QUEENS, N.Y. — On this date in New York Yankees history, the team called Shea Stadium home. With renovations ongoing to Yankee Stadium, the 1974 season marked the first time the Yankees played home games at a different venue since 1922 when they shared the Polo Grounds with the New York (baseball) Giants.
During the two-year stint, the Yankees would compile a ledger of 172-150. They started that campaign on April 6, 1974, with a 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Third baseman Graig Nettles delivered the big blow with a two-run homer to left off Gaylord Perry. Mel Stottlemyre went the distance for the pinstripes, yielding one run while fanning four.
In addition to the Yankees and the landlord New York Mets, Shea Stadium also played host to the New York Jets and New York (football) Giants in 1975.
It wouldn’t be until 1998 when the Yankees would play a “home game” in Queens after a beam collapsed at Yankee Stadium. A really cool moment came when Mets legend Darryl Strawberry homered in the victory over the Anaheim Angels and the apple rose halfway up as Straw rounded the bases.
