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A visit to the Bronx for the World Series
It was October, so that meant that the Yankees were again post-season participants. Joe, the Webmaster for BASEBALLPARKS.COM, traveled to the Bronx to take in Game 3 of the '99 World Series . . . and what a memorable night -- and historic Series -- it was! The Yanks laid claim not only to the title of Team Of The '90s, but they are also the hands-down winner of Team Of The Century, as they won their 25th World Series, this time in a four-game sweep over Atlanta. As shown below (just after the final play of Game 3, won by the Yanks in the 10th inning), there's no happier person on earth than baseball fanatic Joe.
Join us for a look at a night at the most historic of all sports
facilities -- Yankee Stadium!
More than two hours before the first pitch, the traffic is backed up for miles coming into the stadium area. This photo (upper left) is taken while heading down the hill known as Coogan's Bluff in the heart of Harlem. Yankee Stadium, in the center of the shot, is just across the Macombs Dam Bridge, which crosses the Harlem River between the South Bronx and the upper tip of Manhattan.
By the way, just to the left of this scene is the site where the Polo Grounds stood. This stadium was the home of the New York Giants, New York Mets (for their first two seasons) and, yes, even the Yankees (from 1913 through 1922).
In the photo on the right, you see the throngs along River Avenue, which is the street just beyond right field of Yankee Stadium. The elevated train tracks, which bring thousands of fans to every home game, run above this street.
The World Series hero from the previous year, Scott Brosius, is being introduced in the photo on the left. The Braves are along the third-base line, and the Yankees (in the "home white" uniforms) are along the first-base line.
As Paul O'Neill loosens up in front of the Yankees' dugout (foreground of the photo on the right), the umps gather at home plate as the line-up cards are exchanged.
Before he can even get out of the batters box, Yankee Bernie Williams
sees that he has lined into a double play. Brian Hunter, the Braves'
first baseman, makes a lunging grab of Williams' liner, and then touches
first to double off Paul O'Neill.
In a shot that shows the beautiful panorama of the Yankee Stadium outfield, New York DH Chili Davis -- who had a miserable Series -- has popped out to short right field.
It's the bottom of the 10th, and Chad Curtis has just hit his second homer of the night, giving the Yanks a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 victory. His teammates are mobbing him as he arrives at home plate.
On the right, you see the message board: WOW! The time was 11:39 p.m., and the Jumbo-tron is showing a replay of Curtis celebrating as he watched the ball sail over the wall in left.
Two interesting events happened within a minute of the scoring of the winning run. First, countless police officers poured onto the field to form a ring around fair territory. They even employed officers on horseback!
Second, all of the television crews leapt onto the field to set up for post-game interviews and analysis. ESPN's Chris Berman, Peter Gammons and Harold Reynolds set up near third base.
About an hour after the game had ended, Yankee Stadium was shining
in the South Bronx night. A fitting scene for the crown jewel of
baseball.
