Yankees V’s Boston (Red Sox)

The deafening sound of the trains as they thunder along the tracks, the overcrowded platforms and jam-packed carriages, all make the NY subway experience so surreal. More importantly, I learnt my first lesson in The Big Apple and that is, don’t be polite when boarding a train. It’s the survival of the fittest. Maybe I should say, survival is based on the people who can barge their way through the crowd, will be the ones to board the train. But then again, it’s the final home game for the New York Yankees so you would not expect anything less.

As the train stopped and the carriage doors opened, Eugenio was quick off the mark. However, Matt and I are too well-mannered or naive first timers to NY. The carriage doors started to close and Matt and I are still on the platform. Determined to board the train, I held the doors apart while Matt pushed from the rear so to speak. This brings a new meaning to up close and personal. Also, I’m certain that tinned sardines have more personal space than what we had on the train. Yet, this added to the excitement.

Emerging from the congested subway in the Bronx, you could hear the roar of the near capacity crowd of 52,000. Not to be out done, officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) chimed in directing the large crowd with such aplomb using their standard issued whistle and hand signals which I have never seen before. The new Yankee Stadium is truly impressive and at a cost of $2.3 billon USD, it should be!

To really experience a Yankees ballgame there is only one place to sit and that is, the bleachers (Vanessa’s tip #2). In this section there is a group of fans of the New York Yankees who are known for their strict allegiance to the team and their merciless attitude to opposing fans especially the Red Sox. The group’s nickname Bleacher Creatures was coined by New York Daily News columnist Filip "Flip" Bondy, who spent the 2004 season sitting with the Creatures for research on his book about the group, Bleeding Pinstripes: A Season with the Bleacher Creatures of Yankee Stadium, which was published in 2005.

A prominent aspect of the Bleacher Creatures is their use of chants and songs. The most distinguished of these is the Roll Call, which is done at the beginning of every home game. In the top of the first inning, when the Yankees are on the field and their starting pitcher is getting ready to throw the first pitch, everyone in the section stands and begins clapping.

After the pitch is thrown, one of the Bleacher Creatures gestures for the crowd to calm down then cups his hands around his mouth and shouts out the name of the center fielder. The whole group then proceeds to chant the name of the left fielder, right fielder, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman, in that order until there is a response. This response is usually in the form of a wave or a point; some Yankees respond with extra enthusiasm, such as Nick Swisher who comes to attention faces the Creatures, and salutes.

Often, the opposing team's right fielder, who stands right in front of the Creatures, is a victim of their jeers and insults. Because the Yankees are playing Boston, the intensity of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry takes hold. It’s a rivalry which is similar to the “State of Origin” (Queensland V’s New South Wales) at home. The Creatures most popular chant is "Boston s#*ks!" until that dissipates and if NYPD cut this short, the Creatures resort to chanting "No fun allowed!", or nothing at all. The Creatures are the most loyal fans any team could want, but they are not without controversy.

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After the American National Anthem it was then “Play Ball!” It was a bruising battle in which neither team would give in. You could also say the same for the Bleacher Creatures. Unfortunately there were a few Red Sox fans sitting in the middle of the Yankee bleachers, but not for long. Security and the NYPD removed them for their safety. The question I ask if you are a Red Sox fan, why would you want to sit there in the first place?

The Red Sox led for most of the game (0-1) until the bottom of the 7th inning. Alex Rodriguez then hit a dramatic, go-ahead Yankees home run (2-1). Red Sox then regained the lead at the top of the ninth (2-3). At the bottom the 9th the Yankees then tied the game (3-3). Then, Mariano Rivera blew a save. And then, Jonathan Papelbon blew one. Finally, Juan Miranda drew a bases-loaded walk from Hideki Okajima in the 10th inning that gave the Yankees a dramatic (4-3) win.

In true New York fashion the win was celebrated in the swingin’ style of Ol’ Blue Eyes “New York, New York”, many victory hugs and high fives followed. The game was everything I thought it would be and more. Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today I want to be a part of it – New York, New York...

Don’t you just luv it!
Mark