Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

Letter to the City of New York - Follow Up on the Balconies From Gate 2

2010-07-07T16:14:00.001-07:00

Members of the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com have been working diligntly for over a year to protect and preserve the historic Gate 2 Balconies of Old Yankee Stadium from destruction or sale. Our preservation proposal to commemoratively display the balconies, successfully accepted by the City of New York, and now endorsed and duplicated by other groups, is being actively acted upon now by Mayor Bloomberg's Office & Parks Department officials. The letter below is part of an investigative and preservation process that began last June, and which includes extensive communications and negotiations between the City and our two groups:

Dear Mr. Joshua Laird, July 6, 2010

I am writing today on behalf of Chris Jones, Cindy Jones, and Tim Reid of The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, and myself, Bradford H. Turnow, of www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com, to try and get an update on the status of the (3) three balconies from Gate 2. We are in receipt of the pictures that were taken of the balconies just after they were taken from Gate 2. I was there in person on March 31, 2010 when the gate fell and I have hundreds of photographs and video of the actions that were performed that day. I am aware several others also have hundreds of photos and video as well. We have cataloged the events that took place on that day to help make sure the history books are correct. We are of course disappointed in the current condition of the balconies, considering they were in near perfect condition after they fell from Gate 2. They are pictured below. As you can see, they were in near perfect condition at 12:30pm on March 31, 2010. It was the “removal” process that damaged them so greatly.

We know there is is nothing we can do at this point, but move forward and still work on commemorating Old Yankee Stadium as best as we can.

What is the “current” condition of the balconies, and as importantly, are all (3) balconies and all of their “parts” accounted for? We ask for “current” because the photos that were sent to us using FOIL were taken just after the demolition. We would like to ensure that no further damage has occurred to them as they were being stored off-site. We know how much damage they took just being moved a few hundred feet. We hope that better care was taken of them when they were moved to the “off-site storage facility”. We are very concerned as we have photographs of one of the panels/emblems being removed from one of the balconies and being taken away. Can you please reassure us that all (3) three balconies are accounted for, as are all (9) nine of the emblems/panels? There should be (6) six with the baseball logos and (3) three with the NY insignia logo. Of course, 6 are still attached to balcony “B” and ”C”. It the emblems from balcony “A” that concern us.

The 6 photos below show the panel being moved into a cart after it was taken from balcony “A”.

(1 is shown below. The letter showed all 6)

Could you also please update us on the “large piece (size of a desk – 4’ x 6’) of façade/concrete wall” as well as the “arched vent” that you directed Turner and DEMCO to set aside as per your email on April 20, 2010. We would like to know if these items have indeed been stored and are they being considered for incorporation into the new park.

Also, in the unfortunate event that some or all of the pieces are not incorporated into the park, what would the plans be for these piece(s)? As we have already inquired, in the event of the city deciding not to incorporate these items, we would like to acquire them so we can work on donating them ourselves. As we have previously disclosed, we would sign whatever disclosure documents we need to, so that we agree to never sell these items. Our goal is simple…to properly display these for all to see.

Ideally, we would like to see (2) two of the balconies placed in your new park. After carefully examining the photos you provided, it is clear that balconies “B” and “C” are in the best condition and could easily be “restored” to museum quality and to be displayed proudly around your new park. Since balcony “A” is beyond repair, we would like to see the (3) three panels from balcony “A” incorporated into a “picture” type display piece. They can be mounted and displayed beautifully around the park. They are small in size and easy to display. If the panels/emblems could not be displayed, then we would prefer they be donated to museums. One of the panels has the NY insignia and the other 2 have the baseballs. Below is one of the panels that was removed from a different gate years ago. Each is about 2 feet by 1.5 feet.

Possible donors would be the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Smithsonian, The Bronx County Historical Society, and/or The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Joshua, we thank you for your time on this matter and look forward to hearing from you ASAP as to update us on these balconies. As the “ground-breaking” ceremony has already taken place, we know things will start to move very quickly now. We thank you for any consideration and hope that the (3) three balconies, the section of wall, and the arched vent can all be displayed proudly around your new park. We know your department is doing everything they can to make this a first-class park, and we know honoring Old Yankee Stadium properly and proudly is the most important step in that process.

We thank you again and look forward to your response.

PS – Good luck with your “Wolverines” this fall! Michigan has its work cut out for them.

Respectfully,

Bradford H. Turnow
www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com

"TRIBUTE TO BABE RUTH" Radio Show on YankeeRollCall.com

2010-07-02T08:12:00.002-07:00

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

"TRIBUTE TO BABE RUTH"

The Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth, The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com are very pleased to announce that YankeeRollCall.com has just posted a TREMENDOUS show promoting our joint proposal to the City of New York for public commemoration of the great Babe Ruth. To the shock and amazement of all, there is absolutely NO public tribute in New York City to its greatest sports hero and icon - a terrible oversight and injustice we have been working on extensively to remedy.

This historic show, hosted by leading Yankee advocates and broadcasters Joe Castello & Paul Bauer, features absolutely 'Ruthian' interviews with Babe's granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti, "the Babe Ruth of Babe Ruth Historians", Bill Jenkinson, and Palmer Murphy(http://www.palmermurphy.com/about.htm), whose majestic sculptures grace the Baseball Hall of Fame, among many other places. Representatives of our groups also speak to discuss the need, mission and plan of action for making this landmark public commemoration reality.

Here it is:

YANKEE ROLL CALL'S "TRIBUTE TO BABE RUTH"

http://www.yankeerollcall.com/

You can help GREATLY by writing to Mayor Bloomberg, citing this show and effort, asking him to personally make sure that The Babe is properly honored - with the baseball field named after him at the new park site ("Old Yankee Stadium Park") that has replaced The House that Ruth Built, and with a statue worthy of his unparalleled achievements and supreme historical significance in New York City - at Old Yankee Stadium Park, Central Park, or a site of equal prominence and suitability. The Mayor can be very easily emailed here!

THANK YOU!!!

For More Information, See:

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/

Contact:For Further Information, Please contact:

Tim Reid
The Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth
(754) 368-1295
savethegate@gmail.com

Chris & Cindy Jones
The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium
(804) 426-9911
chris_jones86@comcast.net

Bradford H. Turnow
www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com
(516) 523-4749
bhturnow@gmail.com

Yankee Roll Call - Tribute to Babe Ruth - GREAT SHOW!!!

2010-06-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Yankee Roll Call - Tribute to Babe Ruth

Join Joe Castello and Paul Bauer as they explore the history and personality of baseball's greatest player. Babe's Granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti gives intimate details into her legendary Grandfather. A collect of baseball historians give their analysis of the Sultan of Swat with the ultimate goal of a commemorative statue of The Babe in New York City.

Guests include:

Linda Ruth Tosetti - Babe Ruth's Granddaughter

Tim Reid - Chairman of the Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth

Bill Jenkinson, Babe Ruth historian, author of The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Homeruns and Baseball's Ultimate Power

Palmer Murphy, Baseball Hall of Fame sculptor

Brad Turnow, Baseball historian, UltimateYankees.com

Click HERE to listen now!!!!

New York City May Donate Old Yankee Stadium Historic Gate 2 Balconies to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

2010-05-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: Monday, May 24, 2010

New York City May Donate Old Yankee Stadium Historic Gate 2 Balconies to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Following the Proposal Which Saved the Historic Gate 2 Balconies, Citizen Groups Bring Mayor's Office and Hall of Fame Together to Discuss Potential Donation

_____________________________

Now Uncertain Whether Any of Historic Gate 2 Balconies Will Remain on Original Yankee Stadium Site

In response to multiple proposals and extensive advocacy by The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Office and the National Baseball Hall of Fame are now in discussions over the City's possible donation of one or more historic Old Yankee Stadium balconies to the famed Cooperstown shrine.

As documented in the Daily News article below, these Gate 2 artifacts, dating from the 1920's, were reportedly intended for inclusion as prominent commemorative features in the new park being built on the historic site of Old Yankee Stadium - as the only artifacts from the pre-renovation Stadium. The Parks Department, however, did not include those plans in their recently approved final proposal for the park design - thus leading to the urgent proposals of both The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com that they be donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame and/or another nationally prominent site where they will be properly displayed.

For Further Information, Please contact:

Chris & Cindy Jones

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

(804) 426-9911

chris_jones86@comcast.net

Tim Reid

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

(754) 368-1295 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (754) 368-1295 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

savethegate@gmail.com

Brad Turnow

www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com

(516) 523-4749

bhturnow@gmail.com

Old Yankee Stadium Demolition - Babe Ruth is Now Homeless!

2010-04-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

This was sent in by a passionate Yankee fan. We can all understand where he is coming from. Babe Ruth is truly now homeless.....

Old Yankee Stadium

R.I.P. 1923-2008
(click on image to enlarge)

FIRST AMENDED EMERGENCY PETITION FOR PUBLIC REVIEW & HEARING REGARDING PRESERVATION OF OLD YANKEE STADIUM "GATE 2 BALCONIES"

2010-04-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

TO THE

HONORABLE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

PUBLIC DESIGN COMMISSION OF NEW YORK,

AND ADRIAN BENEPE, PARKS COMMISSIONER

April 23, 2010

___________

COMMITTEE TO COMMEMORATE OLD YANKEE STADIUM, Petitioners

___________

FIRST AMENDED

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR

PUBLIC REVIEW & HEARING

REGARDING PRESERVATION OF

OLD YANKEE STADIUM

"GATE 2 BALCONIES"

"OLD PLAYERS ENTRANCE"

___________

On February 22, 2010, the Parks & Recreation Department of New York City ("Parks & Recreation") proposed at Public Hearing before a partial assembly of the Public Design Commission of New York ("Design Commission") the complete destruction of original Old Yankee Stadium (1923-1973), including historic Left Field Gate 2, leaving NOTHING from the original Stadium for the People of New York.

Despite numerous, long-standing, and exhaustively evidenced filings to the City of New York - including to Parks & Recreation, as well as to the Design Commission - proving beyond any doubt the Gate's preeminent historical importance, the Parks proposal to destroy it was approved. Moreover, dramatic, and dramatically-flawed, design changes to the design of "Old Yankee Stadium Park" (formerly referred to as "Heritage Field") were also approved, though they had never been revealed to the public for review and comment. These design change proposals were deliberately held from the public, until hearing when they were very briefly, unexpectedly, and incompletely, revealed.

The City thoroughly disregarded overwhelming evidence proving the importance and originality of Gate 2 and other parts of the stadium, some of it attached hereto. As a consequence, the Parks Department attempted to destroy all of the stadium.

Fortunately, representatives of our Committee received inside intelligence and evidence that parts of the stadium - potentially worth millions of dollars - were in actuality being preserved and stolen, for unlawful personal acquisition and sale - by people and parties officially connected with the demolition, some with likely organized crime connections. Learning and documenting this, the Committee contacted the City, requesting immediate NYPD and FBI intervention and investigation. The FBI was requested because of first hand, photographic, and video evidence showing the involvement of parties from New Jersey, including some connected to Turner Corporation, and others, who are known to be taking valuable historic material from the stadium. The Committe has requested and again hereby requests a full investigation into these removals and planned removals of stadium treasures and collectibles.

Thanks to our Committee's surveillance, investigation, and intervention, three (3) historic balconies have been saved from the destruction and dumping they were officially scheduled for. Other historic items from the Stadium - also being stolen (officially dumped) - were also saved. This account of facts has been partially reported, by Larry McShane, in the Daily News, as well as around in many other media venues, around the city, state, nation, and world.

Please see: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/10/2010-04-10_3_yankees_balconies_saved_for_park.html

The saving of these historic balconies has rightfully received TREMENDOUS public support and acclamation.

Now that these balconies have been saved, they should be included in Old Yankee Stadium Park, as they easily can be. However, in a shocking decision announced JUST THIS AFTERNOON, the Parks Department - without any explanation or evidence whatsoever - that they will NOT be including these balconies in the park!!! Moreover, they are planning to seek approval of excluding all these balconies - and other original stadium items saved through Committee identification and effort - THIS MONDAY MORNING, WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING!!!!!!!!

Because all previous evaluations, meetings and hearings held by City officials were based TOTALLY on the COMPLETELY FALSE CITY PROPOSALS & ARGUMENT that NOTHING from the original stadium could be saved, there MUST - under the letter & spirit of City law, rules & procedure - be a public hearing to determine what can and should now be kept in Old Yankee Stadium Park.

