The old Yankee Stadium went on sale Tuesday, opening a process designed to turn memories into money - at least enough to cover removal costs and the $11.5 million the Yankees paid the city for the privilege.
"Sports will never see such a venue again,'' Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost said at the new stadium, during a news conference full of nostalgic references to the deteriorating building across the street.
So, what is available?
A dizzying array of items, and more to be rolled out over time through Yankee-Steiner Collectibles, from freeze-dried grass to various "dirt products'' to foul poles to pieces of the facade to a section of the wall down the leftfield line that Derek Jeter once fell over to pursue a pop-up against the Red Sox.
"Our goal is to save as much as we can,'' said Brandon Steiner, whose firm will conduct the sale. "People can laugh about the dirt and laugh about the brick, but those are memories we can savor.''
Some items are for sale at a fixed price, such as pairs of generic seats for $1,499 and $1,999 a pair for seats from a specific season-ticket holder's location.
There also are $749 "commemorative'' seats in which odd bottoms and backs are assembled with new iron arms.
Other items will be auctioned - closing July 26 at Steinersports.com - including items whose values are difficult to assess.
Some items are informally spoken for by well-connected people, such as No. 2 himself. Steiner said Jeter does not have the famous sign with Joe DiMaggio's quote, "I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee.''
He made it clear, though, that Jeter will have it eventually. "We'll work something out,'' he said.
Steiner said he is "sensitive'' to the realities of the recession and will offer many modestly priced items.
It has been seven months since sell-able memorabilia was removed from Shea. The Yankees have spent much of that time negotiating with city officials.
At Shea, the city kept 70 percent of proceeds, so far worth an estimated $3.5 million, and the Mets kept 30 percent.
The Yankees' sale is structured differently, with the city receiving a flat fee.
Trost said the dismantling of the old stadium may begin next month.
