Story
A Walk to Yankee Stadium
On Sunday April 16th, my friends and I decided to walk from the Old Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium to see the game. Follow as we walked this historic baseball path! Thank you to Ben Beatty for helping me document this walk!
We first stopped at Holcombe Rucker Playground. The playground at 155th street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard was built in 1956. Currently it is home to the Rucker Tournament where many notable basketball players developed their skillset.
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We then walked over to where the home plate once stood for the Polo Grounds. The third Polo Grounds were home to a variety of teams including the New York Giants, New York Yankees, and the New York Mets. The Grounds were built in 1890. The site looked over Coogan's Bluff and many used the staircase in the following photo to see into the stadium. This was big for Harlem residents who wanted to be able to catch the game. This plaque currently sits in the housing development that is now on the property.
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This staircase led directly into the Grounds. It is currently the last remaining relic of the stadium.
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A steep staircase, when you get to the top you can see directly over where the stadium grounds were. I am sure you could watch amazing games from the top back in the day.
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This sign is in the middle of the staircase. John T. Brush managed the New York Giants from 1890 until his death. The staircase was designed by his son-in-law. While the stadium was demolished in 1964, the staircase was kept so people could access the park. The stairway was reconstructed in 2013 by a variety of New York politicians, as well as current and former baseball and football teams.
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The sign at the top of the stairs gives local residents a bit of history behind this historic staircase.
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We then walked across the Harlem River on the Macombs Dam Bridge. The bride was constructed in 1814. The current bridge was designed between 1892-1895 and is the third-oldest major bridge in New York City. Named after Alexander Macomb's son Robert, the bridge is also the oldest swing bridge in New York City. The view is looking North.
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The shelter homes are used by the bridge tender who helps operate the bridge water traffic.
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The bridge leads you right to Yankee Stadium. The new stadium opened in April 2009 and is on the site of the former Macomb's Dam Park.
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Not only did we have an amazing and historic walk, we also got to see the Yankees win! What a game!
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