The Great Frieze Project

"A little nonsense every now and then is relished by the wisest men." -Willie Wonka

 



"The Yankee Stadium" in 1929. The Frieze was the Stadium's most notable architectural detail and without question what the Stadium structure itself was most famous for.

 

 

The original Frieze was made from copper, painted white and from the looks of it, based on this 1955 Life Magazine photograph, required a lot of maintenance.

 

 

When Yankee Stadium was "modernized" in the mid seventies the roof (and Frieze) supporting pillars went into the dumpster. No pillars meant no more obstructions but it also meant no more Frieze at the top of the ball park. Cheer up, Joe. It gets better.

 

 

A concrete version of the Frieze was placed along the center field wall of the renovated stadium.

It was actually quite nice despite what critics and fans of the original say.

 

 

When the new Yankee Stadium was built a steel Frieze was placed at the top of the stadium attached to a small roof. No pillars and a Frieze? Win-win.

 

 

However, while it most certainly is handsome it's not nearly as nice as the original Stadium's or even the concrete version on the renovated Stadium. Compared to the original(s), the new Frieze looks like something you'd find in an amusement park. The entire interior of the new Yankee Stadium looks like a Disney World interpretation of what Yankee Stadium would like.

 

 

This section the concrete Frieze from the mid seventies Yankee Stadium now proudly resides across the street from the new Stadium in Macombs Dam Park II. It's known as "II" because the new Stadium now was built on top of the original Macombs Dam Park.  

 

 

So, what is the "Great Frieze Project" exactly? Well, by opening day of the 2013 baseball season, if not sooner, the boys and I will have completed a (reasonable) facsimile of the famed "Frieze", or facade, of Yankee Stadium. It will adorn the top of our work bench in our garage outside Cleveland.

 

 

I'll blog our progress. First, the planning. How we doin'? Say, do I see The Mick in that wood grain?