So the moments in the grand ballpark are savored now even if this particular Yankees season is not. You saw it earlier in the week when the fans saluted Derek Jeter for topping Lou Gehrig on the stadium's all-time hit list.

You saw it again Thursday night when Mike Mussina received a tribute in the form of his trademark "Moose" calls when he walked off the mound and toward his 18th victory during the Yankees' 9-2 win over the White Sox.

It would be his final start at the venerable stadium, and while Mussina does not hold nearly the same emotional investment for fans as Jeter, he's shared some big spots with Yankees fans, most notably his crucial relief role in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series win over Boston.

So it was one more small step of a goodbye as everyone around baseball's most iconic stadium prepares for the final one Sunday night.

YANKEES 9, WHITE SOX 2: Bobby Abreu hit two home runs and drove in six to lead the Yankees and help Mike Mussina to his 18th victory. Mussina gave up a run in the first but little else, yielding just that run on five hits in six innings.