As Derek Jeter climbed onto the mound Sunday night for the last time at Yankee Stadium, it was a ritual of passing, out with the old and in with the new. It was a nostalgic night with the fans hesitating to leave the stadium, as they played New York New York and Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight on the speakers. Tears were shed, but the memories will live on and a brighter future leaps ahead as one era is put to rest.

As Yankee Stadium closed its doors the dreams of the new stadium were already under construction. The 1.3 billion dollar monstrosity that is going in across the street will replace all the memories of the old Yankee Stadium, or so they hope. 85 years of memories is a hard act to follow. As players scooped up dirt from the stadium for their memory boxes they gave final respect to the place that was nicknamed “The House That Ruth Built.” Julia Ruth Stevens, the 92 year old daughter of Babe Ruth, threw out the first pitch. Even Yogi Berra was touched by the ending of a good run. He dressed in his full vintage uniform as he watched for the last time.

In 2009, the new stadium will open and Yankee Stadium will be demolished and become parkland. The games that were played in this stadium were all memorable to the attendants, whether the team won or lost. They may tear it down but they will never forget the victories won, the great players and the friends made.