New York Yankees Museum
presented by Bank of America
Yankee Stadium: 1923-2008
For 85 years, Yankee Stadium was the grandest stage in sports. Constructed to showcase excellence, the Stadium became hallowed ground through milestones achieved within its walls.
“The House that Ruth Built” brought national attention to the New York Yankees. Pinstriped immortals attracted millions of followers to the South Bronx. The resulting revenue fueled the Yankees’ economic engine for decades. A baseball dynasty emerged with the Stadium as its home.
Yankee Stadium’s cultural impact extended beyond the Yankees. Football players, boxers, Negro Leagues heroes, and Pontiffs changed America at “The Home of Champions.” New Yorkers celebrated, mourned, and prayed inside the edifice.
An aura of magic surrounded Yankee Stadium. With significance transcending sports, the structure was an iconic American landmark.
New York Yankees Milestones at Yankee Stadium:
- “The House that Ruth Built”: Babe Ruth’s Opening Day Home Run (April 18, 1923)
- “Murderers’ Row”: The 1927 New York Yankees
- “The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth”: Lou Gehrig’s Farewell (July 4, 1939)
- Joe DiMaggio’s 56-Game Hitting Streak (1941)
- Silver Jubilee, and Babe Ruth’s Stadium Farewell (June 13, 1948)
- Micky Mantle’s “Frieze” Home Runs (May 30, 1956 and May 22, 1963)
- Don Larsen’s World Series Perfect Game (October 8, 1956)
- Roger Maris’s 61st Home Run (October 1, 1961)
- Mickey Mantle’s 16th World Series Home Run (October 10, 1964)
- Chris Chambliss’s ALCS-Clinching Home Run (October 14, 1976)
- “Mr. October”: Reggie Jackson’s Three Home Runs (1977 World Series Game 6)
- “Louisiana Lightning”: Ron Guidry’s 18 Strikeouts (June 17, 1978)
- The 1998 New York Yankees: MLB-Record 125 Wins (Regular Season and Postseason)
- Perfect Games by David Wells (May 17, 1998) and David Cone (July 18, 1999)
- “Mr. November”: Derek Jeter’s Game-Winning Home Run (2001 World Series Game 4)
- Aaron Boone’s ALCS-Clinching Home Run (October 16, 2003)
- The Final Game at “The House that Ruth Built” (September 21, 2008)
Stadium Architecture, Evolution, and People:
- The “Frieze”: Iconic Cornice lining Yankee Stadium’s Grandstand Roof (1923-1973)
- Mezzanine and Upper Grandstand expanded to Left Field (1928)
- New Bleachers constructed on Concrete Foundations (1936)
- New Right Field Grandstand (Lower/Upper Tiers and Mezzanine) (1936-1937)
- Post-WWII Refurbishment (New Home Clubhouse, Nighttime Baseball, and the “Stadium Club” Restaurant) (1945-1946)
- Internal Upgrades and Repainting (1965-1967)
- Complete Stadium Renovation, Remodeling, and Refurbishment (1974-1975)
- Monument Park (1976-2008)
- Pete Sheehy: “The Keeper of the Pinstripes” – Clubhouse Attendant (later Clubhouse Manager) (1927-1985)
- Bob Sheppard: “The Voice of Yankee Stadium” – Public Address Announcer (1951-2007)
- Speech by Nelson Mandela (South African Human Rights Crusader) (June 21, 1990)
- “Bleacher Creatures” – Devout, Famously-Vocal Fans in Sections 37-39
Yankee Stadium – Beyond the Yankees:
- NYU-Fordham Football (1923-1948)
- Army-Notre Dame Football (1925-1946, 1969)
- “Win One for the Gipper”: Army-Notre Dame Football Game (November 10, 1928)
- Army-Navy Benefit Football Games for Great Depression relief (1930-1931)
- New York Black Yankees (Negro National League) (1934-1947)
