Kids At Yankee Stadium

Sam Bernstein

My mother attended one major league baseball game in her lifetime. Her only game was also my first, as she fulfilled a ninth-birthday promise to take me to a game to see my favorite player, Yogi Berra. I very much wanted to emulate Berra and become a catcher. I do not think that my mother knew in advance that the game we attended on September 19, 1959, was “Yogi Berra Day” at Yankee Stadium. This game was at the end of the season series between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox and neither team had a successful season.

Yogi Berra

I remember little of that day. Having watched the Yankees all summer on WPIX telecasts on a small screen “black and white” television, Yankee Stadium presented an overwhelming visual experience. The emerald green grass, the enormous ballpark, the huge expanse of grandstands and bleachers and a souvenir baseball are all I can recall from that momentous day in my life. I wish I could tell you that I remember Whitey Ford’s complete game four-hitter or Marv Throneberry’s home run but I returned to our suburban Long Island home absolutely captivated by my first ballpark experience.

George McQuinn

Gerry Grossman

My father didn’t follow sports, so I went to my first game with some friends from my neighborhood in New York City.  I don’t remember the date, but since George McQuinn was the Yankee first baseman it had to be either 1947 or 1948.  Also in the infield were Snuffy Sternweiss at second and, of course, Phil Rizzuto at short. One thing that stood out was how Joe DiMaggio moved in center field – gracefully was the only word to describe his movements.  On either side of DiMaggio were Charlie Keller, a power-hitting, left fielder and Tommy Henrich, “Old Reliable” in right.  The Yankees used two pitchers in the game, first Spud Chandler and then Joe Page came on in relief.  It was over 75 years ago, but I remember it vividly