Accordingly, pivotal parts of the Parks Department proposals were and still are fatally flawed, in that they were and still are based on the materially false presentations & arguments made to the public and Design Commission by Parks and EDC offiicals.

Our Committee has also identified to key City officials other treasures falsely described as totally unsalvageable by the Parks Department to the public. Most notably for the purposes of this petition is the "Old Players Entrance", which has been described at in detail to Parks officials as an item which should be saved for commemoration at Old Yankee Stadium Park. Images of this historic entrance, through which hundreds of Hall of Fame ball players and legends have walked, are attached under the preliminarily-named "Babe Ruth Viewing Station." A description of how ad why this treasure should be saved at Old Yankee Stadium Park has been provide to both Parks Department and the Design Commission.

We, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium - consisting of and representing Yankee Stadium experts, fans, and citizens throughout the City, State, Nation, and World - hereby petition for the immediate intervention of Mayor Michael Bloomberg to TEMPORARILY STAY the destruction of Yankee Gate 2 Balconies, and "Old Players Entrance", and the implementation of the Parks Department's proposed plan for Old Yankee Stadium Park, until such time that all of the following twenty-six (26) facts, arguments and supporting evidence, are thoroughly and properly admitted, evaluated and adjudicated by the City of New York. [The Design Commission failed and refused to consider all these facts, ruling that their review was and is limited to "aesthetics only" - disregarding therefore the vast majority of facts, evidence, and reasons, compelling preservation of the Gate]:

(1) Original Yankee Stadium is the most historically significant stadium in American history. Indeed, it was widely and expertly regarded the most culturally and architecturally important stadium in the history of the New World and the Western Hemisphere. Not since the Roman Coliseum - on which it was architecturally modeled - has there been a more important or popular stadium. [The Stadium's history is documented by thousands of articles, books, documentaries, films, and video accounts. For a very quick and readily accessible visual overviews, see the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium's videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZn1qCwMqLQ & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAN7LfBtckw]

(2) Old Yankee Stadium is a New York, national, and international icon. In fact, Mayor Bloomberg prominently attested to the fact that, based on his extensive travels and experience, it is one of New York's top three icons around the world, rivaled only by the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. [See, e.g., Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective, 2008]

(3) Old Yankee Stadium was the most important sports venue in American history. It is frequently referred to as a "shrine" and "cathedral" because of its sublime significance in the history of Baseball, most particularly during Baseball's "Golden Age" (1923-1964) - when the New York Yankees were the greatest sports dynasty in world history.

(4) When the City of New York announced the granting of land and funding for building of a new stadium for the Yankee franchise, they promised the People of New York that they would NOT destroy all of Old Yankee Stadium. In fact, they promised to save a vast majority of the original outer "shell" and lower seating area. The Mayor, Parks Department, Economic Development Council - as well as George Steinbrenner and Yankee management - all publicly backed this plan and promise. Attached are two images of the City's original plan.

(5) Reneging on their promise, the City of New York abandoned the plan to preserve ANY part of the shell or interior of the original Stadium, instead deciding to allow it to be "deconstructed" and sold off (by the Yankees and Steiner Corporation) to private bidders, leaving NOTHING from the Original Stadium on the historic site, nor anything from it for the People of New York.

(6) Simultaneously, the City showered the Yankee franchise with nearly 2 Billion dollars, claiming it had no money whatsoever to save any part of the original Stadium. [See, e.g., http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2006-08-16-oconnor-yankee-stadium_x.htm]

(7) When challenged on this stunning reversal by the City, they claimed - largely through Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe - expressly and quite erroneously claimed that nothing from the Original Stadium survived the 1970's renovation - only "some steel ... and some of the bricks (sic)."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/06/23/2008-06-23_parks_commissioner_adrian_benepe_confirm.html

(9) Commissioner Benepe was immediately and emphatically criticized for his erroneous conclusions leading to his deision to destroy all of the Original Stadium. [See, e.g.,

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium-babes-granddaughter-says-yes/84425/]

(10) In order to help preserve part of the Original Stadium, expert, fans, and citizens from around the city, state, and nation, provided overwhelming evidence to Commissioner Benepe that his understanding and decision to destroy all of the Original Stadium was fatally flawed by a mis/dis evaluation of the Stadium's architectural history. He has received hundreds of communications attesting to this fact, but has disregarded them all, obdurately insisting that nothing was original, and nothing original would be saved.

(11) Many of the expert communications and evidential submissions Mr. Benepe has received - from architects, historians, public advocacy groups included - attested to the overwhelming originality of Gate 2, and its perfect location for preservation within the proposed new park, now known as "Old Yankee Stadium Park." The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium has been one of those groups. See, e.g.,

http://www.ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSGate2.htm

(11) To support this incorrect argument and position, against the overwhelming weight of expert findings and evidence, the Commissioner then falsely claimed that the City's Landmark Preservation Commission (the "LPC") had already investigated and ruled that Gate 2 was not original or worthy of preservation. Despite repeated requests for the records on which Mr. Benepe based his decision to tear down the gate, the Parks Department has not (and can not) produce any such LPC findings or rulings. Multiple members of our Committee HAVE reviewed the entire LPC case file, and there are NO records whatsoever regarding Gate 2.

(12) Thus, the basis of the Parks Department's decision to tear down Gate 2 is thoroughly erroneous, as proved over and over. In truth, Gate 2 is dramatically original, up to 95% so, including its recently revealed foundation and interior, with only a small portion of its upper face renovated in the 1970's (IN COMPLETE ARCHITECTURAL COMPORT WITH THE ORIGINAL 1920's DESIGN & APPEARANCE.)

(13) Gate 2 is so original in design and appearance, in fact, that it is the only existing model for the Official Logo of Old Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees' commemorative sleeve emblem, attached hereto.

(14) Official Bronx County Historian has also repeatedly advised Mr. Benepe and the Parks Department (along with numerous top Yankee Stadium historians and historical architects) that the Gate is original and should be reserved. He, too - along with numerous other top Yankee Stadium historians and historic architects - was completely disregarded. See, e.g.,

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/08/17/2009-08-17_the_gate_debate_boosters_push_to_save_and_restore_historic_entrance_at_old_stadi.html

(15) In addition to calling for the preservation of the Gate, Professor Ultan was also critical of Parks' "historically-disconnected" proposal for the new park, sagely observing "What's missing from the park plan is the architecture of the stadium itself." Prominent architectural critic and National Trust for Historic Preservation Board Member, Paul Goldberger, American Institute of Architect New York President Rick Bell, former LPC Chairperson Sherida Bell, and other experts, panned the plan as well. See,

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/08/17/2009-08-17_the_gate_debate_boosters_push_to_save_and_restore_historic_entrance_at_old_stadi.html

(16) Past President of the Connecticut AIA, a former Bronx resident and expert on Yankee Stadium, Jeffrey Bianco, also criticized the plan, and called for preservation of the Gate, as have Baseball, Yankee and Yankee Stadium historians and authors, Paul Doherty, Bill Jenkinson, Mike Wagner, Mark Healey, and Harry Swanson, among many others. Listen, e.g., to:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/baseball-digest-live/2009/10/05/preserving-the-past

See, also, the endorsements of Paul Doherty, Michael Wagner, and Brad Turnow, HistoryOfTheYankees.com - all on file with the Design Commission.

(17) The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium successfully presented our case to the Design Commission for preserving Gate 2 on October 26, leading the Commission also to recognize and reject the profound flaws in the Parks Department's preliminary plan. Our written submission, with extensive evidential references, is below, followed by a news account of the Commission's rejection.

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/public-design-commission-hearing-102609.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/11/03/2009-11-03_city_keeps_stadium_gate_open_yanks_fans_plan_for_a_memorial_still_in_the_game.html

(18) At this Hearing the Parks Department claimed saving the Gate would cost $10 Million dollars, because - still wrongly claiming - it was "not original." After we revealed a Legacy Bricks plan that could raise such funds - not withstanding emphatic and well-evidenced proof that such an estimate was extravagantly high ("by an order of magnitude or two") - the Department than increased its estimate to over $15 Million, again without any evidence or explanation whatsoever.

Notably, the estimate does not include any savings that would result from not having to demolish and remove the gate from the site where it presently stands.

(19) Subsequently, after extensive Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests (on file with Parks Department), our Committee learned that parks was basing this amount on an unsigned, unattributed, "summary cost estimate." When we pressed for further records to explain what every expert (architects, certified construction cost estimator, government contract experts, construction foremen, iron workers, et al) unanimously found an outrageous, totally unfounded, and even "laughable" estimate, we were told by Parks lawyers that there were none - no date, no drawings, no data - not even the name, title, experience, or credentials of who performed the alleged estimate, nothing. None were provided to the Design Commission, either.

(20) To help resolve the order of magnitude(s) difference between the Parks Departments cost estimate and those from all of our experts, we repeatedly requested (more than a dozen times) to perform a free-of-charge architectural, structural, and cost, evaluation, of the Gate, by top experts, all experienced and bonded for construction site work. [See Parks Department and City records] Each and every time our requests were either totally ignored, or totally rejected, falsely claiming security and safety prohibitions - while unbonded construction worker girlfriends, baseball players, celebrities, film crews, reporters, etc., visited every part of the construction site.

In contrast, our experts, all bonded and extensively experienced for work on construction sites were all denied access - to the most safe and secure area of the stadium site, indeed one that could even be visited from its outside sidewalk entrance.

(21) As one example of this outrageous obstruction, please see the attached correspondence and speech of architect and Yankee Stadium historian, Philip J. Reina, who our Committee presented to the Parks Department as a free-of-charge independent Gate evaluator.

The Parks Department denied Mr. Reina access for an independent review, and even just the drawings used to conduct the City's so-called cost estimate, because, according to them, IT WOULD POSE A TERRORIST THREAT to the City of New York, if were to do so! [Official reason given directly to Mr. Reina by high ranking Parks Official Frank McCue, on Feb 18, 2010, for withholding stadium drawings.] (Notwithstanding that the Stadium is utterly empty and slated for complete destruction within a month's time - by the City itself - not terrorists.)

This is how absurdly far the Parks Department has gone to deny an independent cost evaluation for preserving Gate 2.

(22) To further address the alleged cost concern, our Committee, along with HistoryOfTheYankees.com, voluntarily consulted with leading "legacy brick" authorities, most notably the company which did the extremely financially and aesthetically successful and well-received commemorative brick plazas and walkways at Citifield, and many other major sports venues around the country. See, e.g.: http://ccoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/save-gate-commemorative-brick-drive.html. This program could raise over $10 Million dollars, simultaneously enhancing the park's appeal and tourism, and consequently much-needed, year-round revenue for the Yankee Stadium neighborhood. We offered our full and free-of-charge help to make this "SAVE THE GATE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE" a major success. Additionally, we put the company who did "Fanwalk" for the Mets directly in touch with the Parks Department.

(23) Despite this aesthetically beautiful, widely-praised and very lucrative, funding opportunity, Parks rejected it because - contrary to all well-established practices and experience at many hundreds of similar sites around the world - "the bricks will wear down" and people will inscribe the bricks with " 'I Hate the Yankees' and things like that." [Parks Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Smith, speaking officially for Commissioner Benepe,, at Parks Headquarters, on behalf of the Department on February 1, at a meeting with our Committee.]

(24) Another of our Committee's other cost-saving proposal - the SAVE THE GATE VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM - was unceremoniously shot down by Parks, at that same meeting [February 1, 2010, at the Arsenal, in Central Park] Parks officials informed us that "the unions will never allow us to use volunteer workers." This unattributed charge against the union was not evidenced. In fact, FOIL requests of Parks for any evidence for such a claim reveal that it can not be backed up. It's erroneous and derogatory speculation. Moreover, "the unions" will not "lose" or "gain" any work if the City tears down the Gate. Indeed, many relevant union workers - as well as professionals - are active supporters of all our efforts, including the Volunteer Worker Program, which would eliminate virtually all labor costs associated with gate Preservation.

http://historyoftheyankees.blogspot.com/2009/11/save-gate-volunteer-worker-program.html

Further, this "reason" for rejecting such a beneficial program flies right in the face of City volunteer philosophies and programs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/nyregion/18volunteers.html

http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/

There would be no shortage of volunteers for saving the Gate.

