Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Yankee Fans Run Home With Stadium Steals

Team steps up security to thwart souvenir-hunters as ballpark gets set to close

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – The final few games at Yankee Stadium promise to be a battle of wits between sticky-fingered fans and New York's finest, AP reports. The House That Ruth Built shuts forever soon and at least a dozen fans have been busted trying to take a piece of it home. Seats have been unscrewed and one fan managed to smuggle out a toilet seat. The Yanks move into a new $1.3 billion stadium across the street next season.

The Yankees have boosted the police presence at games and warned souvenir-hunting fans that anybody caught trying to take the ballpark out of the ballpark will be prosecuted. The team is negotiating an organized sale of stadium memorabilia with the city similar to the one planned for Mets fans. Shea Stadium also shuts for good this season and seats have been selling for $869 a pop.

New York Yankees fans wait in the rain on opening day before the game was cancelled against the Toronto Blue Jays during MLB baseball Monday, March 31, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in New York.
New York Yankees fans wait in the rain on opening day before the game was cancelled against the Toronto Blue Jays during MLB baseball Monday, March 31, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in New York.   (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Fans walk past a wall mural of Yankees greats as they arrive for a game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough New York, Friday, June 6, 2008.
Fans walk past a wall mural of Yankees greats as they arrive for a game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough New York, Friday, June 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
An employee at Yankee Stadium cleans seat in preparation for opening day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, March 30, 2008.
An employee at Yankee Stadium cleans seat in preparation for opening day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, March 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi walks down an aisle of seats after being introduced as the baseball team's new manager at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this file photo of  Nov. 1, 2007.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi walks down an aisle of seats after being introduced as the baseball team's new manager at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this file photo of Nov. 1, 2007.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Fans' Ashes in Limbo as Yankee, Shea Shut Doors

Iconic Yankees Announcer Bob Sheppard Dead at 99

Yanks' $1.5B Park a Big Strikeout So Far

Yankees Slash Luxury Ticket Prices to Fill Empty Seats

Yanks Open Stadium, Then Get Clobbered


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne