American baseball has said farewell to an icon of the sport as New York’s Yankee Stadium hosted its final Major League Baseball game.
The winning tradition that began with a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on 18 April, 1923, ended with a 7-3 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday night.
Next April the club will open a new $1.3bn (£705m) Yankee Stadium next door, which boasts more luxury suites, bars and lounges and better parking. The new stadium is pictured right.
Actor Richard Gere, left, was among those who attended the landmark game, here talking with New York Yankees’ Bobby Abreu.
Legendary Yankees player were honoured at the game. Yogi Berra, 83, who coined the phrase 'It ain't over till it's over' stands with Cheryl Howard, daughter of former catcher Elston Howard.
The stadium is known as the “House that Ruth Built" after legendary Yankees player Babe Ruth.
Babe Ruth's 92-year-old daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, threw the ceremonial first pitch. She said she was sad that the stadium was closing and wished it could have been kept as a landmark.
Yankees’ captain Derek Jeter, told the 54,600 crowd to take their memories with them to the new ballpark, adding: "We are moving across the street but a few things about the Yankees never change."
The players then walked around the ground taking pictures and waving to faithful Yankees fans who remained long after the game had ended to savour the moment.
Players on both teams - including Mariano Rivera - knelt to scoop up the famous soil from the mound and home plate area, stuffing it into containers and even into their pockets.
Some fans have made their own souvenirs of the famous stadium, like artistic Randy Smith, of Charlottesville, Virginia. The old stadium will be demolished.
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