The final curtain call for the House that Ruth built.

20 former Yanks showed up for tonights final game...only the Yanks could have that type of historical context.

They opened the stadium seven hours early, so fans could walk the field.

Roger Clemens was never mentioned.

They even dug up Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of the Babe, to toss out the last ceremonial pitch. She is 92.

In its final season, the Yankees set a record for attendance, 4,298,543. The Yanks will never break that record as the new stadium is smaller than the House that Ruth built.

Joe Girardi is the new Yanks Skipper

From a NYT alert, we find out that yes, Virginia, Joe Girardi has signed up to lead the Yank$ to the promised land. From the New York Times article:

Girardi was selected over Don Mattingly and Tony Peña, who were members of Torre's last coaching staff with the Yankees. "The Yankees have expressed interest in Joe becoming manager," Girardi's agent, Steve Mandel, said in a telephone interview Monday.

"We've decided to have discussions with them and we're moving forward. No timetable has been set, but it's a process we're letting take place." In selecting Girardi, the Yankees set in motion Mattingly's exit from the team. The former Yankees first baseman announced Monday he would be leaving the team.

Mattingly had been groomed to one day replace Torre as manager. Mattingly said it was his goal to manage whe he agreed — at the request of the principal owner, George Steinbrenner — to become the Yankees' hitting coach in October 2003.

Buh-bye Mattingly..guess the Yank$ just don't see you as managerial material dude..

Tags: Girardi, Yankees name new manager, Yankees