June 18, 2009: Bronx, New York

If the original Yankee Stadium was The House that Ruth Built, the new Yankee Stadium is The House that Jeter Built. Derek Jeter became the Yankees full-time shortstop in 1996. His arrival launched what the Yankee Stadium Museum calls The Jeter Era. Jeter, along with outfielder Bernie Williams, catcher Jorge Posada, starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and lights-out closer Mariano Rivera, led the Bronx Bombers to four World Series titles in five seasons. The team was guided by the stoic Joe Torre and played their home games in historic Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, a venue unlike any other in sports. I waited until 2001 to make my first visit to Yankee Stadium and was blown away by the intense atmosphere: Postseason comebacks propelled by mystique and aura, and the sense that, regardless of the score or inning, the Yankees were going to win. This was real; search Byung-Hyung Kim or Grady Little. Despite the home field advantage, the old Yankee Stadium’s amenities did not offer fans the same game day experience that became standard during the ballpark boom of the 1990s and 2000s. This led to the end of an era with the old Yankee Stadium closing its doors following the 2008 season, ushering in a ballpark unlike any other.

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