(25) Revealing further error and bullheadedness behind the Department's decision to destroy the Gate (no matter what facts, evidence and reasoning compel its preservation), they also argued that our proposed design "would be an eyesore." This against all independent expert and objective evidence, including universal popular acclaim for the magnificent aesthetics of our proposed Gate monument. See, e.g., the images of the proposal linked below, as well as our 3d video of it - WHICH WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO SHOW AT THE DESIGN COMMISSION' PUBLIC HEARING - thereby depriving the Commission of a major piece of aesthetic evidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlmLlYEXl0

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSModelRenderings.htm

(26) Parks also argues that preserving the Gate would take too long. This argument, at best, stems from a severely poor and inaccurate estimate of the Gate's well-documented originality - as well as from the above-cited half-page cost-estimate which wrongly implies the need for far more extensive work than truly necessary, as also does their erroneous argument that huge trusses and pilings are required to preserve the Gate - another claim emphatically rejected by independent construction experts. Furthermore, it completely disregard the fact that the new park will not be opening for almost two years, and all independent experts estimate only a couple of months work, at very most, to save the Gate.

(27) Likewise, the argument that the gate will take up too much space is completely wrong. It will take up only less than 1% of the new park's square footage, in a location where it will not interfere whatsoever with park activities or design.

(28) At Parks Headquarters, Parks officials said their decision was also based on their beliefs that the Gate would "cast big shadows" and "suck up air." No evidence was presented or can be presented for such wild conclusions. First of all the fact that New Yankee Stadium is east of the gate obviates any concerns of morning "shadows", and its location on the extreme east side of the new park eliminates afternoon shadows. In between obviously creates no deleterious shadows, either.

As for "sucking up air", that's unsubstantiated nonsense also.

These headstrong arguments also ignore the fact that the original City plan include 360 degrees of buildings around the park. See attached image of plan with outer shell and extensive seating.

(29) Finally, after publicly making it so well known how closely they've worked the Yankees on all matters pertaining to the new park, the Parks Department have repeatedly indicated that they were motivated to destroy all of Original Yankee Stadium because "the Yankees don't want to save any part of it, so why should we." [Deputy Director Rebecca Smith, February 1, 2010, at The Arsenal meeting to members of the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium and HistoryOfTheYankees.com]

Equally outrageous and destructive was the very public pronouncement shocking by Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, at the Community Board 4 Meeting on February 18, that "the Yankees want you to go across the street to the new Stadium, they don't want to save anything from the Old Stadium ... The Gate will be gone." He also dramatically (mis/dis)informed the audience of mostly local Bronx residents that Gate 2 was ruled non-original [by the LPC.] with complete certitude that Gate 2 was not original and the (LPC) - thereby fomenting ill-informed local opposition to saving it.

The Design Commission also expressed their belief that the Yankees were against saving any part of the Old Stadium. [For example, at the Public Hearing of October 26, 2010.]

These beliefs, motivations, and pronouncements have made it impossible to get a fair hearing to save a treasure that rightfully belongs to the People of New York, not the Yankees, who already have been generously given a new stadium, and rights to sell treasures of the Old Stadium, at very great expense to the People of New York. If the Steinbrenner-owned Yankees truly don't want to save any part of the Original (pre-Steinbrenner) Stadium, as it appears from their lack of visible support, public reports by the Parks Department, that should have had absolutely no bearing or influence on the City's decision.

__________

Please also see the Written Submission and Speech of the Committee to Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, to the Design Commission, dated and submitted, respectively, on February 18 and 22, 2010.

__________

On the basis of these twenty-six (26) facts, reasons, and supporting evidence - separately and collectively - the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium requests an immediate

A FULL PUBLIC REVIEW AND HEARING, INCLUDING

A FULL REVIEW BY THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK,

AND PUBLIC DESIGN COMMISSION OF NEW YORK

TO PRESERVE

THE OLD YANKEE STADIUM BALCONIES & PLAYERS ENTRANCE

FOR OLD YANKEE STADIUM PARK

AS WELL AS MAYORAL PROTECTION AGAINST THE SALE OR DESTRUCTION OF THESE BALCONIES AND OTHER PRESERVED ITEMS (INCLUDING THE "OLD PLAYERS' ENTRANCE", AND ARCHED VENTS) FROM any sale, theft, distribution, deconstruction, demolition, or structural compromise, until all of the above is fully and properly heard, investigated, and adjudicated, in the setting of a PUBLIC HEARING!

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Respectfully submitted to the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg, via Mayoral Attorney William Heinzen, the Public Design Commission, and the Parks Department, with the request that the Mayor's Office and Mayor be forwarded this EMERGENCY PETITION immediately upon its receipt:

Tim Reid, on behalf of

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

Be Heard Today! Contact the NYC Design Commission and Be Heard!

2010-04-25T13:03:00.001-07:00

Dear Baseball Fans,

Please contact the New York City Design Commission today at 212-788-3071 or email Jackie Snyder or Keri Butler at jsnyder@cityhall.nyc.gov and kbutler@cityhall.nyc.gov, respectfully. Let them know about the horrible current plan for Old Yankee Stadium Park.

Tell the DC how rotten the Park design is...the wire frieze (stupid AND in the wrong place), the flying seat clusters (just stupid), and the circles in the grass (stupid and in the wrong place too)...and pushing the inclusion of original parts of the Stadium...the balconies, the old Players' Entrance (if it's still there), and anything else you object to!

Be heard today!!!!

Thanks.....

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR PUBLIC REVIEW & HEARING REGARDING PRESERVATION OF OLD YANKEE STADIUM BALCONIES

2010-04-24T04:12:00.002-07:00

TO THE

HONORABLE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

April 23, 2010

___________

COMMITTEE TO COMMEMORATE OLD YANKEE STADIUM, Petitioners

___________

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR

PUBLIC REVIEW & HEARING

REGARDING PRESERVATION OF

OLD YANKEE STADIUM BALCONIES

___________

On February 22, 2010, the Parks & Recreation Department of New York City ("Parks & Recreation") proposed at Public Hearing before a partial assembly of the Public Design Commission of New York ("Design Commission") the complete destruction of original Old Yankee Stadium (1923-1973), including historic Left Field Gate 2, leaving NOTHING from the original Stadium for the People of New York.

Despite numerous, long-standing, and exhaustively evidenced filings to the City of New York - including to Parks & Recreation, as well as to the Design Commission - proving beyond any doubt the Gate's preeminent historical importance, the Parks proposal to destroy it was approved. Moreover, dramatic, and dramatically-flawed, design changes to the design of "Old Yankee Stadium Park" (formerly referred to as "Heritage Field") were also approved, though they had never been revealed to the public for review and comment. These design change proposals were deliberately held from the public, until hearing when they were very briefly, unexpectedly, and incompletely, revealed.

The City thoroughly disregarded overwhelming evidence proving the importance and originality of Gate 2 and other parts of the stadium, some of it attached hereto. As a consequence, the Parks Department attempted to destroy all of the stadium.

Fortunately, representatives of our Committee received inside intelligence and evidence that parts of the stadium - potentially worth millions of dollars - were in actuality being preserved and stolen, for unlawful personal acquisition and sale - by people and parties officially connected with the demolition, some with likely organized crime connections. Learning and documenting this, the Committee contacted the City, requesting immediate NYPD and FBI intervention and investigation. The FBI was requested because of first hand, photographic, and video, evidence showing the involvement of parties from New Jersey, including some connected to Turner Corporation, and others, who are known to be taking valuable historic material from the stadium.

Thanks to our Committee's surveillance, investigation, and intervention, three (3) historic balconies have been saved from the destruction and dumping they were officially scheduled for. Other historic items from the Stadium - also being stolen (officially dumped) - were also saved. This account of facts has been partially reported, by Larry McShane, in the Daily News, as well as around in many other media venues, around the city, state, nation, and world.

Please see: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/10/2010-04-10_3_yankees_balconies_saved_for_park.html

The saving of these historic balconies has rightfully received TREMENDOUS public support and acclamation.

Now that these balconies have been saved, they should be included in Old Yankee Stadium Park, as they easily can be. However, in a shocking decision announced JUST THIS AFTERNOON, the Parks Department - without any explanation or evidence whatsoever - that they will NOT be including these balconies in the park!!! Moreover, they are planning to seek approval of excluding all these balconies - and other original stadium items saved through Committee identification and effort - THIS MONDAY MORNING, WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING!!!!!!!!

Because all previous evaluations, meetings and hearings held by City officials were based TOTALLY on the COMPLETELY FALSE CITY PROPOSALS & ARGUMENT that NOTHING from the original stadium could be saved, there MUST - under the letter & spirit of City law, rules & procedure - be a public hearing to determine what can and should now be kept in Old Yankee Stadium Park.

Pivotal parts of the Parks Department proposals were and still are fatally flawed, in that they were and still are based on the false.

We, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium - consisting of and representing Yankee Stadium experts, fans, and citizens throughout the City, State, Nation, and World - hereby petition for the immediate intervention of Mayor Michael Bloomberg to TEMPORARILY STAY the destruction of Yankee Gate 2, and the implementation of the Parks Department's proposed plan for Old Yankee Stadium Park, until such time that all of the following twenty-six (26) facts, arguments and supporting evidence, are thoroughly and properly admitted, evaluated and adjudicated by the City of New York. [The Design Commission failed and refused to consider all these facts, ruling that their review was and is limited to "aesthetics only" - disregarding therefore the vast majority of facts, evidence, and reasons, compelling preservation of the Gate]:

(1) Original Yankee Stadium is the most historically significant stadium in American history. Indeed, it was widely and expertly regarded the most culturally and architecturally important stadium in the history of the New World and the Western Hemisphere. Not since the Roman Coliseum - on which it was architecturally modeled - has there been a more important or popular stadium. [The Stadium's history is documented by thousands of articles, books, documentaries, films, and video accounts. For a very quick and readily accessible visual overviews, see the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium's videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZn1qCwMqLQ & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAN7LfBtckw]

(2) Old Yankee Stadium is a New York, national, and international icon. In fact, Mayor Bloomberg prominently attested to the fact that, based on his extensive travels and experience, it is one of New York's top three icons around the world, rivaled only by the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. [See, e.g., Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective, 2008]

(3) Old Yankee Stadium was the most important sports venue in American history. It is frequently referred to as a "shrine" and "cathedral" because of its sublime significance in the history of Baseball, most particularly during Baseball's "Golden Age" (1923-1964) - when the New York Yankees were the greatest sports dynasty in world history.

(4) When the City of New York announced the granting of land and funding for building of a new stadium for the Yankee franchise, they promised the People of New York that they would NOT destroy all of Old Yankee Stadium. In fact, they promised to save a vast majority of the original outer "shell" and lower seating area. The Mayor, Parks Department, Economic Development Council - as well as George Steinbrenner and Yankee management - all publicly backed this plan and promise. Attached are two images of the City's original plan

(5) Reneging on their promise, the City of New York abandoned the plan to preserve ANY part of the shell or interior of the original Stadium, instead deciding to allow it to be "deconstructed" and sold off (by the Yankees and Steiner Corporation) to private bidders, leaving NOTHING from the Original Stadium on the historic site, nor anything from it for the People of New York.

(6) Simultaneously, the City showered the Yankee franchise with nearly 2 Billion dollars, claiming it had no money whatsoever to save any part of the original Stadium. [See, e.g., http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2006-08-16-oconnor-yankee-stadium_x.htm]

(7) When challenged on this stunning reversal by the City, they claimed - largely through Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe - expressly and quite erroneously claimed that nothing from the Original Stadium survived the 1970's renovation - only "some steel ... and some of the bricks (sic)."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/06/23/2008-06-23_parks_commissioner_adrian_benepe_confirm.html

(9) Commissioner Benepe was immediately and emphatically criticized for his erroneous conclusions leading to his deision to destroy all of the Original Stadium. [See, e.g.,

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium-babes-granddaughter-says-yes/84425/]

(10) In order to help preserve part of the Original Stadium, expert, fans, and citizens from around the city, state, and nation, provided overwhelming evidence to Commissioner Benepe that his understanding and decision to destroy all of the Original Stadium was fatally flawed by a mis/dis evaluation of the Stadium's architectural history. He has received hundreds of communications attesting to this fact, but has disregarded them all, obdurately insisting that nothing was original, and nothing original would be saved.

