Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)

Monument Park II, at Yankee Stadium

Monument Park is an open-air museum located in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City, containing a collection of monuments, plaques, and retired numbers honoring distinguished members of the New York Yankees. When Red Ruffing's plaque was dedicated in 2004, his son called it "the second-greatest honor you can have in baseball, in my opinion" trailing only induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.^[1]

The history of the original Monument Park can be traced to the old Yankee Stadium in 1929, when the team posthumously dedicated an on-field monument to manager Miller Huggins in center field. Additional team members were honored with monuments and plaques in the area over the years. During the stadium's renovation in the mid-1970s, the center field fence was moved in 44 feet, enclosing prior monuments, plaques, and a flag pole beyond the field of play. Over time, additional plaques were added to the area and "Monument Park" became formalized; in 1985, the park was opened for public access. When the Yankees moved to their new ballpark in 2009, a replica Monument Park was built beyond the center-field fences and the contents of the old one transported over.

Thirty-seven members of the Yankee organization have been honored in Monument Park, while 22 have had their uniform numbers retired. Plaques in Monument Park are a great honor for players so distinguished. The monuments mounted posthumously on five large red granite blocks are the highest honor of all. Only six Yankees have been so recognized: manager Huggins, players Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio, and owner George Steinbrenner.

History

Precursor

The original Yankee Stadium was built in 1923. As with many other so-called Jewel Box ballparks of the era the flag pole was placed in play. With a generous center field dimension of 500 feet (150 m) to straightaway center field, there was plenty of room for it without materially interfering in play. In 1929, Yankees manager Miller Huggins died suddenly, and in his honor the team erected a free-standing monument in front of the flag pole consisting of a bronze plaque mounted on an upright block of red granite resembling a headstone. This, in turn, led many Yankee fans over the years, particularly children, to believe that the players honored were also buried there upon their death.^[2]

The original placement of the monuments in deep center field at the pre-renovated Yankee Stadium.

The Huggins monument was later joined by similar memorials to Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, which were erected upon their deaths.^[3] Over time, a number of plaques were mounted behind them on the outfield wall. Placing monuments in the field of play was not so unusual at the time, as there had been in-play stones and plaques at the Polo Grounds and Forbes Field. In 1969, Mickey Mantle was given a plaque by Joe DiMaggio to hang on the center field wall, who in turn gave Joe DiMaggio a plaque of his own which, in Mickey's words, had to be hung a little bit higher than his.^[4]

From 1936 through 1973, the distance from home plate to the center field fence was 461 feet (141 m).^[3] Despite the distance, a batted ball still sometimes made it back there. In the 1992 book The Gospel According to Casey, by Ira Berkow and Jim Kaplan, it is reported that on one occasion a Yankees outfielder had let the ball get by him and was fumbling for it among the monuments. Manager Casey Stengel hollered to the field, "Ruth, Gehrig, Huggins, somebody get that ball back to the infield!"^[5]

Monument Park I

The original Monument Park consisted of a row of monuments with plaques lining the wall behind them

When Yankee Stadium was remodeled from 1974–1975, the center field fence was moved in to 417 feet (127 m) from its previous 457 feet (139 m); a subsequent reduction brought the fence in again to 410 feet (120 m). This enclosed the area, formerly in play, containing the flag pole and monuments. As this fenced in area between the two bullpens gathered additional plaques on the original wall it began to be referred to as "Monument Park".^[6]

With the formalization of the area as an official Monument Park, the Mantle and DiMaggio plaques were removed from the wall upon their deaths and mounted on red granite blocks matching the original three of Huggins, Gehrig, and Ruth.

It was an achievement for a home run to reach Monument Park on the fly. Among those who did so were Thurman Munson (in Game 3 of the 1978 ALCS) and Alex Rodriguez (in August 2005).

Monument Park was inaccessible to fans until 1985.^[6] After the center field fence was moved in, the Yankees enabled fans to visit Monument Park prior to most games at Yankee Stadium.^[6] Monument Park was also part of the public tour of the venue.

