By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
07/31/2007 3:00 PM ET
The logo for the 2008 All-Star Game was unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday. (Major League Baseball)
NEW YORK -- An All-Star summer will take hold of New York City next year, and Yankee Stadium played host to a sneak glimpse on Tuesday.
The Yankees, Major League Baseball and the City of New York unveiled the official 2008 All-Star Game logo in a press conference at the historic stadium, discussing plans for a summer that will use the Bronx Midsummer Classic as a centerpiece for the metropolis.
The All-Star Game logo prominently features aspects paying homage to the stage upon which the game will be played. Yankee Stadium's historic and recognizable facade plays a headlining role, in addition to the Yankees' classic pinstripes.
With the new Yankee Stadium rapidly rising just one block away from the current facility in the Bronx, Yankee Stadium was announced as the site for the 79th All-Star Game at a City Hall press conference on Jan. 31.
The 2008 campaign will be the Yankees' final one on the current grounds, making the All-Star Game a fitting send off for a facility that has been the host to numerous historic events over the decades. Yankee Stadium has held four All-Star Games previously, including one most recently in 1977, following an extensive renovation of the building in the mid-70s.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg represented the City of New York in the official unveiling. The Yankees were represented by 15-time All-Star Yogi Berra, plus fellow multiple-time All-Stars Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui and Ron Guidry.
Also in attendance at the on-field press conference were MLB president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy, plus a host of other Yankees front-office officials, including executive vice president and treasurer Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine and chief operating officer Lonn Trost.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
One more for the books
Yankee Stadium to host All-Star Game in its doors for final time
By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com
07/31/2007 3:00 PM ET
NEW YORK -- If history truly repeats itself, then the American League All-Stars may be in trouble when Yankee Stadium hosts the 79th Midsummer Classic in 2008, because the Junior Circuit has lost two of the three previous All-Star Games played in The House That Ruth Built.
Then again, if modern history repeats itself, the AL All-Star squad will walk away victorious, as it has since the 1997 game (with the exception of the 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park in Milwaukee).
Despite what happens in '08, one thing is for sure when it comes to All-Star Games played in the ballpark at 161st Street and River Avenue: future legends will be on display.
Yankee Stadium played host to its first Midsummer Classic in 1939. Ten Yankees players -- six of which were selected as starters -- joined their skipper and AL manager, Joe McCarthy, for a 3-1 victory over the National League in seventh All-Star Game played.
Yankees pitcher Red Ruffing started the game, and Joe DiMaggio connected for a home run in front of the 62,892 in attendance. Outfielder George Selkirk, third baseman Red Rolfe, pitchers Johnny Murphy and Lefty Gomez, second baseman Joe Gordon, first baseman Lou Gehrig, shortstop Frankie Crosetti and catcher Bill Dickey also suited up for the Bombers.
Officially, it was the second All-Star Game played in New York, because five years earlier, the Polo Grounds hosted the annual event in the Big Apple. The main reason Yankee Stadium welcomed the best players around the country to the Bronx in 1939 was because the World's Fair was being held at Flushing Meadows in Queens that very same year.
Now, fast forward to 1960, when catchers Yogi Berra and Elston Howard, pitchers Whitey Ford and Jim Coates, outfielders Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris and first baseman Bill Skowron were honored with All-Star nominations for the Yankees.
The game occurred during the 1959-62 era, when the Midsummer Classic was played in a two-game format. After the AL dropped the first game, 5-3, on July 11 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, the All-Star squads headed to New York for the second game.
Willie Mays after belting a home run in the 1960 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Bob Skinner of the Pittsburgh Pirates greets the superstar while catcher Yogi Berra and umpire Nestor Chylak look on.
Willie Mays came into the Bronx fresh off a performance in All-Star Game No. 28 in which he was a home run short of the cycle. The results didn't get any better for the AL team in All-Star Game No. 29, as Ford and the Junior Circuit lost, 6-0, at Yankee Stadium on July 13.
Mays finished the two games 6-for-8 at the plate. He even blasted a home run in Game 2, along with teammates Eddie Mathews, Stan Musial and Ken Boyer. Vern Law was the winning pitcher. That game also marked the 18th and final time that Ted Williams would play among the elite players in the Midsummer Classic.
Nearly 20 years later, a new slate of Yankees would take the field in the most recent All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium in 1977, which came after the stadium's renovation.
Headed by manager Billy Martin, the Yankees were represented by outfielder Reggie Jackson, catcher Thurman Munson, third baseman Graig Nettles, second baseman Willie Randolph and pitcher Sparky Lyle in the 48th All-Star Game.
DiMaggio and Mays attended the game as honorary captains, much to the delight of the 56,683 in attendance. Once again, the NL beat the AL, 7-5, behind the pitching of the game's MVP, Don Sutton.
Future Hall of Famers in that 1977 game who were on the Senior Circuit roster included Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Sutton, Mike Schmidt, Dave Winfield, Tom Seaver, Bruce Sutter and Steve Carlton. Morgan, Steve Garvey and Greg Luzinski homered for the NL.
Future Hall of Famers who were on the Junior Circuit roster included Rod Carew, George Brett, Carl Yastrzemski, Jackson, Carlton Fisk, Jim Palmer, Dennis Eckersley and Nolan Ryan. George Scott homered for the AL.
Caleb Breakey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
No comments:
Post a Comment