Ballpark Finales, 1938-2019

Today, the Texas Rangers closed the ballpark they'd played just 26 seasons, most of them not very good, at, with a 6-1 win over my Yankees.

26 seasons. That's a ballpark-replacement rate on the Atlanta Braves' level.

Ballpark Finales

June 30, 1938, Baker Bowl, Philadelphia: New York Giants 14, Philadelphia Phillies 1.

September 21, 1946, League Park, Cleveland: Detroit Tigers 5, Cleveland Indians 3.

September 21, 1952, Braves Field, Boston: Brooklyn Dodgers 8, Boston Braves 2.

September 27, 1953, last Browns game, Sportsman's Park, St. Louis: Chicago White Sox 2, St. Louis Browns 1, 11 innings.

September 19, 1954, last Athletics game at Shibe Park (Connie Mack Stadium), Philadelphia: New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Athletics 2.

September 24, 1957, Ebbets Field, Brooklyn: Brooklyn Dodgers 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 0.

September 29, 1957, last Giants game at Polo Grounds, New York: Pittsburgh Pirates 9, New York Giants 1.

September 20, 1959, last game at Seals Stadium, San Francisco: Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 2.

October 2, 1960, last "old" Washington Senators game, Griffith Stadium, Washington: Baltimore Orioles 2, Washington Senators 1.

September 20, 1961, last Dodgers game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Chicago Cubs 2, 13 innings.

September 21, 1961, last game at Griffith Stadium, Washington: Minnesota Twins 6, Washington Senators 3.

October 1, 1961, last game at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles: Cleveland Indians 8, Los Angeles Angels 5.

September 18, 1963, last Mets game at Polo Grounds, New York: Philadelphia Phillies 5, New York Mets 1.

September 27, 1964, last game at Colt Stadium, Houston: Houston Colt .45's, 1, Los Angeles Dodgers 0, 12 innings.

September 22, 1965, last Braves game at Milwaukee County Stadium: Los Angeles Dodgers 7, Milwaukee Braves 6.

September 22, 1965, last Angels game at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: California Angels 2, Boston Red Sox 0.

May 8, 1966, last game at Sportsman's Park (the original Busch Stadium), St. Louis: San Francisco Giants 10, St. Louis Cardinals 5.

September 27, 1967, last Athletics game at Kansas City Municipal Stadium: Kansas City Athletics 4, Chicago White Sox 0.

October 2, 1969, last Seattle Pilots game, at Sick's Stadium, Seattle: Oakland Athletics 3, Seattle Pilots 1.

June 24, 1970, last game at Crosley Field, Cincinnati: Cincinnati Reds 5, San Francisco Giants 4.

June 28, 1970, last game at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Chicago Cubs 1.

October 1, 1970, last game at Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Phillies 2, Montreal Expos 1, 10 innings.

September 30, 1971, last "new" Washington Senators game, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington: Washington Senators led New York Yankees 7-5, but fans stormed the field, and the umpires awarded the game to the Yankees by forfeit.

October 4, 1972, last game at Kansas City Municipal Stadium: Kansas City Royals 4, Texas Rangers 0.

September 30, 1973, last game at pre-renovation original Yankee Stadium, New York: Detroit Tigers 8, New York Yankees 5.

September 28, 1975, last Yankee game at Shea Stadium, New York (until an emergency forced a "home game" there in 1998): New York Yankees 3, Baltimore Orioles 2.

September 26, 1976, last baseball game at Jarry Park, Montreal: Philadelphia Phillies 2, Montreal Expos 1. The Phillies clinched the National League Eastern Division title in this game.

September 30, 1981, last baseball game at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington: Kansas City Royals 5, Minnesota Twins 2.

May 28, 1989, last baseball game at Exhibition Stadium, Toronto: Toronto Blue Jays 7, Chicago White Sox 5, 10 innings.

September 30, 1990, last game at Comiskey Park, Chicago: Chicago White Sox 2, Seattle Mariners 1.

October 6, 1991, last Orioles game at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore: Detroit Tigers 7, Baltimore Orioles 1.

October 3, 1993, last baseball game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium: Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland Indians 0.

October 3, 1993, last game at Arlington Stadium, Texas: Kansas City Royals 4, Texas Rangers 1.

August 11, 1994, strike-forced last baseball game at Mile High Stadium, Denver: Atlanta Braves 13, Colorado Rockies 0.

