"The House That Ruth Built" was the apt nickname of the original Yankee Stadium, built in the Bronx, in New York City, and officially opened in 1923. Offered is a tremendous vintage, from-the-camera 1920s original negative of the edifice that is also known as "The Cathedral," "The Stadium," or as the Bambino himself termed it, "Some ballyard." The Yankees, then known as the Hilltoppers, played at Hilltop Park in upper Manhattan when the franchise originated in 1903. Then, beginning part way through the 1912 campaign, the team became tenants of the New York Giants in upper Manhattan at the Polo Grounds V. Ruth was acquired by the Yankees from the Boston Red Sox for the 1920 season, and his immediate success helped the Yankees to draw 1.3 million fans that season, outdrawing the Giants at the Giants' own ballpark. The Yankees wanted their own stadium, and the Giants' manager, John McGraw, was only too happy to oblige, stating that the Yankees should move "to Queens or some other out-of-the-way place." Instead of moving to Queens, the Yankees moved just across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds, in the South Bronx. As a nice "gift" to Ruth, the right field line at the original Yankee Stadium was only 296 feet, with a very low fence. With the exception of 1974-75, when Yankee Stadium was being remodeled, the Yankees played at the original Yankee Stadium from 1923-2008. In addition to hosting the Yankees, the Stadium was the home of the New York Football Giants and their epic NFL Championship game won by the Baltimore Colts in "sudden death" overtime in 1958; many college football games, including the Notre Dame vs. Army game when Knute Rockne gave his "Win one for the Gipper" speech; the Joe Louis World Heavyweight Championship victory over Germany's Max Schmeling; three Papal Masses; the home stadium for one season for Pele, of the New York Cosmos, and myriad other noteworthy events. 

The offered negative measures approx. 3.5x4.6". The first official event at Yankee Stadium was the April 18, 1923, season opener between the Yanks and the Boston Red Sox, a contest in which Ruth's 3-run home run into the right field seats was the key hit in a 4-1 Yankee victory. The view of the photo is from the third tier at Yankee Stadium, the upper deck, along the first base/right field line. The Stadium shows the red, white, and blue bunting displayed at Opening Day or at the World Series. Of course, it is a day game, and the sparsity in some areas of the seats indicates that it is possibly late in a game in which one team had a sizeable lead. Of course, being the 1920s, the crowd is formally dressed. The negative originates from the famed Brown Brothers Photographers Collection, and it is in EXCELLENT condition.

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