In cities large and small, Americans have always loves competitive team sports. Whether it is the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd or the aroma of hot dogs and beer, Americans love sports. Sport teams pictures, photoramics and panoramas grace the walls of sports bars, living rooms and man caves all over the country. Americans love sports enough to have spent $16 billion on admissions to sporting events. Factor in the spending on sports memorabilia like sports pictures and panoramas and it is clear that Americans are true sporting fans.
From high school soccer and gymnastics to professional hockey, football and basketball, sports are a national pastime and for some folks a national obsession. New York City has been home to some of the world’s great sports teams, great athletes and great memories.
The New York Knickerbockers
According to the team’s official website, the New York Knickerbockers were originally organized as a professional baseball club. The team was put together in 1845 and was alternately called the Knickerbocker Nine. The name knickerbockers is said to refer to a style of pants worn by Dutch settlers. Knickerbockers or knickers, has been used for many years as a slang term for short pants that extend just past the knee.
In 1946, New York City received a charter from the Basketball Association of America and the name Knickerbockers or simply the Knicks, was chosen. The Knicks play at the world famous Madison Square Gardens in Manhattan. Pictures, photoramics and panoramas of the Knicks are popular among basketball fans and sports aficionados alike.
The New York Yankees
Dating back to 1903, the New York Yankees are one of the countries oldest sports franchises. According to the team’s official website, the team has its roots in the purchase of a franchise from Baltimore. The new owners moved the team to New York City, building a small stadium called the Hilltop Park. In 1913, the club moved to the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan. At the same time, the club was renamed the Yankees.
It would take until 1921 for construction to begin on Yankee Stadium. A year before, the team had signed Babe Ruth, buying Ruth’s contract from the Boston Red Sox. History was made on April 18, 1923 when the Yankees played their first game in their new digs. Ruth went on to hit the first homer in the new stadium and the team went to win, beating the Red Sox before a crowd over 70 thousand.
The two events forever set the tone for Yankees history with Yankee Stadium becoming known as the House the Ruth built. Sadly, the demolition of Yankee Stadium began in 2008 to make way for a new stadium.
The New York Giants
The New York Giants of the National Football League have a long and storied history dating back to 1925. According to the team’s official website, Tim Mara bought a franchise from the NFL for the paltry sum of $500. The Giants played in a number of different stadiums before finally moving to a permanent home in the new Giants Stadium in 1976. The team had previously played at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, Yankee Stadium and Yale Stadium. The Giants shared Shea Stadium with the New York Mets and New York Jets of the National Football League. Giants Stadium was constructed at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
New York Rangers
The sport of ice hockey in North America has its roots in Canada but cities all over the United States have developed an affection for this fast moving, physical sport. The New York Rangers of the National Hockey League were franchised in 1926 and have always called Madison Square home. The exciting sport of hockey is captured in numerous collectibles like pictures, photoramics and panoramas.