Monument Park II

The second Monument Park

When the Yankees moved to their new ballpark, the Yankees established a new Monument Park in the new stadium.^[7] An area was built behind the fence in straightaway center field, below the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar that serves as the batter's eye. Built of pearl blue granite from Finland,^[8] this new monument park features the five Yankee monuments in a central area around a black marble Yankees logo. This is flanked by two short stone walls which hold the retired numbers. The plaques are mounted on the back wall and the September 11 monument is on one end of the park.

In contrast to the old stadium, the new Monument Park is not readily visible from the field, and its relatively drab appearance and inconspicuous placement have led some to derisively nickname it "Monument Cave". Spectators can visit Monument Park prior to the beginning of each game. It closes 45 minutes before first pitch.^[9][10]

Honorees

Honored baseball members

The following players and other Yankees personnel are honored with monuments or plaques in Monument Park. Monuments are considered a greater honor than plaques, and are only awarded posthumously.^[11] Often, the uniform number of the player being honored is retired in the same ceremony. Such events historically often took place either at home openers or on Old-Timers' Day, but have lately been scheduled on separate weekend home games. Figures are listed in the order in which their plaques were dedicated:

Plaques lined the rear wall of the original Monument Park

Key

Honoree	Name of the honoree
Position(s)	Fielding position(s) or role in the organization
Yankee career	Years with the Yankee organization
Number retired (x)	Date number retired (and number), if applicable
Plaque	Date plaque dedicated, if applicable
Monument	Date monument dedicated, if applicable
	Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award

