Yankees return to Yankee Stadium for six-game homestand; Highlights include Brett Gardner replica bat day and Masahiro Tanaka bobblehead night

The New York Yankees will return home on Friday night for the first of six games at Yankee Stadium. The stretch of games will feature a three-game series vs. the New York Mets (Friday-Sunday, April 24-26) and a three-game set vs. the Tampa Bay Rays (Monday-Wednesday, April 27-29).

As part of his retirement celebration, Bernie Williams will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday's 7:05 p.m. game vs. the Mets. Additionally, the Hard Rock Cafe will debut a souvenir pin that honors Williams in a pregame ceremony. Fifteen percent of pin proceeds will go to Hillside Food Outreach.

Prior to Sunday's 8:05 p.m. game vs. the Mets, Matthew Morrison will sing the national anthem. The Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor is currently starring in the Harvey Weinstein musical Finding Neverland and recently wrapped up the final season of Fox's musical comedy Glee where he starred as Will Schuester.

Ticket specials will run on Saturday, April 25 (Youth Game), Monday, April 27 (MasterCard $5 and Military Personnel Game), Tuesday, April 28 (MasterCard $5, Military Personnel and Senior Citizen Game) and Wednesday, April 29 (MasterCard Half-Price, Military Personnel, Senior Citizen and Student Game).

For a complete list of ticket specials, including game dates, seating locations, and terms and conditions, fans should visit www.yankees.com/ticketspecials. Please note that all ticket specials are subject to availability.

The homestand will also feature the following promotional items and dates:

Saturday, April 25 - Yankees vs. Mets, 4:05 p.m.

• Brett Gardner Replica Bat Day, presented by Bank of America, to first 10,000 Guests, 14 and younger.

Tuesday, April 28 - Yankees vs. Rays, 7:05 p.m.

• Masahiro Tanaka Bobblehead Night, presented by AT&T, to first 18,000 Guests.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.yankees.com, www.yankeesbeisbol.com, at the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office, via Ticketmaster phone at (877) 469-9849, Ticketmaster TTY at (800) 943-4327 and at all Ticket Offices located within Yankees Clubhouse Shops. Tickets may also be purchased on Yankees Ticket Exchange at www.yankees.com/yte, the only official online resale marketplace for Yankees fans to purchase and resell tickets to Yankees games. Fans with questions may call (212) YANKEES [926-5337] or email [email protected].

For information on parking and public transportation options to Yankee Stadium, please visit www.yankees.com and click on the Yankee Stadium tab at the top of the page.

As part of Major League Baseball's initiative to standardize security procedures at all 30 Major League parks, all visitors are required to be screened via metal detectors before entering Yankee Stadium. The increased security measures are the result of MLB's continuing work with the Department of Homeland Security and are designed to elevate and standardize security practices across the game. The added security measures are in addition to bag checks that are conducted at all MLB ballparks.

As a result, the New York Yankees strongly encourage all visitors to budget extra time for arrival and entry to Yankee Stadium for all home games throughout the 2015 season and future seasons.

MLB-Mandated Procedure for Entry to Yankee Stadium in 2015

Metal detectors are located at all Yankee Stadium gates, and all visitors to the Stadium will be subject to screening. Once visitors have been screened and had their bags checked, they will have their tickets scanned.

Before proceeding through metal detectors, visitors will be asked to remove cell phones, cameras and any large metal objects from their pockets and place them in a small plastic container for inspection. Additionally, all bags and their interiors will be visually inspected by security personnel at a screening table alongside the metal detector. Please note that only MLB-compliant bags (soft-sided, measuring 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches or smaller) will be permitted inside the Stadium. Individuals will be able to watch their belongings throughout the screening process and can pick them up at the end of the table once they have proceeded through the metal detector. The removal of belts, shoes and jackets is not required.

Per MLB requirements, all visitors, including children, must be screened. Infants and toddlers may be carried through walk-through metal detectors, and children who are able to walk may be asked to go through on their own. Individuals who are unable to utilize a walk-through metal detector or who opt not to use one have the option of being checked with a hand-held metal detector or receiving a physical pat-down.

If a walk-through metal detector alerts a security officer to the presence of items that require further inspection, visitors will be directed to the side, where they will be screened via a hand-held metal detector or physical pat-down. When the items in question are discovered, individuals will be asked to display them and/or allow a security officer to examine them. At this time, a security officer will determine whether or not these items will be permitted in Yankee Stadium.

Any item or property that could affect the safety of the Stadium, its occupants or its property shall not be permitted into the Stadium. The Yankees reserve the right to prohibit or require removal of any items at their sole and absolute discretion. Any person that could affect the safety of the Stadium, its occupants or its property shall be denied entry.

Prohibited Items

Please note that the list of prohibited items at Yankee Stadium includes (but is not limited to) laptops, firearms, knives or weapons of any kind, laser pens, glass, cans or aluminum bottles or thermoses, selfie-sticks, video cameras or other equipment designed for the sole purpose of video and/or audio recording, and hard-sided bags, such as briefcases. Please also note that there is no storage area for prohibited items. Guests arriving by public transportation should take particular care not to bring any prohibited items, as no exceptions will be made. For a full list of prohibited items, please visit: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=entry.