On April 6, 1974, the New York Yankees played their first home game at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens -- the first time since 1923 that the franchise had hosted a game outside of Yankee Stadium. The opponent was Cleveland. The setting was somebody else's ballpark. And for the next two seasons, the most storied team in baseball would play as tenants in the Mets' house while the Stadium in the Bronx was gutted and rebuilt from the ground up.
Why Shea?
Yankee Stadium hadn't just needed a facelift. The renovation that began after the 1973 season was closer to a demolition job -- the entire interior structure was torn out and rebuilt, from the grandstand to the playing field to the iconic copper facade that had crowned the roof since 1923. The project would take two full years, and the Yankees needed somewhere to play. The city brokered the arrangement with the Mets, who agreed to share Shea Stadium with their crosstown rivals. It wasn't a comfortable marriage. Both teams had to coordinate scheduling, and the Yankees' front office set up temporary headquarters in Flushing Meadows Park. But it was the only viable option, and both sides made it work.
Opening Day in Queens
The atmosphere on April 6 was strange. Yankees fans piled into a stadium built for the Mets, with Mets signage, Mets dimensions, and a Mets feel. The outfield at Shea played enormous -- 338 feet down the lines, 410 to center -- and the fences were going to be a problem for power hitters all season. Bobby Murcer, who'd hit 33 home runs the year before, would feel the difference more than anyone.
Bill Virdon's lineup took the field against Cleveland, and the season was underway. The displacement was temporary, everyone kept saying. But temporary turned out to mean 162 games a year for two straight seasons.
The Park's Effect on the Roster
Shea's dimensions didn't just suppress home runs -- they reshaped the way the Yankees played. Murcer managed just two home runs at Shea all year, both coming on consecutive days in September. Graig Nettles, who'd hit 22 homers total, saw his power numbers held down at home compared to the road. The cavernous outfield swallowed fly balls that would've cleared the fence in the Bronx.
But the park helped the pitching staff. Pat Dobson and Doc Medich thrived in the spacious environment, and the team allowed just 623 runs on the season. The home record was 47-34 -- a .580 winning percentage that proved the Yankees could compete in any building. They didn't love Shea. They didn't have to love it. They just had to win there.
Attendance and Fan Experience
The 1,273,075 fans who passed through Shea's turnstiles for Yankees games in 1974 experienced something genuinely bizarre. The scoreboard was wrong. The concession stands had Mets logos. The whole experience felt borrowed, like wearing a suit that didn't quite fit. Some longtime season-ticket holders boycotted the arrangement entirely, waiting for the Stadium to reopen before coming back. Others made the trek to Queens with a mix of loyalty and resignation.
The displacement lasted through the 1975 season, and when the renovated Yankee Stadium opened in April 1976, the exile became a memory. But those two years at Shea shaped the franchise's identity in ways nobody expected. The sense of displacement -- of being away from home during a rebuilding period -- created a hunger that would fuel the championship teams of the late 1970s.
What the Season Proved
The 1974 Yankees went 89-73 playing in someone else's park. They finished second in the AL East, two games behind Baltimore. The roster featured the core that would anchor the dynasty -- Thurman Munson, Nettles, the newly acquired Chris Chambliss, Lou Piniella, and Sparky Lyle. The pitching was strong. The defense was sound. All they needed was a few more pieces and a real home.
Both were coming.
| First Game at Shea | April 6, 1974 vs. Cleveland |
| Home Record at Shea | 47-34 (.580) |
| Road Record | 42-39 (.519) |
| Attendance | 1,273,075 |
| Years at Shea | 1974-1975 (2 seasons) |
| Murcer Home Runs at Shea | 2 (both in September) |
| Team Runs Allowed | 623 |
Renovation Begins
Yankee Stadium closes for a complete teardown and rebuild. The project will take two full years, displacing the Yankees to Shea Stadium.
First Yankees Home Game at Shea
The Yankees host Cleveland at Shea Stadium, playing their first home game outside the Bronx since 1923.
Murcer's Shea Home Runs
Bobby Murcer hits home runs on consecutive days -- his only two at Shea all season. The park's dimensions had suppressed his power all year.
Final Game at Shea
The Yankees play their last game as Shea tenants, ending two seasons of displacement. The renovated Yankee Stadium awaits in April 1976.
Yankee Stadium Reopens
The renovated Stadium opens with a ceremony and a game against Minnesota. The two-year exile is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Yankees first play at Shea Stadium?
The Yankees opened the 1974 season at Shea Stadium on April 6, hosting the Cleveland Indians. It was the franchise's first home game outside of Yankee Stadium since the original Stadium opened in 1923.
How long did the Yankees play at Shea Stadium?
The Yankees played at Shea for two full seasons -- 1974 and 1975. Yankee Stadium was undergoing a massive renovation during that period and reopened in April 1976.
How did Shea Stadium affect Yankees hitters?
Shea's cavernous dimensions -- 338 feet down the lines, 410 to center -- suppressed power numbers significantly. Bobby Murcer, who'd hit 33 home runs in 1973, managed just two at Shea in 1974, both coming on consecutive days in September.