(11) Many of the expert communications and evidential submissions Mr. Benepe has received - from architects, historians, public advocacy groups included - attested to the overwhelming originality of Gate 2, and its perfect location for preservation within the proposed new park, now known as "Old Yankee Stadium Park." The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium has been one of those groups. See, e.g.,

http://www.ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSGate2.htm

(11) To support this incorrect argument and position, against the overwhelming weight of expert findings and evidence, the Commissioner then falsely claimed that the City's Landmark Preservation Commission (the "LPC") had already investigated and ruled that Gate 2 was not original or worthy of preservation. Despite repeated requests for the records on which Mr. Benepe based his decision to tear down the gate, the Parks Department has not (and can not) produce any such LPC findings or rulings. Multiple members of our Committee HAVE reviewed the entire LPC case file, and there are NO records whatsoever regarding Gate 2.

(12) Thus, the basis of the Parks Department's decision to tear down Gate 2 is thoroughly erroneous, as proved over and over. In truth, Gate 2 is dramatically original, up to 95% so, including its recently revealed foundation and interior, with only a small portion of its upper face renovated in the 1970's (IN COMPLETE ARCHITECTURAL COMPORT WITH THE ORIGINAL 1920's DESIGN & APPEARANCE.)

(13) Gate 2 is so original in design and appearance, in fact, that it is the only existing model for the Official Logo of Old Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees' commemorative sleeve emblem, attached hereto.

(14) Official Bronx County Historian has also repeatedly advised Mr. Benepe and the Parks Department (along with numerous top Yankee Stadium historians and historical architects) that the Gate is original and should be reserved. He, too - along with numerous other top Yankee Stadium historians and historic architects - was completely disregarded. See, e.g.,

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/08/17/2009-08-17_the_gate_debate_boosters_push_to_save_and_restore_historic_entrance_at_old_stadi.html

(15) In addition to calling for the preservation of the Gate, Professor Ultan was also critical of Parks' "historically-disconnected" proposal for the new park, sagely observing "What's missing from the park plan is the architecture of the stadium itself." Prominent architectural critic and National Trust for Historic Preservation Board Member, Paul Goldberger, American Institute of Architect New York President Rick Bell, former LPC Chairperson Sherida Bell, and other experts, panned the plan as well. See,

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/08/17/2009-08-17_the_gate_debate_boosters_push_to_save_and_restore_historic_entrance_at_old_stadi.html

(16) Past President of the Connecticut AIA, a former Bronx resident and expert on Yankee Stadium, Jeffrey Bianco, also criticized the plan, and called for preservation of the Gate, as have Baseball, Yankee and Yankee Stadium historians and authors, Paul Doherty, Bill Jenkinson, Mike Wagner, Mark Healey, and Harry Swanson, among many others. Listen, e.g., to:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/baseball-digest-live/2009/10/05/preserving-the-past

See, also, the endorsements of Paul Doherty, Michael Wagner, and Brad Turnow, HistoryOfTheYankees.com - all on file with the Design Commission.

(17) The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium successfully presented our case to the Design Commission for preserving Gate 2 on October 26, leading the Commission also to recognize and reject the profound flaws in the Parks Department's preliminary plan. Our written submission, with extensive evidential references, is below, followed by a news account of the Commission's rejection.

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/public-design-commission-hearing-102609.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/11/03/2009-11-03_city_keeps_stadium_gate_open_yanks_fans_plan_for_a_memorial_still_in_the_game.html

(18) At this Hearing the Parks Department claimed saving the Gate would cost $10 Million dollars, because - still wrongly claiming - it was "not original." After we revealed a Legacy Bricks plan that could raise such funds - not withstanding emphatic and well-evidenced proof that such an estimate was extravagantly high ("by an order of magnitude or two") - the Department than increased its estimate to over $15 Million, again without any evidence or explanation whatsoever.

Notably, the estimate does not include any savings that would result from not having to demolish and remove the gate from the site where it presently stands.

(19) Subsequently, after extensive Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests (on file with Parks Department), our Committee learned that parks was basing this amount on an unsigned, unattributed, "summary cost estimate." When we pressed for further records to explain what every expert (architects, certified construction cost estimator, government contract experts, construction foremen, iron workers, et al) unanimously found an outrageous, totally unfounded, and even "laughable" estimate, we were told by Parks lawyers that there were none - no date, no drawings, no data - not even the name, title, experience, or credentials of who performed the alleged estimate, nothing. None were provided to the Design Commission, either.

(20) To help resolve the order of magnitude(s) difference between the Parks Departments cost estimate and those from all of our experts, we repeatedly requested (more than a dozen times) to perform a free-of-charge architectural, structural, and cost, evaluation, of the Gate, by top experts, all experienced and bonded for construction site work. [See Parks Department and City records] Each and every time our requests were either totally ignored, or totally rejected, falsely claiming security and safety prohibitions - while unbonded construction worker girlfriends, baseball players, celebrities, film crews, reporters, etc., visited every part of the construction site.

In contrast, our experts, all bonded and extensively experienced for work on construction sites were all denied access - to the most safe and secure area of the stadium site, indeed one that could even be visited from its outside sidewalk entrance.

(21) As one example of this outrageous obstruction, please see the attached correspondence and speech of architect and Yankee Stadium historian, Philip J. Reina, who our Committee presented to the Parks Department as a free-of-charge independent Gate evaluator.

The Parks Department denied Mr. Reina access for an independent review, and even just the drawings used to conduct the City's so-called cost estimate, because, according to them, IT WOULD POSE A TERRORIST THREAT to the City of New York, if were to do so! [Official reason given directly to Mr. Reina by high ranking Parks Official Frank McCue, on Feb 18, 2010, for withholding stadium drawings.] (Notwithstanding that the Stadium is utterly empty and slated for complete destruction within a month's time - by the City itself - not terrorists.)

This is how absurdly far the Parks Department has gone to deny an independent cost evaluation for preserving Gate 2.

(22) To further address the alleged cost concern, our Committee, along with HistoryOfTheYankees.com, voluntarily consulted with leading "legacy brick" authorities, most notably the company which did the extremely financially and aesthetically successful and well-received commemorative brick plazas and walkways at Citifield, and many other major sports venues around the country. See, e.g.: http://ccoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/save-gate-commemorative-brick-drive.html. This program could raise over $10 Million dollars, simultaneously enhancing the park's appeal and tourism, and consequently much-needed, year-round revenue for the Yankee Stadium neighborhood. We offered our full and free-of-charge help to make this "SAVE THE GATE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE" a major success. Additionally, we put the company who did "Fanwalk" for the Mets directly in touch with the Parks Department.

(21) Despite this aesthetically beautiful, widely-praised and very lucrative, funding opportunity, Parks rejected it because - contrary to all well-established practices and experience at many hundreds of similar sites around the world - "the bricks will wear down" and people will inscribe the bricks with " 'I Hate the Yankees' and things like that." [Parks Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Smith, speaking officially for Commissioner Benepe,, at Parks Headquarters, on behalf of the Department on February 1, at a meeting with our Committee.]

(21) Another of our Committee's other cost-saving proposal - the SAVE THE GATE VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM - was unceremoniously shot down by Parks, at that same meeting [February 1, 2010, at the Arsenal, in Central Park] Parks officials informed us that "the unions will never allow us to use volunteer workers." This unattributed charge against the union was not evidenced. In fact, FOIL requests of Parks for any evidence for such a claim reveal that it can not be backed up. It's erroneous and derogatory speculation. Moreover, "the unions" will not "lose" or "gain" any work if the City tears down the Gate. Indeed, many relevant union workers - as well as professionals - are active supporters of all our efforts, including the Volunteer Worker Program, which would eliminate virtually all labor costs associated with gate Preservation.

http://historyoftheyankees.blogspot.com/2009/11/save-gate-volunteer-worker-program.html

Further, this "reason" for rejecting such a beneficial program flies right in the face of City volunteer philosophies and programs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/nyregion/18volunteers.html

http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/

There would be no shortage of volunteers for saving the Gate.

(22) Revealing further error and bullheadedness behind the Department's decision to destroy the Gate (no matter what facts, evidence and reasoning compel its preservation), they also argued that our proposed design "would be an eyesore." This against all independent expert and objective evidence, including universal popular acclaim for the magnificent aesthetics of our proposed Gate monument. See, e.g., the images of the proposal linked below, as well as our 3d video of it - WHICH WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO SHOW AT THE DESIGN COMMISSION' PUBLIC HEARING - thereby depriving the Commission of a major piece of aesthetic evidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlmLlYEXl0

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSModelRenderings.htm

(23) Parks also argues that preserving the Gate would take too long. This argument, at best, stems from a severely poor and inaccurate estimate of the Gate's well-documented originality - as well as from the above-cited half-page cost-estimate which wrongly implies the need for far more extensive work than truly necessary, as also does their erroneous argument that huge trusses and pilings are required to preserve the Gate - another claim emphatically rejected by independent construction experts. Furthermore, it completely disregard the fact that the new park will not be opening for almost two years, and all independent experts estimate only a couple of months work, at very most, to save the Gate.

(24) Likewise, the argument that the gate will take up too much space is completely wrong. It will take up only less than 1% of the new park's square footage, in a location where it will not interfere whatsoever with park activities or design.

(25) At Parks Headquarters, Parks officials said their decision was also based on their beliefs that the Gate would "cast big shadows" and "suck up air." No evidence was presented or can be presented for such wild conclusions. First of all the fact that New Yankee Stadium is east of the gate obviates any concerns of morning "shadows", and its location on the extreme east side of the new park eliminates afternoon shadows. In between obviously creates no deleterious shadows, either.

As for "sucking up air", that's unsubstantiated nonsense also.

These headstrong arguments also ignore the fact that the original City plan include 360 degrees of buildings around the park. See attached image of plan with outer shell and extensive seating.

(26) Finally, after publicly making it so well known how closely they've worked the Yankees on all matters pertaining to the new park, the Parks Department have repeatedly indicated that they were motivated to destroy all of Original Yankee Stadium because "the Yankees don't want to save any part of it, so why should we." [Deputy Director Rebecca Smith, February 1, 2010, at The Arsenal meeting to members of the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium and HistoryOfTheYankees.com]

Equally outrageous and destructive was the very public pronouncement shocking by Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, at the Community Board 4 Meeting on February 18, that "the Yankees want you to go across the street to the new Stadium, they don't want to save anything from the Old Stadium ... The Gate will be gone." He also dramatically (mis/dis)informed the audience of mostly local Bronx residents that Gate 2 was ruled non-original [by the LPC.] with complete certitude that Gate 2 was not original and the (LPC) - thereby fomenting ill-informed local opposition to saving it.

The Design Commission also expressed their belief that the Yankees were against saving any part of the Old Stadium. [For example, at the Public Hearing of October 26, 2010.]

These beliefs, motivations, and pronouncements have made it impossible to get a fair hearing to save a treasure that rightfully belongs to the People of New York, not the Yankees, who already have been generously given a new stadium, and rights to sell treasures of the Old Stadium, at very great expense to the People of New York. If the Steinbrenner-owned Yankees truly don't want to save any part of the Original (pre-Steinbrenner) Stadium, as it appears from their lack of visible support, public reports by the Parks Department, that should have had absolutely no bearing or influence on the City's decision.

__________

Please also see the Written Submission and Speech of the Committee to Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, to the Design Commission, dated and submitted, respectively, on February 18 and 22, 2010.

__________

On the basis of these twenty-six (26) facts, reasons, and supporting evidence - separately and collectively - the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium requests an immediate

A FULL PUBLIC REVIEW AND HEARING, INCLUDING

A FULL REVIEW BY PUBLIC DESIGN COMMISSION OF NEW YORK

TO PRESERVE THE THREE (3) HISTORIC BALCONIES FROM

OLD YANKEE STADIUM

AS WELL AS MAYORAL PROTECTION AGAINST THE SALE OR DESTRUCTION OF THESE BALCONIES AND OTHER PRESERVED ITEMS (INCLUDING THE "OLD PLAYERS' ENTRANCE", AND ARCHED VENTS) FROM any sale, theft, distribution, deconstruction, demolition, or structural compromise, until all of the above is fully and properly heard, investigated, and adjudicated, in the setting of a PUBLIC HEARING!