October 24, 1996, last game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Game 5 of the World Series: New York Yankees 1, Atlanta Braves 0.

June 27, 1999, last baseball game at Kingdome, Seattle: Seattle Mariners 5, Texas Rangers 2.

September 27, 1999, last game at Tiger Stadium, Detroit: Detroit Tigers 8, Kansas City Royals 2.

September 30, 1999, last baseball game at Candlestick Park, San Francisco: Los Angeles Dodgers 9, San Francisco Giants 4.

October 9, 1999, last baseball game at Astrodome, Houston, Game of of the National League Division Series: Atlanta Braves 7, Houston Astros 5.

September 28, 2000, last game at Milwaukee County Stadium: Cincinnati Reds 8, Milwaukee Brewers 1.

October 1, 2000, last baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh: Chicago Cubs 10, Pittsburgh Pirates 9.

September 22, 2002, last game at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati: Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 3.

September 28, 2003, last game at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia: Atlanta Braves 5, Philadelphia Phillies 2.

September 28, 2003, last baseball game at Jack Murphy (Qualcomm/SDCCU) Stadium, San Diego: Colorado Rockies 10, San Diego Padres 8.

September 29, 2004, last Expos game at Olympic Stadium, Montreal: Florida Marlins 9, Montreal Expos 1.

October 19, 2005, last game at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Game 6 of the National League Championship Series: Houston Astros 5, St. Louis Cardinals 1.

September 23, 2007, last baseball game at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington: Washington Nationals 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3.

September 21, 2008, last game at original Yankee Stadium: New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 3.

September 28, 2008, last game at Shea Stadium, New York: Florida Marlins 4, New York Mets 2.

October 11, 2009, last baseball game at Metrodome, Minneapolis, Game 3 of the American League Division Series: New York Yankees 4, Minnesota Twins 1.

September 28, 2011, last baseball game at what's now named Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens: Washington Nationals 3, Florida Marlins 1.

October 2, 2016, last game at Turner Field, Atlanta: Atlanta Braves 1, Detroit Tigers 0.

September 29, 2019, last game at Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas: Texas Rangers 6, New York Yankees 1.

Finales of Yankee Legends

With today, September 28, being the 50th Anniversary of Mickey Mantle's last game, the 10th Anniversary of Mike Mussina's, the 5th Anniversary of Andy Pettitte's, and the 4th Anniversary of Derek Jeter's, I follow my September 1 post on the debuts of Yankee Legends, with their finales.

As I did on September 1, this list includes the last game for the Yankees of every Yankee figure in Monument Park, any member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who had significant contributions to the Yankees, and any player who got a YES Network Yankeeography. Obviously, it can't include current Yankees, even 38-year-old CC Sabathia, since, given that the Yankees have at least made the Wild Card Game, he might appear in a Yankee uniform at least one more time.

September 19, 1929, Yankee Stadium, Miller Huggins (as manager): Yankees lose to Chicago White Sox 7-0. The next day, just 51 years old, he checked himself into a hospital, was diagnosed with an infection, was further weakened by influenza, and, with antibiotics not available in those days, died on September 25.

May 27, 1930, Yankee Stadium, Waite Hoyt: Yankees lose to Washington Senators 7-2. Hoyt started and lost, and was soon traded to the Detroit Tigers.

September 23, 1933, Fenway Park, Herb Pennock: Yankees beat Boston Red Sox 16-12. Pennock was hit hard, but was the winning pitcher. He went back to the Red Sox for 1934, and then retired.

September 30, 1934, Griffth Stadium, Babe Ruth: Yankees lose to Senators 5-3. The Babe goes 0-for-3. The Yankees lose despite a home run from Lou Gehrig. 

September 29, 1935, Yankee Stadium, Earle Combs: Yankees lose to Red Sox 4-3. Combs is used as a pinch-runner for Bill Dickey, but does not score. He was still dealing with the effects of a head injury the season before, and retired at age 36.

October 10, 1937, Polo Grounds, Tony Lazzeri: Yankees beat New York Giants 4-2 in Game 5, to take the World Series. "Poosh-em-up Tony" went 1-for-3. Joe DiMaggio and Myril Hoag hit home runs, to make a winner out of Lefty Gomez.

October 9, 1938, Yankee Stadium, Jacob Ruppert (as owner): Yankees beat Chicago Cubs 8-3, to win Game 4 and sweep the World Series. Red Ruffing is the winning pitcher, and Tommy Henrich hits a home run. Ruppert died on January 13, 1939.

