Yankee Stadium is, for all intensive purposes, a concrete history book.  It’s role in shaping sports in America is unrivaled by anything built in our country’s history.  Since its’ construction, 20% of all World Series games have been played there.  Think about that, let that marinade for a second.  Legends such as Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Berra used to call this home.  It’s where men like Jeter, Brosius, and Boone have launched moon shots into the history books.  It’s where Mr. October was coined, where the great Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in three consecutive pitches.  It’s where the first papal mass in the Western Hemisphere was celebrated, where the “win one for the Gipper” speech was coined.  And soon, it’ll be where a steel ball crushes into its’ walls, effectively destroying the holy ground.

As a history buff and more importantly as a sports fan it’s tough to see a site like Yankee Stadium go.  If you ever had the chance to visit or attend a game at Yankee Stadium, you know.  There’s just nothing quite like the aura that exists on that field each time the pinstripes run out for nine innings of baseball.  There’s nothing like the white arches that surround the top of the stadium, giving it an unmistakable identity.  There’s nothing like the bleacher creatures doing roll call chanting names like “De-rek Je-ter!” and “Ro-bin-son!”  There’s nothing like the plaques that stand in left field, honoring the Yankee greats and providing audience for the current Yankees.  It’s irreplacable.

Next year the Yankees will move across the street to their new billion dollar home and in about a year, all will be forgotten as the current stadium will be demolished in favor of a park.  Even though the stadium will be long since gone, however, the memories of those who played there and even those who attended games there will never be forgotten.  Yogi Berra said it best yesterday when he said Yankee Stadium will live inside of him, just like it will live inside many of us.  And as Nick Trotta said in a Sports Illustrated article, “Those walls are alive.  They are going to scream.”

Yankee Stadium hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since it was renovated in the mid-70’s. That’s all about to change. Bud Selig announced on Tuesday that the House that Ruth Built will play host to the 2008 Mid-Summer’s Classic, just a year before it is expected to be torn down. The new Yankee Stadium, which is set to open in 2009, will have parts of the current stadium in it, but in order to finish construction they must tear down Ruth’s house.

As a fan of long balls, I’m excited to see Pujols and Ryan Howard take aim at the left and right field facades during the Home Run Derby. I’m excited to see one final classic game, after so many that have come before it, being played under the lights in the Bronx.

I’m excited at the potential of seeing Mariano Rivera trot out from left field to close the game in the 9th inning against the best hitters the NL has to offer. Yankee Stadium doesn’t have the biggest seating capacity and thus the revenue might not be as great, but then again why not send out a historic building like that with one more All Star Game. It’s a place that has seen arguably more history than any other stadium in America, and it’s hollowed ground for any baseball player or fan who sets foot on the field. Let’s just hope that good ol’ Bud Selig doesn’t screw this one up like he did a few years ago.