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Respectfully submitted to the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg, via Mayoral Attorney William Heinzen, the Public Design Commission, and the Parks Department, with the request that the Mayor's Office and Mayor be forwarded this EMERGENCY PETITION immediately upon its receipt:

Tim Reid, on behalf of

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 9, 2010 - Gate 2 Balconies Saved!

2010-04-09T12:01:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 9, 2010

Old Yankee Stadium Balconies

Saved for the People of New York!!!

After extensive communication and lobbying with Mayor Bloomberg, the Parks Department, and the Design Commission, the City of New York has accepted the plan of the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com to preserve the original balconies from Old Yankee Stadium Gate 2, pictured above, for the People of New York!!!

These treasures, previously slated for complete destruction, will now be permanently displayed at either Old Yankee Stadium Park (formerly known as "Heritage Field"), or at an appropriate museum, as attested to in the attached letter by the Parks Department to the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium. Accordingly, the City's previous plan to totally destroy the balconies has been scrapped instead.

We thank the City for this decision and pledge continuance of our full devotion to further commemorating Old Yankee Stadium, working around-the-clock toward a majestic park design and national landmarking of the greatest site in the history of American sports!!!

____

See you at the Vigil, on Sunday, April 18th, at Old Babe Ruth Plaza!!!

(Noon to 1, before the Game across 161st street, at NYS)

____

For Previous Media Releases, Stories & Related Videos, Please See:

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/ & http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm

For Commemorative Video Depictions of Balconies and History of Old Yankee Stadium, see:

www.YouTube.com/watch?v=mAN7LfBtckw (Save the Gate That Ruth Built on YouTube)

________________

For Further Information, Please contact:

Brad Turnow
historyoftheyankees.com
(516) 523-4749
(631) 874-5754

bhturnow@optonline.net

and/or

Tim Reid
Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium
(754) 368-1295
savethegate@gmail.com

BREAKING NEWS!!!! GATE 2 BALCONIES SAVED!!!!!

2010-04-08T19:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Mr. Hagan,

Thank you again for your patience while we compile the documents you requested under the Freedom of Information Law. We will forward relevant material in the near future.

In the meantime, we would like to thank you for forwarding images of the balconies that were retrieved from the demolition of old Yankee Stadium. Partly in response to suggestions from the Committee of Commemorate old Yankee Stadium, we began weeks ago to explore options for salvaging these features from Gate 2. Unfortunately, our initial conclusion was that it would not be possible to remove these elements from the stadium wall prior to the “Cut and Pull” demolition of the Gate without adding unacceptable levels of time and cost to our project. All the same, we directed the City’s contractor to salvage these elements if possible during the deconstruction process. We decided not to publicize this effort because it was unclear if the balconies would survive the process and we did not wish to raise false hopes.

As you now know, the three balconies survived the toppling of the wall and were set aside by the contractors. Two of the balconies sustained only minimal damage. The third has more extensive damage. We have inventoried these elements and will temporarily store them off-site at a Parks Department facility.

We are currently exploring the possibility of incorporating the balconies into our landscape plan for Heritage Field, where they could be identified as part of our overall package of interpretive elements. Although no final decisions have been made, we want to be clear that we will make every effort to find appropriate locations to display these items, whether within the park, or off-site at a museum.

We appreciate your perseverance and dedication to the commemoration of the old stadium. Please feel free to stay in touch with us over the next few months; we will be happy to share our plans for the balconies as they develop.

Sincerely,

Joshua Laird - NYC Parks Department

2010-04-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Anniversary Vigil and Tribute at Old Yankee Stadium - 4/18/2010

2010-03-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, March 14, 2010

____________________

Anniversary Vigil & Tribute

Old Yankee Stadium

__________________

Sunday, April 18, 2010

_________

Twelve Noon

Old Babe Ruth Plaza

Outside Old Yankee Stadium

________________

On April 18, 1923, the New York Yankees opened the majestic gates of Old Yankee Stadium for the very first time. In true Ruthian fashion, the Babe, "baptized the stadium with a savage home run", propelling the team to not only a Opening Day victory over the rival Red Sox, but also to the franchise's first World Championship season. The Yankees ultimately became the greatest sports franchise in history, and "The House that Ruth Built" the greatest stadium in American history. Indeed, so stunningly and immediately magnificent and important was the Stadium that it was immediately compared by writers around the world to the Roman Coliseum, and Pyramids of Ancient Egypt, the likes of which had not been built in over two millennia.

In honor of The Stadium's 87th Anniversary, its preeminent place in history, and in tribute to all the greats and great events that have graced its hallowed ground, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com will be participating in an

Anniversary Vigil & Tribute to Old Yankee Stadium

Sunday, April 18, 2010

_______

Twelve Noon at old Babe Ruth Plaza

Prior to 1:05 Yankees Game

at New Yankee Stadium

We hope to see you there!

Attendees are Encouraged to Bring Flowers and Other Tributes to Leave at the Stadium Site as a Final Farewell.

Commemorative Speeches & Music are Welcomed.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Previous Media Releases, Stories & Related Videos, Please See:

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/ & http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAN7LfBtckw & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZn1qCwMqLQ

________________

For Further Information, Please contact:

Brad Turnow

historyoftheyankees.com

(516) 523-4749

(631) 874-5754

bhturnow@optonline.net

and/or

Tim Reid

Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

(754) 368-1295

savethegate@gmail.com

_______________

The Committee to Commemorate to Old Yankee Stadium has the following four (4) urgent missions:

1) To Assure the new park site at "OLD YANKEE STADIOUM PARK" is "world-class", as the City has promised it will be, properly commemorating the history of Old Yankee Stadium. This urgently includes, among other commememorations, preservation of Old Yankee Stadium Gate 2 as a permanent commemorative feature at Old Yankee Stadium Park. To achieve this, we have worked extensively with the City of New York, and proposed the SAVE THE GATE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE and VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM.

2) To name the new park site of Old Yankee Stadium "OLD YANKEE STADIUM PARK", a majestically unique and infinitely more appealing, accurate, and appropriate name than "Heritage Field". The currently proposed name has been widely criticized by Baseball, historical and architectural experts (as well as legions of informed fans and concerned citizens) as grossly common, bland, ambiguous, and terribly disconnected from the site's preeminent role in New York history, including its internationally unmatched history in Baseball. (Indeed, there are many dozens of Heritage Parks and Fields across the country, including the Cleveland Indians "Heritage Park" - right in the AL East!!!)

3) To name the baseball field in Old Yankee Stadium Park, "BABE RUTH MEMORIAL FIELD" in tribute to the most renowned player and icon in Baseball history, and to replace the original "BABE RUTH MEMORIAL FIELD" which was destroyed to make room for new Yankee Stadium. (BABE RUTH MEMORIAL FIELD was intended to be a "permanent" tribute to Babe Ruth's immortal and unparalleled contributions to the City of New York. It's destruction, along with the destruction of "The House That Ruth Built", leaves the City devoid of any public tribute to America's greatest and most beloved sports figure.

4) Application to the U.S. Department of Interior for long-overdue National Landmark status for the site of Old Yankee Stadium, which will provide even further (stimulus and historic preservation) funds available to the City of New York for the preservation of Gate 2 and complete commemoration of "Old Yankee Stadium Park."

--
Brad's Ultimate New York Yankees Website

website - www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com
blog - http://historyoftheyankees.blogspot.com/


Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium - Save Gate 2!

website - http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm
blog - http://ccoys.blogspot.com/

NEW Gate 2 Alternate Plan

2010-03-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

New Gate 2 Alternate Plan

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, and HistoryOfTheYankees.com would like to present Gate 2 – Alternate Plan to Mayor Bloomberg, the New York Yankees, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Design Commission of the City of New York, worldwide fans of baseball, fans of American history and culture, residents of New York City, and especially residents of the Borough of the Bronx.

Our Committee and organizations would like to present a plan which will honor the history of the site of old Yankee Stadium at the intersection of 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. The lowest section of Gate 2 (which begins at street level and rises approximately seventeen feet) is the original section of the historic Gate (the width is sixty-six feet). Completed in 1923, it consists of the same five entrances that were in place and at the same location when Yankee Stadium celebrated its first Opening Day on April 18 of that year. The Gate would assume its current height of seventy-five feet when the leftfield grandstand was extended in 1928.

The top of the original Gate can be seen as the line or seam running horizontally a few feet below the bottom of the cathedral windows. It is at this point that we propose the Gate be saved preserved by separating it from the upper section. For cosmetic and aesthetic reasons, we propose that the three balconies, located near the bottom of the cathedral windows be saved as well, and be attached to the lower section (aerial photographs, taken eighty years apart, show Gate 2 as unaltered…three photographs enclosed).

To provide a clearer perspective, it should be noted that the section designated for preservation, is only a few feet taller than the blue plywood construction wall currently in place in front of Gate 2.

Ladies and Gentleman, every World-Class Park deserves a World-Class entrance, and the lowest/street level section of Gate 2 is perfect; and with its smaller dimensions, structural support would be minimal or completely unnecessary; and the Park could continue to be developed while Gate 2 is made ready to once again allow fans and families into this historic piece of world history, American history, baseball history, New York history, and Bronx history.

*Another option would be the preservation of a portion of the exterior wall/facade, which runs from Gate 2 to Gate 6, and dates to the original (1923) Stadium (the left field extension to 1928; the right field extension to 1937)…or even the “replacement” of the original ticket booths.

Thank You,

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

804-441-2112, 804-426-9911, 804-639-9472

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm

www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com

GATE 2 – ALTERNATE PLAN ANNOUNCED!!!

2010-03-01T16:01:00.001-08:00

GATE 2 – ALTERNATE PLAN

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, and HistoryOfTheYankees.com would like to present Gate 2 – Alternate Plan to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Design Commission of the City of New York, worldwide fans of baseball, fans of American history and culture, residents of New York City, and especially residents of the Borough of the Bronx.

Our Committee and organizations would like to present a plan which will honor the history of the site of old Yankee Stadium at the intersection of 161^st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. The lowest section of Gate 2 (which begins at street level and rises approximately seventeen feet) is the original section of the historic Gate (the width is sixty-six feet). Completed in 1923, it consists of the same five entrances that were in place and at the same location when Yankee Stadium celebrated its first Opening Day on April 18 of that year. The Gate would assume its current height of seventy-five feet when the leftfield grandstand was extended in 1928.

The top of the original Gate can be seen as the line or seam running horizontally a few feet below the bottom of the cathedral windows. It is at this point that we propose the Gate be saved preserved by separating it from the upper section. For cosmetic and aesthetic reasons, we propose that the three balconies, located near the bottom of the cathedral windows be saved as well, and be attached to the lower section.

To provide a clearer perspective, it should be noted that the section designated for preservation, is only a few feet taller than the blue plywood construction wall currently in place in front of Gate 2.

Ladies and Gentleman, every World-Class Park deserves a World-Class entrance, and the lowest/street level section of Gate 2 is perfect; and with its smaller dimensions, structural support would be minimal or completely unnecessary; and the Park could continue to be developed while Gate 2 is made ready to once again allow fans and families into this historic piece of world history, American history, baseball history, New York history, and Bronx history.

Thank You,

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

804-441-2112, 804-426-9911, 804-639-9472

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm

www.HistoryOfTheYankees.com

*aerial photographs of the Gate, taken more than eighty years apart, show the Gate unchanged and the proposed preserved section to be 100% original.

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION FOR GATE 2

2010-02-23T15:53:00.001-08:00

TO THE

HONORABLE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

February 23, 2010

___________

COMMITTEE TO COMMEMORATE OLD YANKEE STADIUM, Petitioners

___________

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION

AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION

OLD YANKEE STADIUM

LEFT FIELD GATE 2

___________

On February 22, 2010, the Parks & Recreation Department of New York City ("Parks & Recreation") proposed at Public Hearing before a partial assembly of the Public Design Commission of New York ("Design Commission") petitioning the complete destruction of original Old Yankee Stadium (1923-1973), including historic Left Field Gate 2, leaving NOTHING from the original Stadium for the People of New York.