- Joe Louis KO’s Max Schmeling for World Heavyweight Title (June 22, 1938)
- American/National League All-Star Games (1939, 1960, 1977, 2008)
- Negro National/Negro American League All-Star Games (1939, 1948, 1958, 1961)
- All-American Football Conference (AAFC) New York Yankees (1946-1949)
- Jehovah’s Witnesses Conventions (1950-1973)
- Rocky Marciano vs. Archie Moore Boxing Match (September 21, 1955)
- New York Giants (National Football League) (1956-1973)
- Billy Graham’s New York City “Crusade” (July 20, 1957)
- “The Greatest Game Ever Played”: 1958 NFL Championship Game (December 28, 1958)
- Papal Mass (Pope Paul VI) (October 4, 1965)
- New York Cosmos (North American Soccer League) (1971, 1976)
- Muhamad Ali vs. Ken Norton Boxing Match (September 28, 1976)
- Papal Mass (Pope John Paul II) (October 2, 1979)
- Papal Mass (Pope Benedict XVI) (April 20, 2008)
Featured Artifacts Include:
- Babe Ruth’s Bat from Yankee Stadium’s Inaugural Home Run (April 18, 1923)
- 1923 World Series Pocket Watch (Presented to Wally Pipp)
- 1927 Yankees Team-Autographed Photo
- Babe Ruth’s 1932 Home Uniform Jersey
- Lou Gehrig’s 1932 Home Uniform Jersey
- 1934 Lou Gehrig Goudey (#37 and #61) Baseball Cards
- Lou Gehrig’s 1932 World Series Bat (Autographed)
- Copy of “Don’t Quit!” Parchment presented to Lou Gehrig (July 4, 1939)
- Yankees Team-Autographed Baseballs (1936-1939, 1949-1953, and 1998)
- Joe DiMaggio’s 1950-1951 Home Uniform Jersey
- Scorecard from Mickey Mantle’s Yankees Debut (April 17, 1951)
- Home Run Baseball hit by Mickey Mantle off Stadium Frieze (May 30, 1956)
- Whitey Ford’s 1962-1963 Game-Used Glove (Autographed)
- 1961 Yankees Team-Autographed Photo
- Mickey Mantle Home Uniform Jersey and Bat (1964 World Series)
- Chris Chambliss Home Run Bat (1976 ALCS Game 5)
- Derek Jeter’s 1996 ALCS (“Jeffrey Maier Home Run”) Bat
- David Wells’ Perfect Game Glove (May 17, 1998)
- Baseball from Aaron Boone’s 2003 ALCS Game 7 Home Run
- Home Plate from Yankee Stadium’s Final Game (September 21, 2008)
- “Bat” Weathervane from Outfield Flagpole
- Portion of Original Copper Frieze (c. 1923)
- Stadium Usher’s Jacket/Cap (c. 1946)
- Prototype Doll of “Dandy” Mascot (1979)
- Handwritten Poems/Reminiscences by Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard
- “Freddy ‘Sez’” Frying Pan/Signs (c. 2010)
- “I Want to Thank the Good Lord” Sign from Runway to Home Dugout
- Notre Dame Football Helmet, 1943 (Heisman Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli)
- Portion of Goalpost from 1932 Army-Notre Dame Football Game (November 26, 1932)
- Game-Used Football from 1959 Army-Air Force Game (October 31, 1959)
- Fragment of 1958 NFL Championship Game Goalpost (December 28, 1958)
- Jack Dempsey Boxing Gloves (1918)
- Joe Louis Boxing Gloves (c. 1940s)
Bronx Bombers
The New York Yankees’ Home Run Heritage
The New York Yankees franchise is baseball’s “home run team.” Iconic sluggers, intimidating batting orders, and milestone four-base hits have powered a century of success. Babe Ruth inaugurated the team’s home run heritage. The Bambino’s pinstriped successors extended this tradition. Yankees home runs have crowned legends and entered baseball lore. Fans pledge lifelong loyalties to home run heroes. Hard-hitting lineups – from “Murderers’ Row” to today’s Bronx Bombers – have overwhelmed opponents for decades.