April 30, 1939, Yankee Stadium, Lou Gehrig: Yankees lose to Senators 3-2. Gehrig goes 0-for-4. He knows it is time to go, but he doesn't yet know why.

August 14, 1942, Shibe Park (later known as Connie Mack Stadium), Lefty Gomez: Yankees beat Philadelphia Athletics 11-2. Gomez is the winning pitcher, but only goes 6 innings, and doesn't pitch again that season. As he is not quite 36 years old, I suspect he was injured. He spent 1943 with the Senators, then retired.

June 29, 1946, Yankee Stadium, Red Ruffing: Yankees lose to A's 2-0. Ruffing was the losing pitcher. He didn't pitch badly, but was removed after 5 innings, and, like Gomez 4 years earlier, didn't pitch again that season, leading me to think he was injured. He pitched 1 more season, with the White Sox, and then retired.

May 23, 1946, Briggs Stadium (later Tiger Stadium), Joe McCarthy: Yankees beat Detroit Tigers 12-6. Despite having won his last 2 games, McCarthy was tired of the new regime of Del Webb, Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail, especially the interference of MacPhail.

September 8, 1946, Yankee Stadium, Bill Dickey: Yankees swept by Senators in doubleheader, 2-1 and 9-8. Dickey had been appointed to succeed McCarthy as manager, but didn't enjoy it. In the 8th inning of the 2nd game, he sent himself up to pinch-hit for pitcher Al Gettel, singled to left, and then brought pitcher Joe Page in to pinch-run, and left the field as a player for the last time. He resigned as manager 4 days later, and Johnny Neun saw out the season as interim manager.

September 18, 1946, Comiskey Park, Joe Gordon: Yankees split doubleheader with the WHite Sox, winning the opener 4-0, and losing the nightcap 9-7. Gordon went 0-for-7 on the day. After the season, the Yankees traded Gordon to the Cleveland Indians for Allie Reynolds, one of the rare trades that works out very well for both teams: Gordon helped the Indians win a World Series, while Reynolds helped the Yankees win 6.

September 29, 1946, Shibe Park, Ed Barrow (as general manager): Yankees sweep doubleheader from A's, 6-0 and 2-1. Every bit as unhappy with the new ownership as McCarthy was, Barrow resigned as GM on December 31, 1946.

October 10, 1951, Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio: Yankees beat New York Giants 4-3 in Game 6, to take the World Series. The Yankee Clipper goes 1-for-2 with 2 walks, including an 8th inning double in his last at-bat.

October 5, 1953, Johnny Mize: Yankees beat Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3 in Game 6, to take the World Series. The Big Cat pinch-hit for Joe Collins in the 8th, and grounded out to 1st. He was 40 years old and fat, so, despite also being a 1st baseman, at age 40, did not take the position in the 9th, Casey Stengel instead sending Don Bollweg in to do so.

September 25, 1954, Yankee Stadium, Allie Reynolds: Yankees beat A's 10-2. Reynolds, dealing with a bad back, only goes 5 innings, but is the winning pitcher. Wealthy enough from investing in oil in his native Oklahoma, he was that rare player in the reserve clause era who didn't need a baseball salary (or an off-season job to fill in the gap between seasons), and retired at 37.

August 16, 1956, Yankee Stadium, Phil Rizzuto: Yankees lose to Red Sox 2-1. Nine days later, on Old-Timers' Day, the Scooter became an old-timer when GM George Weiss coldly released him. He was hired as a broadcaster the next season, and stayed 40 more seasons.

September 20, 1959, Yankee Stadium, Don Larsen: Yankees beat Red Sox 7-4. Larsen did not pitch well, allowing 2 runs in 2 1/3rd innings. On December 11, he was put into the trade to the Kansas City Athletics that brought Roger Maris. In 1962, he was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the World Series -- against the Yankees, for the San Francisco Giants.

October 13, 1960, Forbes Field, Casey Stengel (as manager): Yankees lose to Pittsburgh Pirates 10-9 in Game 7 of the World Series. Exactly when co-owners Webb and Topping decided to fire Casey is unknown, but they had decided to do so even if the Yankees had won. They forced Casey to announce his "resignation" at a press conference on October 18. He dropped his prepared statement, and said, "I guess this means they fired me." The CBS/Mike Burke regime would make amends, and retired his Number 37.

