A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

My last trip down memory stadium tours was going to be one of my best --Yankee Stadium. But with the World Series over after the sweep in Minutes Is How Long the Astros Lasted Park, I jumped ahead.

When we got to the Bronx Park, one of the first noticeable sights, besides two muggings, two drug deals, two gay men open-mouth kissing, was the big Yankee baseball bat. And,of course, all the tradition. I mean this is where Kenny Boyer hit a grand slam that helped cement the 1964 World Series for the Cardinals.

Once inside, we headed to our seats in the upper right field deck. About halfway up. In the beautiful July sun that cooked us as we watched the Yanks slaughter the Indians of Cleveland as Hemingway called them. But before that, a thirteen year old Courtney was offered a beer by a vendor in Yankee stadium. This is the same young lady who was carded at Jimmy Buffet's Restaurant in Key West when she was in college. Speaking of being carded. July 4, 2005, Courtney and I went to the BOB to watch the Cardinals whip up on the Snakes. At a Ribbies stand with our food, we each ordered a beer. Courtney had just turned 25; I, well, I was 56. I got carded! I tell this to only a few since it is so prepostrous. I fumbled around in my wallet and said someting like, "You've got to be kidding." Dead serious, this myopic lady looked surprised and said,"We have to card people who look under 30." When she saw my driver's license, she really looked surprised, "Well, you'll have to show it again if you go to another vendor." Needless to say, I didn't. Meanwhile, Courtney got her brew without a hitch. Just goes to show you: not all the crazies in the world are in chicogo.

Back to NY. Then Courtney and Caroline take off looking for something to eat besides hot dogs. I know, and agree: why? Unless it's brats, or White Castles, how can you improve on hot dogs at the ballgame? They are gone so long that Scott and I miss out on a tour of the monuments in left/center. In 1993, they didn't allow you back there one hour before game time.

Well fed, well souveniered, we settled in to watch where Julian Javier and Dick Groat played and turned double plays in the '64 Series. Heck, even Dal Maxvill played in the great Yankee Stadium.

In about the third inning, a fan holds up a piece of cardboard which says Albert Belle on it, scrawled in red magic marker. He stands next to the overhang in the aisle and directs the fans to his sign. "Trow the bum ova," Scott yells. "Get him outta heer," I chime in. We nearly got the guy killed. The whole upper deck starts yelling at him and throwing stuff at him. All because of a few midwestern fans with bad accents. The police had to take him away, before he got some help going ova da rail.

It was so much fun. Yankee Stadium is an A stadium. A place you simply have to experience. I didn't even mind the DH there.