Babe Ruth

On this date in 1948 at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees retire Babe Ruth's uniform number 3 during ceremonies that also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Stadium.

"Babe Ruth was the greatest player that ever lived. I mean people say he's less than a god, but more than a man. Like Hercules or something." - Benny, The Sandlot

Fly on the wall during the planning for the new Yankee Stadium

"There is a ton of money in New York, you know. People will pay through the nose to see the Yankees. Trust us."

"Call them something like the 'Legends Suite'. The demand will be overwhelming. You might even have to sell them through a lottery. It's like printing money!"

"You could probably even make them buy seat licenses."

"No! No! Double that figure!"

Not really Pedro!

In what appeared to be a pretty lively World Series press conference, Pedro Martinez displayed some very severe delusions of grandeur by saying this regarding his alleged status as a Yankee Stadium icon:

"I don't know if you realize this, but because of you guys (the press) in some ways, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium. I can honestly say that."*

My retort:

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Kevin Maas (just making sure everybody is awake out there), Phil Rizzuto, Ron Guidry, Billy Martin, Goose Gossage......

The list goes on.

When I was a young lad growing up on the mean streets of Metro Detroit suburbia, I had a hardcover illustrated book on the history of baseball. I loved the book and probably read it cover to cover hundreds of times. You still see it in libraries. I am guessing that books like this were not widely distributed in the Dominican Republic.

*Those sportswriters must have been asleep. The obvious follow up question should have been, "Well then how come you are not on even one of those thousands of Upper Deck Yankee Stadium history cards?" They blew it! They could have nailed him!

Aren't playoff games supposed to sell out?

So I see that the announced attendance for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was 49,688, almost 3000 people less than the 52,325 capacity of Yankee Stadium.

I don't think it was the cold as that has never stopped fans from coming out in the past. You just bundle up, right?

Apparently most of the empty seats were in the Legends section where seats were going on Ticketmaster before the game for $1406 a piece; and don't forget the $7 "convenience charge".*

Obviously, many fans have simply been priced out of the market. I am all for teams maximizing revenue but when you have thousands of your best seats unsold for a playoff game, your business model seems a bit off. There are only so many rich people around you know; even in New York.

I think they might need like a new stadium or something.

*You know when there is a big dollar "buy it now" card on ebay with the asking price well in excess of it's true value and the seller usually offers free shipping because he is making such a killing on the card? The Yankees don't even do this. Pay us $1406 for the ticket and also pay us $7 to give it to you. Pass.