October 13, 1960, Forbes Field, George Weiss (as general manager): Same game as Casey. Weiss, a bigot and a cheapskate, but a genius when it came to baseball transactions, saw the writing on the wall: He didn't know that Webb and Topping were already in the process of selling the Yankees, but he did know that years of trading prospects and marginal players, sometimes 4 at a time, to get 1 player who could help win the Pennant that season wouldn't work for much longer.

He gave it 5 years. He was right: After 4 more Pennants, the Yankees collapsed and finished 6th in 1965.

October 5, 1963, Dodger Stadium, Yogi Berra (as player): Yankees lose to Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0. It was Game 3 of the World Series. In the top of the 8th inning, Yogi pinch-hit for pitcher Jim Bouton, and lined out to Ron Fairly in right field. He managed the Yankees to a Pennant in 1964, was fired, and then was hired as a coach by the Mets, returning to play a few games in 1965.

October 4, 1964, Yankee Stadium, Mel Allen (as broadcaster): Yankees lose to Indians 2-1. This was the last regular-season game. Mel was not assigned to the World Series -- an honor he even got in 1946 when the Yankees didn't make it. He would return when the Yankees debuted on cable in 1976, on SportsChannel (which is now MSG+), staying through 1985.

September 30, 1966, Comiskey Park, Roger Maris: Yankees lose to White Sox 6-5. In the 9th inning, Roger pinch-hit for the Dooley Womack, and hit a home run off Hoyt Wilhelm, but the Yankees couldn't finish the comeback. After the season, the final insult of the Webb-Topping regime -- they sold their last shares to CBS soon after -- was delivered, trading Roger even-up to the St. Louis Cardinals for Charlie Smith. And if you're asking, "Who?" I'm answering, "Exactly."

May 21, 1967, Tiger Stadium, Whitey Ford: Yankees lose to Tigers 9-4. Whitey pitched 1 inning, and then had to leave the game due to his elbow bothering him, and he never pitched again. Jim Bouton was brought in to relieve, and his knuckleball didn't knuckle, and he allowed 5 runs in the 2nd to put the game out of reach.

August 2, 1967, Yankees Stadium, Elston Howard: Yankees lose to California Angels 5-4. Elston pinch-hits and strikes out, and is soon traded to the Red Sox, whom he helps win the Pennant, while the Yankees finish 9th.

September 28, 1968, Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle: Yankees beat Red Sox 4-3. Mickey bats in the top of the 1st inning, and Jim Lonborg gets him to pop up to 3rd baseman Rich Rollins. Andy Kosco goes out to 1st base in the bottom of the 1st, with Joe Pepitone (who switched positions with Mickey for 1967) playing center field, and they hit the home runs that make the difference.

August 16, 1974, Yankee Stadium, Mel Stottlemyre: Yankees split doubleheader with White Sox, winning the 1st game 9-8, losing the 2nd game 4-2. Mel comes into the 1st game not as a pitcher, but a pinch-runner, for Bill Sudakis in the bottom of the 12th. He does not score. The ChiSox score in the top of the 13th, but in the bottom of the 13th, Bobby Murcer singles, and Thurman Munson hits a home run to win it.

October 4, 1978, Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium), Sparky Lyle: Yankees lost to Kansas City Royals 10-4 in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Sparky pitched the last inning and a 3rd of this game, allowing 2 runs, didn't pitch in the rest of the ALCS, did not appear in the World Series, and was traded to the Texas Rangers after the season. As Graig Nettles said, "Sparky went from Cy Young to Sayonara."

August 1, 1979, Comiskey Park, Thurman Munson: Yankees beat White Sox 9-1. Thurman started at 1st base, with rookie Jerry Narron catching. Narron, Reggie Jackson and Lou Piniella all hit home runs. In the 1st inning, Thurman drew a walk, and scored on Reggie's homer. He struck out in the 3rd, and was then replaced in the field by Jim Spencer.

He left Chicago that day, not on the Yankees' charter flight back to New York, but a plane to Cleveland, and went to his house in Canton, Ohio. He planned to spend the next day practicing takeoffs and landings in his new jet plane. He got the takeoff right. Not the landing.

September 17, 1979, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Jim "Catfish" Hunter: Yankees lose to Indians 6-5. Catfish got into the 7th inning without pitching well, but was not the losing pitcher.