Honorees

Honoree	Position(s)	Yankee career	Number retired	Plaque	Monument	Ref
Huggins, MillerMiller Huggins	Manager	1918–1929	21 !—	000000001932-05-30-0000May 30, 1932	000000001932-05-30-0000May 30, 1932	[12]
Gehrig, LouLou Gehrig	First baseman	1923–1939	000000001939-07-04-0000July 4, 1939 (#4)	000000001941-07-06-0000July 6, 1941	000000001941-07-06-0000July 6, 1941	[13]
Ruppert, JacobJacob Ruppert	Owner	1915–1939	22 !—	000000001940-04-19-0000April 19, 1940	07 !—	[14]
Ruth, BabeBabe Ruth	Outfielder	1920–1934	000000001948-06-13-0000June 13, 1948 (#3)	000000001949-04-19-0000April 19, 1949	000000001949-04-19-0000April 19, 1949	[15]
Barrow, EdEd Barrow	General manager	1921–1946	23 !—	000000001954-04-15-0000April 15, 1954	08 !—	[16]
DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio	Outfielder	1936–1951	000000001952-04-18-0000April 18, 1952 (#5)	000000001969-06-08-0000June 8, 1969	000000001999-04-25-0000April 25, 1999	[17]
Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle	Outfielder	1951–1968	000000001969-06-08-0000June 8, 1969 (#7)	000000001969-06-08-0000June 8, 1969	000000001996-08-25-0000August 25, 1996	[18]
McCarthy, JoeJoe McCarthy	Manager	1931–1946	24 !—	000000001976-04-29-0000April 29, 1976	09 !—	[19]
Stengel, CaseyCasey Stengel	Manager	1949–1960	000000001970-08-08-0000August 8, 1970 (#37)	000000001976-07-30-0000July 30, 1976	10 !—	[20]
Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson	Catcher	1969–1979	000000001979-08-02-0000August 2, 1979 (#15)	000000001980-09-20-0000September 20, 1980	11 !—	[21]
Howard, ElstonElston Howard	Catcher / Outfielder	1955–1967	000000001984-07-21-0000July 21, 1984 (#32)	000000001984-07-21-0000July 21, 1984	12 !—	[22]
Maris, RogerRoger Maris	Outfielder	1960–1966	000000001984-07-21-0000July 21, 1984 (#9)	000000001984-07-21-0000July 21, 1984	13 !—	[22]
Rizzuto, PhilPhil Rizzuto	Shortstop / Broadcaster	1941–1956, 1957–96	000000001985-08-04-0000August 4, 1985 (#10)	000000001985-08-04-0000August 4, 1985	14 !—	[23]
Martin, BillyBilly Martin	Second baseman / Manager	1950–1957, 1975–1978, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1988	000000001986-08-10-0000August 10, 1986 (#1)	000000001986-08-10-0000August 10, 1986	15 !—	[24]
Gomez, LeftyLefty Gomez	Pitcher	1930–1942	25 !—	000000001987-08-01-0000August 1, 1987	16 !—	[25]
Ford, WhiteyWhitey Ford	Pitcher	1950–1967	000000001974-08-03-0000August 3, 1974 (#16)	000000001987-08-01-0000August 1, 1987	17 !—	[25]
Dickey, BillBill Dickey	Catcher	1928–1946	000000001972-07-22-0000July 22, 1972 (#8)	000000001988-08-21-0000August 21, 1988	18 !—	[26]
Berra, YogiYogi Berra	Catcher / Outfielder	1946–1963	000000001972-07-22-0000July 22, 1972 (#8)	000000001988-08-21-0000August 21, 1988	19 !—	[26]
Reynolds, AllieAllie Reynolds	Pitcher	1947–1954	26 !—	000000001989-08-27-0000August 27, 1989	20 !—	[27]
Mattingly, DonDon Mattingly	First baseman	1982–1995	000000001997-08-31-0000August 31, 1997 (#23)	000000001997-08-31-0000August 31, 1997	21 !—	[28]
Allen, MelMel Allen	Broadcaster	1939–1964, 1976–1989	27 !—	000000001998-07-25-0000July 25, 1998	22 !—	[29]
Sheppard, BobBob Sheppard	Public address announcer	1951–2007	28 !—	000000002000-05-07-0000May 7, 2000	23 !—	[30]
Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson	Outfielder	1977–1981	000000001993-08-14-0000August 14, 1993 (#44)	000000002002-07-06-0000July 6, 2002	24 !—	[31]
Guidry, RonRon Guidry	Pitcher	1975–1988	000000002003-08-23-0000August 23, 2003 (#49)	000000002003-08-23-0000August 23, 2003	25 !—	[32]
Ruffing, RedRed Ruffing	Pitcher	1930–1946	29 !—	000000002004-07-10-0000July 10, 2004	26 !—	[1]
Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson	Second baseman	—	000000001997-04-15-0000April 15, 1997 (#42)	000000002007-04-17-0000April 17, 2007[lower-alpha 1]	27 !—	[33]
Steinbrenner, GeorgeGeorge Steinbrenner	Owner	1973–2010	30 !—	000000002010-09-20-0000September 20, 2010	000000002010-09-20-0000September 20, 2010	[34]
Rivera, MarianoMariano Rivera	Pitcher	1995–2013	000000002013-09-22-0000September 22, 2013 (#42)	000000002016-08-14-0000August 14, 2016	28 !—	[35]
Martinez, TinoTino Martinez	First baseman	1996–2001, 2005	31 !—	000000002014-06-21-0000June 21, 2014	29 !—	[36]
Gossage, GooseGoose Gossage	Pitcher	1978–1983, 1989	32 !—	000000002014-06-22-0000June 22, 2014	30 !—	[36]
O'Neill, PaulPaul O'Neill	Outfielder	1993–2001	33 !—	000000002014-08-09-0000August 9, 2014	31 !—	[36]
Torre, JoeJoe Torre	Manager	1996–2007	000000002014-08-23-0000August 23, 2014 (#6)	000000002014-08-23-0000August 23, 2014	32 !—	[36]
Williams, BernieBernie Williams	Outfielder	1991–2006	000000002015-05-24-0000May 24, 2015 (#51)	000000002015-05-24-0000May 24, 2015	33 !—	[37]
Randolph, WillieWillie Randolph	Second baseman / Coach	1975–1988, 1994–2004	34 !—	000000002015-06-20-0000June 20, 2015	34 !—	[38]
Stottlemyre, MelMel Stottlemyre	Pitcher / Coach	1964–1974, 1996–2005	35 !—	000000002015-06-20-0000June 20, 2015	35 !—	[39]
Posada, JorgeJorge Posada	Catcher	1995–2011	000000002015-08-22-0000August 22, 2015 (#20)	000000002015-08-22-0000August 22, 2015	36 !—	[40]
Pettitte, AndyAndy Pettitte	Pitcher	1995–2003, 2007–2010, 2012–2013	000000002015-08-23-0000August 23, 2015 (#46)	000000002015-08-23-0000August 23, 2015	37 !—	[41]

Although the Yankees adopted uniform numbers in 1929, McCarthy never wore a number with the Yankees.^[42]

Ruppert's plaque was placed on the outfield wall, to the right of the flagpole. The Lou Gehrig monument was placed to the left of the Huggins monument. Gehrig was the first Major League Baseball player to have his uniform number retired.^[43] The Babe Ruth monument was placed to the right of the Huggins monument. The Ed Barrow plaque was placed on the wall, to the left of the flagpole.