Featured Home Runs Include:
- Yankees Home Run #1 (John Ganzel – May 11, 1903)
- Babe Ruth crushes Yankee Stadium’s Inaugural Homer (April 18, 1923)
- Three “Fall Classic” Homers by Ruth (October 6, 1926 and October 9, 1928)
- 60 Homers for “The Babe” (September 30, 1927)
- Four Homers for the “Iron Horse” (June 3, 1932)
- Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” (October 1, 1932)
- Mantle’s “Tape-Measure” Blast (April 17, 1953)
- Mickey Mantle – Off the Frieze! (May 30, 1956)
- Roger Maris hits “61 in ’61” (October 1, 1961)
- Mickey Mantle – Off the Frieze, Again! (May 22, 1963)
- Mantle’s “Fall Classic” Home Run Record (October 15, 1964)
- Chris Chambliss Wins the Pennant (October 14, 1976)
- “Mr. October” (October 18, 1977)
- “Bucky *Bleeping* Dent” (October 2, 1978)
- Eight Straight for “Donnie Baseball” (July 8-18, 1987)
- The “Jeffrey Maier” Home Run (October 9, 1996)
- Halloween Heroics by Tino Martinez (October 31, 2001)
- “Mr. November” (November 1, 2001)
- Scott Brosius Repeats History (November 1, 2001)
- Aaron Boone Wins the Pennant (October 16, 2003)
- Jorge Posada Christens Yankee Stadium (April 16, 2009)
- Derek Jeter’s 3,000th Hit (July 9, 2011)
- 3,000 Hits for Alex Rodriguez (June 19, 2015)
- Aaron Judge’s 62nd Home Run (October 4, 2022)
Did You Know?
Featured Artifacts Include:
- Babe Ruth Home Run Bat/Ball from 1923 World Series-clinching Game 6
- Babe Ruth “Notched” Bat (1928-1929) (Eleven Notches to signify Eleven Home Runs)
- Babe Ruth’s 1932 Road Uniform Jersey (World Series “Called Shot” Home Run)
- Lou Gehrig Bat from his Four-Homer Game (June 3, 1932)
- Mickey Mantle’s 600-Foot Tape Measure (Commemorating his April 17, 1953 Home Run at Washington’s Griffith Stadium)
- Roger Maris’s Uniform Jersey from his 61st Home Run (October 1, 1961)
- Mickey Mantle 1961 Home Uniform Jersey and Bat
- Reggie Jackson’s 1978 Home Uniform Jersey
- Baseball from the Yankee Stadium’s Inaugural Home Run, hit by Jorge Posada (April 16, 2009)
- Aaron Judge’s 2017 Home Uniform Jersey
Derek Jeter
Competitor, Captain, Cooperstown
Derek Jeter received baseball’s highest honor in January 2020 – election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. “The Captain” was formally inducted on September 8, 2021.
Derek Jeter embodied Yankees pride and tradition. As his era’s defining player, Jeter embraced commitment to winning. His bat produced clutch hits under baseball’s brightest spotlights. The shortstop’s “jump-throws” and hustle thrilled fans, while his competitive fire inspired teammates. Designation as Yankees captain reflected Jeter’s team leadership. “Mr. November” rewrote baseball’s postseason record book. Jeter maintained humility while achieving iconic status. He retired ranking among the most celebrated pinstriped legends.
Career Highlights Featured:
- Jeter’s First Yankees Home Run (April 2, 1996)
- The “Jeffrey Maier” Home Run (1996 ALCS Game 1)
- “Subway Series” MVP vs. New York Mets (2000 World Series)
- “The Flip” vs. Oakland Athletics (2001 ALDS Game 3)
- “The Fall” vs. Oakland Athletics (2001 ALDS Game 5)
- “Mr. November” Home Run (2001 World Series Game 4)
- Jeter’s Appointment as Yankees Captain (June 3, 2003)
- “The Dive” vs. Boston Red Sox (July 1, 2004)
- Most Hits at Original Yankee Stadium (1,270 – Ended at 1,274) (September 16, 2008)
- Most Hits in Yankees History (2,722 – Ended at 3,465) (September 11, 2009)
- “DJ3K”: 3,000th Career Hit (July 9, 2011)
- Game-Winning Hit in Yankee Stadium Finale (September 25, 2014)
Featured Artifacts Include:
- 1998-1999 Home Uniform Jersey (including 1999 World Series)
- 1999 World Series Cap
- 2014 Home Uniform Jersey (Final Season)
- 2000 World Series MVP Award Trophy
- 2006 AL “Hank Aaron Award” Trophy
- First Base Bag from Yankees Record-Tying 2,721st Career Hit – September 9, 2009
- 2003 Rawlings Pro DJ2 glove (Autographed)
- 2001 All-Star Game Bat (Jeter’s only ASG Home Run)
- Rookie-Era Bat, 1995-1996 (Autographed)