October 25, 1981, Dodger Stadium, Reggie Jackson: Yankees lose to Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in Game 5 of the World Series. Reggie went 1-for-4 with a 2nd-inning double. But he had been battling an injury, and manager Bob Lemon -- acting on George Steinbrenner's orders, it has been alleged -- kept "Mr. October" out of Game 6, and the Dodgers won to clinch the Series. George did not try to re-sign Reggie, which he later said was the biggest mistake he made as Yankee owner. Reggie signed with the Angels.

June 11, 1983, Milwaukee County Stadium, Bobby Murcer: Yankees lose 6-2 to Milwaukee Brewers. Bobby pinch-hit for Andre Robertson in the 9th, and grounded to 2nd. The pitcher was Bob Gibson -- but not that Bob Gibson. George then told Bobby he wanted to release him to open a roster spot for rookie Don Mattingly, but told him he'd give him a "Day" and a job as a broadcaster. Bobby accepted, and served in that capacity until his battle with cancer left him too ill to do so.

October 2, 1983, Memorial Stadium, Graig Nettles: Yankees lose to Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Nettles goes 0-for-4. George doesn't lift a finger to re-sign him. Or Goose Gossage. Both sign with the San Diego Padres (in Nettles' case, going to his hometown), and help them win the 1984 National League Pennant.

June 16, 1984, Yankee Stadium, Lou Piniella: Yankees beat Orioles 8-3. Lou starts in left field and goes 0-for-5. He then retires, and becomes the Yankees' hitting instructor, their manager in 1986 and '87, their general manager in '88, and the manager again in '88, before moving on to manage in Cincinnati, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Chicago (with the Cubs).

June 22, 1988, Tiger Stadium, Billy Martin (as manager): Yankees lose to Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings. Rickey Henderson hits a home run, but Billy, as he so often does, leaves a pitcher in too long, in this case Charles Hudson in relief of John Candelaria.

Billy wasn't managing badly that season, in his 5th turn as Yankee field boss. With all of the injuries the Yankees were having, this loss to the then-1st-place Tigers only dropped them to 2 1/2 games out of 1st. But he had become a disciplinary problem again, and George decided he had to fire Billy. There is evidence to suggest he was considering bringing Billy back for a 6th tenure, but Billy's death put an end to that.

September 27, 1988, Memorial Stadium, Ron Guidry: Yankees beat Orioles 5-1. Guidry goes 7 innings for the 170th and last win of his career, backed by 2 home runs by Mattingly.

September 30, 1988, Tiger Stadium, Willie Randolph: Yankees lose to Tigers 6-2. Willie goes 0-for-4, in the game that eliminates the Yankees from the AL East race. They finish only 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox, but in 5th place behind the Sox, the Tigers, the Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

September 22, 1989, Memorial Stadium, Rich "Goose" Gossage: Yankees beat Orioles 5-4. After 6 seasons away, the pitching-desperate Yankees reacquire the Goose. At age 38, he is no longer the fireballer he was in the Carter and 1st Reagan terms, but there are flashes of brilliance. This isn't quite one of them: He pitches the 8th inning, and gives up a hit and a walk, but no runs.

May 9, 1990, Oakland Coliseum, Dave Winfield: Yankees lose to A's 2-1 in 11 innings. Dave pinch-hits for Claudell Washington in the 11th inning, flies out to right field, and finishes the game in left field. Eric Plunk, one of the pitchers the Yankees got when they traded Henderson back to the A's, gets the 1st out in the bottom of the 11th, then loads the bases, and walks Henderson to force home the losing run.

Not hitting, and dealing with injuries to his back and his pride from George, Dave is soon traded to the Angels.

October 8, 1995, Kingdome, Don Mattingly: Yankees lose to Seattle Mariners 6-5 in 11 innings. An epic game to conclude an epic AL Division Series, but the Yankees drop 3 straight after taking the 1st 2. In his only postseason appearance, "Donnie Baseball" batted .417 with 2 home runs, including going 1-for-5 with a 2-RBI double in this game.

Afterward, he says, "I have a hard time feeling bad about it." And Yankee Fans forgave him. In 2007, Tom Glavine fell apart in what should have been a Playoff-clinching game for the Mets, and said, "I'm not devastated," and their fans have never forgiven him. One's a Hall-of-Famer, the other isn't. What's the difference?

October 6, 1997, Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field), Wade Boggs: Yankees lose to Indians 4-3, in the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS. In the top of the 6th, Boggs pinch-hits for Joe Girardi (Jorge Posada also pinch-hits in the inning, and replaces Girardi as catcher), and singles home a run. Boggs then replaces Charlie Hayes at 3rd base (Hayes replaces Rey Sanchez at 2nd base), and singles again in the 8th. But it's too late, as Andy Pettitte had a bad start.