Despite numerous, long-standing, and exhaustively evidenced filings to the City of New York - including to Parks & Recreation, as well as to the Design Commission - proving beyond any doubt the Gate's preeminent historical importance, the Parks proposal to destroy it was approved. Moreover, dramatic, and dramatically-flawed, design changes to the design of "Old Yankee Stadium Park" (formerly referred to as "Heritage Field") were also approved, though they had never been revealed to the public for review and comment. These design change proposals were deliberately held from the public, until yesterday, when they were very briefly, unexpectedly, and incompletely, revealed.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/06/23/2008-06-23_parks_commissioner_adrian_benepe_confirm.html

(9) Commissioner Benepe was immediately and emphatically criticized for his erroneous conclusions leading to his deision to destroy all of the Original Stadium. [See, e.g.,

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium-babes-granddaughter-says-yes/84425/]

http://www.ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSGate2.htm

(11) To support this incorrect argument and position, against the overwhelming weight of expert findings and evidence, the Commissioner then falsely claimed that the City's Landmark Preservation Commission (the "LPC") had already investigated and ruled that Gate 2 was not original or worthy of presevation. Despite repeated requests for the records on which Mr. Benepe based his decision to tear down the gate, the Parks Department has not (and can not) produce any such LPC findings or rulings. Multiple members of our Committee HAVE reviewed the entire LPC case file, and there are NO records whatsoever regarding Gate 2.

(13) Gate 2 is so original in design and appearance, in fact, that it is the only existing model for the Offial Logo of Old Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees' commemorative sleeve emblem, attached hereto.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/08/17/2009-08-17_the_gate_debate_boosters_push_to_save_and_restore_historic_entrance_at_old_stadi.html

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/baseball-digest-live/2009/10/05/preserving-the-past

See, also, the endorsements of Paul Doherty, Michael Wagner, and Brad Turnow, HistoryOfTheYankees.com - all on file with the Design Commission.

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/public-design-commission-hearing-102609.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/11/03/2009-11-03_city_keeps_stadium_gate_open_yanks_fans_plan_for_a_memorial_still_in_the_game.html

Notably, the estimate does not include any savings that would result from not having to demolish and remove the gate from the site where it presently stands.

(19) Subsequently, after extensive Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests (on file with Parks Department), our Committee learned that parks was basing this amount on an unsigned, unattributed, "summary cost estimate." When we pressed for further records to explain what every expert (architects, certified construction cost estimator, government contract experts, construction foremen, ironworkers, et al) unanimously found an outrageous, totally unfounded, and even "laughable" estimate, we were told by Parks lawyers that there were none - no date, no drawings, no data - not even the name, title, experience, or credentials of who performed the alleged estimate, nothing. None were provided to the Design Commission, either.

This is how absurdly far the Parks Department has gone to deny an independent cost evaluation for preserving Gate 2.

(21) Another of our Committee's other cost-saving proposal - the SAVE THE GATE VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM - was unceremoniously shot down by Parks, at that same meeting [February 1, 2010, at the Arsenal, in Central Park] Parks officials informed us that "the unions will never allow us to use volunteer workers." This unattributed charge against the union was not evidenced. In fact, FOIL requests of Parks for any evidence for such a claim reveal that it can not be backed up. It's erroneous and derogatory speculation. Moreover, "the unions" will not "lose" or "gain" any work if the City tears down the Gate. Indeed, many relevant union workers - as well as professionals - are active supporters of all our efforts, including the Volunteer Worker Program, which woulsd eliminate virtually all labor costs associated with gate Preservation.

http://historyoftheyankees.blogspot.com/2009/11/save-gate-volunteer-worker-program.html

Further, this "reason" for rejecting such a beneficial program flies right in the face of City volunteer philosophies and programs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/nyregion/18volunteers.html

http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/

There would be no shortage of volunteers for saving the Gate.

(22) Revealing further error and bullheadedness behind the Department's decision to destroy the Gate (no matter what facts, evidence and reasoning compel its preservation), they also argued that our proposed design "would be an eyesore." This against all independent expert and objective evidence, including universal popular acclaim for the magnificent aesthetics of our proposed Gate monument. See, e.g., the images of the proposal linked below, as well as our 3d video of it - WHICH WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO SHOW AT THE DESIGN COMMISSION' PUBLIC HEARING - thereby depriving the Commission of a major piece of aesthetic evidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlmLlYEXl0

http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYSModelRenderings.htm

(23) Parks also argues that preserving the Gate would take too long. This argument, at best, stems from a severely poor and inaccurate estimate of the Gate's well-documented originality - as well as from the above-cited half-page cost-estimate which wrongly implies the need for far more extensive work than truly necessary, as also does their erroneous argument that huge trusses and pilings are required to preserve the Gate - another claim emphatically rejected by independent construction experts. Furthermore, it completely disregard the fact that the new park will not be opening for almost two years, and all independent experts estimate only a couple of months work, at very most, to save the Gate.

(24) Likewise, the argument that the gate will take up too much space is completely wrong. It will take up only less than 1% of the new park's square footage, in a location where it will not interfere whatsoever with park activities or design.

(25) At Parks Headquarters, Parks officials said their decision was also based on their beliefs that the Gate would "cast big shadows" and "suck up air." No evidence was presented or can be presented for such wild conclusions. First of all the fact that New Yankee Stadium is east of the gate obviates any concerns of morning "shadows", and its location on the extreme east side of the new park eliminates afternoon shadows. In between obviously creates no deleterious shadows, either.

As for "sucking up air", that's unsubstantiated nonsense also.

These headstrong arguments also ignore the fact that the original City plan include 360 degrees of buildings around the park. See attached image of plan with outer shell and extensive seating.

(26) Finally, after publicly making it so well known how closely they've worked the Yankees on all matters pertaining to the new park, the Parks Department have repeatedly indicated that they were motivated to destroy all of Original Yankee Stadium because "the Yankees don't want to save any part of it, so why should we." [Deputy Director Rebecca Smith, February 1, 2010, at The Arsenal meeting to members of the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium and HistoryOfTheYankees.com]

Equally outrageous and destructive was the very public pronouncement shocking by Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, at the Community Board 4 Meeting on February 18, that "the Yankees want you to go across the street to the new Stadium, they don't want to save anything from the Old Stadium ... The Gate will be gone." He also dramatically (mis/dis)informed the audience of mostly local Bronx residents that Gate 2 was ruled non-original [by the LPC.] with complete certitude that Gate 2 was not original and the (LPC) - thereby fomenting ill-informed local opposition to saving it.

The Design Commission also expressed their belief that the Yankees were against saving any part of the Old Stadium. [For example, at the Public Hearing of October 26, 2010.]

These beliefs, motivations, and pronouncements have made it impossible to get a fair hearing to save a treasure that rightfully belongs to the People of New York, not the Yankees, who already have been generously given a new stadium, and rights to sell treasures of the Old Stadium, at very great expense to the People of New York. If the Steinbrenner-owned Yankees truly don't want to save any part of the Original (pre-Steinbrenner) Stadium, as it appears from their lack of visible support, public reports by the Parks Department, that should have had absolutely no bearing or influence on the City's decision.

__________

[It should be noted as supporting evidence that HistoryOfTheYankees.com, and the SavetheYankeeGate2 Committee [www.savetheyankeegate2.com], among other parties nobly and diligently working to help Save the Gate, have faced nearly identical obstacles and obstructions as those described above. Therefore, they should be contacted for as supporting witnesses to this petition.]

Please also see the Written Submission and Speech of the Committee to Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, to the Design Commission, dated and submitted, respectively, on February 18 and 22, 2010.

__________

On the basis of these twenty-six (26) facts, reasons, and supporting evidence - separately and collectively - the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium requests an immediate

EMERGENCY MAYORAL INJUNCTION

temporarily protecting Yankee Gate 2 from any deconstruction, sale, demolition, or structural compromise, until all of the above is fully and properly heard, investigated, and adjudicated.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Respectfully submitted to the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg, via the Public Design Commission & Parks Department, with the request that the Mayor's Office and Mayor be forwarded this EMERGENCY PETITION immediately upon its receipt:

Tim Reid, on behalf of

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

IMPORTANT HEARING ON GATE 2 !!! MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010

2010-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

This Monday, February 22, 2010, The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium, along with other groups supporting the preservation of Gate 2, will be testifying before the New York City Design Commission at City Hall, 3rd Floor, in Manhattan. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm. Any in support of Gate 2 should show up and be heard. This will be our last chance to make sure New York City does the right thing and honor Old Yankee Stadium properly.

The updated agenda can be found at:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/artcom/html/review/meetings.shtml

Design Commission
City Hall, Third Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 788-3071
Fax: (212) 788-3086

Gate 2 Rumors Dispelled

2010-02-08T17:51:00.001-08:00

Gate 2 Rumors Dispelled

- Why the effort to save Gate 2?

o Old Yankee Stadium has become iconic and the most important stadium in our history. Only the Roman Coliseum is more greatly recognized in terms of historical significance. Old Yankee Stadium has been host to some of the greatest events to ever take place. Along with being residence to the world’s most successful sports franchise ever, the New York Yankees, the stadium has hosted events that included Presidents of the United Stated, visitations and services by several Popes and Cardinals, bared witness to many religious groups and gatherings, hosted championship professional and college football teams, featured some of the great boxers in history, held multiple soccer matches, and been host to many other important events. Some of those include the historic memorial held at the Stadium to honor those lost on 9/11 as well at the celebration for Nelson Mandela to signify the end of apartheid in South Africa. Only Yankee Stadium was chosen to host these historic events. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Elston Howard, Pele’, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, and Josh Gibson are just a few names that paved the way for all the great men and women who would venture about this grand stadium. With Gate 2 being the only “original” element of the stadium from the 1920’s, Gate 2 would be the only piece of the stadium that has bared witness to these great events. Gate 2 also encompasses many important historical and architectural elements that adhere to the original stadium. Gate 2 will make a grand entrance for the new ballparks that are to be built on top of the Old Yankee Stadium site. Only Gate 2 can help represent the sheer size and majesty of the original stadium and only Gate 2 can fill the need for the aesthetic shortcomings of the current plan set forth by the New York City Parks Department. Gate 2 will be the only way we can share the marvelous history of this unrivaled and one of a kind stadium with people now, and for many future generations to come.

- Gate 2 will take up large amounts of valuable park space if it is saved!

o Due to Gate 2’s location along 161^st Street, saving Gate 2 will have no impact on the amount of park space that is available to the residents of the South Bronx. Gate 2 runs along the sidewalk and will take up “minimal” space at the new park. It will not only make the new ballparks look “majestic”, but will add to the character of the plan proposed by the New York City Parks Department. Only the Gate represent the sheer size and majesty of the original stadium and only Gate 2 can fill the need for the aesthetic shortcomings of the current plan set forth by the New York City Parks Department.

- There are other “original” parts of the stadium that are going to be saved and incorporated into the plan that the Parks Department has submitted. Gate 2 is not needed.

o It is a fact that the current plan set forth by the New York City Parks Department includes ZERO original physical elements or structures from the stadium. It must be noted that the original “frieze”, otherwise known as the “façade”, was completely destroyed in 1973. The metal was sold for scrap to a company in Albany, NY. The façade used in the stadium from 1976 until 2008 was just a concrete replica. The “smokestack”, otherwise known as the “bat”, was constructed during the renovation of the mid 1970’s. It is only decades old. Only Gate 2 is “original” from the 1920’s.

- Gate 2 will cause major delays in constructing the ballparks that are to be built at the old site.

o Saving Gate 2 will have very little impact in terms of delays of building the new ballparks. Due to Gate 2’s location, the gate has no impact on the fields themselves. In fact, local engineers and architects have proven that the gate can be made structurally sound within a matter of days.

- Gate 2 underwent major modifications during the renovations of the mid-1970s. It is not “original”.

o Gate 2 is in fact the ONLY original piece from the 1920’s. When the stadium underwent renovation during the 1970’s, only Gate 2 was sparred due to its location on 161^st. Street. Gate 2 is in fact, over 90% original, including the foundation. It is the only physical structure of the stadium that is still true to form and reflects the stadium as it was built in the 1920’s. Gate 2 can very easily, inexpensively, and quickly be touched up to appear exactly like the original.

