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This might be my favorite photo of Yankee Stadium that I haven’t posted in quite a while. Taken just before its opening on April 18, 1923, you can see that the only thing needed to be done is some final touches. Before the opening of this magnificent cathedral, the Yankees “shared” the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants from 1913 to 1922. A partnership that would sour over time.
And if you can look at the exterior, you will see a temporary sign probably proclaiming “Yankee Stadium”. And the Yankees had good reason to be proud of this newest ballpark, for one it was state-of-the art and for another, the Yankees were probably still resentful of the treatment they received at the hands of the Giants owner Charles Stoneham, who was resentful himself of the attention Babe Ruth was stealing away from his team, and forced the Yankees to move out, even suggesting they relocate to Queens.
Polo Grounds with Yankee Stadium in the distance – April 1923
Well, instead of Queens, the Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert built it in the Bronx, only the Harlem River now separating these two hated rivals, and with his own money, and furthermore just minutes from the Polo Grounds as well as positioned so it’s back was facing the Giants ballpark.
Who knows if that was purposely done, but I always wondered if the enclosing of the Polo Grounds soon after was a result of Stoneham wanting to keep the glimpse of the Yankees newest ballpark away from his fans eyes.
