing right field on the historic Opening Day, per The Guardian.
"I’d give a year of my life if I can hit a home run in the first game in this new park," Ruth stated before the game.
On April 18, 2023, the New York Yankees celebrated the opening of the first Yankee Stadium. The ceremony was held in the brand-new Yankee Stadium, which took the place of the old one in 2009, before a game against the Los Angeles Angels.