October 25, 2000, Shea Stadium, David Cone: Yankees beat Mets 3-2 in Game 4 of the World Series. Cone had a terrible season, just 4-15, and this was his only appearance in the World Series against his former team. Manager Joe Torre brought him in to face 1 batter. With 2 outs and the bases loaded. Mike Piazza. Every Yankee Fan was worried. Coney got Mr. Bacne to pop up and end the threat.

November 4, 2001, Bank One Ballpark (now Chase Field), Paul O'Neill: Yankees lose Game 7 of the World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-2. Don't blame Paulie, as he went 2-for-3, including a single in his last at-bat in the 7th. This was also the last game in a Yankee uniform for Scott Brosius (0-for-3), Chuck Knoblauch (flew out pinch-hitting for O'Neill in the 8th), and, at least we thought until his 2005 return, Tino Martinez (1-for-4). In other words, the Yankees had to replace nearly half their lineup in the off-season.

October 23, 2003, Pro Player Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium), David Wells: Yankees lose to Florida Marlins 6-4 in Game 5 of the World Series. One of the most abominable starts in Yankee postseason pitching history: Boomer gets the Fish out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 1st, then tells Joe Torre his back hurts and he can't pitch anymore. Maybe his back wouldn't hurt so much if his front wasn't so big. Jose Contreras, not prepared to pitch, and gets shelled.

October 9, 2005, Yankee Stadium, Tino Martinez: Yankees beat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3-2 in Game 4 of the ALDS. Tino is sent to 1st base in the 8th inning in place of Jason Giambi, and pops up to short in his only at-bat. He doesn't appear in Game 5, and the Yankees lose.

October 6, 2006, Comerica Park, Bernie Williams: Yankees lose to Tigers 6-0 in Game 3 of the ALDS. Bernie went 0-for-3. This was one of the most ghastly postseason displays in Yankee history: After winning Game 1, they not only lost 3 straight, but had a run of 22 consecutive scoreless innings.

September 5, 2007, Yankee Stadium, Bob Sheppard (as public address announcer): Yankees beat Mariners 10-2. Bob was sick, and Jim Hall, long his understudy, called every remaining home game at the old Stadium, before Paul Olden was handed the keys to the booth at the new Stadium. Bob was able, through a special hookup, to deliver the starting lineup at the old Stadium's last game, but never went to a game at the new Stadium.

October 7, 2007, Yankee Stadium, Roger Clemens: Yankees beat Indians 8-4 in Game 3 of the ALDS. Not that the Rocket had much to do with it, as he got hit hard and relieved early by Phil Hughes. Johnny Damon hit a home run.

October 8, 2007, Yankee Stadium, Joe Torre (as manager): Yankees lose to Indians 6-4. The Yankees went down very meekly in this AL Division Series. Afterward, the Steinbrenner sons lowballed Joe, and he told them what they could do with the offer, went west, and managed the Dodgers to 2 Division titles.

September 28, 2008, Fenway Park, Mike Mussina: Yankees beat Red Sox 6-2. Xavier Nady hits a home run. It was Mussina's 20th win of the season, the 270th win of his career -- and his last. He is the only pitcher ever to get his only 20-win season and then retire.

November 4, 2009, Yankee Stadium II, Hideki Matsui: Yankees beat Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 of the World Series. Outside of the Babe in 1928 and Reggie in 1977, nobody has ever had a better performance in a would-be World Series-clinching game than Matsui, with a home run, a double and a single that produced 6 RBIs. He was named the Series MVP. I figured that GM Brian Cashman would let either Matsui or Johnny Damon go after the Series, but he was so dumb (How dumb was he?), he let both of them go. Huge mistake.

July 11, 2010, Safeco Field, George Steinbrenner (as owner): Yankees beat Mariners 8-2. CC Sabathia is dominant, and Marcus Thames hits a home run. Two days later, on the morning of the day of the All-Star Game, George died after 37 years as Yankee "managing general partner."

October 6, 2011, Yankee Stadium II, Jorge Posada: Yankees lose to Tigers 3-2, in the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS. Don't blame Jorge: He went 2-for-4, singling in the 4th and 6th innings. It was a previously unknown injury to starting pitcher Ivan Nova that doomed the Yankees in this game.

