I journeyed to the mother ship of baseball's Evil Empire Sunday afternoon: Yankee Stadium, in the South Bronx. While waiting in line at Tim Horton's in Manhattan before I set off, the gentlemen in front of me had his phone ring. The ringtone? Darth Vader's Imperial March. I kid you not. Moments later, I learned a valuable lesson at that Tim Horton's, one that will stay with me for the rest of my baseball journey through America: when you buy a medium coffee in the U.S., you're actually buying a large.
Public transportation is your best bet, and a one-way fare on the subway costs you $2.25. From 34th and 6th in Manhattan, via the D Sixth Avenue Express, it took all of 23 minutes to reach 161st and River. The stadium is a mere walk away, just outside the station. Follow the pinstriped folks around you. If you have to drive, parking's obviously expensive, and the area around the stadium isn't exactly sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows.
Old Yankee Stadium sits in ruins across from the reigning World Series champions' new home. Their $1.5-billion new home. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced: the Yankees, and the Steinbrenner clan, actually have trees from which crisp $100 bills grow, all year round.
If you're looking for walk-up tickets on game day, make sure you've got some plastic; the cheapest ducat available Sunday from the box-office was $95. I bought my seat online, two hours before the game, and paid $32 for a chair way up top in the right field grandstands. In terms of value, it will - and this comes as no surprise - definitely be the most expensive ticket on #TBRTOAL.
My Mission
To not spend a penny more than $32. The Yankees have enough money. And, as a Toronto Blue Jays fan first and foremost, I didn't feel right adding to New York's coffers. Unfortunately, I failed. And there are a number of reasons why.
I got off to a late start on Sunday. Which meant I missed the most important meal of the day. And which also meant that I wasn't able to visit Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. It closes 45 minutes before the game. Learn from my mistakes, people. Oddly enough, this was the second time I missed Monument Park. I visited old Yankee Stadium a couple of years ago with friends and, if you know anything at all about South Asian people, we're never on time. For anything. Next time. I guess.
The main concourse is massive. There is food everywhere. Priced from expensive to more expensive, you name it, and the Yankees are selling it: garlic fries, Hebrew National and Nathan's Famous hot dogs and sausages, steak sandwiches, Southern BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, sushi, Asian noodles, Philly cheesesteaks, paninis, nachos, burritos, subs, Latin sandwiches, chicken and rice, popcorn, ice cream, and, finally, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Seriously, everything.
Starving, I caved in the top of the 7th inning. Still on a high from the Primanti Bros. sandwich I had in Pittsburgh, I foolishly went for the $12 pastrami, with potato chips and pickles. I'll be honest: it was very underwhelming. I should have gone for the sausage. But, frankly, I'm not sure I'd have allowed myself to enjoy anything in that place.
I did manage to stay away from the beer for a day, though. A wide selection is available at $8.50 a pint. When I'm in New York City, I go with Blue Moon, a witbier I've recently learned is Rickard's White in Canada. So you probably want to try something else. If you're interested in a souvenir Yankees glass, the beer costs you $10.50.
Speaking of souvenirs, I was handed a 2010 New York Yankees calendar upon entrance into the ballpark. I ended up giving it to a young boy on the subway on my way back up town. Lord knows I had no use for it.
The Game
The Yankees won, 5-2 over the Texas Rangers. Ramiro Pena gave King of New York Derek Jeter a day off, and came through with a rather clutch two-out, two-run single in the 3rd inning off Canadian hero Rich Harden. Also for New York, Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada went yard. Yes, silly, of course to right field! But their long balls were chalked at 381 and 390 feet, respectively, so my complaints about the short porch, unfortunately, don't have much merit. And, for the record, I did enjoy the "Hip Hip Jorge!" chant, as much as it pains me to admit it.
Ageless southpaw Andy Pettitte pitched masterfully for New York. He dominated the Rangers through eight innings, before turning over to his ageless teammate, uber-closer Mariano Rivera. When the hell are these guys going to retire? In all seriousness: it's a fantastic baseball experience to hear Enter Sandman play through the stadium's speakers, see all the fans rise to their feet in applause, and watch Rivera jog to the mound. Greatest closer of all time.
Once the game ended, it was Frank Sinatra's turn: New York, New York. Tacky, but awesome. The best part: it plays on loop. As I strolled around the concourse, vowing to return to Yankee Stadium only when the Blue Jays and Yankees meet one day in the playoffs, I must have heard it at least six times. Another valuable lesson was learned: you can't hear New York, New York too many times. I may or may not have it playing right now.
The Business
I had some interesting chats with a few Yankees fans, which I'm going to tell you all about in an upcoming post. But one quick anecdote from Sunday afternoon.
I was taking the walking tour of Yankee Stadiums bleachers, and one inebriated fellow mistook my Toronto Blue Jays hat for a Texas Rangers hat. There's a "T" on both of them; clearly an honest mistake.
"Hey, f**k off, Texas!"
Before I could explain, my heckler pointed to his crotch and said: "Everything isn't bigger in Texas!" Witty. He finished with a shot at Vladimir Guerrero, who's apparently "finished," and proceeded on his merry way.
And that's why they call them the "Bleacher Creatures."
I'm off to Queen's tonight, to watch the New York Mets entertain the Chicago Cubs. It's a big one for Mets fans, as Ike Davis, the club's top prospect, makes his MLB debut. Here's hoping it goes something like Jason Heyward's in Atlanta.