Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral

Upon opening in 1923, Yankee Stadium was a new kind of ballpark. It was the first to bear the name not of “grounds” or “field” but of “stadium,” which is to say it was the first to emphasize the structure itself. The majestic Stadium dwarfed every other ballpark, with nearly twice the seating of its largest rival, and its capacity to inspire awe made it an important tourist attraction. 

Only one ballpark, just across the Harlem River and now long gone, could challenge Yankee Stadium for the sheer weight of dramatic baseball events. Other occasions, like the papal masses, Joe Louis’ knockout of both Max Schmeling and Hitler’s theory of Aryan supremacy, and Lou Gehrig’s speech, have lifted Yankee Stadium beyond the realm of sport. 

Presenter Peter Laskowich