- I read that there is a “volunteer” program in which works would want to work on Gate 2. Is this true?

o The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium has created, developed, and proposed to the City of New York the "SAVE THE GATE Volunteer Worker Program", designed to eliminate all labor costs potentially associated with the saving of Gate 2 at Old Yankee Stadium, and other improvements to the new park design for the Old Yankee Stadium site. You can join with other architects, engineers, construction foremen and laborers, iron workers, cost estimators, lawyers, historians, preservationists, painters, masons, water proofers, safety and security professionals, insurance and contracts experts, among others - all helping to save this irreplaceable treasure. You can help SAVE THE GATE and otherwise transform the Old Yankee Stadium site into the preeminent park its majestic history compels. The more volunteers the better!!! All interested parties should contact the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium; providing your name, applicable skill, trade or profession - as well as a brief description of the services and number of days you would like to volunteer. Help make the Old Yankee Stadium site a park worthy of its unparalleled history!!!

- The proposed commemorative bricks that will be used in the park will quickly erode and wear away. Also, fans will purchase bricks that will include inappropriate slogans, using terms such as, “Yankees Stink”, “I Hate the Yankees”, etc.

o The Commemorative Bricks that would be used in the park are constructed of the highest quality materials. These bricks have already been proven time after time to withstand all types of foot traffic, bicycle traffic, cart traffic, erosion, weathering, etc. These types of bricks are currently installed in dozens of ballparks and stadiums throughout the United States, and many have been in place now for over a decade. They have been proven to be more than durable. In fact, many ballparks and stadiums are adding addition “phases” of bricks as their initial “phase” was so successful.

· Each brick submission is carefully screened for inappropriate comments. There is a strict policy in place in which certain criteria must be met. No inappropriate bricks will ever be placed in the ballparks.

- Why did the effort to save Gate 2 begin so late?

o In reality the effort to save Gate 2 has never been late. We have been continually adapting to changes in the city’s plans. The reason that the effort to save just Gate 2 began so late is that we were told through various media outlets that originally the plan was to save the ENTIRE stadium, or a very large portion of it. It was the Mayor, the Bronx Borough President, the Parks Commissioner, and George Steinbrenner who all promised this to and for the citizens of the Bronx. Even up until as late as 2008, there were still reports that major sections of Old Yankee Stadium were going to be saved. As late as the spring of 2008, the tour guides at Old Yankee Stadium were saying “much” of the old stadium was going to be saved. It was only learned that in late 2008, the in fact, the ENTIRE stadium was going to be taken down and destroyed.

Please contact the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium:

savethegate@gmail.com

NEW GATE 2 MONUMENT VIDEO - NEW RENDERING!!!!

2010-02-07T04:13:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 3, 2010

"Old Yankee Stadium Park"

NEW GATE MONUMENT VIDEO

The Above Video Can Also Be Found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlmLlYEXl0

Jointly Proposed to the City of New York by the

Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium

&

HistoryOfTheYankees.com

_____________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE ALSO SEE IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW, POSTED IN RED

In extensive consultation and coordination with leading historians, architects, construction experts, and engineers - from New York and across the country - the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium and HistoryOfTheYankees.com have researched, designed and proposed a NEW GATE 2 MONUMENT to properly preserve and commemorate the history of the original Old Yankee Stadium (1923-1972). At present, the New York City Parks Department plans to completely deconstruct and sell the entire original Stadium, over emphatic concerns and objections of citizens and experts around the nation, as well as those of New York City officials, including but not limited to Bronx County Historian Lloyd Ultan, and the Public Design Commission. The Design Commission recently rejected the Parks Department most recent proposed plan to recklessly destroy and sell the entire original Stadium, not preserving any part of it whatsoever in commemoration (and otherwise not properly commemorating the site's unparalleled place in New York and American history.)

To address these urgent concerns, top Yankee Stadium historians, architects, and designers have voluntarily joined forces to propose a monument which properly and comprehensively addresses all historic, structural, aesthetic, and financial, issues under City review. The stunning resulting design - generated by the world's preeminent Yankee Stadium 3D modeler, designer & animator, Rick Kaplan - is depicted in the above-cited YouTube video. It faithfully, elegantly and feasibly captures and preserves the original majesty of Old Yankee Stadium, immediately allowing park visitors (for hundreds of years to come) to readily and tangibly see what The House That Ruth Built really looked like - inside and out - in a manner majestically commemorating the Stadium's original 1920's Stadium architecture - simultaneously generating year-round tourism and associated revenues for the City of New York. Most particularly, it will provide great beauty and benefits to the historic Bronx community that has hosted Yankee Stadium since 1923.

To make this monument a reality, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & HistoryOfTheYankees.com have also voluntarily developed the SAVE THE GATE Commemorative Brick Program, which can raise an additional $10 million dollars for the City, as well as the SAVE THE GATE VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM, which will eliminate virtually all labor costs associated with preserving the Gate.

Thus, the City will actually GREATLY profit - not only culturally, but financially, too, by saving Gate 2.

Most important of all is the fact that IF Gate 2 is NOT saved,

the City of New York will have wantonly destroyed and given away ALL of the greatest stadium and sports site in American history.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium and HistoryOfTheYankees.com, met with Parks Department hierarchy this week, at the Arsenal in Central Park, to present and discuss their joint proposals. Details of that meeting will be made available to the media through the contacts below.

For Previous Media Releases, Stories & Related Videos, Please See:

http://ccoys.blogspot.com/ & http://ultimateyankees.com/CCOYS.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roc8Mg66poc & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyqyl1WJuJM

________________

For Further Information, Please contact:

Brad Turnow
historyoftheyankees.com
(516) 523-4749
(631) 874-5754
bhturnow@gmail.com

and/or

Tim Reid
Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium
(754) 368-1295
savethegate@gmail.com

and/or

Chris & Cindy Jones
Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium
(804) 426-9911
chris_jones@comcast.net

_______________

The Committee to Commemorate to Old Yankee Stadium has three urgent missions:

1) To Preserve Old Yankee Stadium Gate 2 as a permanent commemorative feature at Old Yankee Stadium Park. To achieve this, we have initiated the SAVE THE GATE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE and VOLUNTEER WORKER PROGRAM.

2) To name the new park site of Old Yankee Stadium "OLD YANKEE STADIUM PARK", a majestically unique and infinitely more appealing, accurate, and appropriate name. The currently proposed name has been widely criticized by Baseball, historical and architectural experts (as well as legions of informed fans and concerned citizens) as grossly common, bland, ambiguous, and terribly disconnected from the site's preeminent role in New York history, including its internationally unmatched history in Baseball. (Indeed, there are many dozens of Heritage Parks and Fields across the country, including the Cleveland Indians "Heritage Park" - right in the AL East!!!)

In the near future, we will also be applying to the U.S. Department of Interior for long-overdue National Landmark status for the site of Old Yankee Stadium, which will provide even further (stimulus and historic preservation) funds available to the City of New York for the preservation of Gate 2 and complete commemoration of "Old Yankee Stadium Park."

Help Save Gate 2 Today! Contact the Yankees Today!

2009-12-01T17:28:00.001-08:00

Gate 2 is nearing demolition. We must act QUICKLY to save the gate!!!!!!

You can contact the Yankees today and ask them to SAVE THE GATE!

Go here and fill out the form:
https://secure.mlb.com/help/email.jsp?c_id=nyy&primarySubject=Tickets&secondarySubject=Other&dest=tickets@yankees.mlb.com

Or Write or Call the Yankees at:

Write the Yankees:
New York Yankees
Yankee Stadium
161st St and River Ave
Bronx, NY 10452

Call the Yankees:
(718) 293-4300

Volunteer brigade fighting time to save Yankee Stadium Gate 2

2009-11-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

BEACH: Volunteer brigade fighting time to save Yankee Stadium Gate 2
Friday, November 27, 2009

By Randall Beach

A call has gone out for volunteers who want to help save the endangered gate at the original Yankee Stadium.

There is precious little time to make this happen and overcome the New York City bureaucrats as well as the uncooperative Yankees ownership.

Since I wrote about the effort in this space last June, citizens from many states have joined in the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium. Although virtually all of the old stadium is doomed to be demolished, these activists still hope to preserve the original Gate 2.

Their plan is to maintain the gate as part of Heritage Field, which will replace the stadium with three ballfields. Those fields are needed because the new Yankee Stadium was built on existing baseball diamonds and other park land.

New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said the city intends to knock down the entire old stadium. “Preserving the facade would make it difficult to maximize the park space,” he said.

Moreover, a spokesman for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has repeated other city officials’ claims that restoring the gate would cost $15 million.

But the Save the Gate brigade, including Tim Reid and Mark Costello, believe it can be done for $1 million or less, especially with all of the volunteers stepping up to the plate. They also proposed raising funds through a commemorative brick drive that would place bricks at plazas around the stadium.

Reid recently e-mailed me the announcement of a “Save the Gate volunteer worker program.” It’s designed to eliminate all labor costs associated with saving Gate 2.

“Join with other architects, engineers, construction foremen and laborers, iron workers, cost estimators, lawyers, historians, preservationists, painters, masons, waterproofers, safety and security professionals, insurance and contracts experts, among others, all helping to save this irreplaceable treasure,” said the announcement.

“The more volunteers, the better!” it added.

Anybody who wants to help is asked to contact the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium by going to savethegate@gmail.com. If you do this, state your skill or trade and the number of days you can volunteer.

One of those volunteers is historic architect Jeffrey Bianco of Middletown.

Although Bianco told me this week that he has sometimes felt like “a voice crying out in the wilderness,” he now thinks the gate-savers are making solid progress.

“The New York City landmarks officials (the Design Commission) have heard us and agreed they’d like to see a new Parks and Recreation plan that we hope incorporates what we’ve proposed,” Bianco said.

“Knocking it all down is disturbing,” Bianco told me, and I certainly didn’t give him any argument about that. “It cuts against my grain as a Yankee fan and a Bronx native.”

Indeed, Bianco’s first job was selling peanuts at the Stadium “in the (Mickey) Mantle era.”

He said saving the gate “makes complete sense. It’s there already; it’s tremendously important culturally as a landmark.”

Bianco concluded, “The dream is for kids to walk through this gate and feel like Yankees.”

But ideas that make sense don’t always get acted upon by city officials. When the gate savers proposed their volunteer program, Benepe wouldn’t let Bianco and another architect make an on-site visit to evaluate the gate project.

In a follow-up letter to Benepe and other officials, Reid noted the volunteers would “save the city huge time and money.”

Reid has called the original Yankee Stadium “the most historic sports site in American history” and it’s tough to argue with that assessment. Reid wonders why Benepe is “dead-set on destroying all of the old Stadium, no matter what evidence and opportunities compel its preservation and commemoration.”

Reid noted Gate 2 is not scheduled for demolition for more than a month, so there is still time for the on-site visit and putting into gear the volunteer program.

But let’s face it, a month or so isn’t much breathing room when you’re dealing with bureaucrats.

That’s why Reid concluded in his appeal letter: “Time is of the essence.”

Randall Beach can be reached at rbeach@nhregister.com, or 203-789-5766 203-789-5766.

URL: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/11/27/news/b1-fri_beachclmngate.prt

© 2009 nhregister.com, a Journal Register Property

SAVE THE GATE - Volunteer Worker Program

2009-11-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 20, 2009

Committee to Commemorate
Old Yankee Stadium
___________

SAVE THE GATE
Volunteer Worker Program
___________________________________________

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium has created, developed, and proposed to the City of New York the "SAVE THE GATE Volunteer Worker Program", designed to eliminate all labor costs potentially associated with the saving of Gate 2 at Old Yankee Stadium, and other improvements to the new park design for the
Old Yankee Stadium site.

Join with other architects, engineers, construction foremen and laborers, iron workers, cost estimators, lawyers, historians, preservationists, painters, masons, water proofers, safety and security professionals, insurance and contracts experts, among others - all helping to save this irreplaceable treasure.

Help SAVE THE GATE and otherwise transform the Old Yankee Stadium site into the preeminent park its majestic history compels.

The more volunteers the better!!!

All interested parties should contact the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium; providing your name, applicable skill, trade or profession - as well as a brief description of the services and number of days you would like to volunteer.

Help make the Old Yankee Stadium site a park worthy of its unparalleled history!!!