September 26, 2013, Yankee Stadium II, Mariano Rivera: Yankees lose to Tampa Bay Rays 4-0. Mo pitches the 8th inning, and gets the 1st out in the 9th, and then, his teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, not his manager Joe Girardi, come to take him out and get his standing ovation.

September 28, 2013, Minute Maid Park, Andy Pettitte: Yankees beat Houston Astros 2-1. Against the team he grew up rooting for, and the only other major league team he played for besides the Yankees, Pettitte goes the distance, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts, and gets the win, as the Yankees get 2 runs in the 6th thanks to some poor Astro fielding.

September 28, 2014, Fenway Park, Derek Jeter: The Yankees beat the Red Sox 9-5 at Fenway Park. It is 46 years to the day, and in the same ballpark, as Mantle's last game. Michael Pineda outpitches Clay Buchholz. Derek Jeter, the designated hitter on this day -- Stephen Drew is the shortstop -- hits a ground ball to 3rd base. Garin Cecchini fields it, but Jeter beats the throw, and Ichiro scores, to make it 3-0 Yankees.

Girardi sends Brian McCann in to pinch-run, and the Fenway crowd, which despises the Yankees and has long maintained that Jeter and his teammates "suck," gives him a standing ovation as he leaves a major league field for the last time.

August 12, 2016, Yankee Stadium II, Alex Rodriguez: Yankees beat Rays 6-3. A-Rod had already announced his retirement, and this was set up as his finale. He goes 1-for-4, including an RBI double to right in the 1st inning, and a grounder to short in his last at-bat.

And Now, the End Is Near, and So He'll Face the Final Curtain

In a few minutes, for the last time, Derek Jeter will play for the New York Yankees.

Then, the 2014 regular season will end, and the postseason will begin, without the Yankees.

I hate when that happens.

*

On Friday night, the Yankees began the last series of Jeter's career, against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. Jeter did not play. Chris Capuano, the former Red Sock, started for the Yankees. Sounds like a setup for a Boston victory, don't you think?

You could think, but you'd be wrong: Capuano pitched his best game in a Yankee uniform, going 6 2/3rds innings, allowing 1 run, unearned, on 4 hits and no walks, striking out 5.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning, but an RBI single by Francisco Cervelli and a throwing error on a John Ryan Murphy grounder gave the Yanks the lead in the top of the 3rd. Zelous Wheeler hit a sacrifice fly in the 6th to get another run home.

Shawn Kelley relieved Capuano in the 7th, and allowed a home run to rookie Rusnie Castillo, making the game rather precarious, especially in Fenway. But Adam Warren and David Robertson shut the Sox down the rest of the way.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 2. WP: Capuano (3-4). SV: Robertson (39). LP: Steven Wright (0-1) -- not to be confused with the comedian Steven Wright, who's from Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston, and a big Red Sox fan: "I bought some batteries, but they weren't included. So I had to buy them again."

*

Yesterday, Jeter did play, as the designated hitter. He said he wouldn't play shortstop in this final series. He went 1-for-2, before leaving for a pinch-hitter.

The game was lost early. Masahiro Tanaka, making his 2nd start since coming off the Disabled List, allowed a run in the 1st, and then fell apart in the 2nd, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks before Joe Girardi took him out. Preston Claiborne was no better. When the bleeding finally stopped, 8 runs had been scored in the inning.

After that, it was just a matter of playing the game out, and seeing what happened. Red Sox 10, Yankees 4. WP: Joe Kelly (4-2). LP: Tanaka (13-5).

*

Today is the regular season finale. Presuming he plays, it will be Derek Jeter's last game. Yesterday, most Red Sox fans cheered him. Some booed. It remains to be seen if there's a ceremony before the game. Most teams have had one, offered gifts and contributions to his Turn 2 Foundation.

Michael Pineda is set to start for the Yankees, Clay Buchholz for the Red Sox.

*

Yesterday's North London Derby was not fun. Arsenal should have beaten Tottenham about 4-0. Instead, it was a 1-1 draw, and I don't want to talk about it.

This will show you the difference between the clubs: The Tottenham fans celebrated it like they'd won the League -- like they'd know -- while the Arsenal fans were furious at not getting a win.

Rutgers got a win yesterday, beating Tulane 31-6 at home. That's nice, how about beating a Big Ten team? They had the chance against Penn State, but blew it. Now, the real schedule begins. They're going to be yelling for their mothers.

