The House That Ruth Built

Lore & Background

The stadium was built from 1922 to 1923 for $2.4 million (equivalent to $45.4 million in 2025), paid for entirely by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. It opened for the 1923 season and was hailed as a unique facility. Its nickname derives from Babe Ruth, whose prime years coincided with the stadium's opening and the beginning of the Yankees' winning history. The stadium hosted World Series games, no-hitters, perfect games, historic home runs, boxing matches, the 1958 NFL Championship Game, college football, concerts, and three Papal Masses. Its condition deteriorated in the 1960s and 1970s, prompting closure for renovation from October 1973 through 1975, which significantly altered its appearance and reduced outfield fence distances.

In Their Own Story

The summer air hung heavy over the Bronx, thick with the scent of roasted peanuts and cut grass. Inside the cavernous bowl, the roar of fifty thousand fans vibrated through the concrete foundations. A batter stepped into the box, the silence falling like a curtain as he gripped the bat. The pitch arced through the twilight, meeting leather with a crack that echoed off the towering brick walls. For a heartbeat, time suspended itself in the shadow of the center field scoreboard. Then, the ball soared toward the deep right-field bleachers, a black speck against the fading sky, landing where legends had once landed before him.

Reader's Guide

Yankee Stadium closed following the 2008 season. The new stadium opened in 2009, adopting the "Yankee Stadium" moniker. The original stadium was demolished in 2010, and the 8-acre site was converted into a public park called Heritage Field. Monument Park, a Hall of Fame for prominent former Yankees, was relocated to the new stadium.

Did You Know?

• The stadium hosted 37 World Series during its history.
• The stadium hosted 4 All-Star Games.
• The stadium's construction was paid for entirely by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert.
• The stadium was the first facility in North America with three tiers of seating.