Letter To The Steinbrenner Family

Dear Steinbrenner Family;

It saddens us deeply to see what you have done with the prized New York Yankees.  When asked if you would ever consider selling the Yankees you stated that, "You cannot sell the Mona Lisa".  This statement made many cringe as you simply do not get it.  While the Mona Lisa is a truly valuable painting hanging in France, the New York Yankees are equally distinctive playing in the Bronx.

I am not upset for what you have done with the team at times.  Though you were suspended a few times which allowed true baseball minds to build great teams, you still presided over the team during the most recent dynasty era of New York.  The Joe Torre era will be one which will become legendary as time trickles by.

What saddens me and true baseball lovers is what you are doing in June.  You built what may be one of the most beautiful ballparks in the world which no one can afford.  No longer can a father take his son to a game and have a hot dog.  No longer can many small businesses even purchase tickets for their employees and clients.  You built a monstrocity which has no history and the team will forever be cursed by the ghosts which live across the street.

Yankee Stadium was a place every father took their son to their first game at.  Billy Crystal is not the only one with nostalgic memories.  Every man has these memories.  My father remembers his first game with my grandfather as I remember mine with my father.  Unfortunately my son will never understand the auora and mystique of the Original Yankee Stadium and what it was like to smell the old cigars and hot dogs which had somehow penetrated the concrete flooring and walls or the sight of the green grass and infield dirt as you would come out from the tunnel.

Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio are only a few of the many true baseball legends who played on that field.  You are now going to knock it down.  With it will go the ghosts of past and memories of new.

How much money is enough money and when does the point for nostalga and love come in?

Enjoy your new state of the art, cannot sell out stadium, no one else can and forever will our memories of the real Yankee Stadium live on.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Goetz