The plaque in the first Monument Park in honor of Jackie Robinson

In honor of Jackie Robinson's unique place as the first black player of the modern era, his number 42 was retired throughout baseball on April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees erected a plaque for Robinson^[33] reading: "In becoming the first Major League player to break the color barrier, Jackie will forever be an inspiration with his grace, dignity and perseverance. His story and the stories of those who never had the same opportunity must never be forgotten." 42s were also painted in front of each dugout. Players active at the time of the number's retirement in 1997 were granted a special exemption permitting them to continue wearing the number for the remainder of their careers; the last such active player to wear number 42 was Yankee relief pitcher Mariano Rivera.^[44]

The Yankees honored Rivera by retiring his uniform number on September 22, 2013, during his final season, making him the first active player to be enshrined in Monument Park.^[45] Mantle wore his #7 when he coached the Yankees in 1970, even though it was retired the previous year, while Berra wore his #8 while he coached the Yankees from 1976 through 1985, though it was retired in 1972. Similarly, when Martin returned to manage the Yankees in 1988, he wore his #1, which had been retired in his honor in 1986.^[42]

Other honorees

In addition to baseball related recognitions, the Knights of Columbus donated plaques in honor of the Masses celebrated at Yankee Stadium by Pope Paul VI on October 4, 1965; Pope John Paul II on October 2, 1979; and Pope Benedict XVI on April 20, 2008.^[46] The Yankees also dedicated a monument to the victims and rescue workers of the September 11 attacks on September 11, 2002, the first anniversary of the attacks.^[47] They dedicated a plaque to Nelson Mandela on April 16, 2014, to commemorate his life and 1990 visit to Yankee Stadium.^{[48][49][50][lower-alpha 2]}

Image gallery

See also

• Media related to Monument Park at Wikimedia Commons
• List of New York Yankees in the Baseball Hall of Fame
• New York Yankees Museum
• New York Yankees award winners and league leaders

Notes

References

New York Yankees
Formerly the New York Highlanders – Based in The Bronx, New York City, New York
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Ballparks	Hilltop Park Polo Grounds Yankee Stadium (opened 1923) (Events) Shea Stadium Yankee Stadium (opened 2009) Spring training: Whittington Park West End Park Barrs Field Bader Field Al Lang Stadium Fort Lauderdale Stadium George M. Steinbrenner Field
Lore	Curse of the Bambino Johnny Sylvester Murderers' Row Babe Ruth's called shot Ed Lucas Don Larsen's perfect game M&M Boys Harmonica Incident 1978 AL East tie-breaker game Pine Tar Incident Jeffrey Maier The Yankee Years The Core Four David Wells' perfect game David Cone's perfect game
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Rivalries	Boston Red Sox New York Mets Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants Subway Series
Monument Park honorees	Mel Allen Ed Barrow Yogi Berra Bill Dickey Joe DiMaggio Whitey Ford Lou Gehrig Lefty Gomez Goose Gossage Ron Guidry Elston Howard Miller Huggins Reggie Jackson Mickey Mantle Roger Maris Billy Martin Tino Martinez Don Mattingly Joe McCarthy Thurman Munson Paul O'Neill Andy Pettitte Jorge Posada Willie Randolph Allie Reynolds Phil Rizzuto Red Ruffing Jacob Ruppert Babe Ruth Bob Sheppard George Steinbrenner Casey Stengel Mel Stottlemyre Joe Torre Bernie Williams
Key personnel	Owners: Yankee Global Enterprises Hal Steinbrenner Hank Steinbrenner General Manager: Brian Cashman Manager: Joe Girardi
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Coordinates: 40°49′47.22″N 73°55′31.7″W / 40.8297833°N 73.925472°W / 40.8297833; -73.925472