*Let me Root, Root, Root, For The Home Team* 

Nothing says, "Welcome To New York," like a warm summer's night, a traditional hot dog and the roar of a crowd as their team makes a come back in the 8th inning.  Baseball is more than a player's sport-- it's a fan's sport ... and New York is filled with devoted enthusiasts of the game.

There are two Major League Franchises In New York: the New York Metropolitans and the New York Yankees, and both teams have quite the following!                    

    *The Amazin' Mets History*

The Mets were born in 1962 after both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants left New York and went to California in 1957.  The Mets got their cholor scheme from the two teams that abandoned New York:  blue from the Brooklyn Dodgers and Orange from the New York Giants.  This NY team is located in Flushing, Queens.

The Mets logo has gone almost unchanged since the start of the team. The circular shape with the orange stitching is suppose to represent a baseball. The bridge (in white) symbolizes that the Mets represent all five boroughs. The skyline (in blue) makes up the backgorund of the logo.

The Mets lost their first 9 games and were nicknamed the "loveable losers" from 1962-1968, but since then they have won 2 World Series Championships one in 1969 and one in 1986.

*The Stadiums*       

The Mets played at the Polo Grounds (right)  from 1962-1963.  They began playing at William A. Shea Municipal Stadium (below) in 1964 and continue to play there today. Shea Stadium is one of the

 oldest stadiums in the National League.  It's located in Flushing, Queens and was originally going to be called Flushing Meadows Stadium.  Shea is a circular stadium with the capacity to hold approximately 55,000 people  (as of 2005). Three National League Division Series ( 1999, 2000, 2006), Seven National League Championship Series (1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2006), and four World Series (1969, 1973, 1986, 2000) have been played at Shea.  The stadium is located near LaGuardia Airport.

On June 12, 2005 plans were announced for the mets to have a new ballpark built adjacent to the current Shea.  The outside of the new Mets home, Citi Field,  will resemble Ebbet's Field, the Brooklyn Dodger's former home.  It will hold 45,000 people, approximately 10,000 less than the Shea.  

According to designers, the lower capacity will allow for seats closer to the field. The name of the new stadium developed because Citigroup  bought the naming rights.  Citi Field is slated to open for the 2009 season.

       *The Bronx Bombers History*

The New York Yankees were born in 1913 after spending a year as the Baltimore Orioles, not the current Orioles,  (1901-1902)  and nine years as The New York Highlanders ( 1903-1912).  The Yankees have a few nicknames including: The Bronx Bombers, The Bombers,  The Pinstripes, and The Yanks. As the Baltimore Orioles the Yankees sported an orange O logo. As The Highlanders The Yankees  logo began to resemble their current logo.

The Yankee's team colors are navy blue and white. The home uniform is white with navy blue pin stripes and the away uniform is gray. The Yankees were the first team to make player's numbers a permanent part of the uniform, in 1929.  The Yankees never put names on the back of their uniforms and also decided against having a third alternate uniform like most teams have. 

  (Yellow = Bronx)

The Yankees are based in the Bronx, a borough in New York City. They have won 26 World Series titles and 39 American League Pennants. The 26 titles the Yanks earned make them the most successful franchise in North American professional sports history.  They are the only team that is represented in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at every position. 

*The Stadiums*          

The Yankees began their career at Oriole Park in Baltimore. They Played there from 1901-1902 and then moved to Hilltop Park where they stayed until 1912.  In 1913 the Yankees moved to the Polo grounds until 1922 when they moved into their permanent home,  Yankee Stadium.

Located at East 161st Street and  River avenue in the Bronx, this stadium has been home to the Yankees since 1923. Yankee Stadium is one of the most famous venues for sporting events because the yankees have won so many World Series championships. This stadium is often referred to as "The House that Ruth Built," in honor of one if its most famous occupants. Yankee Stadium was the first three-tiered sports facility in the United States and had 58,000 seats. From 1974-75 Yankee Stadium was closed for renovations, during this year the Yankees played at Shea Stadium, home of the Mets. 

In June, 2005 plans to construct a new Yankee Stadium were announced.  It will seat approximately 51,800 fans, The new stadium will be adjacent to the current Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees will pay for all costs, estimated at around $800 million. The new home for the yankees is slated to open in April, 2009.

If you're interested  in finding tickets to a Yankees game click here -> TICKETS

If you are interested in finding directions to YankeeStadium click here ->  DIRECTIONS

 "It Aint Over Till It's Over"

-Yogi Berra-