____________

Please Contact the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium:
savethegate@gmail.com

Public Design Commission Hearing - 10/26/09

2009-11-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 26, 2009

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED!!!

The Hearing was a GREAT success, resulting in official disapproval of the severely flawed preliminary plan for the old Yankee Stadium Site!!!

The Parks Department has been firmly directed to overhaul the park design - either saving the Gate - or proving why they can not!

Below is the Committee's very well received presentation

As presented by Cindy Jones

Committee to Commemorate

Old Yankee Stadium

______________________________
Public Design Commission Hearing

New York City Hall

October 26, 2009

__________________________

Thank you so very much for this great honor & opportunity to speak on behalf of people around the country, who so passionately want to pay tribute to the greatest Stadium in the American history….America’s Coliseum…Old Yankee Stadium.

As Mayor Bloomberg reported only last year, in the "Official Yankee Stadium Retrospective" Old Yankee Stadium is one of New York's three most asked-about New York City international icons, along with Empire State Building, and the Empire State Building. Wherever he travels around the world, he said, people always ask about [Old] Yankee Stadium.

Dozens of international luminaries, including presidents, governors, and celebrities of every type - joined the Mayor in this book - one of many hundreds written on the history of the Stadium - voicing how very highly regarded the Stadium is around the world.

Indeed, it is Old Yankee Stadium's unmatched prominence, that compelled me to fly in this morning from my home state of Virginia, to encourage and plead to the great City of New York to "properly preserve and celebrate" this national landmark and treasure.

Commissioners, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium request that you please Save Gate 2,

The exciting reality is that Gate 2 IS overwhelmingly original - as the two photos of Gate 2 before you make unmistakably clear - one from the 1930's and the other taken just this year. The City's original belief that Gate 2 was NOT original was wrong.

And, moreover, Gate 2 is PERFECTLY located between New and Old Yankee Stadiums -- providing a magnificent architectural, and even spiritual, Gateway, connecting our past to our future.

As Bronx County Historian, Dr. Lloyd Ultan, observed in Paul Goldberger's recent article in the New Yorker citing authoritative criticisms of preliminary park design:

“What’s missing from the park plan is the architecture of the Stadium itself.”

- later stating that a large, tangible part of the original stadium is needed to effectively communicate the original Stadium's majesty & size, like ruins of antiquity so powerfully do.

Architectural experts Rick Bell, Jeff Bianco, Phil Reina - along with so many others - the preliminary design as "lacking authenticity".

In fact, neither Babe, nor Lou, saw ANYTHING included in the current proposal!

BUT, they saw Gate 2!!

_____________________

Yankee Stadium historians across the country - including Bill Jenkinson and the City's own Dr. Ultan - emphatically agree, adding that a meaningful tangible memory from the Stadium's most glorious days is needed to properly record its irreplaceable preeminence.

As Paul Doherty, a leading authority on Yankee Stadium, put it:

"Gate 2 will serve as a cultural lamp post to the great eras of New York City's sporting dominance - second only to the Roman Coliseum in its importance to the overall history of world sports."

The essential point we all must remember is that:

If Gate 2 is not saved, nothing of the Stadium's most glorious era and architecture will be!

We also respectfully request, Commissioners, that the Old Yankee Stadium Site be called "Old Yankee Stadium Park", rather than the overly common and nondescript "Heritage Field", or "Park" of which there are so very many across the country - including one at the Cleveland Indians' Stadium right up the road in the Yankees' own AL East!

"Old Yankee Stadium Park" is clearly a far better name - one that truly "celebrates the site's rich history", as is the charter and goal of the Commission. Paul Goldberger, the renowned New York historic architect - and the City's Board Member for the National Trust for Historic Preservation - also disapproves of the name. Dr. Ultan emphatically joins him, along with preeminent historians and Baseball fans of the Stadium across the City, and country.

For similarly compelling reasons, we request the baseball area of the new park be called "Babe Ruth Memorial Field" - to both tribute New York's greatest and beloved sports hero, and to replace the original "Babe Ruth Memorial Baseball Filed" - recently destroyed to make way for New Yankee Stadium. Your very distinguished Art Commission predecessor, Williams Adams Delano, was a leading participant in the creation of Babe Ruth Memorial Field, created sixty years ago, as a "permanent" tribute to New York's (still) most beloved and immortal sports figure - New York's great Babe Ruth.
_________________

In closing Commissioners, I quote another New York great, Jackie Kennedy, who did so very much for preserving this great City's cultural treasures, and whose statement forty years ago so perfectly addresses why we must save Gate 2:

"Is it not cruel to let New York die by degrees, stripped of all her proudest moments, until there will be nothing left of history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our City, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but, for short term gain, they ignore it and tear down everything that matters. This is the time to take a stand and reverse the tide."

Please, Commissioners, save Gate 2, at "Old Yankee Stadium Park" - not only for Babe & Lou … but, most of all, for all our children and loved ones - and all those who follow us - so they can see and even touch "The House That Ruth Built" - the greatest Stadium in our nation's history- "Old Yankee Stadium.".
__________________________________________________________________

SUPPORTING RECORDS & EVIDENCE

Books

"The Official Yankee Stadium Retrospective", Published 2008.

Articles

New Haven Register: "There Still May be Time to Save "The House That Ruth Built", September 7, 2008.

New Haven Register: "Yankee Fans Need to Move Quick to Save the Gate That Ruth Built", June 17, 2009.

New York Daily News: "Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe Confirms Plans to Level Yankee Stadium", June 23, 2009.

New Yorker: by Paul Goldberger, "The Future of Old Yankee Stadium", August 10, 2009

New York Daily News: "Old Yankee Stadium's Gate 2 Focus of Debate as Part of New Heritage Park", ["The Gate Debate"] August 17, 2009.

Daily News: "Last Pitch to Save Gate 2" September 28, 2009.

Written Expert Endorsements:

Paul Doherty, Yankee Stadium Historian, September 28, 2009 [Attached]

Brad Turnow, New York Yankees Historian, September 28, 2009 [Attached]

Jeff Wattrick, Historic Preservationist, September 28, 2009 [Attached]

Peter Comstock Riley, Historic Preservationist, September 30, 2009 [Attached]

George Mole', Captain NYPD, Bronx Urban Affairs Commentator, October 1, 2009 [Attached]

Phillip J. Reina, Architect, October 1, 2009 [Attached]

Jeffrey Dale Bianco, Historic Architect, Past President of Connecticut AIA,
October 2, 2009 [Attached]

Expert Endorsements on Archived Radio Shows:

Baseball Digest LIVE, with Mark Healy: "SAVE THE GATE" June 30, 2009

[Expert Opinions of Baseball Historians Bill Jenkinson, Linda Ruth Tosetti, Mark Healy & Tim Reid. Historic Preservation Architect Jeff Bianco]

http://www.baseballdigest.com/2009/06/29/baseball-digest-live-save-the-gate/

Baseball Digest LIVE, with Mark Healy: "Preserving the Past" October 5, 2009

[Expert Opinions of Baseball Historians Bill Jenkinson, Paul Doherty, Mark Healy & Tim Reid. Historic Preservation Architect Jeff Bianco. Historical Preservationists Jeff Wattrick & Peter Comstock Riley]

Visual Evidence

Side-by-Side Photographic Comparison of 1930's Gate, and Spring 2009 Gate: Produced by Joe Staluppi, Graphic Designer

Model of Proposed Gate 2 Monument at Old Yankee Stadium Site, Yankee Stadium Modeler, Mike Hagan

"SAVE THE GATE" COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE MEDIA RELEASE!

2009-11-22T15:56:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 19, 2009

OLD YANKEE STADIUM PARK

"SAVE THE GATE"
COMMEMORATIVE BRICK DRIVE

Proposed by Citizens and Groups
from Around the Country to Help
SAVE HISTORIC GATE 2
at the
"The House That Ruth Built"

For the purpose of saving historic Gate 2 at Old Yankee Stadium, baseball groups HistoryOfTheYankees.com, the Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium & the Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth - speaking for and acting on behalf of Baseball fans, historians, architects, historic preservationists, and other concerned citizens, groups, and relevant experts from New York and around the nation, has voluntarily researched and developed a
public fundraising campaign to the City of New York, entitled the "SAVE THE GATE" Commemorative Brick Drive.

This Commemorative Brick Drive will be similar to ones throughout Major League Ballparks and other leading sports venues throughout the world, such as the highly successful programs employed by the Mets at Citi Field (Fanwalk), the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, and the Cleveland Indians' "Heritage Park."

Based on Committee studies and expert estimates, commemorative bricks at plazas & walkways encompassing the new parkland and ball fields scheduled to replace the historic site of Old Yankee Stadium could generate well over 5 Million dollars (as other MLB "legacy" brick memorials have) - depending on exact design. This would provide the City of New York millions of dollars more than is needed to save historic Gate 2!!

Legacy brick plazas & walkways would also dramatically increase YEAR-ROUND tourism and visitation to the much-in-need Old Yankee Stadium neighborhood - where residents and businesses have lost critical revenues with the Stadium's closure and destruction. Saving Gate 2 will make the new park one of the most respected and profitable in the country. These brick plazas & walkways would also simultaneously enhance the currently poor aesthetics of the preliminary "Heritage Field" plan, exponentially improving the historic and cultural "disconnect" decried by historic design experts. (Adding extra elegance and attraction, the commemorative bricks can be made in magnificent blue, white and gray combinations, in unique tribute to the Stadium's unparalleled place in history.)

The Parks Department's preliminary plan for the historic Old Yankee Stadium is the highly controversial and criticized "Heritage Field", which retains absolutely NOTHING from Old Yankee Stadium. This as yet unapproved plan has been emphatically objected to by officials, experts, and fans, who regard it as historically, architecturally, and aesthetically "bland" and "inauthentic". It's MOST tragic failure is that it omits saving anything from original Yankee Stadium - a fatal flaw easily corrected with the saving of the 1920's era Gate 2. (The Parks Department abruptly withdrew from their October 5 appearance before the NYC Design Commission, where they were scheduled to defend against these widespread and well-informed criticisms in a Public Hearing before New York City Design Commission, which oversees the aesthetic and architectural suitability of all public projects in New York City.)

Parks Department has told the media (without providing any evidence whatsoever ) that the cost of saving Gate 2 - the original Stadium's most glorious remaining element - is too prohibitive, claiming (again without providing any evidence) it would cost "10 Million dollars". Architectural and structural engineering experts assess the cost at only 1 Million dollars, less than the cost of demolishing and removing the Gate. In other words, experts believe it will cost less to save Gate 2 than to destroy it!!!

In any case, the "SAVE THE GATE" Commemorative Brick Drive would eliminate any cost concern - providing up to 10 Million dollars - thereby saving a majestic part of America's greatest and most historically important stadium, thereby assuring that the historic site of Old Yankee Stadium be more properly preserved, protected & commemorated - making it one of the premier urban parks in America - rather than the unnecessary mediocre and uninspired architectural, aesthetic, cultural, and historical flop that's now proposed by the Parks' Department.

For further information, please call or write the contacts below - who can also put you in touch with historians, preservationists, architects, and other relevant experts, helping to save the gate.

SAVE THE GATE videos prepared by Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium members can be seen at:
http://www.ultimateyankees.com/savethegate.htm. See, for example: "TOP 9 REASONS TO SAVE THE GATE" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyqyl1WJuJM, a musical summary of why the Gate should be saved (to Four of a Kind's "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"), which includes a brief depiction and description of the proposed SAVE THE GATE Commemorative Brick Drive (at "Reason No. 7", 1:04 - 1:14)

###

Information provided above was derived from consultation with top authorities in the fields of Baseball, architecture, New York history & historic preservation, as well as with top "legacy brick" fundraising experts.
______

For Further Information, Please contact:

Tim Reid
Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium
savethestadium@gmail.com

Welcome!

2009-11-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the official blog spot for The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium. This blog will be used to share press releases, concepts, thoughts, ideas, plans, etc. all pertaining to old Yankee Stadium and Gate 2.

We welcome input and ideas from everyone.

Start following us today and help get involved in commemorating old Yankee Stadium and helping to save gate 2!

You can visit our website at: www.ultimateyankees.com/ccoys.htm

Thanks....

The Committee to Commemorate Old Yankee Stadium - CCOYS