As the Jays visit the revered Yankee Stadium for the final time a few names from the present and past share their experiences in the Bronx.

The Toronto Blue Jays final weekend series at Yankee Stadium brings back a flood of memories. My first trip to the "House That Ruth Built" was in September of 1987, with the Jays in the thick of a pennant race and me as a 24-year-old newbie in the sports TV business. I still remember how excited I was walking down the tunnel from the visiting clubhouse and emerging up the steps into the dugout and onto the field. All the while I thought about the great games that were played on this hallowed ground by the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Munson, Jackson, Guidry ... I could go on and on.

But I never played the game at this level, though I dreamed of it, and certainly never got to wear a Major League uniform or cross the white line into fair territory to become part of the history of this great stadium. With that in mind, here's a sampling what some past and current Blue Jays will be thinking about as they make their final appearance.

CITO GASTON

"Back in '85, we went in for there for a four-game series - that's when Bobby Cox was managing here - and it Damaso Garcia and Tony Fernandez got mixed up on a play at second base and we lost that game. We were leading that game but we lost it, and it was the quietest bus road we ever had back to the hotel. But the next three games we came back and swept them after that, winning three games in a row. That was one of my memories there. I've seen a lot of things happen in that ball park over the years. (Lloyd) Moseby almost hitting a ball right out of the park in right field. And George Bell hitting the back wall out there off of Al Leiter. But we've had a lot of great games in that ball park, a lot of fun, and we're certainly going to miss it, but certainly looking forward to seeing the new park, too."

ROY HALLADAY

"For a lot of guys, it's kind of like the pinnacle of when you're playing. To go into Yankee Stadium, you actually feel like you've made it. A lot of players feel that way. There are different places that you play that have a great atmosphere, but there's something different about Yankee Stadium. You feel like you're a part of baseball, not just in this era, but going all the way back. It's a neat feeling to be a part of that. You are playing where a lot of great players have played, and being a part of the history of baseball is special for a lot of players.

"I like pitching there, it's always a challenge. I think we went in there a few years ago and swept a three-game series when we were kind of close at the time. That was pretty exciting for me; it was a great team moment."

JOHN McDONALD

"To baseball, to a lot of different people, it's going to mean a lot of different things. I'm sure a lot players are going to have not-so-fond memories of going in there and getting beaten up by the Yankees, For me, it's a lot different. It doesn't extend to my playing career, it's growing up in New England, going to Yankee Stadium as a youngster, my dad taking me to my first baseball game at the stadium. Opening days, old-timers games. I got to see some pretty special things in New York growing up. You're standing outside getting some food before the game, walking in on a sunny, Saturday afternoon, when the first thing you see when you walk out the tunnel is the bright blue of the bleachers, and the bright green grass, and thinking that this is a place that I'd like to play baseball at some point in my life.

"My dad and I really liked watching infield. We don't take infield anymore, but we got there to see visiting BP (batting practice) and then stay for both infields. Which was neat, because you got to really watch the infielders work, which is what I really what I wanted to watch."

ROD BARAJAS

"I was fortunate to be a part of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and was able to go down there for the World Series. Just walking out onto the field, they had the ribbons all over the place, and the fans. I was fortunate to play in Game 5, Damian Miller got hurt so I got the start. Walking out 45 minutes before the game, the stadium is full and there's just a buzz going around there. I was able to be a part of Yankee Stadium. We lost two games in pretty amazing fashion; the Yankees came back and for some reason you feel like there's 18 guys playing against you. With the Monument Park out there, it just seemed the ghosts of Yankees past took the game away from you. We lost a couple of tough games, but I was fortunate enough to go out there and hit a home run in Game 5 of the World Series. So, it's a real special place and something that I will absolutely never forget."

BRAD ARNSBERG

"I had my first Major League start in Yankee Stadium. I remember my mother and my wife flew out; they got there about 15 minutes before I left (for the park), and they pulled up in a limo, so the pressure was on even more. They had flown in from Oregon and I had no idea they were coming. I was under enough pressure, being my first start, I thought 'God, I hope I don't go out there and spit the bit.' I ended up working into the seventh inning, left 1-1 and got no decision. It was pretty cool.

"The one thing I always said about New York was that the fans that liked you always liked you, and if they didn't like you, they never liked you. I like that about Yankees' fans.

"I remember once sitting between Dave Winfield and Don Mattingly and thinking 'Wow, this is a pretty good seat.' It's was really the first Major League game that I had ever seen. I had never saw one growing up, and I thought if you ever wanted to watch a game this is where you'd want to sit."

PAT TABLER (former 1st round pick of the Yankees in 1976)

"The first time I set foot in Yankee Stadium I was an 18-year-old draft pick of the New York Yankees and they flew me in to meet the front office, to meet Mr. Steinbrenner, to meet Billy Martin, and everybody in the clubhouse. And I was in awe, and this went on for two or three hours, and after a while I got kind of bored of that, so I said 'Could I take a nap?' So I spent about an hour taking a nap on Mr. Steinbrenner's couch before they flew me off to rookie ball in 1976 to start my professional career."