It might still be about a month away, but it’s never too early to begin getting excited over the annual Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium. The event is arguably the best and most anticipated tradition involving the Yankees all season long. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 20, when the Yankees take on the Detroit Tigers in what should be a very entertaining clash. This year’s Old-Timers’ Day represents the 69th annual installment of one of baseball’s most celebrated promotions.
It’s so celebrated, actually, that several other teams have adopted an Old-Timers’ Day onto their list of promotional events at home games throughout any given season. That list isn’t even limited to just baseball teams. As much as the act has been duplicated, this special type of event originated with the Bronx Bombers, which is why their version is popularly referred to as the original Old-Timers’ Day.
It’s become such a big event that in terms of ticket sales, this is one of the few games throughout the season that is considered to be a “premium game” by the organization. The only other games classified in such a prestigious category include Opening Day and any games opposing the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. Even jersey retirement ceremonies for Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada were not put in the same pricing tier this season.
Unsurprisingly, with Old-Timers’ Day being a hit every single season since the first one took place on the final day of the 1947 season, Yankees tickets are in high demand, and the prices on the secondary market clearly reflect that. In fact, even as the game is still a handful of weeks away, the average ticket price is $174.20, with a get-in price of $30, representing the highest prices of the series by a considerable margin.
Tickets can actually be found for lower prices if you go through the Yankees, as typically games involving huge promotions draw the biggest prices out on the market. If you search through listings on Yankees.com, for example, you’ll find significant savings. For instance, seating in the 200-level (section 233A) starts at $193 on the secondary market if you look at various listings, while on Yankees.com, the same tickets for a 200-level seat would only cost you $60.90, less than one-third of the price.
As a bonus, this contest against the Tigers could be extremely important come the end of the regular season. These two clubs are obviously going to be in postseason contention all year long, and if they fall out of the running for first place within their respective divisions, both the Yankees and Tigers will need these matchups against each other in case they’re duking it out for one of the American League’s Wild Card spots.
Additionally, there’s an extra feature to this year’s Old-Timers’ Day, as the Yankees are also holding a ceremony dedicated to Willie Randolph’s new Monument Park plaque. For most fans, Old-Timers’ Day represents somewhat of a return to childhood, as generations of Yankees fans can witness some of the all-time greats from various points in franchise history. All in all, it’s one of the most special days of the Yankees’ baseball season annually and the turnout for these games every year only further cements that.