Europe won the Ryder Cup. I'm not distressed, since I don't like golf.

Mike Lupica wrote a column in today's Daily News, stating that, because he's quarterbacked 2 World Championship teams, Eli Manning of the Giants is now the face of New York sports.

He's right. Who else could it be? No other Yankee. No Met, not even David Wright. No Jet. No Knick. No Net. Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers? Don't make me laugh. After Eli, the closest any Tri-State Area athlete comes is Patrik Elias of the Devils -- especially since Martin Brodeur is, officially, no longer signed with the Devils (or any other team).

It is odd, though: When was the last time you saw a quarterback take a handoff?

*

Minutes until Derek Jeter's last regular-season game: Just a few. Then again, considering it's against the Sox, especially at Fenway, the game could last for hours.

Hours until the Red Bulls play again: 7, tonight at 8:30 PM, away to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": Unknown, as the last one for this season has been played. The Red Bulls are now likely to make the Playoffs, as are D.C. United and the New England Revolution, while the Philadelphia Union also have a shot, so another derby this season is possible.

Days until Arsenal play again: 3, this Wednesday, 2:45 in the afternoon our time, home to Istanbul, Turkey club Galatasaray, in the Champions League.

Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 4, this Thursday night, home to Edison. It is being played on a Thursday night because Friday night is the beginning of Yom Kippur. Yesterday, EB lost to 40-13 to North Brunswick, the one team we beat last year (and that, barely, only 14-12 at home). In 2 games, we've given up 88 points and scored only 13. It's going to be a long season.

Days until Rutgers plays football again: 6, this Saturday at 7:00 PM, home to Big Ten titans Michigan. At least Michigan is also struggling at this point, but it's Michigan, so who's kidding who?

Days until the Devils play again: 11. They open on Thursday, October 9, away to the Philadelphia Flyers. Under 2 weeks. They once again get screwed by Commissioner Gary Bettman and his schedulemakers, this time having to play 4 road games before their home opener, on Saturday, October 18, at 7:00 PM, vs. the San Jose Sharks.

Days until the Devils play another local rival: See the previous answer. The first game against The Scum is Tuesday night, October 21, at the Prudential Center. The first game against the Islanders is Saturday night, November 29, at the Nassau Coliseum. The Devils' last trip to Uniondale, before the Isles move to Brooklyn, is Monday night, December 15.

Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 12, on Friday, October 10, at 7:00 PM, a friendly, home to Ecuador, at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut. Under a month. The following Tuesday, they will play another Latin American team, Honduras, in a friendly at Florida Atlantic University's stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. There will be one more match in the calendar year, another friendly, against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (built on the site of their former home, Lansdowne Road), on Tuesday afternoon (evening, local time), November 18.

Days until the next East Brunswick vs. Old Bridge Thanksgiving game: 60, on Thursday morning, November 27, at 10:00 AM. Only 2 months.

Days until New York City FC make their Major League Soccer debut: Unknown, but a new MLS season usually begins on the 2nd Saturday in March, which would be March 14, 2015. That's 167 days. A little under 6 months. Whether it will be a home game, and thus at the new Yankee Stadium, is yet to be determined.

Days until the next North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham: 132, on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at White Hart Lane -- unless the teams are paired in the FA Cup before then, as they were in the 3rd Round last season. A little over 4 months.

Days until Alex Rodriguez is eligible to play for the Yankees again: 185 -- presuming, that is, that 2015's Opening Day is on April 1, and wouldn't it just work out that way, that A-Rod is again allowed to play a regular-season game for the Yankees on April Fool's Day? Anyway, that's a little over 6 months.

Days until the New York Islanders' last game at the Nassau Coliseum: 195, on April 11, 2015, at 7:00 PM, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 209, on Friday, April 10, 2015, at 7:00 PM, at the new Yankee Stadium.

Days until the Islanders' first home game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn: Unknown, but an NHL regular season usually begins on the 1st Friday in October, which would be October 2, 2015. That's 370 days. That's just over 1 year. Or, to put it another way, "370 Sleeps Till Brooklyn." Until then, even with their 4 straight long-ago Stanley Cups, they're just a Small Club In Hempstead.

Days until Euro 2016 begins in France: 622, on Friday, June 10. Under 21 months.

Days until the next Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 679, on Friday, August 5, 2016. A little over 22 months.

Days until the next World Cup begins in Russia: 1,352, on Friday June 8, 2018. Under 4 years.